Technology

Best Stereo Speakers

The best stereo speakers quality still comes from a pair of speakers – no matter how good one-box wireless speakers might have become. Our round-up of the best stereo speakers you can buy, will ensure you get the best possible sound from your home audio system.

Whether you’re on a tight budget or ready to splash the cash, take your pick from our selection of the best stereo speakers for music. We have both floorstanding and bookshelf speakers to recommend, as well as desktop, active and wireless stereo speakers.

So whether you’re looking for your first pair of speakers as you build a music system, upgrading an old pair of budget speakers or going for broke with the best speakers your system, room and finances can accommodate, we’re here to help. Read on for our round-up of the best hi-fi speakers on the market right now.

Best Stereo Speakers

1. KEF LS50 Meta

KEF LS50 Meta review | What Hi-Fi?

The original LS50 speakers had little wrong with them but after eight years, KEF figured they deserved a fresh look. And with the LS50 Meta they have delivered a worthy upgrade.

The LS50’s Uni-Q driver array, where the tweeter sits in the throat of the mid/bass unit, has been thoroughly reworked, taking in all the refinements that KEF has developed over the past eight years and adding something new in the form of Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT). MAT is KEF’s way of coping with the sound that comes off the back of the tweeter dome; a plastic circular maze of tubes on the back promising greater absorption for cleaner, less distorted highs.

While the basic sonic character is instantly familiar, the Meta speakers have gained a level of clarity and finesse the originals only hinted at, sounding clean while still offering muscle and dynamics.

2. B&W 606 S2 Anniversary Edition

B&W 606 S2 Anniversary Edition oa nghe nhạc có giá bán rẻ nhất Hà Nội, Sài  Gòn

The original Bowers & Wilkins 606 speakers walked off with What Hi-Fi?’s top speaker award in 2019 but it seems there’s always room for improvement. To mark the 25-year anniversary of the 600 range (in 2020), B&W decided to upgrade the 606s (and the rest of the range) – and it proved to be a wise move.

Cosmetically, there’s not much new, but for an inscription on the tweeter surround and a new oak finish option. On the inside, there’s an upgraded crossover that now features better-quality capacitors.

While retaining a broadly similar sonic character, the 606 S2 Anniversary Editions prove significantly more capable than their predecessors. The biggest differences are heard in the bass. The new version is so much more precise and controlled. There are improvements in clarity too, with voices offering extra subtlety, while the overall presentation is more natural and transparent.

Don’t be fooled by the apparent minor upgrades, the B&W 606 S2 Anniversary Edition speakers deliver an impressive step up in performance.

3. Fyne Audio F302

Livingroom setup completed - Fyne Audio F502 / Best Stereo Speakers

Although in its infancy as a brand, Fyne’s seven-strong management team represents a kind of supergroup of industry minds. It has more than 200 years of experience – and delivers results that total the sum of its parts, if the first of its loudspeakers to arrive in our test rooms are anything to go by.

It’s rare to find a pair of sub-£500 floorstanders able to compete in every respect with the wealth of quality standmount speakers available at the same price, but the F302s manage to tick all the boxes and more.

Superb all-rounders, they feature a two-way, rear-ported design that houses a 25mm polyester dome tweeter and 15cm multi-fibre mid/bass driver in each cabinets. Build quality is impressive for the money, with a choice of understated wood-effect finishes – described by Fyne as ‘superior vinyl’.

Overall, the company has done a sterling job of balancing sound quality with affordability. If you want a pair of floorstanders that won’t break the bank, look no further.

4. Ruark Audio MR1 Mk2

Ruark Audio MR1 Mk2 review | Best Stereo Speakers

For a while the MR1s were toppled from their perch by the gorgeous KEF Eggs. But it was only a matter of time before Ruark Audio unveiled the MR1 Mk2. And sure enough, Ruark Audio is back with a vengeance, having regained its crown for the last couple of years.

These compact bookshelf speakers are packed with features and hugely versatile. Bluetooth apt-X active  allows you to stream music to the speakers in CD-like sound quality, an optical inpt means they’re easily connected to a TV. Prefer analogue?  You can always use the AUX input to partner them with a turntable or plug in some headphones.

The step up in performance in impressive, and the Ruark MR1 Mk2s manage to be even more appealing than their predecessors. Quite simply, these are superb speakers if you’re short of space.