Christmas is just around the corner – and there is bound to be someone in your life who would love nothing more than to unwrap the gift of sound in the form of a pair of bookshelf speakers. Here we have our best value speakers. They won’t break the bank, but they will still bring a huge smile to the face of anyone lucky enough to receive them.
Stand-mounted speakers – as we prefer to call them – are great. Their compact size means they are ideal if space is limited, making them perfect for offices, bedrooms and kitchens and any other place in which space can be an issue. But a compact size does not necessarily mean a compact sound – even when you’re on a budget! No, everything featured on this list has both our approval, the critics’ approval and – most importantly – the approval of our discerning customers.
So, do you know anyone with an existing hi-fi system who could use a speaker upgrade, or someone who needs a bit of a push to get one started? We have the solution for you. Our best value speakers, in list form, and exactly why they’ll make an excellent contribution to your loved one’s gift basket.
Remember, all prices stated were correct at the time of publishing and may be subject to change.
1. Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 (Blackwood) – £129.95 (EXCLUSIVE PRICE)
These are the best value speakers on this list – but there’s a reason for that/ We have made a deal and nabbed them at a very exclusive discount. The RRP is £199.99, which means we have them available at an awesome 35% off. And as you can imagine, they’re flying out at that price. So you’d best be quick. Got that? Okay.
The beautiful speakers have won more awards than you could shake a speaker stand at. And for good reason, the pump out a stand that would make you believe they were triple the price! Wharfedale’s Diamond Range needs very little introduction – they very much speak for themselves.
Why do we like them?
Their sound far exceeds their price tag. An absolute bargain (even at the RRP) and they’re very easy on the eye too. We can’t wait for the Diamond 200 series to land!
Why do they like them?
‘On the whole, the 10.1s are versatile enough to do justice to a wide variety of music, and they’re relatively unfussy about positioning, too.’ (What Hi-Fi? Magazine)
2. Q Acoustics 2020i – £169
Next up, we have the Q Acoustics 2020is. Cute aren’t they? But don’t let their adorable demanour fool you, there’s a very good reason these little speakers have won the What Hi-Fi Award – Best Speakers up to £200 every year since 2011. And with the 2014 awards just around the corner, there’s every chance they’ll scoop it up four years on the trot! Available in four fancy finishes they’ll compliment any set up beautifully.
Why do we like them?
They’re a very affordable alternative to the mind blowing Q Acoustics Concept 20 and are pretty enough to make an impression on anyone who considers style to be of great importance. They are a good all-rounder for both style and sound, and we think they’re brilliant.
Why do they like them?
”They won our award for a reason, and to prove it, the Q Acoustics 2020i have romped home with the winner’s laurels in this shootout against some strong rivals’ (What Hi-Fi? Magazine, April 2014)
3. Dali Zenzor 1 – £199
You’d be hard pressed to find anything Dali for under £200 – and yet, here we are. And of course, they’re award winners! A huge favourite of What Hi-Fi?’s, these slim and compact speakers are versatile enough that they can be used in pretty much any set up. Standalone for a hi-fi system, or even with an Mp3 player on its own, or within a full 5:1 or even 7:1 channel home cinema set up. They boast a sound that will do pretty much any system some serious justice.
Why do we like them?
These little speakers are hugely popular – for all sorts of applications – and a definite customer favourite. We can’t fault them, and we bet you couldn’t either.
Why do they like them
‘Splendid attention to detail: Clean but not clinical, and with the sort of insight into the attack and decay of sounds that’s more commonly the preserve of speakers a price-point or two up from here, they manage to combine splendid attention to detail with an easy listenability that makes even the longest listening sessions fly by.’ (What Hi-Fi? Magazine)
4. Acoustic Energy AE 101 – £275
When it comes to the AE 101s, you have to take a look at their lineage. From their hi-end bookshelf speakers the AE1 Classics and their current Reference 1 and extraordinary Reference 2 speakers, there is a great deal of experience proceeding these. The technology, the knowledge and the passion has been distilled into something that is affordable to anyone, and they’ll make an excellent gift to even the most fussy of audiophiles.
Why do we like them?
They sound almost as hi-end as their older brothers, and their traditional wood styling makes them stand out quite nicely on their list. A beautiful looking and sounding speaker, and a definite step-up for most systems – and very versatile when it comes to placement too.
5. Q Acoustics Concept 20 – £349
They may be last, but they’re certainly not least! If you are still on a budget, but still have a little extra cash to spend, then an investment in these ultra-low-resonance beautiful speakers as a gift would be gratefully received. Available in two finishes: black and white gloss, these multi-ward winners deliver a sonic performance otherwise unheard of at this price range, owed to a whole host of new technologies. These little speakers pack a serious punch, and will be perfectly at home in any setting – be that in a tiny student’s studio flat or a large, professional studio. They are unassuming yet stunning, and in our opinion the best you can get for under £350 by a long long way.
Why do we like them?
They are truly remarkable, and probably worth a great deal more than their RRP. We just love a bargain, and the Concept 20’s – figuratively – have ‘excellent value’ written all over them!
Why do they like them?
‘The Concept 20s are immensely composed, even when pushed hard, and can fill most rooms with a scale and volume of sound that seems scarcely credible from such a small cabinet.’ (What Hi-Fi? Magazine)
We think that any of the above would make fantastic gifts all on their own. But if the person you’re buying the gift for is without the accompanying system, it may be worth looking into one of those too. As great as the above are to use with a singular source alone – there’s nothing quite like a full, bonefide hi-fi system. If you’re stuck on ideas, we’d recommend the Tibo TI420 a great value integrated amplifier which allows for music to be streamed wirelessly via Bluetooth. And for streaming the Yamaha R-N301 Network Receiver has everything you need for high quality streaming – and all at a very good price.
Hi-fidelity sound is achievable with any budget – you just need to know where to look. We know the budget can be even more stretched than usual this time of year – but there is still no need to skimp on quality.
And, as always, if you fancy something a little more hi-end, don’t fret we have that covered too.