The best speakers on the shelves allow most people

Honestly, most of the speakers I tested sound the same. But not $ 399 audio. He had a brighter and clearer voice than all the others, except for the two most expensive KEFs. The two people I tested came back around a “nut” that helped them stand out in the black sea of ​​help.

HDP6s offer solid mids especially those that shine when it comes to voices and guitars. But it sounds good on all shows. Highly revered songs like Nine Inch Nails “The Day The World Is Gone” began to come alive and reveal ideas that, frankly, I had never even known on headphones. And Promises, the most recent record from Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra, was a cover-up that made me want to throw my latest speakers on a hammer.

While there are no speakers on the shelves alone that can save the kind of room-shattering speakers that the speakers or subwoofer can provide, HDP6 did very well with the heavy music. They didn’t have the lowest end of my test units, but the drums and bass were still rigid and clear.

Buy Audioengine HDP6 on Amazon – $ 399

For those who want the best sound: KEF Q150

If your first concern is good, regardless of anything, see Ma Q150s. These are the entry points from the audiophile brand KEF as well as the only speakers that beat Audioengines in any of my blind tests. It didn’t always come out on top, and some people had trouble choosing between the two, but in the end I think the KEFs have a bit of a limit on sound quality. It had a much smaller volume at the very end. It added a bit on the way like the Beach Boys’ Wouldn’t It Be Good, ‘while Run the Jewels’ JU $ T “struggled a bit better than the HDP6s.

The history of KEF is similar to that of Audioengines. All of this is very bright and very moving and midrange than all the other speakers around. If you’re listening to classics or jackets on high quality vinyl, these provide answers to how you can look at it more often.

What stops the Q150 from going through the list is the list price. For $ 599 he tied the most expensive speakers I tried. (The Polk and R100s it was also $ 599, but it didn’t cut last.) Although the Q150 looks a little better than the HDP6s in my ears, it wasn’t a $ 200 better.

Buy KEF Q150 at Crunchfield – $ 399

For the marketer: JBL A130

The program of JBLs they were consistently beautiful in the middle of the pack when it came to loving the audience. It’s not as bright as KEFs and Audioengines, but not as tired as the Polk S15. If you are just looking at a lot of non-sweat speakers on paper, or if you just listen to the music and just wear a vinyl at times, this is a great option if you can find it for sale.

The A130s are not worth the $ 300 price list. But I have seen them cut to $ 180, right now they are stealing.

Buy JBL A130 at B&H Photo – $ 300

For those who need more bass: ELAC Debut 2.0 DB6.2

Okay, so these speakers violate our rules a bit but, if you opt for larger 6.5-inch DB6.2s, instead of DB5.2s, you get a lot of thump at the very end. The program of Bad it may not be the same as Audioengine or KEF when exposed, but you will hear every 808 being hit hard. New Backxwash disc Lying Here I am laid with my rings and my dresses He persecuted ELAC more than he did the Polks, JBLs or KEFs. And they only buy $ 350, which is not bad at all.

If you really listen to electronic music and modern hip hop, you might consider Debut 2.0 DB6.2s.

Buy ELAC Debut 2.0 DB6.2 on Amazon – $ 350

For those who want to ignore my advice:

Price S15

If you do not find the JBL A130s on sale, and you really want to save as much money as you can, you can get rid of it More S15s. The S15s are not sound bad, but JBLs are really high. It doesn’t sound as deep as other speeches I’ve tried and the lowend can be meaningless. This is probably more appropriate as part of the home entertainment than stereo. At a price tag of $ 229 it may seem like a profit, but I save your money for a while and get some better ones.

R100

The program of Polk and R100s it is a clear statement. Probably a little better than the JBLs, although they have a good track record next to Polk’s S15. The problem is that they are $ 600, and I am building them at the highest price I have ever considered. Apparently its price may be a solid option, but $ 600 KEFs and $ 400 Audioengines were chosen over R100s by each tester.

Q Construction 3020i

I have no doubt that awa and very good speakers: for now Wire conductorTop choice. But I have not been able to test them so I cannot prove them.