In spite of an onslaught from the Speaker Dock market, the demand for proper Hi-Fi systems has remained as buoyant as ever.
Coinciding with a massive surge in music on our iPhones, iPads and other devices, Speaker Docks have found a place in our homes. But there’s no beating a traditional 2-channel, full-blooded stereo system for getting the best out of your music.
Gadgets like iPhones and their ilk can be easily connected into these setups now, alongside the longstanding go-to of the trusty CD still hanging in there (I’m still a buyer, at least), and the well documented ‘vinyl revival’ proving to be no passing fad.
No matter what format you choose to play your tunes on, a good set of speakers will make the world of difference to how enjoyable they can sound. As the last stop in the chain before the music hits your ears, the importance of good speakers can’t be overstated.
Just like any other Hi-Fi component, the more you spend, the more you’ll generally get back in key areas that help create great sound. In fact some of the most glamorous loudspeaker options out there can quickly clear a wallet of tens of thousands of pounds.
But that isn’t to say that you can’t get an excellent set of speakers and still be able to eat. We look at four of our favourite Bookshelf Speakers that could make big difference to your system. And the best news is, they’re all available for under £250!
Winner of the What Hi-Fi: Product of the Year award for best stereo speaker £250-£300 upon its initial release in 2011, the BX2s, from British brand Monitor Audio still hold up brilliantly today.
With their patented ‘C-Cam’ tweeter and mid-range driver, the BX2s are an exciting listen from start to finish. A front port makes them an easy speaker to position, while testing showed them to be authoritative, giving real punch to tracks when required.
DALI Zensor 1Since establishing in 1983, Danish Audiophile Loudspeaker Industries (better known as DALI) has become one of the foremost loudspeaker manufacturers in the world. Their unique wood-fibre drive units offer a visual and, most importantly, an audible treat.
Favouring soft-dome tweeters (and sometimes ribbon tweeters) over metal, DALI speakers are known for offering a smooth yet detailed sound with a lush mid to high frequency response. It seems that whatever you threw at them, they’re great all-rounder speakers.
Another speaker, another take on tweeter technology. Cambridge Audio are big fans of utilising their Balanced Mode Radiator (BMR) drive units wherever possible.
These small, flat drivers are capable of a smoother transition across the frequency range, as well as offering wider dispersion of sound. This in turn reduces the need to find a sweet spot when positioning your speakers.
In practise, the Aero 2s sounded brilliantly balanced, able to offer up attack and delicacy in spades when required. Their front port puts them closer to the BX2 than the Zensor, with controlled and deep bass.
Theyre a bit larger than the other offerings here, so take that into consideration, although their cabinet size does help to create that bigger, bassier sound.
Q Acoustic 3020These are the newest kid on the block by a distance; at time of writing we’d had these in for a week! The follow up to the hugely successful 2020i, the 3020s look set to be every bit as popular as their predecessors. With improved styling and the decision to move binding posts onto the back of the cabinet, the already stellar sound quality has taken a leap forward, too.
Always capable of getting to the heart of music, Q Acoustics have fine-tuned their sound to offer even greater insight. The 3020s sound every bit as musical but more intimate than the 2020is. Another fabulous all-rounder and with their smaller cabinet, they can be more practical than other models.
So, there you have a selection of speakers to suit almost any need. All of the models here are brilliant in their own way, and an audition in one of our stores would be the best way to decide which is right for you. What is for certain though, is that whichever choice you make is sure to bring you even closer to your favourite music.
Author – Chris, Liverpool store
