Other Good Speakers We Tested
We test a lot of speakers, and not all of them make it to the top list. Sound is subjective, so it’s worth looking at lots of models before diving in. Here are some more solid options.
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Fluance Ri71: The Ri71 is a great-sounding and affordable pair of active speakers with some operational quirks. Their versatile input selection includes HDMI ARC to connect to your TV, but unlike every other such pair I’ve tested, your TV remote only controls volume, not power, and the speakers maintain independent volume levels. That means you don’t get the seamless TV experience that makes other ARC-enabled speakers and amplifiers great soundbar alternatives. Otherwise, their clear, warm, and balanced sound for everything from Bluetooth streams and vinyl to sitcoms and movies makes them worth considering at their $400 launch price.
Bowers and Wilkins 606 S3 Passive Speakers: These midrange audiophile speakers are gorgeously crafted and fantastically musical for their price. The only real quibble I raised in my review is that their upper midrange/treble is sometimes too sharp for my taste, especially with TV content. Otherwise, they’re a sweet ride that oozes quality.
Uturn Ethos Powered Speakers: Uturn’s Ethos speakers were tailored to pair with your Uturn turntable, and they made for a sweet match with my Orbit Theory reference model (9/10, WIRED Recommends). They’re beautifully made and offer a potent A/B amplifier to keep your vinyl in the analog realm that hums softly without getting in the way. The downside is their lack of inputs or features, including zero EQ, so you’d better love what you hear from the get-go.
Yamaha NS-600A Passive Speakers: Yamaha’s gloriously crafted NS-600A (8/10, WIRED Recommends) will reveal details, textures, and dare I say, emotions you never noticed in your favorite music and movies. Like the B&W 606 S3, their treble sometimes has too much bite for my taste. I’d be fine with that for half the price, but at $3K (or more) per pair, I want the perfect sonic match. If you like a keener cut to your favorite tunes, this pair could be yours.
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