The Best Speakers In 2023

Though a seemingly insurmountable task, KEF has done it: a speaker pair adept at almost every genre of music you can throw through them.   

KEF’s long-established authority in speaker building and a few fresh innovations are the secrets to this success. The most important is the company’s Uni-Q design technology that places the treble unit in the woofer’s centre. The result? A broad and unified sound field that’s exceptionally well suited to stereo listening.  

Generously, KEF has stolen its own premium ranges to deliver the fabled Z-Flex woofer, known for its well-defined and detailed sound. Fuss-free aesthetics round off this package nicely, too.  

What really speaks to us is that the balance of price and performance you find with the KEF Q350 shows that they are made to be enjoyed. These are not targeting gear-focused audiophiles but those who first fell in love with the music. Place these alongside your turntable, pick out your favourite pressing and have a wonderful time.

Confounding owners of high-end audio setups worldwide, British-based Cambridge Audio has garnered a reputation for delivering quality on a relatively tight budget. Continuing this run, Cambridge Audio has produced the SX-50 bookshelf speakers.   

Appearing to follow the age-old design idiom, ‘Keep It Simple, Stupid’, Cambridge Audio has the compact-sized SX-50 wielding soft dome tweeters made from treated silk alongside 135mm cones. There’s no fancy tech here; the SX-50 simply provides a well-balanced, poised and precise audio experience. The bass is delightful, but Cambridge Audio subwoofer units are available separately if you want to pump this up further.  

If you’re trying to reign in your budget for your new speaker set, the SX-50 will have your foot tapping and your wallet smiling.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, a mainstay amplifier brand remains a mainstay speaker brand. The Marshall Woburn III is MOJO’s favourite wireless speaker because it’s loud, full of rich mid-range and stylish as anything else available today.   

Building on the bones of its ancestor, the Woburn II, the Woburn III packs an extra pair of cones to handle the tonal gap between bass and treble. The result is a quality sound profile with clarity to spare and, in true Marshall style, an organic warmth. A further strength of the Woburn is that the audio quality remains present at all volumes - which is good because this thing kicks out quite the racket when needed.  

Most of the time, you’ll want to connect via Bluetooth for convenience. However, there is an HDMI ARC input to hook the Woburn III into your multimedia setup.

Organic and rich, whether on low or full blast, the audio performance of the Marshall Middleton is a true delight, with a complete and precise bass profile balancing well with clear mids and highs. Considering that Marshall has shared the stage with everyone from Jimmy Page to Graham Coxon, it shouldn’t be surprising that the speaker delivers extraordinary things with guitar-led music. But no matter your genre preference, the Middleton will provide the goods.   

The fantastic audio capabilities are down to Marshall ramming two tweeters, two woofers and two passive radiators into this small shell. As a result, the Middleton can push out genuine stereo sound - a claim that only a few portable speakers of this size can make. The authentic stereo experience gets reinforced by ‘True Stereophonic’, which is some digital wizardry responsible for adding a more 3D experience to the speaker.  

Bluetooth and 3.5mm connections are all onboard, as are bass and treble control. If you’re so inclined, there’s a companion app, but it’s not strictly necessary. Topping all this off is a killer style and a 20-hour battery life.

Streaming your day’s playlist to any room in the house is the kind of sci-fi we like here at MOJO. There are plenty of multiform options on the market. Still, the Echo Studio stands out for its 5.1 speaker arrangement and digital surround programs, giving a 3D-like realism to the audio played.   

One of the cleverest features is its auto-configuration, which runs a short program to discover the best sound profile for the Echo Studio’s location in a room. So, you’re always guaranteed the best audio experience. The audio is robust, with a bass response that kicks, and the additional smart features that give voice control over what you are listening to are a real luxury.

The Echo Studio won out over the Sonos One, which we could just as quickly recommend and features built-in Alexa functionality. However, the Echo Studio reigns supreme in multiroom speakers due to its user-friendly interface and effortless setup process.

Some mock the idea of a bookshelf speaker, and the DALI Spector 2 scoffs in return. Cleverly designed to avert some of the issues sub-par bookshelf speakers encounter, the Spektor 2s prevent clashing harmonics and muddied frequency ranges by having well-spaced domes and tweeters. What this means for listeners is that there’s a very decent soundstage - each instrument having a defined space, allowing their performances to carry across in balance with others in the arrangement. 

Due to the impressive audio performance, particularly on the bass, these are an excellent choice for a medium-sized room. 

There are just two things to note. DALI recommends letting them run in for around 100 hours because that’s when you’ll hear the sound settle in. Also, to reinforce DALI’s approach to the soundstage, it’s suggested that the speakers aren’t angled but sit square to one another - something to consider, depending on your intended arrangement.

The KEF LS50 Wireless II are a pair of wireless speakers. But they are also so much more - the engineers at KEF HQ have earned their payslips here. 
The basic way of using the LS50 Wireless II is to set them up for a true stereo effect. As an active speaker system, they can be used in a minimalist, clutter-free turntable setup via a wired connection. Nice and simple. 

But equally, the wireless tech means it’ll link up with Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music and many more - so you’re all set for some wireless tunes of the highest quality. They could even be part of a multi-room system if you’re adventurous. 

There’s a good chance you’ll use the LS50 for all of the above, and maybe more, purely because of how good they sound. KEF’s Uni-Q speaker tech has paired with its Metamaterial Absorption Technology, eliminating 99 per cent of unwanted noise from the rear of the driver, resulting in a more natural sound. And last but not least, these pump out 200 watts per speaker. Legendary power and performance.

So long as the price tag doesn’t give you palpitations, these are a shining choice.

The Edifier R1280DB speakers are a bargain hunter’s dream - they do almost everything you could need at an unquestionably reasonable price. As active speakers, they can simplify your turntable setup, replacing the need for an external amplifier - that’s a little more cash saved. They carry Bluetooth, so you can play your digital catalogue as easily as your analogue.  

But of course, all that isn’t very meaningful if they don’t sound the business, and thankfully, they do. Part wooden construction and quality cone materials mean the R1280DB has a surprisingly rich tone. And for those looking to fill the room with as much noise as possible, the volume rolls high, too.

The Audio Pro A48 deserves the highest praise in our books for their outstanding sound quality and remarkable versatility. With Scandinavian design principles at heart, the A48 speakers possess a powerful, dynamic performance that fills any room with rich and intricately detailed audio. They excel in reproducing pretty much all music genres precisely and clearly, leaving a lasting impression.  

The A48s can be used via wired or wireless connections and as standalone units or seamlessly integrated into a multi-room setup, not just some living room monoliths that’ll see little use. These are all about providing flexibility for different audio needs. The Audio Pro A48 is an exceptional choice of floor-standing speaker, delivering top-notch sound performance, impressive versatility, and user-friendly features. They are a worthwhile investment for those seeking a high-quality audio experience.

While the aesthetics of the Q Acoustics 3050i floor speakers will blend seamlessly into modern entertainment setups, their exceptional sound quality will make sure you don’t forget they are there. Q Acoustics has delicately balanced the tweeter’s highs and positioned it between the two mid and bass drivers, ensuring great harmonics for a powerful and precise performance that draws you into the music.  

Masterfully navigating that razor-thin line between high energy and tastefulness, the 3050i speakers are an outstanding choice for those who want to enjoy their music ahead of all other considerations. To truly appreciate the lower end of your music, consider incorporating the Q Acoustics 3060s Active Subwoofer. This addition will give your audio setup a deep, barking bass response.