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These will do the trick if youre looking for turnkey, high-performing speakers.
Ive had extensive experience with the brands auxiliary receivers, transmitters, and digital-analog converters.
PHOTO: Lifewire / Jason Schneider
I was excited to run one of their most popular powered speaker pairs through the wringer.
At the center of each speaker is a top-tier aramid fiber woofer paired with a three-quarter-inch silk dome tweeter.
I chose the walnut veneer option, which looks both classic and modern.
PHOTO: Lifewire / Jason Schneider
The magnetic grills on the front really give the HD5s a modern look.
This package, while undoubtedly impressive, will cost you a decent premium.
While the optical input is welcome, there isnt a balanced TRS line input like on higher-end studio monitors.
PHOTO: Lifewire / Jason Schneider
Overall, though, the HD5s approach to sound processing more than earns its top spot here.
The Q Acoustics 3020i is a speaker that balances acoustic engineering, visual style, and overall build quality.
I also like the soft, curved, beveled edges that make this speaker feel premium and modern.
The elephant in the room here is the price point.
I also think the speakers are pretty bulky and heavy on volume and power handling.
But I really enjoyed my time with the 3020i pair.
Its clarity and reliability made it my go-to for movies and video games.
The R1280Ts are some of the hardest speakers to beat for their performance and price.
Thats because the 40+ watt performance is surprisingly balanced and nuanced for the value.
The speaker output thermals are also cheap, employing the clamp method rather than banana plugs.
Ultimately, these tradeoffs feel acceptable because of the truly affordable price point.
Finally, the design was another mark in the pro or con column.
What to Look For
Not all bookshelf speakers are created equal.
Other times, you want a nice pair of passive speakers to add to your TV setup.
It’s important to consider your priority order here.
Theideal speaker placementdepends on whether you use a stereo, 5.1, 7.1, or 9.1 setup.
However, there are many evergreen rules to follow regardless of how many speakers you’re using.
However, having more than one subwoofer in a small listening area may be overkill.
Also, some single speakers provide enough bass as standalone options that an additional woofer isn’t required.
PHOTO: Amazon
PHOTO: Lifewire / Jason Schneider
PHOTO: Lifewire / Jason Schneider
PHOTO: Lifewire
