Voice reproduction is the toughest thing to get right on a speaker, and all of our picks performed better in this area than their competitors did. Many musical instruments, such as saxophone and guitar, cover a similar frequency range. Because humans hear other people’s voices so much, people are especially sensitive to the naturalness of voice reproduction, and the human ear is most sensitive to the frequency range where the human voice resides. Voice clarity: Unless you’re testing subwoofers, any evaluation of an audio device should focus heavily on its voice reproduction.

Extra features: All powered speakers include at least one analog audio input, but we tried to find models with other useful features, such as a phono input, digital audio inputs, and a remote control.Some of the models we tested offered support for more advanced Bluetooth codecs, such as aptX or aptX HD, but we didn’t require those. Wireless connectivity: Among powered speakers, we looked only at models that include Bluetooth.We didn’t consider single-driver models because good, affordable two-way models can easily outperform them. The addition of a mid-range driver or extra woofers generally pushed a speaker above our price range. Configuration: All of the models we looked at are two-way designs, with one tweeter (for high frequencies) positioned above one woofer (for low frequencies) or vice versa.Previously we had set a floor of $100 per pair, but readers have requested something practical to use with an inexpensive mini stereo amplifier, so we eliminated that criterion. Above that price, you’re getting into models for serious audio enthusiasts, who have probably already developed strong ideas about the kinds of speakers they want. Cost: Our price limit for both the passive and powered categories was $600 per pair.Note that you can get better sound from these speakers by placing them on stands (such as the Sanus BF24B or Monoprice 39494) rather than on a shelf reflections off a shelf can alter the sound, a speaker on a shelf is positioned close to the wall (which is likely to make it sound boomy), and the shelf and whatever else is on it may rattle. We looked only at speakers that are small enough to actually fit on a large, sturdy shelf or perhaps on a credenza or table-but also large enough to produce sufficient bass on their own without a subwoofer. If you need something to use with a computer, for gaming or audio production, check out our best computer speakers guide. Size and styling: These speakers are all styled to suit a typical living room or den.

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