Tech
Best Speakers of 2026 – CNET
Whether you’re interested in background music for your next party or you’re looking to upgrade a stereo system, there’s a speaker set ready for you. Speakers tend to be designed with a specific purpose in mind. For example, you might need speakers for your TV, computer speakers or a set for a specific room. Or perhaps you need portable Bluetooth speakers to take on a trip. There’s a speaker for every situation.
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Not all speakers are created equal
I’ve highlighted the best wired and wireless speakers I’ve tested costing between $50 and $1,000. While most of the included systems are powered speakers, you’ll also find passive bookshelf speakers, such as the Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2, which just need to be paired with a great AV receiver.
From smart speakers to outdoor speakers to immersive home theater systems, every model I’ve chosen boasts great sound quality and is the best speaker in its particular category. I’ll update this list periodically as we review new products, so you can take your audio setup to the next level.
Read more: Best Soundbar for 2025
With great sound, a compact size and the Alexa voice assistant built-in, the Sonos Era 100 packs a lot of punch, making it the best smart speaker for the money.
Elac has been belting out classic, affordable designs ever since its, er, debut in 2015. The Debut 2.0 exemplifies the brand’s appeal to both the budget-conscious and audiophiles. It offers a lively, insightful sound and attractive looks for around $400.
Pros
- Big, generously proportioned speakers
- Excellent sound quality perfect for long binge sessions
- Nothing holds a candle to it for the money
Cons
- Could be smoother, especially with its lower register
- Dustcaps didn’t quite line up
Want the biggest sound? You’ll need big speakers. The fit and finish of the large Fluance XL8 towers is unmatched by other speakers at its price. The sound of the XL8F is open and thrilling, but never shrill, and when fed a movie soundtrack these speakers simply zing. They’re no slouch with music either. If you truly want the maximum speaker for your money, the huge Fluance XL8F has no equal.
Pros
- Very compact (pocket-friendly)
- More bass and volume than most speakers this small
- Waterproof and dustproof (IP67)
- Integrated strap
- Can be linked to another StormBox Micro for stereo mode
- USB-C charging
- 8 hours of battery life
Cons
- Not as durable as Bose SoundLink Micro
- Distorts slightly at higher volumes with certain tracks
Budget Bluetooth speakers are seemingly a dime a dozen, but among the countless options there do lie some gems. The $50 Tribit Stormbox Micro is a compact, portable speaker that offers both waterproofing and excellent bass for its size.
Pros
- Compact, easy to set up and affordable
- Excellent dialogue reproduction
- Tried and true Roku experience
Cons
- Lacks bass in movies and music
The $130 Roku Streambar is a hybrid soundbar-4K video streamer and the most welcome surprise is that it’s able to perform both tasks well. Pair it with a bedroom TV and the optional Onn Wireless Sub for a killer home theater setup.
If there was ever a bargain in home theater it was this — for around the same price as the Elac speakers above you can get a full Dolby Atmos setup. With a sub! Sound quality is excellent and the Klipsch kit includes all of the cables you need in the box.
The Edifier R1280DB offers almost everything you could want in a PC speaker — excellent sound, a range of connections including Bluetooth and a compact footprint — and all for a reasonable $150. It doesn’t offer USB, though, so connect the headphone/line out of your PC to it instead.
Pros
- Excellent sound in a compact size
- Amazon Alexa onboard
- DTS Virtual:X
- Articulate subwoofer
The Yamaha YAS-209 is one of the most fully featured soundbars the company has ever offered — especially at the price. With Alexa, HDMI connectivity and a wireless subwoofer, this soundbar doesn’t want for anything. The sound quality is great, too.
Pros
- Motorized speakers work well.
- Excellent sound for movies and music.
- Plenty of connections
- Includes rears and wireless sub.
Cons
- Not as easy to use as Sonos Arc
- No Apple AirPlay support
- Somewhat short surround cables
The Vizio Elevate may have one big gimmick at the core of it, that revolving height speaker, but it also offers sound quality to back up the gee-whizzery. This is a 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos soundbar, with a hefty subwoofer, and its performance is equally thrilling in both movies and music. Add in a bunch of streaming features and you have the best surround system under a grand.