I fancy a set of stereo (or stereo and a subwoofer) speakers for my front room that I can connect my phone to and stream music. I want something fairly loud and half decent quality but at a good price. I wouldn't even know what to search for?
Can anyone help?
Can anyone help?
In reply to Post #1
Do you have a budget in mind? It's pretty important! There's a plethora of options and you also need to consider the size of your room, how easy it is to link speakers together, etc.
Less expensive units (e.g. https://www.audioaffair.co.uk/wharfedale-ds-2-active-speakers-pair ) consist of a powered speaker (one of them plugs into the wall, has an amp inside which powers the other speaker via a wired connection); there are loads of high quality options, and you could spend anywhere between £100 and £2,000 on a set up like this.
Others options include standalone units (e.g. Sonos) which can sound very good in certain scenarios, but again, it really depends on your room and the level of performance you're looking for.
An alternative to a set up that can be wirelessly streamed could consist of a pair of powered speakers (e.g.
Tannoy GOLD 7 which each need to be plugged into the wall and have their own independent amplification internally - note - these are NOT sold in pairs, you need to buy two units) and an audio interface that connects to each speaker and your source e.g. TV, phone, etc.
There is more than one way to skin a cat; this is good, but also very confusing if you're not entirely sure what you're looking at.
I have a decent hi-fi in my sitting room, and a DJ set up elsewhere. The hi-fi system is more traditional with an amplifier, speakers, turntable, CD player; it connects to the TV and also has wireless capability so I can stream. The DJ set up has active monitors (like the Tannoy 7's I mention above) because it means less boxes and wires; sound quality is excellent and powered monitors are not to be overlooked especially since they really pack a punch for their size.
IF I were to start the whole thing from scratch, I would undoubtably go down the powered speakers route, with an interface to connect my sources, such is the quality of product these days.
Sorry if this adds to the confusion - feel free to PM if you want.
Do you have a budget in mind? It's pretty important! There's a plethora of options and you also need to consider the size of your room, how easy it is to link speakers together, etc.
Less expensive units (e.g. https://www.audioaffair.co.uk/wharfedale-ds-2-active-speakers-pair ) consist of a powered speaker (one of them plugs into the wall, has an amp inside which powers the other speaker via a wired connection); there are loads of high quality options, and you could spend anywhere between £100 and £2,000 on a set up like this.
Others options include standalone units (e.g. Sonos) which can sound very good in certain scenarios, but again, it really depends on your room and the level of performance you're looking for.
An alternative to a set up that can be wirelessly streamed could consist of a pair of powered speakers (e.g.
Tannoy GOLD 7 which each need to be plugged into the wall and have their own independent amplification internally - note - these are NOT sold in pairs, you need to buy two units) and an audio interface that connects to each speaker and your source e.g. TV, phone, etc.
There is more than one way to skin a cat; this is good, but also very confusing if you're not entirely sure what you're looking at.
I have a decent hi-fi in my sitting room, and a DJ set up elsewhere. The hi-fi system is more traditional with an amplifier, speakers, turntable, CD player; it connects to the TV and also has wireless capability so I can stream. The DJ set up has active monitors (like the Tannoy 7's I mention above) because it means less boxes and wires; sound quality is excellent and powered monitors are not to be overlooked especially since they really pack a punch for their size.
IF I were to start the whole thing from scratch, I would undoubtably go down the powered speakers route, with an interface to connect my sources, such is the quality of product these days.
Sorry if this adds to the confusion - feel free to PM if you want.
In reply to Post #2
Front room is large and rectangular. Placement of the speakers is part of the issue because we have settees everywhere. The main thing I wanted was stereo sound, hence not wanting one big bluetooth speaker. I think budget is £200, so very low. I suppose I could spend more but the difficulty is knowing what to search for, I have no idea.
Front room is large and rectangular. Placement of the speakers is part of the issue because we have settees everywhere. The main thing I wanted was stereo sound, hence not wanting one big bluetooth speaker. I think budget is £200, so very low. I suppose I could spend more but the difficulty is knowing what to search for, I have no idea.
In reply to Post #3
Are you able to plug in (at least one) and connect to the other one without everyone tripping over the wires?
Are you able to plug in (at least one) and connect to the other one without everyone tripping over the wires?
In reply to Post #4
not without annoying the wife.
not without annoying the wife.
In reply to Post #5
If you have plug sockets available the ikea/sonos bookshelf speakers are pretty good, WiFi rather than bluetooth tho but easy to set up
If you have plug sockets available the ikea/sonos bookshelf speakers are pretty good, WiFi rather than bluetooth tho but easy to set up
In reply to Post #6
I'll have a look cheers.
I'll have a look cheers.
In reply to Post #1
Does it have to be bluetooth, we have a sonos 5 (i think) and its bloody loud, and more than adequate, but not exactly a budget speaker, and it works off of WIFI
For that reason we also bought a bose soundlink speaker which works off of bluetooth for when we are outside, again good little speaker which is pretty loud.
Does it have to be bluetooth, we have a sonos 5 (i think) and its bloody loud, and more than adequate, but not exactly a budget speaker, and it works off of WIFI
For that reason we also bought a bose soundlink speaker which works off of bluetooth for when we are outside, again good little speaker which is pretty loud.
In reply to Post #8
I think the Sonos is what my Dad has and it's good but I really wanted stereo sound, not one speaker. Doesn't have to be bluetooth no, but the speakers in either side of the front room cannot have a wire attaching them, because there's a fireplace in the way. They can both plug into the wall sockets though.
I think the Sonos is what my Dad has and it's good but I really wanted stereo sound, not one speaker. Doesn't have to be bluetooth no, but the speakers in either side of the front room cannot have a wire attaching them, because there's a fireplace in the way. They can both plug into the wall sockets though.
In reply to Post #9
All I can think of are the Mitchell Acoustics uStream One - they both need to be connected to power, but that's it - they connect to each other wirelessly. You're looking at the sharp end of £500.
All I can think of are the Mitchell Acoustics uStream One - they both need to be connected to power, but that's it - they connect to each other wirelessly. You're looking at the sharp end of £500.
In reply to Post #9
I've got a mix of sonos and the ikea ones I mentioned, I don't notice a big difference in sound, and the ikea ones are around £100 and although bigger, look a bit more discreet.
Easy to have 2 (or more) in a room, never tried to set them up as a 2 channel system but I'm sure you could.
It works best as a multi speaker in multi room system, so you can have a rich clear sound throughout the house and garden yet at a volume that you can still have a chat when your next to speaker
Can also add a sub or soundbar in future but the cost ramps up significantly with those
I'll probably get a pair of the roam speakers for the garden at some point
I've got a mix of sonos and the ikea ones I mentioned, I don't notice a big difference in sound, and the ikea ones are around £100 and although bigger, look a bit more discreet.
Easy to have 2 (or more) in a room, never tried to set them up as a 2 channel system but I'm sure you could.
It works best as a multi speaker in multi room system, so you can have a rich clear sound throughout the house and garden yet at a volume that you can still have a chat when your next to speaker
Can also add a sub or soundbar in future but the cost ramps up significantly with those
I'll probably get a pair of the roam speakers for the garden at some point
In reply to Post #10
They would be absolutely perfect, but not keen on spending £500. I've bookmarked them anyway.
They would be absolutely perfect, but not keen on spending £500. I've bookmarked them anyway.
In reply to Post #12
Yeah, I understand, of course - it's certainly an investment. Just bear in mind that like everything in life - buy cheap, buy twice!
Yeah, I understand, of course - it's certainly an investment. Just bear in mind that like everything in life - buy cheap, buy twice!
In reply to Post #13
I know, that's why I'm avoiding the generic chinese offerings on amazon.
I know, that's why I'm avoiding the generic chinese offerings on amazon.
In reply to Post #14
In reply to Post #9
Hi VLT, the sonos can be paired to create a stereo pair. Also the sonos have released a 2nd version, meaning the originals are available at substantial savings and on ebay as people upgrade.
For example the newer sonos one is £199.99, the play 1 which it replaces are available at sub £99.
The larger one have similar savings.
Bose soundtouch are the same with newer models vs older models.
Hi VLT, the sonos can be paired to create a stereo pair. Also the sonos have released a 2nd version, meaning the originals are available at substantial savings and on ebay as people upgrade.
For example the newer sonos one is £199.99, the play 1 which it replaces are available at sub £99.
The larger one have similar savings.
Bose soundtouch are the same with newer models vs older models.
In reply to Post #16
I checked that this morning, can also set up a surround sound system with 2 speakers and a soundbar.
The sonos 1s sound very slightly better than the ikea bookshelf ones to my ears, at the same price I'd go for the sonos but at 60% more it's not so simple.
I checked that this morning, can also set up a surround sound system with 2 speakers and a soundbar.
The sonos 1s sound very slightly better than the ikea bookshelf ones to my ears, at the same price I'd go for the sonos but at 60% more it's not so simple.
At the very start of the pandemic, we got an apartment in Brazil, and I wanted a cheap sound system for the TV. I paid the equivalent of around £140 for the Sonos in the photo in Brazil.
The quality is immense. My Bose system at home cost 10 times more, admittedly a few years ago... The Sonos is just as good as the Bose IMO. The sound is crisp, the Bluetooth works incredibly well. The bass box thumps. For £140 it was a very good purchase indeed.
The quality is immense. My Bose system at home cost 10 times more, admittedly a few years ago... The Sonos is just as good as the Bose IMO. The sound is crisp, the Bluetooth works incredibly well. The bass box thumps. For £140 it was a very good purchase indeed.
In reply to Post #18
Which one is that T?
TBH I have found what I think fits the bill, a pair of JVC active bluetooth speakers for £80. They have a small wire joining them to give stereo sound but it is small enough to run under the rug with no drama. I've not bought them yet but they are front runners. I still need to figure out how to locate them so I get good stereo sound (sofa in corner of the room which comes right up to the fireplace so I have nowhere to put the bloody speakers.
I REALLY wanted stereo sound with speakers right in the corner of the room because of some of the music I listen to it makes a big difference - hence I tended to ignore stuff like the sonos.
Which one is that T?
TBH I have found what I think fits the bill, a pair of JVC active bluetooth speakers for £80. They have a small wire joining them to give stereo sound but it is small enough to run under the rug with no drama. I've not bought them yet but they are front runners. I still need to figure out how to locate them so I get good stereo sound (sofa in corner of the room which comes right up to the fireplace so I have nowhere to put the bloody speakers.
I REALLY wanted stereo sound with speakers right in the corner of the room because of some of the music I listen to it makes a big difference - hence I tended to ignore stuff like the sonos.
In reply to Post #18
Not sure what that set is, but you'd have to add a 0 to that £140 to get a sonos soundbar and sub here
Not sure what that set is, but you'd have to add a 0 to that £140 to get a sonos soundbar and sub here
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