Here at the Strategist UK, we like to think of ourselves as obsessive (in the best way) about the stuff we buy, but as much as we’d like to, we can’t try everything. Which is why we have People’s Choice, in which we find the best-reviewed products and single out the most convincing ones. (You can learn more about our rating system and how we pick each item here.)
And while we’ve covered all sorts of technology before — including the best earphones, the best smart TVs, and the best home projectors — here, we’ve rounded up the best home speakers, as praised by the most enthusiastic reviewers on Amazon.
Best-rated overall home speakers
This third-gen Echo Dot speaker has over 460,000 reviews, with 83 percent of all reviews being five stars (in fact, only 6 percent of the total reviews are under four stars). The compact smart speaker is Alexa-enabled and affordable, and has over 10,500 positive reviews focusing on the sound quality. Reviews noted what an improvement the gen-three Echo is compared to the gen-two, with double the volume levels, sharper voice-recognition software, and crisper audio. In fact, the voice recognition was mentioned in 2,944 reviews, with customers finding it particularly good at picking up regional accents — customers from Scotland, Ireland, and Yorkshire all reported Alexa understanding them perfectly (one customer, with a self-described “plummy” Dorset accent, said they had less luck). Customers described setup as easy to use in 8,283 reviews, with setup involving downloading the Alexa app to a smartphone and following simple instructions.
Best-rated (less expensive) home speakers
Costing just £19 at full price (and frequently on sale), this speaker by Betron is a highly rated entry-level home speaker. One reviewer wrote that the handy size means that they can carry it from room to room in their pocket, and the speaker’s portability also means it’s perfect for travelling, which 110 customers mentioned in reviews. A further 155 reviews mentioned the excellent battery life, which is about four hours (or, as one customer noted, “three baths’” worth of audio). One buyer said that they purchased the Betron because the sound on their tablet was tinny, but after linking it to their mini-speaker via Bluetooth, the sound is now much clearer. Considering the price and size, don’t expect the sound to be as impressive as some of the larger or more expensive speakers on our list, but 741 reviewers were confident that the sound on their mini-speaker was powerful.
Best-rated portable home speaker
In total, 82 percent of the reviews for this Anker speaker are five stars. Customers spoke highly of the sound quality, particularly considering the price, and the compact size meant it was easy to carry around (one customer says she took it from the kitchen to the bathroom to the bedroom in a single evening). It also has a long-lasting battery, running for up to 24 hours without needing a charge, according to reviews. Some 318 reviews were enthusiastic about the build quality — which is how a speaker is put together — with one noting that the four rubber bobbles on each corner omit any surface vibration, and another claiming that the build quality is that of a far more expensive product. While you can pair this speaker to your computer, TV, or any other compatible device, the Anker SoundCore is on the smaller side compared to some of the others we’ve featured. But one customer wrote that after purchasing two of the speakers, they now pair them together via Bluetooth and connect both to their TV, creating a surround-sound quality that is much more powerful than their TV speakers.
Best home speakers with surround sound
For those with a little more to spend — and a big enough space to create their own home cinema or sound system — these Logitech speakers will give you one of the best audio experiences of everything on our list. With seven speakers of different sizes and a remote control, this set makes it easy to achieve an impressive surround-sound setup, with one reviewer reporting that for films, television, gaming, and music, the sound on the Logitech speakers is “sublime” and “rich.” The 165-watt-powered subwoofer (the largest speaker of the seven that come in this set) offers a high-powered sound, but some customers warn that the bass is particularly loud, which is worth noting if you don’t want to frustrate your neighbours. Each speaker can be controlled separately, making it easy to adjust the bass, treble, and volume of each. Most importantly, 282 reviewers commended the sound quality — one described the sound as “crystal clear,” while another called it “powerful” and “clean.”
Best-rated tower speaker
Tower speakers have a higher bass output and typically can produce a higher volume than “bookshelf” speakers, too. This speaker by Sumvision is the best-rated tower model, thanks to the high number of reviews, 72 percent of which are five stars. One customer called it surprisingly powerful given its “average” size, while another said it could produce a bass that makes the whole house rumble. The sound quality was mentioned in 152 reviews — one customer said their music was deep, rich, and immensely satisfying to listen to, while vocals were clean and velvety, according to another. According to one customer, who bought this model after his cousin recommended it, the blue neon lighting made this speaker look like something you’d find onstage at a rock concert, but while they liked the speaker generally, the quality of FM radio was considered lacking. Many customers also bought this to use outdoors, on patios and garden decking, with the USB outlet meaning phones can be charged while linking to the speaker via Bluetooth. Even the less enthusiastic reviews conceded this speaker was impressive — one reviewer, after criticising the volume levels, admitted the crisp sound quality was a welcome surprise.
Best-rated soundbar
This soundbar by Majority was the best-rated overall thanks to the number of reviews, 83 percent of which were four and five stars. While sound bars might not be able to produce the quality of a surround-sound speaker, this bar was recommended by reviewers who lived in flats and other small spaces, as the sound was less obtrusive to neighbours. One customer, who had to stop using his home-cinema setup due to noise complaints, said this model “punched above its weight,” delivering a sound far better than the built-in speakers on his TV. In total, 165 reviewers said it was easy to install, thanks to the instructions and leads provided, and, despite being a bar-style speaker, 103 reviews mentioned the excellent bass and treble capabilities. These include customers using their TVs for home cinemas, bedrooms, and even one man who turned his garage into a home gym.
The Strategist UK is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Read about who we are and what we do here. Our editors update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.