The 7 Best Home Speakers – Summer 2023: Reviews
- Table of Contents
- Intro
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Best Speaker
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Best Upper Mid-Range
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Best Mid-Range
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Best Lower Mid-Range
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Best Budget
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Best Cheap
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Best Home Decor
- Notable Mentions
- Recent Updates
- All Reviews
- Discussions
Updated Jun 28, 2023 at 01:51 pm
By Becca Fischer
If you love listening to audio at home, you’ll want a speaker to fill your space with your favorite music or podcasts. Nowadays, many speakers offer a sleek, stylish design that can blend in easily with your existing home decor without taking up a lot of space or requiring a lot of unsightly wires and cords. Many speakers have built-in voice assistant capabilities that can help you with your day-to-day tasks, and some even support multi-room features that make it easy to bring your audio with you from one room to the next. If you plan on using your speaker around water, like in your kitchen or bathroom, some speakers also come with waterproof designs.
We’ve tested over 110 speakers, and below are our recommendations for the best wireless speakers for home use. See our picks for the best smart speakers, the best cheap speakers, and the best Bluetooth speakers.
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Best Home Speaker
Sonos Era 300
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Music
7.7
Videos/Movies
7.0
Podcasts
6.8
Voice Assistant
8.8
Outdoors
5.
5Battery Powered
No
Speakerphone
No
Voice Assistant
Yes
Bluetooth
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes
See all our test results
The best home speaker that we’ve tested is the Sonos Era 300. This premium device has a sleek and stylish design that’s easy to integrate into your home decor, with great sound quality suitable for listening to lots of different audio content. You can use the speaker on its own or integrate it into your existing Sonos ecosystem to create a surround sound setup in your living room. It’s one of the few speakers we’ve tested with Dolby Atmos support, too, which is great for enjoying more immersive formats like Dolby Atmos Music found on subscription platforms like Apple Music.
As for its sound, this speaker comes with a room correction tool designed to optimize its audio reproduction based on your room’s unique acoustics.
It’s called Trueplay, and while the full feature is only available with iOS devices, Android users can now access a more simplified version, too. If you’d rather manually adjust the speaker’s sound, there are bass and treble adjustments in the Sonos S2 app. Plus, this speaker’s built-in Alexa capabilities let you control it hands-free from the comfort of your couch. Overall, it’s a feature-packed device that brings a high-quality sound. If you want something more simple, it’s a little much, but it’s still worth a look.See our review
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Best Upper Mid-Range Home Speaker
Sonos Move
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Music
7.0
Videos/Movies
6.
5Podcasts
8.1
Voice Assistant
8.6
Outdoors
7.7
Battery Powered
Yes
Speakerphone
No
Voice Assistant
Yes
Bluetooth
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes
See all our test results
Looking for something more affordable? Check out the Sonos Move. It’s a unique device that’s designed for use both in and out of the home, so it’s more versatile than some of the other picks on this list. Still, its sleek and stylish design fits right in with your living room decor for in-home use. Built-in Alexa and Google Assistant provide hands-free control, so you can ask either voice assistant to adjust the volume, check the weather, or even add ingredients to your grocery list, among other commands.
The included wireless base is great for charging—but you can use it wired, too.Best of all, this speaker is ideal for bringing your tunes to the backyard, too. Its built-in handle makes it easy to transport, and with up to ten hours of battery life, you can listen to music without interruption for a good chunk of the day. Since it’s rated IP56 for dust and water resistance, there’s some protection against the elements, too. Given the price difference, it’s only natural that it comes with fewer features than the Sonos Era 300. There’s no Dolby Atmos support, and the Trueplay room correction tool is limited to iOS devices, which is disappointing if you’re an Android user. Still, if you want something more portable at a more affordable price, it’s worth checking out.
See our review
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Best Mid-Range Home Speaker
Sonos Era 100
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Music
7.
4Videos/Movies
6.8
Podcasts
6.8
Voice Assistant
8.5
Outdoors
5.4
Battery Powered
No
Speakerphone
No
Voice Assistant
Yes
Bluetooth
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes
See all our test results
If you’re shopping in the mid-range, you’ll want to check out the Sonos Era 100. As its name suggests, this speaker is the smaller alternative to the Sonos Era 300, and it offers many of the same cool features. For example, built-in Alexa support lets you control this speaker with your voice, and you have access to the Trueplay room correction tool on Android and iOS devices.
Through the Sonos S2 app, you can connect this speaker with other Sonos devices to spread sound throughout your home or create a surround sound experience with a compatible soundbar. There’s no Dolby Atmos support, but if you don’t listen to much of this content, you may find it’s a better value overall.Given its wired-only design, this speaker doesn’t offer the same portability as the Sonos Move. It’s not rated for dust or water resistance, so it’s best to use it indoors and away from sinks or showers. Still, it’s a great addition to any living room and boasts a stand-out sound quality for the price. Voices and lead instruments are clearly reproduced right out of the box, which is ideal for listening to many different music genres. It’s a stereo speaker, unlike the Move, so you also get a clear sense of separation between the left and right channels. For a more budget-friendly price, this speaker is a great pick.
See our review
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Best Lower Mid-Range Home Speaker
Amazon Echo Studio
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Music
7.
1Videos/Movies
6.1
Podcasts
6.3
Voice Assistant
7.9
Outdoors
5.4
Battery Powered
No
Speakerphone
Yes
Voice Assistant
Yes
Bluetooth
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes
See all our test results
The Amazon Echo Studio is another great all-around smart home speaker that’s more affordable than our top picks. It’s one of the best home Bluetooth speakers we’ve tested, with a sleek design that blends in easily with your home decor. Many smart features are on hand, including built-in Alexa and a Zigbee hub that gives you hands-free control over other compatible smart devices like light bulbs and thermostats.
When you use the voice assistant, the light ring on top of the speaker comes to life, so you know it’s registered your command. When you’re done, you can easily mute the microphone using the button on top of the device.With its solid sound quality, this speaker is a suitable choice for listening to many different types of audio content. You can easily follow along with the conversation in dialogue-heavy podcasts and audiobooks, and instruments in music are detailed and lively in the mix. Compared to the Sonos Era 100, it doesn’t have a room correction feature, so it sounds slightly different depending on the space you’re listening in. However, you can use the bass and treble adjustments in the Amazon Alexa app to make up for this. You’ll also find multi-room and stereo pairing support in the app to connect it with other compatible speakers, which is a nice touch for the price.
See our review
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Best Budget Home Speaker
Amazon Echo Gen 4
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Music
6.
8Videos/Movies
6.1
Podcasts
6.3
Voice Assistant
8.8
Outdoors
5.2
Battery Powered
No
Speakerphone
Yes
Voice Assistant
Yes
Bluetooth
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes
See all our test results
The best budget home speaker we’ve tested is the Amazon Echo Gen 4. This smart device has a unique spherical design that makes for a stylish addition to your home decor, and you can find it in several colors to match your aesthetic. Thanks to built-in Alexa support, you can control the device hands-free with only the sound of your voice, making it easy to add ingredients to your shopping list, check the weather, and more.
The built-in Zigbee hub gives you control over other smart home devices, like lightbulbs and thermostats. For more private moments, you can mute Alexa’s microphone as well.This speaker’s sound quality is solid, too, making it a great choice for listening to music, podcasts, and more in the comfort of your home. Dialogue is easy-to-follow, and the clear reproduction of voices and other instruments brings a pleasant and accurate sound to the mix. Adjust its bass and treble levels in the Amazon Alexa app if you want a different sound. While this smaller device doesn’t get quite as loud as the larger Amazon Echo Studio, as long as you’re listening in an average-sized room, it won’t be much of an issue. Its budget-friendly price is ideal for those who want to try out a home speaker without breaking the bank.
See our review
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Best Cheap Home Speaker
Google Nest Mini
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Music
5.
6Videos/Movies
4.9
Podcasts
6.4
Voice Assistant
8.3
Outdoors
4.9
Battery Powered
No
Speakerphone
Yes
Voice Assistant
Yes
Bluetooth
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes
See all our test results
The Google Nest Mini is another great place to start if you’re new to the home speaker space. This wallet-friendly device offers a solid voice assistant performance, even compared with the pricier models on our list, which is great for managing the home while rocking out to your favorite tunes.
Built-in Google Assistant gives you hands-free control over your device right from the comfort of your couch. It’s also available in several colors, so you can pick a variant that best suits your style. With a sleek design covered in tight-knit fabric, it blends into your home decor.This speaker is a solid choice for listening to everything from music to podcasts to audiobooks. Voices and lead instruments are clearly and accurately reproduced from the jump, so you enjoy a clear and clean sound. Given its small size, though, it can’t bring as much rumble in the bass as larger models on our list, like the Amazon Echo Gen 4. It still has many customization tools to help you switch up its sound, including bass and treble adjustments, though this can’t add to the speaker’s overall low-frequency extension. Still, this speaker is a great option for those looking for a low-price way to get voice assistant support at home, especially if you tend to listen to content without a lot of bass mixed in.
See our review
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Best Home Decor Speaker
IKEA SYMFONISK Bookshelf
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Music
6.7
Videos/Movies
5.7
Podcasts
6.4
Voice Assistant
2.8
Outdoors
4.7
Battery Powered
No
Speakerphone
No
Voice Assistant
No
Bluetooth
No
Wi-Fi
Yes
See all our test results
If style is your top priority, you’ll be happy to know that more and more home speakers on the market are adapting innovative designs, so they can blend right in with your existing decor.
The IKEA SYMFONISK Bookshelf is the best we’ve tested, and as its name suggests, it’s designed for use as a bookshelf. Available in black and white, it’s easy to mount to your wall using the compatible brackets that the manufacturer sells separately. Since you can control its features through the Sonos S2 app, you don’t have to worry about handling the speaker once it’s in place.That’s right—this speaker is a collaboration between IKEA and Sonos, so it has many of the same features available on Sonos’ more premium models. With Trueplay room correction, you can optimize the speaker’s output based on your room’s unique acoustics. If you prefer manual calibration, you’ll find bass and treble adjustments. Plus, the app lets you connect other Sonos speakers to spread audio throughout multiple rooms in your home, which is neat. Its sound quality isn’t as impressive as the higher-end models on our list, but with such a unique design, style-conscious listeners will want to check this speaker out.
See our review
5
It’s called Trueplay, and while the full feature is only available with iOS devices, Android users can now access a more simplified version, too. If you’d rather manually adjust the speaker’s sound, there are bass and treble adjustments in the Sonos S2 app. Plus, this speaker’s built-in Alexa capabilities let you control it hands-free from the comfort of your couch. Overall, it’s a feature-packed device that brings a high-quality sound. If you want something more simple, it’s a little much, but it’s still worth a look.
5
The included wireless base is great for charging—but you can use it wired, too.
4
Through the Sonos S2 app, you can connect this speaker with other Sonos devices to spread sound throughout your home or create a surround sound experience with a compatible soundbar. There’s no Dolby Atmos support, but if you don’t listen to much of this content, you may find it’s a better value overall.
1
When you use the voice assistant, the light ring on top of the speaker comes to life, so you know it’s registered your command. When you’re done, you can easily mute the microphone using the button on top of the device.
8
The built-in Zigbee hub gives you control over other smart home devices, like lightbulbs and thermostats. For more private moments, you can mute Alexa’s microphone as well.
6
Built-in Google Assistant gives you hands-free control over your device right from the comfort of your couch. It’s also available in several colors, so you can pick a variant that best suits your style. With a sleek design covered in tight-knit fabric, it blends into your home decor.
The IKEA SYMFONISK Bookshelf is the best we’ve tested, and as its name suggests, it’s designed for use as a bookshelf. Available in black and white, it’s easy to mount to your wall using the compatible brackets that the manufacturer sells separately. Since you can control its features through the Sonos S2 app, you don’t have to worry about handling the speaker once it’s in place.
Notable Mentions
- Denon Home 350:
The Denon Home 350 is a home speaker that’s designed for easy integration into your surround sound setup with a compatible Denon soundbar. It boasts a stylish design and built-in Alexa support, too. However, it doesn’t support Dolby Atmos like the Sonos Era 300.
See our review - Marshall Woburn III:
The Marshall Woburn III is a wired home speaker that’s ideal for those who love the company’s signature retro-style design. It has great sound quality and is easy to integrate with your TV. It lacks voice assistant support, which is disappointing compared to similarly-priced models like the Sonos Era 300 and the Denon Home 350.
See our review - Bose Home Speaker 500:
The Bose Home Speaker 500 is great for those who love the company’s signature sound. It isn’t quite as stylish as some of our top picks, but its built-in voice assistant support and wired-only design are great for listening in your living room. It doesn’t bring as much low-bass as the Sonos Move, though.
See our review - Apple HomePod (2nd generation):
The Apple HomePod (2nd generation) is worth a look if you prefer a home speaker with Siri support. It brings a bit more low-bass than the Sonos Era 100, but it’s not as customizable and only supports Wi-Fi connectivity.
See our review - Klipsch The Three II:
The Klipsch The Three II is another home speaker with a vintage design. It connects easily to a turntable, which is great for listening to music at home. It lacks voice assistant support and a companion app for sound customization, which is disappointing compared to similarly-priced home speakers like the Sonos Era 100.
See our review
It isn’t quite as stylish as some of our top picks, but its built-in voice assistant support and wired-only design are great for listening in your living room. It doesn’t bring as much low-bass as the Sonos Move, though.
Recent Updates
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Jun 28, 2023:
Minor text updates for clarity. Edited Notable Mentions to include more home-focused picks. -
Jun 01, 2023:
The Amazon Echo Dot Gen 4 is no longer available, so we’ve replaced it with the Google Nest Mini as the ‘Best Cheap’ pick. -
May 12, 2023:
The Sonos Era 300 replaces the Denon Home 350 as the ‘Best Overall’ pick, as it has a better soundstage and more features like Dolby Atmos support. The Sonos Era 100 replaces the Apple HomePod (2nd Generation) as the ‘Best Mid-Range’, given that it’s more customizable and supports Bluetooth. -
Apr 14, 2023:
Confirmed product picks. Minor text updates for clarity.
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Mar 17, 2023:
Added the Apple HomePod (2nd generation) as our ‘Best Mid-Range’ pick.
Minor text updates for clarity.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best home speakers for music and other uses for most people to buy, according to their needs. We factor in the price (cheaper speakers win over pricier ones if the difference isn’t worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no speakers that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here’s the list of all our reviews for speakers, including the best home Bluetooth speakers. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect speakers. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.
IKEA SYMFONISK Bookshelf Review – RTINGS.
com
Tested using
Methodology v0.8
Reviewed Jun 09, 2021 at 10:22 am
Latest change: Writing modified Oct 21, 2022 at 01:28 pm
By John Panoryios, Yara El Deek, and Yannick Khong
5.7
Videos/Movies
6.4
Podcasts
2.8
Voice Assistant
4.7
Outdoors
overview
test results
deals
discussions
Battery Powered
No
Speakerphone
No
Voice Assistant
No
Bluetooth
No
Wi-Fi
Yes
The IKEA SYMFONISK Bookshelf is a collaboration between IKEA and Sonos.
This rectangular speaker can blend in nicely with most home decor. You can mount it to your wall and use it as a shelf, though the wall-mounting brackets aren’t included in the box and must be purchased separately. It has a bright sound profile, which you can customize thanks to the bass and treble sliders featured on its Sonos S2 companion app. It also comes with the Sonos Trueplay room-correction feature, which adjusts the speaker’s sound according to the acoustics of your room, but this is only available on iOS devices. Also, this speaker doesn’t support Bluetooth, so you can only use it to play your audio over an internet connection.
Our Verdict
6.7
Music
The IKEA SYMFONISK is alright for music. Its balanced mid-range ensures vocals and lead instruments sound present in the mix. However, its overemphasized treble range can cause higher-pitched vocals and instruments to sound harsh at times.
It also struggles to reproduce low-bass, so you can’t feel the deep thump and rumble in bass-heavy music like EDM. Fortunately, the companion app features bass and treble sliders you can use to tweak its sound to your liking. While it can’t get very loud, there are few compression artifacts present at max volume. This means your audio sounds clean at louder volumes.
Pros
-
Bass/treble adjustments.
-
Few compression artifacts at max volume.
Cons
-
Doesn’t get very loud.
-
Requires two units for stereo sound.
5.
7
Videos/Movies
The IKEA SYMFONISK is sub-par for videos and movies. This speaker doesn’t get very loud and struggles to reproduce a thumpy and rumbling low-bass, which fans of action-packed movies and videos may find disappointing. That said, there are few compression artifacts present at max volume, so your audio should remain clean at louder volumes. Unfortunately, it requires two units to play stereo audio and has to downmix stereo content to mono when using it on its own, which doesn’t sound as immersive.
Cons
-
Doesn’t get very loud.
-
Requires two units for stereo sound.
6.
4
Podcasts
The IKEA SYMFONISK is okay for podcasts. Its well-balanced mid-range ensures voices and dialogue sound clear, making it suitable for listening to dialogue-heavy audio content like audiobooks or podcasts. However, its overemphasized treble range can make sibilants like ‘S’ and ‘T’ sound harsh at times. That said, its companion app features bass and treble sliders you can use to adjust the speaker’s sound to suit your preferences. While this speaker isn’t very portable, you can connect it to compatible speakers in your house and stream different audio in different rooms at once.
Pros
-
Bass/treble adjustments.
-
Few compression artifacts at max volume.
2.
8
Voice Assistant
The IKEA SYMFONISK doesn’t have any voice assistants. That said, the manufacturer claims you can use assistants to control the speaker when it is connected to a compatible voice-enabled Amazon or Google Home device. However, we don’t test this as it requires a third-party device that needs to be bought separately.
4.7
Outdoors
The IKEA SYMFONISK isn’t designed for outdoor use since it’s a wired-only speaker and needs to remain plugged into a power outlet for it to work.
-
6.7
Music
-
5.
7Videos/Movies
-
6.4
Podcasts
-
2.8
Voice Assistant
-
4.7
Outdoors
7+ Create your own
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Updated Oct 21, 2022:
Added a comparison to the IKEA SYMFONISK Picture frame in the ‘Style’ and ‘Compared To Other Speakers’ boxes.
-
Updated Jun 09, 2021:
Review published. -
Updated Jun 04, 2021:
Early access published.
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White
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The IKEA SYMFONISK speaker comes in two color variants, ‘Black’ and ‘White’, and we expect them both to perform similarly. We tested the ‘Black’ color variant; you can find its label here.
If you come across any other variants, let us know in the discussions, and we’ll update our review.
Compared To Other Speakers
The IKEA SYMFONISK is a sleek speaker designed to blend in with most home decors. You can mount it to your wall and use it as a bookshelf, though its wall-mounting brackets are purchased separately.
Unfortunately, like the IKEA SYMFONISK Speaker lamp and the IKEA SYMFONISK Picture frame, it doesn’t support Bluetooth, so you can only play your audio over an internet connection. It also requires two speakers to play stereo content and has to downmix stereo content to mono to play it when using it on its own, which doesn’t sound as immersive.
See our recommendations for the best home speakers, the best Sonos speakers, and the best Bluetooth speakers.
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The Sonos One Gen 2 is a slightly better speaker than the IKEA SYMFONISK Bookshelf overall, though they are similar speakers. The Sonos offers very good voice assistant support with Alexa and Google Assistant built-in. It also has a somewhat better-balanced sound profile than that of the IKEA. That said, the IKEA can get slightly louder with fewer compression artifacts at max volume, so your audio remains clean when listening at louder volumes.
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The IKEA SYMFONISK Bookshelf speaker and the Sonos One SL are similar speakers.
The Sonos is smaller and has a more neutral-sounding sound profile. However, the IKEA can get slightly louder than the Sonos with fewer compression artifacts present at max volume, so your audio sounds clearer during louder listening sessions.
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The IKEA SYMFONISK Bookshelf and the Google Nest Audio are similar speakers, though they have different strengths. The IKEA has a better-balanced sound profile and can get louder with fewer compression artifacts present at max volume, so your audio should sound cleaner during louder listening sessions. It also supports Apple AirPlay and has very low latency over this connection, which may please Apple users. That said, the Google speaker has very good directivity, resulting in a wider-sounding soundstage. It offers outstanding voice assistant support with Google Assistant built-in. It’s also Bluetooth-compatible, so you can stream your audio to the speaker over a Bluetooth connection.
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The Sonos Roam is a better speaker than the IKEA SYMFONISK Bookshelf overall, though you may prefer one over the other depending on your listening habits.
The Sonos is an incredibly portable Bluetooth speaker with outstanding voice assistant support with Alexa and Google Assistant built-in. It also has better directivity, resulting in a more open-sounding soundstage. That said, the IKEA can produce a deeper low-bass than the Sonos. It can also get louder with fewer compression artifacts at max volume, so your audio sounds cleaner at louder volume settings.
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The IKEA SYMFONISK Bookshelf and the IKEA SYMFONISK Speaker lamp are both Wi-Fi speakers from a collaboration between IKEA and Sonos designed to blend in with your home decor. You can place the Bookshelf speaker horizontally or vertically, and you can mount it to your wall. It can get slightly louder than the Speaker lamp, with significantly less compression present at max volume, so audio quality doesn’t degrade as much as you bump up the volume. That said, the Speaker lamp offers a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a slightly more extended low-bass than the Bookshelf.
It also has better directivity resulting in a wider-sounding soundstage.
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The IKEA SYMFONISK Bookshelf is a bit better speaker than the IKEA SYMFONISK Picture frame. While the Bookshelf doesn’t have the widest-sounding soundstage, it still sounds much wider and more open than the Picture frame’s. Otherwise, they both perform fairly similarly, so depending on your aesthetic preferences and your home decor, you may prefer one over the other.
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The Sonos Move is a better speaker than the IKEA SYMFONISK Bookshelf. The Sonos has a better-balanced sound profile and a wider-sounding soundstage. You can also use it to stream your audio over a Bluetooth connection, and it offers outstanding voice assistant support with Alexa and Google Assistant built-in. It’s also outstandingly portable. That said, the IKEA has fewer compression artifacts present at max volume, and it has lower latency over Apple AirPlay than the Sonos.
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The Sonos Five is a better speaker than the IKEA SYMFONISK Bookshelf overall. The Sonos can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono which sounds more immersive. It can also get louder than the IKEA and can produce deeper and thumpier bass. While the IKEA doesn’t get as loud as the Sonos, it has fewer compression artifacts present at max volume, resulting in a cleaner sound when listening to louder volume settings.
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The IKEA SYMFONISK Bookshelf and the Klipsch The Three II are similar speakers with different strengths. The IKEA is Wi-Fi compatible and can produce a more extended low-bass with its Trueplay feature enabled. It also comes with bass and treble adjustments to customize its sound. That said, the Klipsch can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono which is more immersive. It can also get significantly louder than the IKEA, and it supports Bluetooth connectivity.
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Test Results
Sort Category───────────RATINGSMusicVideos/MoviesPodcastsVoice AssistantOutdoors
Category AllDesignSoundActive FeaturesConnectivity
Design
RGB Lights
No
The IKEA SYMFONISK is a sleek, rectangular speaker designed to blend in with your home decor.
You can place it horizontally or vertically. You can also mount it to your wall to use as a shelf, though the mounting brackets aren’t included and must be purchased separately. This speaker comes in two colors, ‘Black’ and ‘White’. For another IKEA and Sonos speaker that easily blends in with home decor, check out the
IKEA SYMFONISK Speaker lamp and the IKEA SYMFONISK Picture frame.
Volume
288 in³ (4,727 cm³)
Weight
4.6 lbs (2.1 kg)
Power Source
AC Only
One-Hand Carry
Yes
This speaker isn’t very portable. While you can carry it with one hand, you can’t easily take it outdoors with you since it isn’t battery-powered and needs to remain plugged into a power outlet to work.
Material Quality
Good
Water Resistance
No
Dust Resistance
No
Impact Resistance
Unspecified
Floats In Water
No
Its build quality isn’t bad.
Its body is mostly ABS plastic, while its front is covered by polyester fabric. You can pull on the SONOS/IKEA tab to remove the speaker’s front panel to see its drivers. There are also rubber feet on two of the speaker’s sides so it can sit either horizontally or vertically. Since this speaker isn’t for outdoor use, it doesn’t have an IP rating for dust and water resistance, and we don’t currently test for this.
Ease Of Use
Decent
Feedback
Okay
Music Play/Pause
Yes (Physical)
Call Answer/End
No
Volume Up/Down
Yes (Physical)
Track Next/Previous
Yes (Physical)
Microphone On/Off
No
Additional Controls
No
Its controls aren’t bad and are pretty straightforward.
There’s a play/pause button you can double-press to skip to your next track and triple-press to skip to your previous one. Pressing and holding this button for a few seconds duplicates your music from another eligible Sonos device. There are also + and – buttons you can use to adjust the speaker’s volume. There’s a small light next to the play/pause button that changes colors to inform you of its connection status. It will turn to a solid green when you reach the speaker’s minimum volume, though it doesn’t notify you once you’ve reached its max volume setting. Unfortunately, the buttons don’t feel very clicky, and it may be hard to tell if you pressed them properly. They may also be harder to press if you have larger fingers.
- Quick guide
- IKEA SYMFONISK Bookshelf speaker
- Ethernet cable
- Power cable
Sound
Slope
1.56
Std. Err.
4.02 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
49.
7 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
18.8 kHz
This speaker has decent frequency response accuracy. It has a bright sound profile, with a balanced mid-range that ensures vocals and lead instruments sound present in the mix. That said, its overemphasized treble range can make voices and sibilants like ‘S’ and ‘T’ sound honky and harsh at times. This speaker also struggles to reproduce the deep thump and rumble that fans of bass-heavy music tend to enjoy. Fortunately, its Sonos S2 companion app features bass and treble sliders you can use to customize its sound to your liking.
Note: We tested this speaker vertically, with its Trueplay room correction feature enabled and its bass and treble settings set to their default configurations. However, it’s important to note that its Trueplay feature is only available on iOS devices.
Binaural Recording @ 1m
Binaural Recording @ 2m
Directivity Index
4.
47 dB
Stereo
No (mono)
The speaker has a middling soundstage performance. While it can pair to a compatible speaker to create a stereo pair, it has to downmix stereo content to mono when using it on its own, which doesn’t sound as immersive. However, its directivity is alright, so your audio sounds mostly clear from most angles. Its soundstage is perceived as somewhat narrow and directional instead of wide and spacious at times.
Consider the IKEA SYMFONISK Speaker lamp for a speaker with a wider and more open-sounding soundstage.
SPL @ Max Volume
89.2 dB SPL
DRC @ Max Volume
1.80 dB
Its dynamics performance is decent. While it can’t get very loud, there aren’t many compression artifacts present at max volume, so your audio sounds mostly clean during louder listening sessions. If you’re looking for a home speaker that can get significantly louder, check out the Klipsch The Three II.
Active Features
Battery Life
N/A
Charge Time
N/A
Power Saving
No
Charging Port
No Battery
Battery Powered
No
Alexa
No
Google Assistant
No
Speakerphone
No
Siri
No
Voice Assistant
No
Voice Activation
No
Microphone Mute
No Microphone
Far-Field Performance
No Microphone
Ambient Noise Performance
No Microphone
While it doesn’t have any voice assistants, the manufacturer claims it can be controlled by voice assistants when it’s connected to a compatible voice-enabled Amazon or Google Home device.
However, we didn’t test this. Since this requires buying a third-party device, we don’t consider it to support voice assistants.
App Name
Sonos S2
iOS
Yes
Android
Yes
EQ
Bass/Treble
Stereo Pair Mode
Yes
Party Mode
Yes
Multi-Room
Yes
The Sonos S2 app is outstanding. It features bass and treble sliders you can use to customize the speaker’s sound to your liking. You can also use it to pair it to another speaker to create a stereo pair or to multiple other compatible speakers when you want to play different audio content in different rooms of your house at the same time. Unfortunately, its Trueplay room correction feature is only available with iOS products.
Connectivity
Aux Input
No
USB Audio
No
Other Ports
Yes
It has an Ethernet port you can use to connect the speaker to your network.
Bluetooth
No
Bluetooth Version
No Bluetooth
Bluetooth iOS Latency
N/A
Bluetooth Android Latency
N/A
Bluetooth Range
N/A
Multi-Device Pairing
No
Wi-Fi Version
Wi-Fi 4
Wi-Fi Frequency Band
2.4GHz
Wi-Fi
Yes
Apple AirPlay
Yes
AirPlay Latency
-14 ms
Google Chromecast
No
Chromecast Latency
N/A
It’s Wi-Fi compatible.
It has an outstanding Apple AirPlay latency performance, making it suitable for watching videos and movies. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have Chromecast built-in, which may disappoint some Android users.
90,000 additional SA-RS5 wireless rear columns with a total capacity of 180 W
Additional SA-RS5 wireless rear columns with a built-in battery with a total output of 180 W
Additional SA-RS5 wireless columns with a common battery with a total output capacity of 180 W
Buy Now
Enjoy 360 Spatial Sound Mapping with Soundbar
Combined with our latest compatible soundbars, the SA-RS5 (Surround Bass and Vertical Speakers) delivers 360 Spatial Sound Mapping for a phantom effect. nyh speakers in the room. Phantom speakers on multiple sides and an optimized sound field let you hear every sound clearly. It’s like you and your living room are inside a movie 
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View our compatible soundbars
Learn more about HT-A5000
Learn more about HT-A3000
The sound of every part of the action
Our speakers use the latest technology to provide optimal sound quality and wide directivity for the surround map 360 Spatial Sound Mapping.
Contents of each speaker
1 – Vertical speaker
2 – Soft dome tweeter
3 – Wide-range woofer
4 – Dual passive radiator
Total immersion with upward-firing speakers
For more immersive sound, upward-firing speakers reflect sound away from the ceiling.
Crisp sound with a wide range
The rear speaker system includes tweeters and woofers that create a rich, spacious and clear soundstage. Dual passive radiators boost low frequencies for more powerful bass 
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180W total power output
The two channels of 90W of power output from these speakers perfectly complement the soundbar’s capabilities, bringing your favorite movies and music to new heights.
Wall mount
They can be placed anywhere, whether on a table or on a wall .
Flexible positioning – no power supply required
These speakers are flexible in use, with full wireless (internal batteries) and mains powered configurations.
Mains powered connection
Cordless battery powered connection
Up to 10 hours of battery life and quick charge
With up to 10 hours of battery life when fully charged, the speakers can be used without being connected to the mains.
They can be removed for charging, and then removed for use. If you’re in a hurry, a 10-minute charge will keep the speakers running for another 90 minutes .
Optimize the sound field for your room at the touch of a button
Activate the sound field optimization function at any time by pressing the OPTIMIZE button on the unit. When paired with a compatible soundbar, these speakers use dual microphones to measure the distance between the speakers and the ceiling for smart and easy setup.
Wireless freedom
When turned on, the wireless rear speakers automatically connect wirelessly to a compatible soundbar. Forget about chaotically placed cables.
Omni-Directional Block Design
These speakers are designed with an omni-directional sound propagation concept using our compatible soundbars.
A single, solid, cylindrical unit powers 360 Spatial Sound and fits perfectly against the wall.
Specifications and features
Enjoy true surround sound with wireless rear speakers with up-firing speakers and built-in battery for wireless positioning. Combined with compatible soundbars, these wireless rear speakers create multiple phantom speakers throughout the room, powering our revolutionary 360 Spatial Sound Mapping technology.
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System Audio
Wireless Stereo Hub System Audio SA Stereo Hub for Silverback.
Attention!!! Specify the availability of goods with the manager, in the absence of a warehouse in Moscow, delivery under the order with 100% prepayment (delivery time 6-8 weeks).
System Audio SA Stereo Hub for Silverback – The Stereo Hub controls your audio devices and connects them wirelessly to SA Legend Silverback speakers. The Stereo Hub is the meeting place for all your audio devices. This is where you plug in your TV, player, CD, computer, or whatever device you prefer to listen to. It has built-in Chromecast, Airplay, Bluetooth and Spotify Connect. So it’s also the meeting place for your wireless devices, whether you prefer Apple or Android. It has more than twice as many features as similar hubs from other brands. The Stereo Hub turns on automatically when you turn on your TV or start streaming music to it.
Uncompromising digital quality:
The Stereo Hub accepts audio from your devices at up to 24-bit/192 kHz (High Definition).
This is the best quality that the music industry uses to record music, which is why we offer this feature. Audio processing in Stereo Hub is lossless, silent, and skip-free.
Doesn’t have to be visible:
It provides new possibilities for placing your audio devices. You do not depend on speaker cables and, for example, you can place your turntable anywhere. Even in a completely different room. The stereo hub does not have to be visible. You can remove it.
Best Wireless Connection:
The connection from the Stereo Hub to your Silverback speakers is WiSA. This is the best wireless connection for high end audio. WiSA is a wireless, lossless, interference-free, interruption-free digital connection, and an international standard that allows devices from different brands to work with each other wirelessly. WiSA technology does not require a wireless network. In fact, you can use WiSA even if you don’t have Wi-Fi. WiSA is an independent and exclusive connection between Stereo Hub and Silverback speakers.