Best passive speakers on Reddit

186 reviews from r/BudgetAudiophile, r/StereoAdvice, r/turntables and 6 more subreddits

186 reviews from

and

By Brand

By Product

Wharfedale

4.5

(28)

"Can't really go wrong with anything there."

"Hands down the best speaker for the money."

"A used set of Wharfedale Diamond 12.2s."

"First speakers that popped in my head were Wharfedale Diamond 220's - no longer being made but great little speakers."

"Wharfdale diamond 12.2 and a Gjallerhorn."

"I use Wharfedale Denton 80th Anniversary myself."

"Dentons 80th Anniversary are excellent speakers."

"I would save a bit more and get the wharefdale 12.0s on open box or used sales."

"Wharfedale diamonds (12/11/10/... whatever looks best)"

"Wharfedale Diamonds sound really good."

KEF

4.7

(26)

"I'd just go for another KEF imo, that's what I have at my desktop (on an Aiyima) and they're great"

"Incredible deal on incredible speakers."

"[KEF LSX II LTs] and a used [KEF KC62] (to stay within your generous budget). Add some isopads, and you will have extraordinary full-range sound."

"I'd probably go with some KEF LS50 which you can find used for less than $700 pretty easily paired with a REL T Zero or maybe T5x, or SVS 3000 Micro."

"Wait for these KEF Q350 to go back on sale at $499. It's the best in class at that price."

"Kef single origin driver design causes what is sometimes called the 'squeegee effect', meaning 90+% clarity and signal representation."

"I ended up going with the kef q150s but thank you everyone who gave me suggestions"

"KEF Q150."

"KEF Q350"

"I really enjoy my KEF Q150s."

JBL

4.3

(13)

"$399 AUD on eBay right now"

"JBL 530 easily. Hands down."

"JBL Studio 530."

"Best bang for the buck you can get right now."

"* JBL Stage A130 ($280) * Mission LX-2 MKII ($300) * DALI Spektor 1."

"I would strongly consider these over the Kantos. JBL A130($199)"

"JBL A130 $199."

"Small Advents or any number of other bookshelf or monitor speakers from JBL, Klipsch... too many to name."

"Get JBL A130, it's $200 at Crutchfield."

"Q350, jbl studio 530, emotiva b1, chane a1.4."

PSB

4.4

(11)

"PSB Alpha P3 would be my first choice, easily."

"PSB Alpha P3. Great speakers, small size."

"PSB Alpha 5"

"There's a limited time sale on PSB Speakers Alpha P3s and P5s."

"It is on the warm side but without a doubt it is one of the silkiest and smoothest speakers you will find."

"The PSB P5s for $320 is also a good deal."

"Under $300usd in Canada I’d look at PSB P3, Polk ES10, Kanto Passive 5.25, Neumi Silk 4."

"The PSB Alpha P3 unfortunately aren’t on sale but seem like they’d be what you want."

"If you can stretch your budget to $280 I'd look at the PSB Alpha P3."

"I have PSB Alpha P3s on my desk right now, and I’m pretty happy with them."

Dali

4.6

(9)

"I love my Dali Oberon 7s driven by a Denon 3700."

"If you want passive, grab some Dali Spektor 1."

"I’d demo at least: - Dali Oberon 3 ($900) - Wharfedale Denton 85 ($1k) - B&W 606 ($1k) - Revel Performa3 ($850) - KEF Q350 ($800)"

"Dali Oberon 1s."

"I plan on getting a desktop passive speaker setup in the near future."

"Dali Spektor 2s are great."

Neumi

4.8

(8)

"Neumi BS5 $110 Amazon"

"If you're looking for bookshelf speakers, Neumi BS5 at $110/pair."

"For passive suggestion is similar. Aiyima A07 Pro $90 with either Neumi BS5 $110 or even better but over budget, Neumi Silk 4” $149."

"Neumi BS5 speakers with a Fosi V3 is about $215. Probably the best value new passive system right now in the US."

"Here are a couple that you might want to check out: Neumi BS5"

"Are the go to options for budget speakers."

"Either Neumi BS5, or Yamaha NS-6490 8” from Accessories4Less."

"The Neumis, Sony SSCs5, JBL A130 if available."

Elac

4.8

(8)

"I have the Elac DBR62's and drive them with a Bluesound Powernode Edge in a medium sized room with zero issues."

"I would recommend Elac debut reference."

"My Elac Unifi 5.2s sound real good with a pair of a300 amps."

"Elac BS41 (might be discontinue"

"It's not optimal placement but it's what I have for the moment and it sounds amazing!"

"Elac Debut 6.2 is amazing as desktop speakers. Very clean, spacious sound!"

"For $800 you'll be looking at Elac Unifi Reference BR 52."

"The Elac bs41-Bk is on sale for 70$. Pretty good set for the price."

Emotiva

4.6

(7)

"+1 for emotiva B1+"

"Emotiva B1+ or the bigger bookshelf model… (USD 300-500). Excellent bargain."

"Emotivas! B1+ or the next higher bookshelf model."

"Plays significantly well w the Emotiva B1+s."

"They pair well w/ Emotiva B1’s."

"Emotiva B1+ did quite well under measurement and are $300 a pair."

Polk

4.4

(7)

"Polk ES20 on sale $280 is a great deal. Very good price/performance even at msrp $400."

"Accesories 4 Less got refurbisbed Polk ES20 for $250."

"Polk XT15"

"Spend a bit more and get the Polk ES15, ES20, JBL Stage 240 or make the jump to something like the KEF Q150."

"Polk r100 speakers ($650, but they usually have a deal going on)."

"Polk es15 or es20. I have the es20's and preferred them over anything else in that price range."

"I have an older pair of Polk RT25i bookshelf speakers hooked up to my PC."

#10

ELAC

4.7

(6)

"ELAC"

"The Q's are a good choice Elac Debut 2.0 6.2 are $299 for Bstock at Elac"

"I'm a fan of the Elacs, but they are on the big side for a bookshelf sized speaker."

"Monitor audio Bronze and Elac B6.2 are frontported."

"If you are willing to pay more for the speakers, then you can improve on the ELAC Debut Reference DBR62."

"[https://www.crutchfield.com/shopsearch/ELAC_Debut_Reference_DBR62.html](https://www.crutchfield.com/shopsearch/ELAC_Debut_Reference_DBR62.html)"

#11

Klipsch

4.5

(6)

"Klipsch RP600M and a Rekkr or Gjallerhorn. I’m powering mine with two Rekkrs and they sound fantastic."

"Have a look at Klipsch R-41M"

"Look for Klipsch, Polk, B&W, Harmon, KEF, Boston Acoustics, etc etc."

"If you want a more live sound go for the Klipsch rp - if you can swing for the 5000Fii on a sale those are excellent for the money."

"At $700 and below range I’d be looking at the Klipsch rp600m and Triangle BR03."

"Klipsches."

#12

Triangle

4.3

(6)

"Triangle BR03 run from returns at Adorama for $279 to new in white on Amazon for $329 up to $399."

"Triangle BR02 /03 if midrange & tone is impt to you."

"Triangle BR03s. I don’t actually own a pair yet, but they are def worth looking into."

"Triangle BR02"

"I have been using Triangle BR03s for my home office, they are beautiful."

"The Triangle Borea BR03 is definitely worth consideration."

#13

Monitor Audio

4.8

(5)

"Built like a tank too"

"Find a pair of used Monitor Audio Radius 90's on eBay or Reverb. They sound amazing."

"I have the Monitor Audio MR1 second hand. It is awesome on my desktop."

"Monitor audio Bronze and Elac B6.2 are frontported."

"Monitor Audios are supposed to be good."

#14

Micca

4.6

(5)

"Micca RB42"

"Micca MB42X is what you want."

"So Micca RB42 At $150."

"Not sure on Best but I run Micca MB42X nearfield - sound GOOD low volume or moderately high volumes."

"Using Micca RB42s with an old Yamaha receiver and Polk sub."

#15

Q Acoustics

4.6

(5)

"I would definitely choose the Q's."

"I have the Q Acoustics 3010i, and have only heard good things about the 3030i's."

"If you want passive, grab some ... Q Acoustics 3010i."

"You should look at Q Acoustics. They are very highly rated by many many youtubers."

"Q acoustics 3020i. Iv paired them with the Sony STR-DH190 for a year or so and really loved that combination."

#16

Revel

5.0

(3)

"1-REVEL 2-POLK 3-DIAMOND NO DOUBT."

"Out of those, I would definitely choose the Revels."

"Revel M16 $1K."

#17

NHT

4.3

(3)

"Which I am in love with"

"NHT SuperOne's. Sound fantastic and comes in well under your budget."

"NHT SuperZero 2.1 are a bit tall (9"H x 5"W x 5.5"D). Really need a sub."

#18

Kanto

4.3

(3)

"And I love the Kanto YUPassive 5.25"

"Kanto Yu passive will work. No need to worry about the impedance or watts."

"Kanto YU passive 5.25 in white. Very nice just a bit bigger than the kanto yu4."

#19

Dayton

4.0

(3)

"10$ more, but if you're interested in buying new (with a warranty), you can do a lot worse than some Dayton T652 Towers."

"Yeah, Dayton MK402x, Dayton 6.5 in 80watt Subwoofer."

"I'm using a Kinter 2020+ with a pair of Dayton Airs."

#20

Audioengine

5.0

(2)

"I have audioengine 5. They are just awesome"

"I use a port and Audioengine A5's, they will fill that room with joy (no sub required)."

#21

Dayton Audio

4.5

(2)

"Anything"

"Check out the Dayton Audio stuff on Parts Express."

#22

Edifier

4.5

(2)

"The Edifiers are absolutely good. I have a set of 1700s and they sound great and are solid."

"Edifier P12 or P17."

#23

Mackie

4.0

4.0

(1)

"Check out the SVS website. We have a number of their speakers and subwoofers and their stuff is equipment at very good prices."

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