As pop legend Sir Cliff Richard once sang while rolling around wearing a Sony Walkman: I like small speakers. I like loud speakers. If they have music, they are connected to sound.
But while I share his enthusiasm for speakers in a variety of sizes, I wish some of them were a little more interesting to look at as well as listen to: I’m writing this in a room containing three sets of rectangular vertical speakers, all of which came in a choice of black, black, or black.
Samsung Music Studio 5 and 7
I really loved the design of Samsung’s latest Music Studio speakers, especially the Music Studio 5 in white: like my colleague Matt Bolton, the first thing they reminded me of was Braun’s Dieter Rams: they look like a long-lost relative of the Braun watches I have in my home. And because they’re Samsung, there’s substance to match the style: Music Studio 5 promises to punch above its weight in the bass department thanks to Samsung’s AI Dynamic Bass control. Hi-Res Audio doesn’t, but the bigger, louder Music Studio 7 does, and it’s also built for spatial audio.
IKEA sun protection
Due to their size and shape, I highly doubt the new IKEA Solskydd speakers will deliver room-filling audiophile-approved sound. But with a choice of three sizes and the ability to place them pretty much anywhere, the Solskydd are super cute, perfect for casual listening and, in the orange-y version pictured above, fun to look at. And on the subject of brightly colored speakers…
Cambridge L/R active bookshelf speakers
Which speaker did you notice first in the photo above? If it wasn’t the orange one, I’d be very surprised. Cambridge Audio’s recently announced L/R range is by no means the first orange speaker – we’ve seen plenty from the likes of KEF – but it’s a departure for the audio brand, and it’s a great colour. There are other, more sober options, but as the former owner of an orange Apple iBook—still, in my opinion, the most beautiful computer ever made—there’s only one Cambridge color I’d want in my house.
Harman Kardon SoundSticks 5 Wi-Fi
I had a set of Harman Kardon SoundSticks about a million years ago for my candy-colored Mac, so seeing this latest generation has taken me back in time to my happy place. There is nothing retro about the technology in this new version: they are wireless speakers with integrated lighting and HDMI ARC.
IKEA Kallsup
Because I’m a giant child, I can’t read this product name without swapping out the K for a B. But that’s not the only childlike joy I get from IKEA’s tantalizing 10-buck Bluetooth speakers. They’re LEGO for your ears, stackable, brightly colored cubes with Bluetooth 5.3 and the ability to play through 100 of them at once. Admittedly, that would mean putting off almost a thousand, which would pay for significantly better speakers like the Audio Pro A36. But do Audio Pros come in lime? No, they don’t.
Eversolo SE100
I wasn’t planning on having an IKEA-themed speaker selection, but in addition to the retailer’s own products, we also saw the rather inspired Eversolo SE100 speakers, designed specifically to fit into the square spaces of the super-popular IKEA Kallax shelves. It’s smart: IKEA Kallax are widely used as places to put turntables and for storing vinyl, so it’s inspired to have speakers made for them (and their many imitators). These square speakers have a serious spec, and unlike your Kallax, you don’t need an Allen key and a friend to set them up.
The best Bluetooth speakers for all budgets
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