10 Speakers to Shortlist for Rooms, Desks, TVs and Parties

Atohm’s updated Sirocco line is aimed at listeners who want a coordinated speaker family rather than a single isolated model.

The series includes the two-way Sirocco 1.24 monitor, the 2.5-way Sirocco 2.24 floorstander and the 2.5-way Sirocco Center, making it relevant for both stereo and multichannel systems.

The source material emphasizes redesigned drivers, enclosures and crossovers, along with 18 mm MDF cabinets and Atohm’s SWD Standing Wave Damper technology, which uses a laminar absorption cavity and downward-facing bass reflex port to address resonance and standing waves. Color choice is also noted, which helps when speakers need to integrate into a living space.

Klipsch’s source coverage spans two related but distinct areas: a Flexus Sound System built around soundbars, surrounds and a subwoofer, and portable Gig party speakers with Bluetooth.

The Flexus range is described as powered by Onkyo technology and includes the Flexus Core 100 and Core 200 soundbars, Surround 100 speakers and Sub 100 active subwoofer, with detailed characteristics not yet provided in the source.

The Gig XL2, Gig XXL2 and Gig Maxx portable speakers are more clearly sketched out, with horn tweeters, Bluetooth, supplied wired microphones and music-synced light shows; the largest model adds wheels and a retractable handle. This entry is best treated as a flexible Klipsch preview rather than a fully specified single-product recommendation.

Goldmund Tethys is the most specialist floorstanding speaker in this selection.

The source describes a handmade aluminum design with two grey cabinets, a proprietary mechanical grounding system and a relatively compact height for Goldmund floorstanders, while still weighing 67 kg.

Its lower cabinet functions as a passive subwoofer with a 9-inch ventilated woofer, and the upper cabinet houses a 7-inch midrange driver and soft-dome tweeter, tied together by an improved crossover according to the manufacturer. LEMO connectors are used for the company’s speaker cable standard, underlining that this is intended for a very specific high-end ecosystem.

The Shanling S0 is a compact active bookshelf system for listeners who want speakers, amplification and modern inputs in one small package.

The driver layout combines a 20 mm tweeter with a 3.5-inch woofer, while two rear vents are described as supporting low-frequency output.

Internally, Shanling uses an ADI ADAU1701 DSP digital processor and TI TPA3118 Class D amplification rated at 2 x 30 W. Connectivity is notably broad for a compact speaker system, with Bluetooth 5.3 supporting LDAC, AAC and SBC, plus USB-C, optical SPDIF and 3.5 mm analog inputs. The adjustable stand, channel switching for the main speaker and ±2 dB bass and treble adjustment add welcome setup flexibility.

The Bowers & Wilkins 703 S2 is a passive floorstanding speaker from the 700 series, positioned above the smaller floorstanding model in the source material by using larger bass drivers.

It is a three-way design with Bowers & Wilkins’ Flowport rear bass reflex outlet, so placement needs thought: the source specifically notes leaving suitable distance from the wall and mentions the supplied porous plug as a way to reduce port output if needed.

The 700 series also borrows design thinking from the 800 series, including a simplified midrange decoupling approach, mass loading, an aluminum chassis, a revised tweeter grille and updated driver surrounds. Finishes include piano black, matte white and Rosenut wood.

Magnat Transpuls 800A is a plug-and-play active speaker system with unusually broad source support.

The right speaker contains a Class D stereo amplifier rated up to 60 W per channel, a DAC module supporting PCM streams up to 24-bit/192 kHz and a moving-magnet phono preamplifier, so a turntable can be added directly if it uses an MM cartridge.

Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX is present, and HDMI ARC makes the system relevant for TV audio as well as music. The driver complement includes a 6.5-inch mid/bass driver and a one-inch horn tweeter in a phase-inverted acoustic design, giving it a more traditional speaker form than many compact wireless systems.

JBL PartyBox 110 is built for portable event use rather than conventional hi-fi listening.

The source describes a pair of 155 mm woofers, two 55 mm tweeters and 160 W amplification, with Bass Boost available from a dedicated button.

Music can arrive by Bluetooth 5.1 or USB drive, while two TRS inputs with rear-panel volume controls allow connection of musical instruments or a microphone. The party focus is reinforced by LED panels, strobe lights that can follow the rhythm, True Wireless Stereo pairing for two PartyBox 110 units and a 3.5 mm cabled option for linking active speakers. Battery life is stated at up to 12 hours, and the cabinet includes a carry handle and stand-mounting hole.

JBL L52 Classic is a compact passive bookshelf speaker with a deliberate vintage look and useful placement flexibility.

The cabinet combines natural walnut with Quadrex foam grilles, while the two-way driver array uses a 5.25-inch mid/bass driver and a 0.75-inch titanium-dome tweeter in a proprietary waveguide lens.

The front panel carries the bass reflex port and high-frequency control, and the source notes that the speakers can be installed close to the wall. Threaded holes on the rear also allow wall mounting. JBL recommends amplification from 10 W to 75 W per channel; the stated impedance is 4 ohms, sensitivity is 85 dB and the declared frequency range is 47 Hz to 24 kHz.

Klipsch Groove McLaren Edition is a portable Bluetooth speaker distinguished by its McLaren Racing color scheme and some structural changes over the familiar Groove format.

The source notes a metal protective grille and shock-absorbing rubber pads, alongside a 7.6 cm full-range driver and two passive radiators to support the lower register.

Wireless playback uses Bluetooth 5.0, while a 3.5 mm minijack analog input is available for wired sources. IP56 protection, up to eight hours of battery playback and a zippered protective carrying case make this the most travel-focused Klipsch option in the selection.

Astell&Kern ACRO BE100 is a premium-leaning Bluetooth speaker that brings the brand’s portable hi-fi identity into a single-box wireless format.

The source highlights a 32-bit hi-fi digital-to-analog converter, custom Kevlar woofers and tweeters, and a compact Class D amplifier that drives each frequency range independently.

Codec support is a major part of its appeal, with aptX HD and LDAC cited, and the speaker also includes a 3.5 mm AUX input. Independent bass and treble controls allow tonal adjustment, while the front LED display shows speaker information. FM radio is noted as available only on the model with that option.