(Credit: PCMag / Amazon)
Hearing is one of the most important senses, and we spend a lot of time listening these days. Investing in a good set of speakers can pay serious dividends. Speakers come in all shapes, sizes and purposes: Bluetooth, wireless, smart, portable, outdoor, computer, tower, and bookshelf, just to name a few.
Klipsch - Reference Series Dual 8" 600-Watt Passive 2-Way Floor Speaker (Each) - Black
KEF - Q Series 5.25" 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) - Walnut
Sony - XG300 Portable Waterproof and Dustproof Bluetooth Speaker - Black
KEF - Ventura 6-1/2" Passive 2-Way Outdoor Speakers (Pair) - Black
We extensively test audio equipment from all the major manufacturers to determine which ones stand out, and then hunt through retailer listings for the lowest prices. Here are the best deals we found on speakers from Creative, JBL, Bose and other brands for August.
Bluetooth & Wireless Speaker Deals
Bose SoundLink Flex Portable Bluetooth Speaker
$149.99 Save $30.00
We gave an "Excellent" rating to the Bose SoundLink Flex in our review, noting that it was "portable and powerful" and even though it delivers only mono output, the sound quality is extremely reliable. The 1.3-pound SoundLink Flex is IP67 rated for water and dust resistance, and it even floats. The durable rubberized housing can take knocks and drops well, and it has a carrying loop to attach to a carabiner or hook. Taking $30 off makes it a very good deal.
Do you want even more detail about what makes a Bluetooth or wireless speaker the best? Then take a deeper dive into our top tested picks.
Other Bluetooth & Wireless Speaker Deals:
Tribit Wireless Portable Speaker for $50.99 (list price $79.99; must apply coupon)
Victrola Music Edition 2 Tabletop Bluetooth Speaker for $159.99 (list price $199.99)
JBL GO2 Bluetooth Speaker for $37.96 (list price $48.00)
Even More Bluetooth & Wireless Speaker Deals
- Echo Pop With Sengled Smart Color Bulb for $22.99 (List Price $59.98)
- Bose SoundLink Revolve+ Series II Portable Bluetooth Speaker for $229.00 (List Price $329.00)
- Sony SRS-XB13 Extra Bass Portable Bluetooth Speaker for $38.00 (List Price $59.99)
- Sonos Roam 2 Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker (Black) for $143.00 (List Price $179.00)
- Sony ULT Field 1 Wireless Ultra Portable Bluetooth Speaker (Black) for $98.00 (List Price $129.99)
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Tower Speaker Deals
Klipsch Reference Series Dual 8" 2-Way Floor Speaker
$599.99 Save $90.00
Floor speakers are the choice for home theater setups, as the increased vertical height lets them separate components for loud, clear sound and minimal interference. This is a solid price cut on a dependable Klipsch setup, with a pair of 8-inch injection-molded graphite woofers for deep bass coupled with a 1-inch aluminum tweeter and Tractrix horn for bright highs. With peak power output of 600 watts, it'll make your movie nights sound spectacular.
Other Tower Speaker Deals:
Samsung MX-ST40B Sound Tower for $174.50 (list price $497.99)
MartinLogan Motion Dual 8" 2.5-Way Floor Speaker for $1,499.99 (list price $1,874.99)
Jamo Studio Series S809 Floorstanding Speaker Pair for $433.67 (list price $749.00)
Bookshelf Speaker Deals
KEF Q Series 5.25" 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers
$599.99 Save $250.00
Bookshelf speakers are some of the most old-school models in the audio space, and if you crave a retro look that doesn't compromise on quality this pair of KEF speakers are $250 off right now. With a 1-inch vented aluminum dome tweeter coupled with a 5 1/4" woofer in each unit, highs and lows are clear and robust with little distortion even at high volumes thanks to a computational fluid dynamics port design for noise-free sound output. They're not wireless, but easy to hook up with either banana plugs or bare wire.
Other Bookshelf Speaker Deals:
Klipsch RB-51 II Bookshelf Speakers for $249.00 (list price $399.00)
Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo 6-1/2" Wireless 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers for $3,499.99 (list price $4,999.98)
Polk Monitor XT15 Bookshelf Speakers for $149.00 (list price $199.00)
Portable Speaker Deals
Sony XG300 Portable Waterproof and Dustproof Bluetooth Speaker
$349.99 Save $150.00
We gave an Editors' Choice award to the Sony XG300 in our review, saying that the tough unit "offers powerful audio quality, a comprehensive companion app, and strong Bluetooth codec support in a weatherproof design," and praised its cool LED lighting and the ability to use it as a speakerphone. It performed exceptionally in our benchmarking tests, with bold bass a strong point. Our only criticism was the price, but this massive discount solves that problem. This one is an unequivocal recommendation, so grab it while it lasts.
Other Portable Speaker Deals:
Anker Soundcore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker for $29.99 (list price $39.99) (must apply coupon)
QFX IPX7 Waterproof Portable Rechargeable Bluetooth Speaker for $22.99 (list price $39.99)
JBL PartyBox On-The-Go Portable Party Speaker for $299.99 (list price $349.99)
Computer Speaker Deals
PreSonus Eris 3.5 Studio Monitors
$149.99 Save $50.00
Computer speakers often skimp on quality in exchange for price, but these PreSonus models hit a very sweet spot, pumping out rich and rewarding sound in a small footprint for $50 off. They're lightweight and easy to set up, with included foam sticker pads to curb vibration. Independent treble and bass control knobs give you the ability to sculpt your sound without messing with your PC's settings, and the controls are easy to reach. Woven-composite woofers give you clear low notes, and highs sound great thanks to the 1-inch low-mass, silk-dome transducers. Check out our rundown of the best computer speakers to see how they stack up.
Other Computer Speaker Deals:
Creative Pebble 2.0 USB-Powered Desktop Speakers for $16.89 (list price $24.99)
Edifier G2000 32W PC Gaming Computer Speakers for $71.99 (list price $109.99)
Cyber Acoustics USB Speaker Bar for $24.99 (list price $34.99)
Outdoor Speaker Deals
KEF Ventura 6-1/2" Passive 2-Way Outdoor Speakers
$599.99 Save $250.00
When you can't see a sale price until you add it to your cart, you know you're going to be saving money. Best Buy has the durable and solid-sounding KEF Ventura outdoor speakers right now for $250 off the list price for a pair, definitely a very attractive offer. These passive wall-mountable speakers leverage a 0.98-inch tweeter and a 5.25-inch woofer for crisp sound with 89dB sensitivity, and they're IP65 certified and salt spray tested to withstand the elements. Read our listing of the best outdoor speakers for 2024 for more hot picks.
Other Outdoor Speaker Deals:
Polk Audio Atrium 4 Outdoor Speakers for $145.20 (list price $199.00)
Soundcore Anker Motion Boom Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker for $79.99 (list price $109.99) (must apply coupon)
IPX7 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker for $59.99 (list price $128.99) (must apply coupon)
More speaker deals at Amazon
More speaker deals at Walmart
More speaker deals at Best Buy
What are the best times of the year for speaker sales?
We hunt deals all year long, and while price drops can happen whenever they're more likely to be timed to tech world events like Amazon Prime Day or holidays like Christmas and Valentine's Day. In general, the absolute lowest prices on most electronics hit around Black Friday, the weekend after Thanksgiving in the United States. Another good time to shop is early January when many retailers have open box deals on returned merchandise from the winter holiday season.
What are the best speaker options under $200?
While it's definitely possible to spend thousands of dollars on a speaker system, modern audio technology means you don't have to. We have extensively put hundreds of speakers to the test, and one of the best in the sub-$200 price range is the Editors' Choice-winning Beats Pill, a compact and potent portable that plays nice with iOS devices and retails for just $149.95. It doesn't get discounts often, but it's a great all-round speaker.
What's a good, affordable speaker?
Speakers can cover a wide range of uses, so there might not be a single answer to this question. Our favorite affordable computer speakers are the Creative Pebble Pros, which typically retail for $59.99 and have solid sound and real stereo separation. For spatial audio and Dolby Atmos compatibility, the Sonos Era 300 is a little pricier, but gives you professional sound quality and ease of use.
What is the best speaker for under $100?
We have a whole rundown of the best Bluetooth speakers under $100. One of our favorites is the Anker Soundcore Motion 300, which typically retails for $79.99. We gave it an Editors' Choice award in our review, praising its customizable EQ through the Soundcore app and LDAC support for higher-quality audio from compatible sources. It's definitely one of the best choices at that price point, but other good options include the JBL Go 3 and the Amazon Echo.
Which budget Bluetooth speaker should I get?
If you're looking for a do-it-all smart speaker with decent sound that can also help with home automation and more, the Amazon Echo is a great choice at $99.99 and often goes on sale for less. For budget waterproof Bluetooth speakers, we like the Anker Soundcore Mini 3, which sells for $40.99. It's a pocket-sized powerhouse with adjustable EQ, high-quality microphones, and an IPX7 rating.
What is the best bang for the buck portable Bluetooth speaker?
In terms of cost-to-performance comparison, the super-cheap Tribit XSound Go is probably the biggest value on the market. At a ludicrously low $28.99 at Amazon, it's competitive in price with shoddy no-name dropshipped brands but delivers sound quality that punches way above its weight with dual 40mm 8-watt drivers for true stereo audio, a fully waterproof casing, and an included lanyard. Even at top volume, the XSound Go sounds clear and bright, making it great bang for the buck.
How We Test Speakers
When we review hardware, we're not just running on vibes. All of our analysts have a rigorous checklist that works to determine how products stack up against each other. If you're wondering how we test speakers, here are the broad strokes:
-Each speaker we review is tested with its primary connection protocol, whether that be Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or a wired connection.
-We evaluate bass response with a track that has deep tones and kick drums, to make sure they don't distort.
-We also test speakers across different genres, including classical, rock, and electronic. We use the same songs across reviews so we can compare them most accurately.
-For speakers that work with home entertainment setups, we test movies and shows with dynamic sound, loud sound effects, and assertive soundtracks.
-For speakers with voice assistants, we test common functionalities like connecting to Bluetooth and setting alarms.
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