Editors’ Choice: Best Loudspeakers $1,000 – $2,000

Stretching the sonic limits in the lower-cost small floorstander category, Dali’s three-driver, two-way, bass-reflex Oberon 5 strikes a satisfyingly warmer tonal balance, offering good extension, timing, and well-focused detail. Output is robust with a midrange that provides a wealth of tone color. High frequencies are smooth, although a bit dry, and while the Dali won’t quite venture into the bottom octave there is enough oomph in the midbass to imply some grandeur. It’s an economical yet formidable speaker that permits users to walk the fine line of everyday practicality, while still allowing their audiophile hearts to lead the way. NG, 297

An upgrade of the original LS50, the LS50 Meta is so named for its innovative internal damping properties. With its pink-gold Uni-Q coincident midrange/tweeter mounted in bulls-eye fashion atop the uniquely arched baffle of its well-crafted high-density enclosure, it remains as visually arresting as it is sonically satisfying. Meta was a quick-stepping, snappy, and relentlessly musical performer across all genres. Imaging was clean and precise. Neutrality was high, with superb midrange sonics, ample presence, and very little in the way of port coloration. Also, these smallish speakers pumped out shockingly punchy bass that delved deeper than expected while still maintaining composure. Destined to become a classic. NG, 317

The two-and-a-half-way Bronze 500s are extremely nice looking and designed for a wide range of room sizes, shapes, and system budgets. They include a 25mm C-Cam Gold Dome tweeter with a Uniform Dispersion waveguide, and two 8″ C-Cam mid/bass drivers. Nominal impedance is listed at 8 ohms and sensitivity at 90dB, which means they won’t need a massive amount of power. Sonically, they’re packed with lushness—a sound much bigger than their modest size and weight suggest. From delicate strings to solid-bodied bass lines, the Bronze 500s were a consistent pleasure across all genres and formats and should be on the radar of anyone building a new system or looking to upgrade. DK, 327

The smallest loudspeaker in Audiovector’s entry-level QR Series, the QR 1’s sonic performance was anything but that of a typical compact. Solid through the greater midrange and nicely resolved from the upper-mids well into the harmonic range, the QR 1 struck a reasonable balance between detail and midrange/midbass density of timbre. While there was a hint of layback in the upper mids, QR 1 was no wallflower, either. Effortlessly refined, micro-dynamically alive, and easy on the ears for long stretches without any sense of fatigue, the QR 1s had a delicacy on cymbals, openness on brass, and air and sensitivity with violin, either solo or ensemble, that were a pleasure to experience, elevating the overall presentation beyond its price and class. NG, 326

It’s easy to fall in love with the traditional hi-fi styling of the Wharfedale Lintons and their gorgeous (and worthwhile) optional stands. The speaker is a three-way bass-reflex design with a 1″ soft-dome tweeter, a 5″ woven-Kevlar midrange, and an 8″ woven-Kevlar woofer. The low end is surprisingly tight and hefty. Drums are impactful and fast with an easy and addictive rhythm, but the Lintons avoid splattery cymbal sheen. The midrange shines with a big clear sound, and maybe just a hint of warmth. The Lintons are speakers for anyone craving classic styling with beautiful, modern sound. DK, 302

This smallish floorstander (40″ tall, 9″ wide) is a reasonable choice for listeners who might want a stand-mount speaker but would also like extended bass. This is a 3-way speaker with two 5 ½” ported woofers, a cone midrange, and a 1″ tweeter. Sensitivity is on the high side of normal at 91dB/1W/1m, which allows the use of more affordable amps or tube amplifiers. The 700F delivers a balanced sound top to bottom. Dynamics are good but not exaggerated, and detail is similarly clear without exaggeration. The speaker leans to the smooth and non-fatiguing side of things, which makes it ideal for group listening and long sessions. Midbass is high-quality and ample, but the bass does start to roll off below 50Hz, so you may want a sub if you like EDM or hip-hop. TAS YouTube

The BRX sits at the top rung on the ladder of GoldenEar’s Bookshelf Series. This two-way features a silky ribbon tweeter, plus a responsive mid/bass driver that’s augmented by a pair of passive planar radiators. Sonically, the BRX seemed nature born to play the classics, with chamber music and jazz possessing the timbral and harmonic complexities and spatial qualities heard in real acoustic settings. Tonally, the BRX communicates a neutral-to-warmish signature with midrange octaves well balanced and rich in texture—a more romantic character that illuminates music and reproduces it with a softer rose complexion. The treble range is effortless—agile and airily transparent in the way ribbon tweeters tend to be. You won’t need a golden ear to enjoy this class-leading blend of musicality and refinement. NG, 315

This modestly sized, two-way line-source floorstander uses all quasi-ribbon drivers (as opposed to the mix of quasi-ribbon and planar-magnetic in the [now discontinued] MMG). The result is a superior blend between tweeter and mid/bass, with much better power-and-bass-range speed, low-level resolution, tone color, and extension. Though the .7 benefits on some (large-scale) music from the addition of a subwoofer, all by its lonesome it is shockingly realistic on acoustic instruments (and equally swell on a good deal of rock). JV, 250