Best speakers of 21st century

[Smokey]

These speakers were named speakers of the year in terms of value vs sound quality.

Ranked by year:

2000 & 2001: Mission 780 ($500): The smallest member of the 78 series. Not only were the 780s an impressive example of craftsmanship, we were most impressed by quite how big these Mission speakers sounded.


2002 & 2003: Quad 11L ($600): An audio manufacturer with a fine high-end pedigree go after the mainstream market. And the results were quite stunning, with features that would ordinarily belong at the premium end of the spectrum being brought fully into reach for those with more modest budgets.


2004: Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 ($300): Ever since the series first made its debut back in 1983 (like our Awards), we've been taken with them - and the 9.1s took the performance of the sub-£200 speaker to a whole new level.


2005 & 2006: KEF iQ5 ($650): With a big, confident, poised sound belying modest dimensions, the iQ5s successfully saw off the competition.


2007 & 2008; B&W 685 ($550): And then the 685s came along in 2007. It was quite the return, as these standmounts put in a performance more than capable of worrying all but the very best below $1500.


2009: Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 ($300): The 10th-generation of Wharfedale's Diamond range picked up where its predecessor (the 9.1s) left off in 2004. Not only could they out-perform just about any price-comparable speaker, but plenty from the price class above, too.


2010: Monitor Audio Bronze BX2 ($350): Product of the Year deservedly went to Monitor Audio's Bronze BX2s, incredible value for the price and with so much going for them in terms of performance that it was still winning Awards two years later.


2011: KEF Q300 ($600); The standmounts perched at the top of the pile month-after-month, repelling challenges from a wide range of worthy competitors. And, in the end, the Q300s remained resolute and were crowned Product of the Year for their all-round prowess.


2012: KEF LS50 ($1200): Looking back since the turn of the millennium, KEF has shown some serious aptitude in the stereo speaker stakes. After the iQ5s and the Q300s came the LS50s, the Product of the Year in 2012.


2013: Q Acoustics Concept 20 ($500): The Concept 20s are arguably the crowning glory: named our Product of the Year 2013, it was one of the simplest decisions we've had to make in this category.


The best stereo speakers of the 21st century | What Hi-Fi?

[JohnMichael]

An English magazine choosing only English designed speakers. Pointless

[Smokey]

An English magazine choosing only English designed speakers. Pointless

Why would you call it worthless. Considering that all of speakers (except for 2013) are priced below $650, consumers might not have the same "quality" speaker choices from N.A. or Japan speaker manufactures in that price range

[Hyfi]

It should have been titled

The Best Budget Speakers We Listened to this Century (they obviously did not listen to much available)

None of these speakers are truly high end but may sound good for the money. There is no way that any of them sound as good as Harbeth, DeVore, ProAc and the likes.

I have 2 pairs of speakers that were in the $700 range when new that out perform many in their size and class, but in no way sound as good as true HE speakers. None of the speakers listed have any real low end extension.

[TheHills44060]

A very odd listing. Not sure what the requirements were for making the list.

[JohnMichael]

No speakers from the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Denmark, Japan, etc.

[3db]

No speakers from the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Denmark, Japan, etc.

For once, I'm with you. I indeed find it odd that the speakers listed are all British and all the others in the world are ignored. That's OK, the Germans now own the British automobile industry and just maybe, there's hope that the Brits will learn how to make good cars.

[Smokey]

It should have been titled

The Best Budget Speakers We Listened to this Century (they obviously did not listen to much available).

They had already done list of best budget speakers under $500 back in April

9 of the best budget speakers | What Hi-Fi?

[Smokey]

A very odd listing. Not sure what the requirements were for making the list.

Named Product of the Year, they were chosen as the best value speakers in their respective price category.

[3db]

Named Product of the Year, they were chosen as the best value speakers in their respective price category.

I always found the British magazines to be pro British so this doesn't surprise me in the least. They need to get out more and take stalk of other countries' offerings

[fendaaudio]

Thanks for keeping on to this forum but to much odd list to identify