
4 January 2021
Top six best cheap speakers for 2021
Whether you're after portable or multi-room, these speakers prove you don't need to break the bank to get excellent sound.

In this article
Top-of-the-range speakers from premium brands can cost more than £500. But you don't need to spend that much money to improve the sound of your music, with Best Buy models available for a fraction of the cost of a Sonos or B&O speaker.
A low asking price doesn't mean you should have to sacrifice battery life on a Bluetooth speaker, or features on a multi-room system. And no matter the cost, sound quality should never be compromised.
Below, we've listed the top-scoring Bluetooth and multi-room speakers. These Best Buys are easy to use and deliver excellent sound, no matter what type of music you like to play.
Only logged-in Which? members can view our recommendations in the table below. If you’re not yet a member, you can join Which? to get instant access.
Pricing and recommendations correct as of January 2021.
Want to know more about what to buy? See our guide to the best wireless and Bluetooth speakers.
And here are three cheap speakers to avoid
We've found low-cost speakers that do an excellent job, whether you're looking to add some music to more rooms in your home or you want something to take on holiday with you. Unfortunately, a hefty portion of the cheap speakers we've tested sound abysmal.
Little or no bass, unpleasant distortion if you push the volume beyond a whisper and an atrocious battery life are all hallmarks of cheap speakers that reinforce the notion that you can't get good sound without spending hundreds of pounds.
We've shown you the speakers that buck the trend by delivering excellent sound for less - now look at the models giving cheap speakers a bad name.
What to look our for when you buy a cheap speaker
You don't need to compromise on sound quality to get a speaker for less, but it's a good idea to have realistic expectations, particularly when it comes to Bluetooth speakers.
Low-cost models are often smaller portable speakers. These aren't going to be your best option if you're looking for room-filling sound, but can be great for small group listening and for taking out and about.
If you're looking for multi-room speakers to add to each room in your home, top multi-room speaker brands such as Sonos, Samsung and Bose have bigger more powerful speakers designed for your main listening room and smaller ones for bedrooms or your kitchen. You may find that the smaller speakers don't have the oomph you were looking for your living room and that spending a bit more for a larger speaker is a better option.

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