Whether you’re an educator, musician, public speaker, or audiophile, powered speakers are one of those things you’ve just got to have. However, choosing a good PA speaker from all the mediocre ones can be challenging, especially with all the technical language and specs that get thrown around. Whether you know nothing or everything about powered speakers, this list is meant to guide and help you choose the right one for your needs. Without further delay, here’s 20 of the best powered speakers available to you right now.
Klipsch Reference R-15PM Powered Speakers
They slip into any area and can be hooked up to your TV, computer, turntable, and most other devices, including BlueTooth enabled devices. Furthermore, these speakers can easily be controlled from the comfort of your chair, thanks to the IR remote control. This allows you to get the perfect track and volume at the press of a button.
KEF LS50 Wireless Powered Music System
The LS50 is also BlueTooth compatible and has an 8-device memory, so connecting multiple devices is a breeze. Perhaps best of all, these speakers are directly compatible with Tidal, Spotify, and Roon, so you don’t even have to set up BlueTooth if you use one of these streaming services. Lastly, these speakers are available in various finishes, so you don’t have to settle for anything you don’t love.
M-Audio M3-8 3-Way Active Speaker
Having a 3-way monitor also means you have more support and the speaker is less likely to get damaged or stop working. With 3 drivers, the tweeter doesn’t have to work extra to pick up mid-range frequencies, meaning it can be used for a longer amount of time than a 2-way speaker without experiencing burnout. And finally, the M-Audio M3-8 features wide-angle dispersion, delivering sound that can fill your entire studio.
Yamaha HS8 Studio Monitor
The enclosure was also specially designed to deliver the best sound. They are constructed from dense fiberboard because of its damped acoustic response, which eliminates annoying resonance and makes for a more enjoyable experience.
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Bookshelf speakers
You can make this purchase knowing it’s protected in several ways. Not only are there 2 grills included with the speakers to protect the internal components, but it also comes with a three-year warranty and a 60-day money-back guarantee. So, you’re protected in the short term and long term.
Audioengine HD3 Powered Bookshelf Speakers
If versatility is what you’re after, the Audioengine HD3 has all you could ask for. Multiple connects allow you to use these speakers any way you please, whether you want to control them wirelessly using BlueTooth, hook them up to your laptop with a USB cable, or using any aux cable. No matter what you choose, you’re guaranteed to get high-quality sound, not to mention the beautiful walnut finish.
Audioengine 5+ (A5+) Premium Powered Speakers
Another great thing about these speakers is everything you need comes in the box, including the two speakers, a remote control, speaker wire, detachable power cord, mini-jack audio cable, RCA to RCA audio cable, cloth speaker bag, and setup guide. As you can tell, there are multiple ways to hook up these speakers, which allows you to get the most out of them.
Plugable Bluetooth 2-Channel Powered Bookshelf Speakers
Now, what everyone really cares about. These Plugable speakers feature two high-quality drivers, a 4″ woofer, and a 1″ silk dome tweeter, giving you everything you need to enjoy a wide range of frequencies. Best of all, they come at a very affordable price, outperforming virtually all other speakers in its price range.
Behringer Eurolive B210D
This Behringer speaker is sold one at a time, instead of in a pair, but one may be all you need of these powerful 200-watt speakers. This speaker commands attention and the super quiet mic/ input line ensures you won’t be distracted by any static or buzzing. What’s really impressive is that this speaker can provide booming sound while still having a compact, lightweight housing that‘s easy to move around and set up in any configuration.
Proreck Club 3000 12-Inch 3000 Watt PA Speaker System Combo Set with Bluetooth
The speakers themselves are comprised of 8 individual drivers, one passive subwoofer, and one active subwoofer with a 12-inch amplifier. They are also easy to customize and control, with individual bass and treble controls and can be controlled using your phone or other devices up to 66 feet away. The Club 3000 is a fantastic all-in-one speaker set, perfect for virtually any event.
Mackie Thump15BST – 1300W 15″ Advanced Powered Loudspeaker
With a 3-channel mixer built into this speaker, you really can’t go wrong choosing it. And it really is perfect for anybody, regardless of where you live, because it’s the only loudspeaker that can be plugged into the wall anywhere without needing any modifications, all thanks to the included Power Factor Correction technology.
Edifier R2000DB Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers
These speakers can also hookup to DVD players, Blu-ray players, and almost all TVs, making it perfect for home theaters as well. In fact, the special “eagle eye” silk dome tweeters make it perfect for home theaters because they pick up every little sound, so you can clearly hear every detail and even background noise of whatever movie you’re watching. Going a step further to provide high-quality sound, these speakers also include built-in Digital Sound Processing and Dynamic Range Control to eliminate any distortion.
Mackie Thump12A – 1300W 12″ Powered Loudspeaker
A good powered speaker will have a way to ensure consistent results, but many don’t. That may be why you experience power problems with your current speaker, but thankfully this Mackie speaker has a way to prevent unstable AC power problems. It features Power Factor Correction technology, which ensures your speakers are getting the correct amount of power and you’re getting the high-performance power you need from them.
Bose Companion 2 Series III Multimedia Speakers
Additionally, these speakers can connect to more than just a computer. They have an additional aux input, so you can connect just about any device. These Bose speakers are also very easy to set up and control, making for a relaxing and enjoyable music listening experience from beginning to end.
Rockville BPA12 12″ Professional DJ/PA Speaker
Although there are plenty of input and output outlets on the back of this speaker, you can go totally wireless if you prefer. This speaker has Bluetooth capabilities and can be controlled using any Bluetooth enabled device within 32 feet.
JBL EON612 Portable 12″ 2-Way Multipurpose Self-Powered Sound Reinforcement
Musicians may find this speaker especially useful because it’s a complete, compact system, so you don’t have to carry around several pieces of speaker equipment. The speaker itself was also designed to be ergonomic and easy to move, so traveling with them is simple. This JBL speaker can also be set up in several different configurations and even stacked, so you can play around with them to find your perfect setup.
Kanto YU4 Powered Speakers
And to finish it all off, it comes in a very sleek customizable housing. These speakers are available in bamboo, gloss and matte black, gloss and matte white, gloss red, gloss teal, and matte grey, so it’s easy to color coordinate with any turntable setup, modern or vintage.
PreSonus AIR10 Active Loudspeakers
Another really cool thing about the PreSonus AIR10 is the fact that you can change the settings by just pushing a button. This allows you to fine-tune settings like the bass, treble, and even speech intelligibility. This makes the AIR10 the perfect for DJs since it allows you to set everything at optimal levels for the specific room that you’re in.
Polk Audio T15 Bookshelf Speakers
The T15 puts out rich, crisp sound every time with the help of their Dynamic Balance technology and carefully crafted, resonance eliminating cabinet. This allows you to enjoy your movies, TV shows, podcasts, or music like never before. The speakers are designed to work together to create the best sounding, most realistic, and far-reaching sound possible. Plus, they’re easy to hook up, can be mounted on the wall, and are surprisingly affordable.
Philips ShoqBox SB300 Wireless Portable Speaker
Although the sound may not be able to compare to very high-end speakers, it still produces satisfying, high-quality sound, and in some pretty unconventional settings. The ShoqBox is waterproof and shockproof, so you don’t have to think twice about taking it with you in the shower and finally jamming out in the shower the right way. As an added bonus, the built-in LED lights pulse with the music, creating a mini light show that is perfect for parties.