A great pair of floorstanders can instantly supercharge your hi-fi system and deliver room-filling sound, acting as an attention-grabbing duo and offering the breadth, scale and authority that most bookshelf speakers can't muster.
You still need to choose wisely and make sure you pick the best floorstanding speakers for your budget and room size, though. Perhaps you're building a hi-fi system from scratch, or sizing up from a bookshelf pair to a bigger model, or you want to spend big on a pair of speakers that will wow your friends and neighbours. It's worth noting that floorstanders tend to be pricier than their smaller standmount counterparts (the bigger size means more materials used and higher prices), but you'll find plenty of the best-performing options below starting from around £450 onwards.
Every pair of floorstanding speakers recommended below has been thoroughly tested by What Hi-Fi?'s expert reviewers in our dedicated listening rooms, meaning that you can trust our buying advice. You can read more about our testing process and get in-depth advice on how to choose the best floorstanding speakers, or scroll down to see our favourite models below.
Recent updates
26th September 2024: Added the five-star Q Acoustics 5050 as our best overall floorstander and moved the Q Acoustics 5040 to become the best mid-price option.
The quick list
You can see a quick breakdown of all the floorstanders on this list with a summary of what they’re best at and why we think they’re worth your money below. If you need more detail, just click the photo of a product to go to the in-depth entry.
The Q Acoustics 5050 are mature-sounding speakers that deliver impressive clarity, scale and insight. Just make sure you give them the proper care and attention when matching them up.
Entertaining, refined and affordable, the Award-winning 12.3 sound as good as they look. For this price, they're incredibly tough to top.
The insightful and entertaining 5040 floorstanders are truly brilliant speakers, matching clarity and detail with expression and flair. Match them properly and you'll be in for a treat.
For a pair of premium floorstanders, these Prodigy 5 are astonishing value for money, comfortably beating the surrounding competition with their unrelenting focus on producing the best sound possible.
If you've got cash to splash, seriously consider the Spendor A7. Even amidst new competition, they stand tall as some of the finest floorstanders we've heard in recent years.
I am the Hi-Fi and Audio Editor of What Hi-Fi? and first joined the brand over 10 years ago. I have reviewed, tested and of course listened to countless pairs of speakers in my time, including many floorstanders. The best floorstanding speakers will act as the real showpieces for your system, delivering great build quality and engineering prowess made for high-quality sound. I have first-hand experience with every pair of speakers on this list and know that they all sound fantastic for the price you'll pay. From the priciest towers to the best bargain models, these floorstanders are the best at their price range.
Best overall floorstanders
The arrival of the 5000 range has signalled a new age for Q Acoustics, demonstrating a desire to crack more premium price points. The 5050 take many of the design concepts from their outstanding 5040 stablemates, with larger twin mid/bass drivers (15cm vs 12.5cm) and a bigger cabinet aiming to dominate more expansive spaces at a higher price point. In shifting up to this new level, we were worried that Q Acoustics might have overreached itself. We were wrong.
Sonically, it's another home run for the British brand. We don't get much of a sense that this transition to a higher price bracket or larger size has been a particularly tricky one, as the 5050 treat us to a performance that comes over as comprehensive, professional and ever-so-articulate. As our review attests, the refined towers offer "some of the most controlled and articulate bass that we have heard from a pair of towers at this level, (and) it's hard not to be impressed by the depth and definition of the music’s oh-so-powerful lows". The soundstage, too, is layered and generous, and while their presentation can be a touch forward if not properly managed, the clarity and insight on offer are undoubtedly class-leading.
The 5050 do need some care with partnering, though, especially with regard to that slightly forward sonic nature. While the 5050’s high sensitivity (91.8dB/W/m) means that they will produce decent sound levels with budget amplifiers, we feel they deserve more talented partners – Arcam’s A5 (£750 / $699 / AU$1495) or Cambridge Audio’s similarly-priced CXA81 are good places to start if you're seeking decent amplification. Get a decent source hooked up (the Arcam CD5 CD player or Rega Planar 3 record player, say) and you've got one heck of a system on your hands.
Smartly finished and a delightful listen when partnered properly, the Q Acoustics 5050 provide everything their junior 5040 siblings but with an extra dose of authority and composure. A stellar job.
Read our full Q Acoustics 5050 review
Best budget floorstanders
For customers just looking to get their first hi-fi all put together, the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 is our outstanding affordable floorstander right now, so much so that we've lavished it with multiple Awards trophies over the past few years.
The Diamond 12.3 are sonically even more impressive than the revered 12.1, and considering the fact that the latter are five-star performers, that's not an easy task. Competition at this price comes from the impressive Elac Debut 2.0 F5.2 and five-star Fyne Audio F302i, but we still feel that it's the Wharfedales that offer supremely good value.
They aren't massive speakers - just 98cm tall - but they benefit from having space to truly breathe - give them a bit of inward angling and you'll be fine, even if their wide sound dispersion means you don't have to fret about being millimetre perfect.
Sonically, they're classic Wharfedale: smooth, even-handed and refined. Feed them a crummy signal and they're skilled at revealing the shortcomings without exaggerating them, rounding off rough edges and downplaying unwanted aggression without sounding like they’re smothering the music itself.
Read our full Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 review
Best mid-price floorstanders
If you twisted our arm and told us to pick the floorstanding speakers that we felt were providing the best value for money at full price right now, the 5040 would certainly be up there, although the newer Q Acoustics 5050 certainly run them close. The British brand's 5000 series sits between the more budget 3000 series and the pricier Concept range, with the 5040 acting as the smaller of the two floorstanders in the series.
As is the case across the 5000 line, the 5040 use the brand's Continuous Curved Cone design for its mid/bass drivers, bringing together the rigidity advantages of standard conical cones with the high-frequency break-up characteristics associated with a more flared design.
The results are a triumph. Match them with slightly more refined partnering electronics and the 5040 will sound magnificently precise and clear, with agility and grip to give that full sense of fun and life. We're keen on how these towers sound composed, controlled and measured when needed, with a sense of organisation that doesn’t drop when the music becomes demanding. Tonally, they're a tad lean, but not so far as to become problematic.
The larger, more expensive 5050 are a superb alternative for just offering that extra helping of authority and insight, but the Q Acoustics 5040 are so even-handed and balanced that they let your songs shine without ever getting in the way. Partner them properly and they'll deliver a class-leading performance for around £999 / $1499 / AU$2349.
Read our full Q Acoustics 5040 review
It may seem like a small detail, but make sure that whenever you can, you’re using the provided spikes to anchor your new speaker in place. They should be adjusted so that the speaker doesn’t rock, thus giving your precious floorstanders really solid contact with the surface. Putting in spikes keeps the speaker cabinet as still as possible and allows any movement of the drive units to translate into pushing air rather than moving the cabinet itself.
Best premium floorstanders
Despite PMC's reputation for outstanding high-end hi-fi (see the Fact Fenestria), the Award-winning Prodigy 5 are some of the best-value speakers you'll find anywhere in today's market. In truth, they're absolute belters.
The priority with the Prodigy 5, the same as with their Prodigy 1 standmount siblings, has been to draw out as much sound-per-pound punch as possible, letting considerations over aesthetics take a back seat in the pursuit of the best audio performance you can achieve at this level.
If that was the goal, it's been truly met and then some. PMC has hit the sweet spot with the Prodigy 5, balancing musical flourishes and subtle details with a heightened sense of presence, poise and confidence. We didn't hear many better speakers this year, and it was the Prodigy 5's musical talents that earned them that 2023 What Hi-Fi? Award for their efforts.
We love the Prodigy 5 because they're adept at giving the best of all worlds with barely any sonic sacrifice. Comparatively priced rivals often substitute space for precision or dynamics for subtlety, yet PMC’s unassuming, slender towers feel nothing if not comprehensive, with scale and breadth working alongside nuance, precision and detail.
A marvellous success story - worthy Award-winners indeed.
Read our full PMC Prodigy 5 review
Best high-end floorstanders
At this price point, you've got quite a few floorstanders to choose from, including the ProAc Response DT8 and Fyne Audio's F501S, both of which retail at under £3000 and which both nabbed a five-star review when we brought them in for testing.
Spendor's superb floorstanders, though, sound great, look great and are compact enough to fit into most homes. Refined yet entertaining, the top-of-the-line A7 continue the firm's knack for combining stunning clarity and subtlety with hugely enjoyable dynamics and rhythm.
There's a stunning level of detail on show. Each instrumental strand and vocal quirk is laid bare – musicians watch out, there really is nowhere to hide. The sound is clean and organised, while still packing plenty of punch to keep things entertaining.
Vocals are a particular highlight. They also time with pinpoint accuracy and are immensely transparent, without ever sounding too clinical. They're still full of expressive melodies and undulating dynamics that will keep your head nodding.
They're hardly what you would call 'cheap' but if you're in the market for a pair of top-notch floorstanders, the elegant Award-winning A7 should make their way to the top of your list.
Read our full Spendor A7 review
Also consider
Triangle Borea BR08: A mainstay on the main list above for a good while before they were eventually ousted, we're still hugely keen on the BR08. As former Award-winners, they're some of the punchiest, most thrillingly capable floorstanders we can think of at their £999 / $1399 / AU$1900 price point. A great, punchy alternative to the Q Acoustics 5040.
Sonus Faber Lumina V: Thinking of splashing just a bit more cash? The classy Lumina V, retailing at around £2499 / $2999 / AU$5295, might be just what you're looking for, combining classy aesthetics with an equally stylish, easygoing sonic character. They're especially good with vocals, while the all-important lower-end is serviced by some powerful, full-bodied reproduction.
Wharfedale Evo 4.4: Wharfedale has delivered another exceptional pair of speakers with the outstanding Evo 4.4 floorstanders. Made to the brand's exacting standards, the 4.4 offer up a large-scale sound that boasts heaps of authority and wallop, all whilst digging out plenty of detail and sonic subtlety along the way.
Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3: The 606s' four-star review might initially be offputting, especially for anyone who associates B&W with those much-coveted five-star hauls. The recent towers will do an exceptional job for those users who have a use for them, though, and while they're beatable for dynamic contrast and levity, their weighty, full presentation means they'll suit listeners who have large rooms that need filling.
Wharfedale Aura 3: The Aura 3 floorstanders are an impressive showcase of what Wharfedale can do when pushed. Their sonic presentation is an effortless balance of refinement and weight, blended with a midrange that feels agile and pleasingly articulate. Like most of the British brand's speakers, they're made to an impressively high standard, with a refined, classy build that's very easy on the eye. If they had just a bit more verve and bass power, they'd be truly outstanding all-rounders.
How to choose the best floorstanding speaker for you
First things first, choose your budget. Your components should be evenly matched, both tonally and in terms of price, so consider this before breaking the bank on a new pair of floorstanding speakers that the rest of your kit can't do justice to.
You also need to make sure your floorstanding speakers fit your room. The majority of speakers require a little space to sound their best, so ensure you don't buy ones that are too big for your room. Large floorstanders mean higher volumes, but you again need space to ensure there's room for them to live and breathe.
There's also the choice between passive and active speakers. Most floorstanding speakers are passive - they have no amplification inside, so require a separate amplifier to work. Active speakers with amplification are becoming increasingly popular and can connect to your source directly without the need for an amp, though they do require a connection to mains power. Check out our pick of the best active speakers if you want to find out more.
For a more detailed explanation of everything you should consider, head over to our complete guide to choosing the right speakers.
How we test floorstanding speakers
We're lucky and proud to have acoustically treated testing facilities in Reading and London where our team of in-house reviewers rigorously review the vast proportion of hi-fi and AV kit that comes through the door – including floorstanding speakers.
What Hi-Fi? works using comparative testing - we listen to each pair of floorstanding speakers and judge them against the current class leader to asses how it measures up to the finest model for the money. We keep What Hi-Fi? Award winners in our crowded stockrooms so that we can compare new products against ones we already know and love. We will always do our best to review as many new models as possible, regardless of maker or type, to ensure our contextual knowledge is kept sharp at all times.
We're always impartial during our testing and strive to hear every pair of floorstanders at its optimum alongside sources we know and like. We test speakers in their best use case with different partnering sources, be that a record player, a music streamer or even a CD player. We make sure to play a broad spectrum of musical genres through every speaker that gets tested and we experiment with placements in the room to find the best position for sound possible.
All review verdicts are agreed upon as a team consensus. This eliminates personal preference and ensures we're being as thorough and consistent as possible. We take no input from PR companies or our own sales team regarding our final verdict – we're proud that we can keep delivering honest, unbiased reviews as we have for over four decades.
You can read more about how we test and review products on What Hi-Fi? here.
FAQ
Floorstanders vs standmounts: which speaker type should I buy?
Ah, the eternal question. Thankfully, we've put together a rather handy guide covering this very topic, so if you want the in-depth rundown, that would be the best place to start.
If you want the abridged version, here are a few pointers. Floorstanders tend to take up much more space and are often (not always, mind) more expensive than their standmounter counterparts. Those standmounter (sometimes "bookshelf") models need to be placed on top of suitable speaker stands, though, a consideration you don't have to make with floorstanders.
Sonically, floorstanders tend to deliver a bit more oomph at the lower end and a bigger spread of sound, thanks to the larger cabinet volume. This means you tend to get more bass, more volume and more scale compared with smaller standmounteres, and they can also offer a truly cinematic experience when used in a home cinema set up.
Finally, think about partnering and your system's capacity to be upgraded when the time comes. If you’re considering a more powerful amp as your next purchase, you may need a more capable pair of speakers that can get up the levels in the long term. If your speakers are very demanding to drive, you’ll need a powerful amplifier to get the most out of them.
Check out our how to choose the right speakers advice column for further info.
Should I put my floorstanders next to the wall?
Good question, and good job on asking in the first place.
Most of the time, no, especially if your floorstander has a rear bass reflect port that needs to stay unblocked – so you'll want to give plenty of space from a back wall. Still, it's always best to consult the manufacturer's recommendations in the manual provided with the speakers, as many brands provide guides for how far away the speakers should be from the wall, angling positions, the ideal listening placement and even whether to plug up the rear port or not.
If in doubt, check out our guide regarding how to set up and position your speakers in 4 simple steps and you'll certainly be put somewhere on the right track. Generally, placing speakers too close to a wall gives you too much amorphous bass, while excessive distance will affect the sound the other way and, naturally, put the units too close to your listening position.
Recent updates
- September 2024: Updated our list to include the five-star Q Acoustics 5050 as our new best overall floorstander, with the Q Acoustics 5040 now the best mid-price option.
- July 2024: Added Wharfedale Aura 3 and Q Acoustics 5050 to the Also Consider section.
- May 2024: Added Also Consider section to give readers alternatives to the listed entries above.
- March 2024: Added FAQ section to help with buying decisions and frequently asked questions.
MORE:
Our pick of the best speakers of every type and size
How to choose the right speakers for you
Here are the best active speakers you can buy