Best Stereo speakers 2014

Product of the year

Best standmounter £400-£800

B&W 685 S2

"A superb pair of speakers that are hugely thrilling. These are the speakers we'd put on to get our friends into hi-fi."

Best buys

Best floorstander £1200+

Spendor A6R

"An outstanding pair of speakers that deliver detail and dynamic punch. Audition them, and you'll hear where every penny of your money is going."

Best stereo speaker £200-£400

Q Acoustics Concept 20

"Looking for a top-quality sub-£500 standmount speaker? Ignore this one at your peril."

Best floorstander up to £600

Q Acoustics 2050i

"Great value for money, with excellent refinement and great dynamic ability."

Best stereo speaker up to £200

Wharfedale Diamond 220

"Want to know what the best sounding budget speakers on the market are? Easy, it’s Wharfedale’s brand-new Diamond 220s."

Best standmounter £800-£1200

ATC SCM11

"ATC has struck gold again. These are the most talented standmounters anywhere near this price. They won an Award in 2013, and do so again."

Best floorstander £600-£1200

B&W 683 S2

"Another winner for B&W, these speakers are hugely talented. We're impressed by their power, scale and delicacy – they're wonderfully versatile."

Best standmounter £1200+

PMC Twenty 22

"Nothing has managed to beat these highly impressive speakers. If maximum detail retrieval and top-class agility are your thing, these are the ones to go for."

Best desktop speaker

Ruark Audio MR1

"Stylish, well featured and delivering hi-fi quality sound, the MR1s certainly mean business."

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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