Imagine being able to get hi-fi sound in your own living room. Sounds like a pipe dream doesn’t it? What if I told you that the best budget floor standing speakers could do just that?
Floor standing speakers are the crème de la crème of speakers. While they have a reputation for being pretty pricey, affordable options make that pristine sound accessible to anyone!
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What Makes the Budget Floor Standing Speakers So Unique?
Speaker design has come a long way in the last century and a half. While the same core principles remain the same, manufacturers have come up with creative ways to produce amazing sound. Floor standing speakers are a product of that innovation!
Also known as tower speakers, these best budget floor standing speakers have a couple of distinct advantages over other models you might be used to. The most obvious is size.
Bookshelf and portable speakers are significantly smaller than floor standing units, which are usually several feet tall. The larger size does pose a disadvantage with placement, but it benefits sound quality tremendously.
While several factors can contribute to overall sound quality, the size of the speaker is important! Generally, larger speakers result in much better sound performance. They make the audio sound more dynamic. Plus, they can recreate bass tones a bit better. But that’s not all.
Floor standing speakers also have the advantage of having more speakers. You might see tower speakers with three, four, five, or even six drivers!
Why does this matter? Well, every driver is dedicated to producing a specific brand of the frequency spectrum. With more drivers help to optimize the frequency response. They have more advanced crossovers, allowing each driver to power the band efficiently. The final result? Crisp and clear audio!
Uses for a Floor Standing Speaker
The beauty of the best budget floor standing speakers is that they’re quite versatile in terms of use. Smaller portable speakers, studio monitors, and even dedicated soundbars have very specific uses. That’s not the case with tower speakers.
The best budget floor-standing speakers can be used for your typical audio setup. Pair it with a solid amplifier and you’re more than ready to pump music throughout your home. In fact, these speakers are so powerful they’ll serve you well during parties and large get-togethers, too!
As studio monitors are great for a home recording studio, floor standing speakers are the perfect addition to your home cinema setup. You can add them to your surround sound arrangement. As part of a larger surround sound setup, these speakers will be the most effective.
You can easily position tower speakers to get the perfect “sweet spot.” This allows you to enjoy optimized audio that’s perfectly synced with the action on the screen!
The Best Budget Floor Standing Speakers Reviewed
We know how difficult it is to find suitable speakers. To help you narrow down your options, we’ve rounded up a collection of great speakers worth checking out. Here are the best budget floor standing speakers for music passionate or home theatre setup.
1. Polk Audio T50 (Best Surround Sound)
- 36.5 inches tall
- Two drivers and two bass radiators
- Power Output: 150 watts peak
- Frequency: 38 Hz to 24 kHz
The Polk Audio T50 speaker is fantastic for surround sound. When you remove the protective grille, you’ll find several sound-optimizing components.
The first is a small 1-inch silk dome tweeter. It provides those subtle details on the high end. It produces crisp sound without creating sibilance issues for dialog. Below that, you have a 6.5-inch driver for the lows and mids.
The composite driver has good throw distance, making the audio of your film come to life! Below the driver, there are two 6.5-inch bass radiators. The radiators are passive. This means that they do not produce sound. However, they do improve low-end tones.
When paired with other surround speakers, the Polk Audio units can give you that immersive experience you’re after.
Pros:
- Good entry-level option
- Booming bass
- Works well in small spaces
- Sleek neutral design
Cons:
- Bass radiators are passive
- Only comes as a single speaker
2. Sony SSCS3 (Best Audiophile)
- About 36 inches tall
- Three-way speaker
- Power Output: up to 145 watts peak per channel
- Frequency: 45 Hz to 50 kHz
If you’re looking for a speaker that can provide you with audiophile-quality sound, look no further than Sony SSCS3. This speaker has a lot of unique details that help to provide crystal-clear sound and accurate recreation of your audio.
For one, it’s a three-way system with four separate drivers. This alone provides clarity across multiple frequency bands. This reduces the issues that come with crossovers.
Another cool feature is the quality of the cones in the drivers. While most speakers use paper or some other type of cheap material, these cones in this speaker are reinforced with mica. This improves rigidity even at high pressures.
Pros:
- Precision tweeters
- Optimized crossover
- Faithful recreation of sound
- Good sensitivity
Cons:
- Not as punchy as other options
3. Klipsch RP-280F (Best for Hi-Fi)
- Approximately 43 inches tall
- Power Output: up to 150 watts RMS
- Frequency: 32 Hz to 25 kHz
Last, but not least, we have the Klipsch RP-280F. Klipsch is no stranger to the hi-fi audio world. The brand is known for creating high-end speakers that can produce impeccable audio. This speaker has some unique proprietary technology that made Klipsch famous.
The first is the Tractrix Horn technology. It’s paired with a Titanium Linear Travel Suspension tweeter to provide a clear and natural sound. Both of these features work together to minimize distortion.
The copper-spun materials woofers give the cones their iconic appearance. Not only do they look great, but they provide exceptional rigidity. This keeps the cone in good shape no matter how loud you decide to pump your music!
Pros:
- Clear high-end response
- Minimal distortion
- High sensitivity rating of 98 dB
- Sleek housing design
Cons:
- Higher price tag
- Comes as a single speaker
4. Dayton Audio T652-AIR (Best for Small Room)
- Roughly 30 inches tall
- Two-way speaker
- Power Output: up to 150 watts peak
- Frequency: 45 Hz to 20 kHz
Despite their low price tag, the Dayton Audio T652-AIR speakers have a lot to offer. While they’re not the most powerful speaker out there, they are perfect for small rooms. Thanks to the bass ports and dual woofer design, the bass sounds nice and punchy.
Highs and mid-range tones sound good, too. The AMT tweeter is smooth and doesn’t cause a ton of noticeable distortion, which is great for confined spaces.
Whether you hook this up to a home cinema system or a standard stereo, you can’t go wrong! The speakers provide respectable sound quality in pairs at an affordable price.
Pros:
- Ported bass
- Affordably priced for pair
- Slim profile
- Respectable sound quality
- Good bass response
Cons:
- The thin wood construction can cause reverb
- Only comes as a single speaker
5. Pioneer SP-FS52 (Best Designed)
- About 36 inches tall
- Three woofers and one tweeter
- Power Output: up to 130 watts peak per channel
- Frequency: 40 Hz to 20 kHz
Pioneer SP-FS52 has great looks to back up great sound. The speakers were designed by Andrew Jones, who has a long history of creating stunning speakers with impressive sound quality. These units are no different.
Behind the protective grille, you’ll find three woofers. These woofers help to create booming bass tones that resonate throughout the room. The woofers work in tandem with the curved design of the cabinet.
The design isn’t just for looks. It helps air move throughout the cabinet to supplement the woofers. Every detail is thought out, resulting in a fine set of speakers that perform very well no matter how you use them.
Pros:
- Beautifully curved cabinet
- Deep bass response
- The good blend between woofers and tweeters
Cons:
- Highs can sound somewhat tinny
6. Polk Audio Monitor 70 (Best for Music)
- 42 inches tall
- One tweeter and four woofers
- Power Output: up to 275 watts peak
- Frequency: 30 Hz to 25 kHz
Let your music ring free with Polk Audio Monitor 70. This speaker is built to recreate audio as faithfully as possible. It has a small 1-inch tweeter. The tweeter uses Dynamic Balance technology. Basically, this system pinpoints audio problems to improve audio performance as a whole.
Working alongside the tweeter are four large woofers. The woofers are arranged evenly on the entire speaker, improving the audio throw.
Finally, there’s the tuned bass port. Located towards the bottom of the speaker, this port improves airflow through the system. The final result in a booming bass response that can enhance any type of music.
Pros:
- Tuned bass port
- Dynamic Balance technology
- Stabilized feet
- Magnetic shielding
- Can get very loud
Cons:
- Not as punchy as other options
7. ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2 (Best Single)
- Roughly 43 inches tall
- Three-way speaker
- Power Output: up to 140 watts
- Frequency: 39 Hz to 35 kHz
ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2 speaker is a versatile option that can serve you well in your music room or home theater. It can be paired up with another speaker to create a wide stereo image. Or, you can add it to 5.1 or even 7.1 surround systems.
This is a three-way speaker with separate drivers for the highs, mids, and lows. Each frequency band is produced pretty accurately, improving sound quality tremendously. The tweeter has wide dispersion. It increases the soundstage and recreates audio up to 35 kHz!
Overall, the speaker is a low-distortion unit. There’s extra reinforcement inside. The bracing reduces vibrations, which puts a stop to noticeable distortion issues.
Pros:
- Tight bass response
- Reduced distortion
- Wide soundstage
- Produced clear sound
Cons:
- Higher price tag
- Requires a lot of power
Where Should Floor Standing Speakers Be Placed?
Once you have received your brand new budget floor standing speakers it’s time to place them right. The proper placement is key if you want to take full advantage of what a floor-standing speaker has to offer.
Every room is different, so you’ll need to do some experimenting to get things right. But, there are a few key techniques you can follow to make things easier and make your speakers sound louder.
First things first, never place your tower speakers directly in the corner of the room! This is the worst thing you can do! It’ll turn that otherwise powerful sound into something that sounds muffled and awful! Why is that?
Well, corners are notorious for creating standing waves. The two walls creating the corner prevent sound waves from bouncing around the room as they should. When you have standing waves, you’ll deal will phase cancellation and all kinds of distortion issues.
No room is perfect. You’ll have many corners and sound reflections to deal with. The trick is to minimize those issues as much as possible.
The best way to position floor standing speakers is to place them about three feet from any wall in all directions.
Put your speakers on either side of your television or stereo setup and make sure there’s ample room all around the units. Three feet of space is a bare minimum, but your sound will benefit if you can provide more room.
Next, you’ll want to find the sweet spot. This is going to be the focal point where two sides of the stereo image converge. You’ll hear this term being used by audio engineers and producers, but it applies to home cinemas, too!
The sweet spot will be where you are sitting. So, in the case of a home theater, it’ll be the center of your couch. Both speakers should be equidistant to the spot you’re sitting. Ideally, they should be equidistant from each other as well.
Now, toe in each speaker so that the drivers are pointed at the sweet spot. Pump some tunes through the speakers and give it a listen! If done correctly, you’ll find that the audio sounds the best in the sweet spot.
How to Choose Budget Floor Standing Speakers
Floor standing speakers come in a range of configurations, specifications, and designs. It can be tough finding one that meets your needs. It’s even tougher to find high-quality options that don’t break the bank! Here are some things to keep in mind during your search.
Number of Drivers
Two-way, three-way, four-way, and so on: what does it all mean? When you see floor standing speakers marketed this way, it simply refers to the number of drivers the unit has. A three-way speaker has three drivers while a four-way speaker has four drivers.
More drivers are always better. That’s one of the biggest advantages of floor standing speakers! Speakers will usually always have a separate tweeter and a separate woofer. They drive high and low frequencies respectively.
With more drivers, you’ll have more frequency bands to work with. This limits distortion and lets every frequency shine on its own!
Frequency Range
Speaking of drivers, you should also pay attention to a unit’s frequency range. The frequency range represents what types of sounds the speakers can reproduce. The range of human hearing is 20 Hz to 20 kHz, so that’s a good place to start.
A wider frequency response is always preferred. This ensures that you’re hearing everything from the fine hiss of a cymbal crash to the booming lows of a kick drum.
For the most part, the best budget floor standing speakers have a better frequency range than smaller units. That’s because they have more drivers dedicated to those important bands.
Wattage
Next, you’ll want to pay attention to the wattage! The watts specification tells you how much power the speakers can handle safely. This is important because you don’t want to overload your speakers.
A good rule of thumb is to match your speakers to your amplifier. Pay attention to the continuous and peak ratings. Continuous ratings, also known as RMS, reflect what the speaker can handle regularly. Meanwhile, the Peak rating is how much power it can handle on occasional spikes.
Sensitivity Rating
A speaker’s sensitivity rating reflects how loud it can get when a specific amount of power is pumped through it. This measurement doesn’t represent sound quality. Rather, it’s used to show how capable the speakers are.
Sensitivity will be more important if you have a large room. For example, larger home cinemas may need higher sensitivity to ensure that the room is flooded with sound.
Typically, you’ll see this figure represented as decibels. You might also see figures like “1w/1m.” This shows how the speaker is tested. So, let’s say that your speaker has a sensitivity rating of 88 dB 1w/1m. That means that it can get as loud as 88 dB with one watt of power from 1 meter away.
Speakers with a sensitivity rating of 88 dB are a good start. You can adjust your search accordingly based on the parameters of your room.
Build Quality and Design
Finally, don’t be afraid to look for a floor-standing speaker that looks good! The best budget floor standing speakers will complement your room. They’ll look like a piece of furniture that belongs!
Unlike smaller bookshelf speakers, you can’t really hide tower speakers. They’re always front and center. So, get a high-quality design that’s built to last. You’ll thank yourself later!
Filled with Full Power Sound
The best budget floor standing speakers can take your audio game to the next level! For music and movies alike, these speakers provide exceptional clarity and immersive sound you can’t get enough of!
Of the speakers we recommended, we have to give a special shoutout to the Sony SSCS3 model. It costs more to complete your setup compared to the options from Polk Audio, Pioneer, and Dayton. But, the speaker also has significantly better audio.
This speaker is capable of providing audiophile-level sound. The three separate drivers do a fantastic job of providing clear audio. Pair that with the advanced crossover and you have a smooth response with minimal distortion! It’s comparable to the model from Klipsch. However, Sony has the upper hand when it comes to power output and frequency range.
Give the speaker a shot! It’s a bit of a bigger investment, but it’s still a budget speaker compared to some other options on the market. It can provide you with impeccable sound at only a fraction of the cost. Who doesn’t want that?
