Best Floor Standing Speakers Under $2000 Reviewed

Floor Standing Speakers Under $2000 Compared

Choosing Floor Standing Speakers For Under $2000

Build Quality & Design

It's important to consider build-quality and durability before investing two grand in a set of the best affordable floor standing speakers money can buy. Buying durable speakers ensures longevity, and it’s always a good feeling to get your money’s worth by using your audio system for years. You can research each product’s durability by reading reviews and checking out the manufacturer’s materials used.

Speaker design is just as crucial as durable construction. The design doesn't just have to do with how the speakers look, but also how they perform. A pair of floor standing speakers pair aesthetically pleases thanks to their symmetrical design, but they also come with more power. Another nice design feature is removable grills; this gives your speaker system a unique look as well as more versatility.

Audio Performance

Many factors help to boost audio performance, like sensitivity and impedance. Sensitivity in floor standing speakers is the measurement of how effectively a speaker converts amplified power to audible sound. 

Speaker impedance is another essential specification to consider for audio performance. Impedance is measured in ohms, and it’s all about the load a speaker places on an amplifier. Most self-powered floor standing speakers have an impedance rating between 2 and 8 ohms. A lower impedance rating means that more current is flowing through the speaker, so this number is definitely important to pay attention to.

Connectivity & Flexibility

Wireless floor standing speakers are becoming more popular since they are more flexible than a wired speaker system. With a Bluetooth-compatible speaker, you won't ever have to worry about plugging anything in. However, many audiophiles claim that the sound quality of wireless speakers isn't as high, and another downside is that you need to rely on an internet connection.

Power Rating – Volume, Drivers & Wattage

A speaker’s power rating, which is measured in watts, determines how loud a user can play audio without the sound becoming distorted. Many floor speaker stands have multiple drivers within one unit, which increases the unit’s power significantly. To explain a speaker’s power rating, let’s break it down to the basics. 

Speaker systems typically have two ratings for power: peak power and average power (RMS). “Peak power is the maximum amount of instantaneous power present at the highest level during the signal…” says Preston Electronics. “To avoid damage due to excessive distortion, be sure your system's amplifier power rating is great enough for the application to ensure that you have enough volume without overdriving it into distortion.”

Speaker Specifications

All speaker systems are different, which means each one comes with its own unique set of specifications. One relevant spec to consider is whether the speaker is configured with a 2-way or 3-way design. A 2-way speaker system delivers music through two types of speakers contained within the unit, a subwoofer, and a tweeter. 

Subwoofers are responsible for low bass audio, while tweeters take care of high audio frequencies.  Both of these are found in 2-way speakers, but 3-way floor standing speakers come with an additional audio part. A 3-way speaker adds in something called a midrange, which takes care of midrange frequencies that range from 250 to 2000 hertz.

Price & Warranty

Price is not something that can be overlooked for most of us. Many audiophiles consider $2000 to be the "sweet spot" when it comes to investing in high-quality audio. Sure, it's possible to purchase a pair of floor standing speakers for less than $500, but if you're looking to take your audio experience to the next level, you have to be willing to spend some cash.

No matter if you’re looking for floor standing speakers on sale at a major electronics store or discount floor standing speakers online, always check into warranty coverage. The best audio equipment providers are confident in their products, which means they'll tack on an extended warranty period. If you buy online, be sure that you're purchasing from an authorized seller so that the warranty remains valid.

1. SVS Ultra Tower Flagship

Our top pick for best floor standing speaker under $2000 is the SVS Ultra Tower Flagship. This system looks great, sounds great, and is considered to be one of the finest speakers in the world. It was built with no compromise to design or performance whatsoever, meant for the most discerning audiophiles. Each stand is equipped with an 8-inch subwoofer for deep, commanding bass and powerful dynamics.

It's capable of filling even the largest home theater thanks to optimized cabinet geometry. 

One of the reasons we have chosen this as the best model to top the list of floor standing speaker reviews is the unique shape of the cabinet. Because of its shape, each woofer fires off in a different direction, which results in deep, effortless, and accurate bass throughout the listening area. For high-frequency audio, the aluminum dome tweeters are just as effective as the Flagship’s subs.

Digital Trends has only good things to say about this model: “The SVS Ultra Tower speaker came as close to earning a perfect 10 as any other speaker we've heard in its price class. For our money, this is the speaker to beat for years to come!” As long as you have a budget of $2,000, you can’t go wrong with investing in this pair of floor standing speakers.

2. KLH Kendall

The Kendall floor standing speakers with built-in subwoofer drivers is another top pick for all-around high-quality audio. This system effortlessly reproduces music and movie soundtracks with extreme detail that is almost too good to be true. These speakers provide a wide soundstage through the 8 combined drivers - subwoofers, tweeters, midranges; they're all contained within the Kendall speakers.

You have the option to purchase a single speaker or invest in the pair. If you have the money to do so, it is highly recommended that you purchase the speaker stand duo. 

There are a few features that make this model one of the best to top our list, like the 96-dB sensitivity, a wide frequency range of 25Hz to 23kHz, and impedance rating of 8 ohms. Another reason is the system's flawless appearance.

You can choose between two colors, black and walnut, and each one is constructed from artisan-crafted real wood. Each speaker's stand comes with magnetic grilles that are done up with a honeycomb design. They have no visible fasteners, which optimizes the sleek, flawless design even further.

3. Klipsch 1064559 RF-7 III

Klipsch has gone above and beyond with their 1064559 RF-7 III model, the best floor standing speakers for small room spaces. This speaker system is the third in its class, and it has undergone some significant improvements since the I and II models. It is equipped with an all-new titanium compression driver, redesigned bifurcated cabinet, and compressed molded-rubber Tractix horn.

Thanks to this, only the cleanest, most natural sound is reproduced.

The spun copper ceramic woofers make for some impressive bass audio. These woofers maintain exceptional rigidity, and lightweight construction allows for minimal cone breakup and distortion. This paired with the Tractix horn drivers offers audio efficiency that is the best in its class. The only downside is that just one speaker is quite pricey - you’re looking at much more than $2,000 for the pair.

4. Axiom M60

The Axiom M60 floor standing home theater speakers are the perfect audio solution for large rooms. The system’s powerful bass and detailed high-frequency sounds great in any medium to large-sized room. Each speaker in the set comes with titanium tweeter and aluminum woofer drivers, handling a frequency range between 30Hz and 20kHz. Each stand comes with a single 1” tweeter, a single 5.25” midrange, and two 6.5” woofers.

It’s easy to see that Axiom Audio is proud of this highly-rated product.

This speaker set does so much more than just fill the room with stunning audio. You’ll be able to hear all the details, catch all the transients, and fully enjoy a wide range of frequencies. Not everyone loves the fact that it only comes in one finish, Boston Cherry, so if you’re looking for a sleek back design, you’ll have to get your audio fix elsewhere.

There’s really nothing bad to say about the speaker system's performance. The M60 system has, however, received some negative feedback in terms of design. Some reviewers call these speakers "retro," claiming that they don't fit into the aesthetics of a modern home. This is up to you to decide, but no matter what, you won’t be disappointed with the M60’s sound quality.

5. KEF R500

In our opinion, the best floor standing speakers for music listening is the KEF R500. This model is all about delivering mid and high frequencies that are integrated perfectly for highly-detailed sound.

This single speaker stand (it doesn’t come in a set) is equipped with two 5.25” subwoofer drivers and a midrange speaker for deep, uncompressed bass and superb dynamics. The frequency range of 46 Hz to 28 kHz is what makes it the ideal audio solution for music listening.

Another cool feature that is unique to the R500 is that the height of the speaker stand can be adjusted to your liking. It sits on an aluminum plate supported by four steel spikes that come with locking knobs. These not only serve as a height adjustment tool but also help to ground the R500. This results in a rigid connection with the complete elimination of rocking resonances.

If you want to go all out with a new home theater system, the R500 pairs well with the rest of the R Series home speakers. For even more powerful deep bass, consider investing in an additional KEF subwoofer.

Even though the R500 comes as a single speaker rather than a pair, you won’t be disappointed as you listen to music at home. The R500’s cabinet has been carefully crafted to optimize vibration behaviors and reduce secondary radiation from the inner cabinet walls.  Some KEF customers have complained about limited treble diffusion, but this isn’t a problem for most.

6. Aperion Audio Verus III

The Aperion Audio Verus III lives up to the reputation of best audiophile floor standing speakers in many ways. Not everyone loves the idea of investing in a passive speaker system, but true audiophiles actually prefer it this way.

The Verus III can't be directly connected to a turntable or power source; it requires an additional amplifier or receiver. This might seem like more work in setting up a kick-ass speaker system, but audiophiles love that they get to mix and match equipment.

If you like the idea of a passive system in you’re OK with investing in a few extra pieces of equipment for high-quality sound, you’ll love what these tower speakers have to offer. Each tower can be used for both main and surround channels in any home audio system.

It comes with the patented 1” Aperion axially stabilized radiator V.2 silk dome tweeter, two 5.25" woven-kevlar midrange drivers with aluminum phase plugs, and two 6.5" woven kevlar woofers with butyl rubber surrounds.

The optimized cabinet is constructed from an anti-resonant and internally-braced medium-density fiberboard. This minimizes vibration and optimizes bass reflex, especially with the 3-way driver configuration. Compared to the last Aperion Verus model, this one comes with a redesigned tweeter that audiophiles everywhere are raving about.

So, as long as you’re in the market for passive speakers, this is a great choice for true audiophiles.

7. Dali Oberon 5

Looking for the best compact floor standing speakers for a small to medium-sized room? The Dali Oberon 5 is the ultimate compact audio solution, but it is still surprisingly powerful.

These speakers come as a pair, each one containing two 5.25" low-bass subwoofers that are optimized with a wood fiber cone. This cone is dedicated to reproducing delicate midrange and bass frequency, while the ultra-light 29mm soft dome tweeter is responsible for high-frequency audio.

Aside from its compact design, most compliments towards the Oberon 5 have to do with the contemporary style of this speaker stand set. It comes with rounded edges and rusted fabric that is enhanced even further by the elegant shaped aluminum base. For small space and stunning aesthetic appeal, this is one of the best speaker sets to date. If you don’t believe us, just read about all of the awards that the Oberon 5 has received over the years. 

8. Focal Aria 948

If you're looking for a sleek and stylish pair of beautiful floor standing speakers, no audio equipment compares to the Focal Aria 948. This 3-way loudspeaker is all about "true" acoustics. Its speaker drivers are well-hidden behind the grille for a clean look, but they should not be underestimated. It is equipped with 8.25" drivers that effortlessly provide intense and controlled bass.

All this audio power is contained within a cabinet that fits well in any room that measures up to 320 ft².

A home audio system isn't all about looks - performance is just as important. Focal has brought two major evolutions to this system with its aluminum/magnesium dome tweeter. The unique shape of the Aria 948's tweeter guarantees an incredibly stable sound stage that is superior to the conventional domes used by the competition.

The main downside of investing in the Aria 948 is that you’ll only receive one speaker stand for slightly less than $2,000. If you want a matching pair, you can expect to pay twice this much. But with it’s impressive power from low bass to high-frequency, there’s no reason you’ll need two Ario 948 speaker stands; just one will get the job done perfectly.

Benefits of Quality Floor Standing Speakers

Passive Vs Powered Floor Standing Speakers

A floor standing speakers with built-in powered subwoofer and amplifier is considered powered. Powered floor standing speakers, also called an active system, everything is contained in one speaker unit. Power amplification is integrated into the design, so there’s no need to purchase an additional amplifier - all you need is a power source.

Passive floor standing speakers do not have a built-in amplifier. You'll need to invest in a separate amplifier for listening to audio, plus all the cords and connections required to transfer the signal from the amp to the speakers. It is essential to buy an amp that is compatible with the speaker system, or else damage is likely. The main perk of opting for passive speakers is that you get to mix and match audio parts to your exact specifications.

3-Way vs 2-Way Speakers

We've already touched on 3-way vs. 2-way speakers, but let's do a quick recap. Two-way speaker systems have only 2 speaker components within the cabinet: a tweeter and a subwoofer. A tweeter is responsible for producing high audio frequencies from 2,000 to 20,000 Hz, and a subwoofer is responsible for frequencies between 20 and 200 Hz.

Three-way systems add in another component in addition to subs and tweeter, and that is the midrange. A speaker midrange reproduces audio that falls in the frequency range of 250 to 2,000 Hz. The addition of a midrange helps to produce richer, fuller audio, which is why so many audiophiles opt for the 3-way speaker configuration.

How to Use Floor Standing Speakers Effectively

All we can really say about using your floor standing speakers is to follow the instructions and user manual provided by the manufacturer.

All speakers differ in the way they’re configured and how they operate, so following your model’s specific instructions is a must. For help on setting up the speaker system, this video tutorial from Audioholics can help, but always remember to refer to your manual. 

Before set up, an important step is to decide on speaker placement. For optimal sound, proper acoustics is essential. Speaker placement can make or break your audio experience, and every single room is different in terms of acoustics.

The main thing to remember is that audio should play along the length of the room, and nothing should be placed directly in front of your speakers.

People Also Ask (FAQs)

How do I minimize playback interference with floor standing speakers?

Playback interference is more common in wireless systems that it is in wired speakers, but wireless connectivity is not always the problem. To minimize issues with playback interference, the first step is to identify why interference is happening, and then you can fix it accordingly.

In many cases, it has to do with digital interference - mixed signals from other digital sources, like a computer or TV. To fix this, try to keep other major electronics at least a few meters from your speaker system.

What does sensitivity mean in speakers?

Sensitivity is measured in decibels or dB. 

What determines the sound quality of speakers?

You should have a good idea of what determines whether or not a speaker is capable of delivering high-quality sound from our floor standing speakers review. It has to do with many things, mainly speaker build, cabinet design, configuration, and power rating. You also need to consider exactly how you intend to use these speakers; home theater systems perform differently from music-listening speakers.

What kind of audio performance can I expect from $500 vs. $2000 speakers?

Don't get us wrong; there are many high-quality floor standing speaker systems on the market that cost $500 or less. But you can count on there being a difference between a pair of $500 and $2000 speakers.

If you have the money to spend and you consider yourself a true audiophile, it’s time to spend some cash on your home audio system. Many people find audio to be crisper, cleaner, and clearer with speakers that come with a higher price tag.

Do I need to buy a powered subwoofer to pair with floor standing speakers?

One of the most Googled searches relating to audio systems is do you need a subwoofer with floor standing speakers. The answer is dependent on the type of speaker system you have purchased and whether or not you intend to play lots of low-frequency bass. If you’re a bass-lover, though, it is a good idea to invest in an additional subwoofer to enhance low-frequency audio.

Conclusion

To wrap things up on the best floor standing speakers under 2000 reviewed, let’s cover our top pick one last time, the SVS Ultra Tower Flagship speakers. This 3-way system is as close to perfect as it gets.

From the elevated high-frequency performance to the unique cabinet shape designed for optimal sound output, you can't go wrong with the Flagship. And the best part of all is that you'll be able to purchase the pair for just under $2000.