2023 Best Speakers in India – Top List Ranked & Reviewed
Last Updated June 22, 2024
When looking for the best speakers in India, it’s important to consider the different types available, such as smart speakers, Bluetooth speakers, floor standing speakers, soundbars, bookshelf speakers, in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, outdoor speakers, shower speakers, subwoofers, satellite speakers, and center channel speakers.
Factors to consider include audio quality, connectivity options, durability, battery life, multi-room capability, app integration, equalizer customization, warranty, customer support, and affordability. By considering these features, you can find speakers that suit your needs and provide an exceptional audio experience.
Best Bluetooth Speakers in India – Ideal for Portability and Quality Sound
Best Soundbar Speakers in India – Ideal for Cinematic soundstage and TV viewing experience
Best Smart Speakers in India with Voice and AI Integration (Amazon Echo Focus)
Types of Speakers You Can Use at Home
Speakers are designed for good listeners, each with their own preferences on how they want to hear sounds. There are numerous audio systems available in markets worldwide to cater to these preferences. This article aims to provide an overview of the different types of speakers available to you. Before delving into the specific types of speakers, let’s briefly discuss the basic speaker technology.
A speaker consists of a voice coil, permanent magnet, spider, diaphragm, and speaker basket. When an electric current passes through the voice coil, it creates an electromagnetic field that constantly changes polar orientation, resulting in the constant reversal of electric current. This electromagnetic field interacts with the permanent magnet, causing the voice coil and attached diaphragm to move and vibrate the speaker cone. These vibrations in the air create sound waves that we hear.
Different types of speakers utilize various technologies to enhance sound quality and utility.
In this article, we will focus on:
- Smart speakers
- Bluetooth speakers
- Floor standing speakers
- Soundbars
- Bookshelf Speakers
- In-Wall and In-Ceiling Speakers
- Outdoor Speakers
- Shower Speakers
- Subwoofers
- Satellite Speakers
- Center Channel Speakers
Smart Speakers
Smart speakers not only produce high-quality sounds but also serve additional purposes through connectivity. They can connect to the internet and other devices via Bluetooth, allowing you to link them with your smartphones, tablets, and television sets. This connectivity enables control over various devices and facilitates data exchange. Smart speakers are often powered by Google Assistant or Alexa, acting as communication tools between you and the technologies you use.
– Amazon Echo smart speakers
Amazon Echo speakers are smart speakers powered by Alexa. With voice control, they offer a range of features such as smart home control and music streaming. Available in different sizes and designs, Echo speakers provide a convenient and hands-free way to interact with your smart home and enjoy audio content.
– Google Nest smart speakers
Google Nest speakers are smart speakers powered by the Google Assistant. They offer voice control for smart home devices, music streaming, and other features. Available in various sizes and styles, Google Nest speakers provide a convenient way to manage your smart home and enjoy audio content with voice commands.
Bluetooth Speakers
Bluetooth speakers utilize Bluetooth connectivity to connect with other devices. While most Bluetooth speakers work well with smart devices, the quality of connectivity may vary. Some Bluetooth speakers offer 360˚ sound dispersion, ensuring audio reaches you no matter where you are in a room. They also provide the flexibility of being placed in different rooms, allowing for convenient audio experiences in various locations. Bluetooth speakers come in a variety of sizes and shapes, with some being highly portable for on-the-go use. Battery life is an important consideration when choosing a Bluetooth speaker, and opting for one with a virtual assistant reduces the need for manual input. When pairing a Bluetooth speaker with other devices, it’s important to ensure a proper phase alignment of different frequencies to avoid any errors.
Floor Standing Speakers
Also known as tower speakers, floor standing speakers are larger in size and offer greater capacity compared to other types of speakers. They deliver deep bass and multi-channel, room-filling sound, making them an excellent choice for home entertainment. Due to their powerful capabilities and features, floor standing speakers can be quite costly. They usually feature multiple drivers to handle different frequencies and are strategically positioned to provide clear sound imaging, resulting in a realistic audio experience. These speakers support advanced audio technologies such as DTS and Dolby, ensuring high-quality sound without distortion or vibrations, even at loud volumes. They seamlessly sync with various audio input devices and formats, providing a significant advantage.
Soundbars
Soundbars immediately convey their design concept upon first glance. They require minimal space, offer easy setup, come with bundled features, incorporate technological innovations, and are reasonably priced. These qualities make them a favorite among music lovers. Soundbars can be easily connected to your television set or smart devices. Technological enhancements like eARC technology and AV receivers greatly enhance their performance when connected to TVs or monitors. Soundbars encompass many features found in other state-of-the-art speakers. They may include various configurations of satellite speakers and subwoofers to generate a wide variety of audio effects. Sound EQ settings can also be modified to match personal preferences.
Bookshelf Speakers
Bookshelf speakers, as the name suggests, are compact speakers designed to be placed on bookshelves or mounted on stands. Despite their small size, they can deliver impressive sound quality and are often used as part of a larger audio setup or in smaller rooms. They are versatile and can be used for both stereo music listening and as part of a surround sound system.
In-Wall and In-Ceiling Speakers
These speakers are designed to be installed directly into walls or ceilings, offering a discreet and space-saving audio solution. They blend seamlessly with the room decor and provide a clean, clutter-free look. In-wall and in-ceiling speakers are commonly used in home theaters, multi-room audio setups, or areas where visible speakers are undesirable.
Outdoor Speakers
Outdoor speakers are specifically designed to withstand outdoor conditions, such as exposure to weather elements. They are built to be weatherproof and resistant to moisture, UV rays, and temperature fluctuations. Outdoor speakers are perfect for creating an enjoyable audio experience in your backyard, patio, or pool area.
Shower speakers
Shower speakers are specifically designed to provide a music or audio experience while you’re in the shower or bathroom. These speakers are built to be water-resistant or waterproof, allowing them to withstand the moisture and humidity of the shower environment. Shower speakers typically have suction cups or hooks for easy attachment to bathroom walls or shower stalls. They often feature Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to wirelessly stream music or podcasts from your smartphone or other devices. With shower speakers, you can enjoy your favorite tunes or podcasts while getting ready for the day or unwinding in the shower, enhancing your bathing experience.
Subwoofers
Subwoofers specialize in reproducing low-frequency sounds, particularly deep bass. They are commonly used in conjunction with other speakers to enhance the overall audio experience. Subwoofers can add depth and impact to music, movies, and gaming, delivering a more immersive sound experience.
Satellite Speakers
Satellite speakers are small speakers typically used as part of a surround sound system. They are responsible for reproducing specific channels, such as surround or rear channels, in a multi-channel audio setup. Satellite speakers are compact, easy to place around a room, and work in conjunction with a subwoofer and a center channel speaker to create a balanced surround sound experience.
Center Channel Speakers
Center channel speakers are a vital component of home theater systems. They are responsible for reproducing dialogue and center-stage sounds, ensuring clear and focused audio when watching movies or TV shows. Center channel speakers are typically placed horizontally below or above the TV or screen.
By understanding the different types of speakers available, you can make an informed choice that aligns with your specific needs and preferences for home audio enjoyment.
Important Features to Consider When Buying Speakers
If you are considering buying speakers, we have some very useful suggestions to help you find something that would express yourself.
As it is, the latest technological advancements in speaker designs precisely follow the impression that the medley of sounds creates on our auditory sense. They pay attention to the fact that sounds come from different sources and directions, and have different qualities and frequencies. That renders the whole impression and its perception quite subtle. These speakers perfectly capture them in the way they reproduce the sounds.
Interestingly, when it comes to the perception of sounds, it is absolutely subjective. Boisterous or passionate people want it loud. They would burst with enthusiasm to see high wattage as one of the specifications.
Those who strive for discerning the nuances of sounds seek clarity, and if they belong to the class of knowing customers, they also tend to find out which sound technology is used in their make. For them, there are DTS and Dolby versions to choose from.
Having said that, it must be added that your choice depends as much on the purpose you want it for as on the category of listeners you belong to.
Purpose of Usage
Of course, speakers are meant for a heightened audio experience, but you not only want quality sound but also convenience of usage under different circumstances.
For instance, if you are traveling and want to have some fun on-the-go, you need earbuds. And if you don’t want the hassle of wires, there are Bluetooth earbuds for the purpose.
But suppose if you have to travel frequently and have to stay in hotels, what would you do? It is true that people who use earphones for a prolonged period of time have their hearing impaired. Therefore, it is better to go for highly portable Bluetooth multimedia speakers. Even there are wired speakers that feed on the battery of your laptop. But, undoubtedly, rechargeable speakers are to be preferred over the latter.
Types of Speakers
The supply of different types of speakers is in such abundance that you need to know your own needs better than you do the tech specs of speakers. There is something available in the market for each and every conceivable need. If we are to categorize the products, then it would read like this:
- Portable Bluetooth speakers
- Multimedia speakers
- Smart speakers
- Home theater
Within the range of choices available to you, there are a number of criteria that define or qualify them. These include:
- Size
- Audio quality
- Speaker driver
- Frequency
- Connectivity
- Smart AI Assistant
- Affordability
As it is, not all devices contain all the features mentioned above. But there are some that come with specifications that leave nothing out that would make for an immersive audio experience.
Having put forth the criteria for choosing a sound system, it is relevant that we know how each criterion is incorporated into a given product and to what effect. From product to product, the effects are sure to vary due to varying levels of sophistication that go into their manufacture. Very often, the materials used in them too influence the quality.
Speaker Size
One of the reasons why size matters is already mentioned earlier in the section about the purpose of usage. But it is not only when you are traveling that portable devices prove handy. Even when you are at home, you may find them very useful.
For instance, if you have a bulky home theater system installed in a space that is commonly shared by other members of the family, you cannot use it exclusively to listen to your choice of music. In this situation, it is largely used with a TV set to watch various types of audio-visual content. But if you are not interested in it, then the best way to have individualized entertainment is in the privacy of your own room through multimedia speakers and Bluetooth speakers.
These types of speakers don’t occupy much space and perfectly serve their purpose. But not all multimedia speakers offer a connectivity option, especially those that have a very low cost. So you have to tether them with your laptops or computers and use their connectivity for tapping into online content.
Audio Quality
This is obviously the most important aspect of all. We don’t want an exact reproduction of sounds. We want boosted production of various frequencies; since it is exactly this process that accounts for excellent audio quality. Products show varying levels of excellence in this regard and accordingly the end results.
Bluetooth or multimedia speakers largely consist of dual stereo drivers that, at their best, are capable of producing perfect mid-range and high-range sounds with minimum or no distortion. Those having minimum impedance (measured in ohms) are to be preferred. A built-in mic for hands-free communication could be considered a bonus.
If you own a smart audio system, it has the advantage of being fully controlled through voice commands, built-in smart home hub, and the capacity to sense the acoustic quality of the room in which you install it and accordingly modify the playback. Its performance is also far better than the desktop multimedia and the Bluetooth speakers, and on par with the best home theater systems. The advantage of having a home theater system is that it offers up to 7.1 channel configuration.
Speaker Audio Frequency
When we say frequency, it has to do with the frequency of sound waves, and it is variable. To put it plainly, the number of times waves are produced per second is called frequency. It is measured in Hertz. Different sounds have different frequencies.
Speaker Drivers
These constitute a method of dealing with sound frequencies. Audio drivers are there to process different frequencies. There is a system called Speaker Crossover Network that assists them by classifying different frequencies and assigning them to their respective drivers. The types of drivers include woofers (for low-frequency or bass), midrange speakers (for mid-frequency), and tweeters (for high-frequency). To put it plainly, drivers are just different kinds of speakers that are designed for handling specific frequencies.
Connectivity
It is something that is indispensable now because so much audio and visual content is available online that it is impossible for anyone not to find something that is exclusively meant for him. That, exactly, is the reason why we are becoming more and more uncompromising in choosing ways in which to get the desired fun. That explains why the eyes of the whole world are always stuck on the displays of smartphones and tablets. Connectivity can be achieved through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. But it is good to go for the latest Bluetooth version.
Smart AI Assistant
Also called a virtual assistant, the AI assistant is just an application designed to respond to users through its ability to understand their language. Google Assistant, Alexa, and Siri are a few examples of it. They have various levels of efficacy, but Google Assistant is considered the best of these, and rightly so.
It is the particular ability to understand the meaning of what you say that makes these devices smart. They enable you to accomplish things just by giving voice commands.
Durability and Build Quality
When investing in speakers, it’s important to ensure they are built to last. Look for speakers made with high-quality materials that can withstand regular use and potential wear and tear. If you plan to use the speakers in outdoor settings or in rugged environments, consider options that offer water resistance, dust resistance, or shockproof features. Robust construction will ensure your speakers can withstand different conditions and continue to deliver reliable performance over time.
Battery Life
For portable speakers that you intend to use on the go, battery life is a crucial consideration. Longer battery life means you can enjoy your music or audio for extended periods without needing to recharge. Look for speakers with sufficient battery capacity to meet your needs, whether it’s for a day at the beach, a camping trip, or a long road trip. Additionally, consider the charging options available for the speakers, such as USB charging or compatibility with power banks, to ensure convenient charging when needed.
Multi-room Capability
If you want to create a synchronized audio experience throughout your home, look for speakers that offer multi-room capability. These speakers can connect to each other wirelessly, allowing you to play the same audio simultaneously in different rooms or control each speaker individually. This feature is ideal for those who enjoy seamless music playback throughout their living spaces or want to create a surround sound effect.
App Integration
Some speakers come with companion apps that enhance their functionality. These apps may offer additional features, such as customizable sound settings, access to streaming services, preset equalizer modes, or firmware updates. App integration allows you to have more control and customization options for your speakers, enhancing your overall audio experience. Before purchasing, check if the speakers you’re considering have a dedicated app and explore the features it offers.
Equalizer and Sound Customization
To tailor the audio output to your preferences, look for speakers that provide built-in equalizers or sound customization options. These features allow you to adjust the bass, treble, and other sound parameters to achieve your desired audio profile. Customizable sound settings can greatly enhance your listening experience, whether you prefer powerful bass for party music or a more balanced sound for critical listening.
Warranty and Customer Support
It’s essential to consider the warranty period and the reputation of the brand for customer support when purchasing speakers. A solid warranty provides peace of mind, protecting you against any manufacturing defects or malfunctions. Additionally, reputable brands often have reliable customer support, ensuring that you receive assistance and prompt resolution in case of any issues or concerns with your speakers. Check customer reviews and ratings to gauge the brand’s reliability and the level of customer satisfaction.
Affordability & Cost
When considering speakers, affordability and pricing are crucial factors to consider. Affordability extends beyond the initial cost and encompasses the value received in terms of performance, features, and longevity. While higher-priced speakers often offer superior audio quality and advanced features, it’s important to strike a balance between budget and quality. The overall value proposition should be evaluated, considering factors like brand reputation, build quality, and customer reviews. By setting a comfortable budget and exploring speakers within that range, one can find a speaker that delivers the desired audio experience without compromising affordability.
