Best Active Speakers 2020: Floorstander, Desktop, Budget, and Premium

Before we review the best active speakers for 2020, let’s recap what they are in the first place. All speakers generally fall into two main categories – active and passive.

Passive speakers rely on an external amplifier to generate sound. Active speakers, on the other hand, have dedicated built-in amplifiers for each speaker.

Some passive speakers have built-in amplifiers referred to as “powered.” The only difference between them and their active counterparts is that the latter have dedicated built-in amplifiers that serve each “way.”

So, a two-way speaker, for instance, would have two amplifier modules embedded in each speaker.

Now that’s out of the way, let’s explore the best active speakers 2020 in the floor-standing, desktop, budget, and premium categories.

Best Active Speakers 2020 – Floor-Standing Category

If you’re looking for a clear and crisp audio listening experience, you can’t go wrong with the Sony SSCS3 3-way floor-standing speaker. It is highly-versatile and guarantees to deliver an exceptional sound experience time and again.

It has a massive soundstage that mirrors the energy and passion of the original performance. It’s almost as though you’re listening live.

The audio is loud and clear, making it ideal for any living or professional space, without having to subject it to any acoustic treatment. It’s perfect for your home theater or studio setup. The Sony SSCS3 is arguably one of the most versatile active floor-standing speakers that are hot on the market right now.

One of the most endearing qualities of this active speaker is its uncanny ability to capture music at a higher rate compared to other speakers in its category. This, in turn, increases the rate of audio samples per second, as well as the bitrate accuracy, to bring out the best features in your music.

Features

• Speaker type: 3-way 4-speaker freestanding system
• Dimensions: 14.2 x 11.6 x 40.2 inches
• Frequency response: 40 Hz to 50,000 Hz
• Maximum input: 145 Watts
• Sensitivity: 88 dB

Pros

• Loud, clear, and crisp sound
• Portable and compact
• Affordable price-point

Cons

• Some may people find the amplifier too loud

Best Active Speakers for Desktops

If you’re looking for high-performance desktop speakers for your computer, the Edifier S1000DB Audiophile was designed for just this purpose. These active nearfield monitor speakers have an elegant wooden finish that gives off a rustic feel.

Their beauty isn’t just superficial, either. Each speaker uses a highly-advanced 1000 dB audio codec and the latest in digital sound processing (DSP) technology, to give you the full range of sound notes with an unmatched level of clarity.

Its wide frequency range offers the full measure of bass notes with superior sound quality that is hard to find with other desktop speakers. It is compatible with voice-activated devices like Amazon Echo and several different models of TVs and DVDs, in addition to computers and laptops.

It supports both wired and wireless (Bluetooth) input sources. All in all, the Edifier S1000DB is a solid device that outperforms others in its category.

Features

• Dimensions: 11 x 8 x 13.5 inches
• Frequency response: 48 Hz – 20,000 Hz
• Rated power: 2 x 120 Watts
• Input type: Bluetooth, coaxial, and RCA
• Signal to noise ratio: >85 dBA

Pros

• Durable
• Easy to assemble
• Exceptional sound quality

Cons

• Quite heavy

Best Budget Active Speakers

We bet you didn’t know that you could get great quality active speakers for under $100, did you? As far as high-performing budget speakers go, it truly doesn’t get any better than the Wohome bookshelf speakers for better sound quality.

With its superior features and elegant design, this speaker rivals some of the higher-end options in the market. It delivers a premium all-engulfing sound that makes it an absolute delight to listen to.

Wohome supports Bluetooth 4.2 technology, allowing users to enjoy the clear and crisp quality sound of their favorite jams, movies, videos, and podcasts streamed from Bluetooth-enabled devices.

Regardless of where you put them, their classic design adds a touch of elegance in both home and professional environments. All in all, it delivers outstanding value for its low-cost price.

Features

• Dimensions: 6.5 x 8.75 x 11 inches
• Frequency response: 40 Hz – 20,000 Hz
• Power output: 60 Watts
• Input type: Bluetooth, USB, AUX input, and RCA
• Signal to noise ratio: >95 dBA

Pros

• Supports multiple input sources including Bluetooth
• Elegant wooden finish
• DSP-driven technology for enhanced sound clarity

Cons

• Limited color options available

Best Premium Active Speakers

If you’re in the market for premium active speakers, then you’ll love what the Swans M3AMKII bookshelf speakers have to offer. They are chock-full of advanced features that are guaranteed to provide the most superior listening experience.

It has a three-way electro-acoustic design to provide a wider dynamic range with minimal noise interference and sound distortion. One of the outstanding features of this particular set of premium stereo speakers is the premium drivers it comes loaded with.

For starters, the midrange driver has damper coating, which makes for smoother and clearer sound output. It also has a high-resolution isodynamic ribbon tweeter, which conveys vocal sounds with an unmatched level of clarity.

The fact that they’re also easy on the eye makes them all the more attractive. The cabinets are built from solid wood, which adds to their elegance, making them the perfect complement to any home or professional studio setting.

The wood also has low-resonance and low-diffraction properties, which makes the sound clearer and more accurate. Are they worth it? We certainly believe so!

Features

• Dimensions: 9.6 x 13.9 x 16.3 inches
• Speaker output: 2 x 120 Watts
• Frequency response: 44 Hz – 20,000 Hz
• Input type: Bluetooth connectivity, optical, Wi-Fi, Balanced XLR, and line inputs
• Signal to noise ratio: >91 dBA

Pros

• Elegant design
• Multiple input options
• Deeper bass

Cons

• May need a “break-in” period before it can function at optimal levels

Exceptional Equipment for Exceptional Results

There you have it – the best active speakers for 2020 worth checking out. They are guaranteed to take your listening experience to a whole new high.

But don’t take our word for it. Try them out for yourself and see what all the hullabaloo is about. The results will be mind-blowing.

In the meantime, check out our blog for the ultimate list of the essential equipment you need to build a recording studio.