If arranging a home theater system, the best satellite speakers are required as rears to supplement the sound from the front. The following list of models allows choosing the high-quality unit that reproduces good highs and midrange sounds. It’s based on such impartial quality criteria as the level of sound enhancement, the ability to contribute to a surrounding environment, sturdy building, and simple installment. Note that the units introduced below are almost all passive (except the Bluetooth capable model) and don’t have a direct connection with the sound sources but require AVRs or amps.
Satellite Speakers Reviews
Bose 301-V
When looking for the best satellite speakers, bear in mind the stereo units that are based on the Direct/Reflecting speaker tech to enhance a wide soundstage within small spaces. They’re able to convey the power of a live performance. The devices are fitted with an Asus essence Stx 7.1 soundcard to ensure good sound clarity. They bring spatial qualities to music, television, and gaming. They provide good sound at all volume levels.
The speakers’ built-in woofers feature a simple paper cone and foam surround design that is less expensive but still, deliver a good sound. Note that those entire enhancements are possible if using solid core speaker cables. The unit’s rear-firing tweeter handles the separation of the sound (defined clear highs and nice tight bass). Besides, the bass is warm, deep but not punchy. Consider the tweeter being in the front and pointing directly at your sitting area.
These speakers are backward reflecting that requires a wall behind them to sound correct, and they can’t be put against the wall.
The model comes with the automatic protection circuitry to escape the drivers’ overdriving and to enhance reliability while lowing interference for the flawless listening experience.
Pros
- The subwoofer is not necessary because the speakers deliver enough bass and volume.
- They do their job for both audio listening and a home theater arrangement.
Cons
- The proper stand is required to place them anywhere in the room for the best performance and room layout.
- A compressed sound with songs that have an intro with few instruments or mostly highs with no bass. It’s necessary to turn the speakers up again when the rest of the band/drums/bass enter.
Polk Audio S10
When thinking of the best satellite speakers don’t miss the Polk Audio S10. They’re used in a multichannel home theater system or for high-resolution stereo music. They provide strong-ranged sound for four rear speakers. The units have a Terylene dome tweeter that ensures the sound clarity and realistic reproduction of instruments and vocals. Besides, it provides well- detailed highs. The drivers are highly efficient when making bass clear and lowing any distortions. The treble reproduction is good due to a frequency response of 67 Hz to 40 kHz. The full distortion-free range at high volume is ensured when combining with the speakers with a sub.
The speaker’s brand woofer is made of mica-reinforced polypropylene that is noted for its small weight. The brand Power Port tech improves the speakers’ low-frequency response and the MDF cabinet helps avoid resonance. Being added with the anti-diffraction magnetic grilles, the units can reduce sonic interference significantly.
A sturdy building is added with a top-quality finish, two color solutions, and rounded edges. Since the speakers are designed to be mounted on the wall, a special overlay on the back cleaves the airflow that outputs from the downward firing reflex. It helps redeploy it along the wall.
Pros
- The product is compatible with Dolby and DTS surround sound techs.
- The speakers aren’t picky about the amount of output power that can be just 20W.
Cons
- They are lacking at the low end that’s why they’re not sufficient as mains in a small room.
- The speakers aren’t lightweight and require top-quality legs to center the weight.
Fluance SXBP2
It’s one of the best satellite speakers for home theater since they can significantly improve the TV’s built-in speakers. The units make the bass deep enough but not obnoxious and the mids balanced across the sound spectrum. Moreover, this model is able to make a movie’s background effects brighter, clearer but not overwhelming. Great improvements are possible due to the manufacturer’s brand bipolar configuration.
The model provides smooth and well-dispersed sound across the back wall and makes the rear stage feel larger. It brings no muddiness to the sound whether music from SACD or movies from Blu-Ray DTS-HD are playing. It is compatible with any other brands’ bipolar front speakers.
The MDF cabinet with the fabric cloth contributes to its extremely low distortions and resonance. This model was developed to be wall-mounted using the keyhole mounts on the backs. They should be placed at ear level since mids and highs are directional frequencies.
Pros
- Perfect veneer without a sign of a bad home job.
- Female vocals are crisp and clear.
Cons
- While listening to various musical tracks, instruments sound slightly muffled.
- Tiny keyholes that require screw heads that are smaller than ¼ inches.
- It lacks a switch to toggle between the phases of the sides to expand the sound field.
Acoustic Audio AA321B
The following satellite speakers review deals with the model that is able to enhance the back sound of ATMOS-encoded video. The speakers deliver clear and loud audio but not much bass. They’re easy to integrate with a 7.1-channel system as back surround units. Their total power is 400W that’s good for such low-cost units.
The model is not lightweight because of heavy magnets inside that ensures a good sound despite the speakers’ small dimensions. Since they’re not powered, they’re used for bookshelf or rear surround sound but not for a phone. However, the connection is possible if attaching the audio adapter and cables from the speakers to the adapter.
As a rule, only two of these speakers are required to get a good sound in a small room, but it’s also possible to use four of them for having a reasonable sound in a bigger room. However, in this case, a sub is compulsory. It would be better to use a split copper speaker wire to connect an old school amplifier and the speakers.
Pros
- The speakers’ surface is paintable to choose any color that fits the interior.
- Mounting brackets are included.
Cons
- ABS construction sealed cabinets that are sturdy but not anti-resonant.
- They start warming up after about an hour.
Leviton AESS5-WH
These are the other home theater satellite speakers that are designed for the ceiling in the living room. They deliver good midrange and treble, as well as clear bass. Certainly, it’s not booming but the surround effect is getting excellent and volume is relatively high. The general sound is smooth and precise since the unit handles much power without any distortion. It’s also a magnetically-shielded satellite unit to prevent interfering with other equipment.
The package doesn’t include the adapter plates, but it’s easy to buy steel, decorator-size blank plates (they’re cheap). The speakers’ design feels solid due to their hard plastic cover that looks like glass-reinforced nylon and steel grille.
The mounts do the job fine hold the speakers, perfectly in the desired position. However, this is not surprising given the speakers’ weight that is so light that they can be mounted on a wall without connecting to a stud.
Pros
- The sound is great when using them as left and right mains.
- They can be used as height speakers for the Dolby Atmos system.
- The speaker comes with four rubberized legs in order to set them on a surface.
Cons
- Makes highs too bright.
- The speakers need a strong amp not much to deliver enough bass.
Yamaha NS-AW150WH
This pair of the compact satellite speakers features 150W for each of them that’s good given their small size. This spec allows getting high-quality sound and louder volume. Besides, all the sound frequencies are well-balanced due to a wide frequency spectrum (from 80 up to 40,000 Hz) they cover.
The speakers come in the sealed acoustic suspension enclosures that are resistant to water, dust, and mud, so it makes possible to install them in the backyard. As a result, they can provide good background music for outdoor activities, with the ability to crank up to decent a volume level.
Moreover, their construction is magnetically shielded, so, they can be placed near a TV or projector without having any interferences. The speakers can be easily placed on a table or a shelf. Besides, their brackets provide both horizontal and vertical placement on the ceiling.
These units aren’t Bluetooth satellite speakers since they should be plugged into a tuner. If this feature is required, it’s possible to add a Bluetooth adapter or get a compact Bluetooth receiver.
Pros
- The speakers are very loud that is very unusual for satellite modifications.
- If powering the speakers with a stereo amp, it’s possible to use an iPod to stream Internet radio or to listen to tunes from the library.
Cons
- The white plastic cabinet can become yellow over time because of the direct sun.
ARCHEER A320
This Bluetooth satellite speaker is active (battery powered) and has control buttons on the top. It has a USB cable in the box to be hooked up to a mobile device. The unit is noticeable for its bamboo design, smooth round-edged shape, and honey-colored coating. Unlike other satellite speakers mentioned above, it is single and requires purchasing one more unit to place them in different areas of the room.
The device has two drivers for the middle to high frequencies and one woofer in the center for low-frequency extension. A wide array of music genres (hip-hop, indie, acoustic, rock, classical, folk) are played clear and bright. The bass response is great and sounds sharp, and it’s completely separated from the other components of the music. The highs have no distortions and the mids are expressive that eventually allows getting rich sound.
Pros
- It features great volume output and 60% of max is enough to fill the space with music.
- It can be connected wirelessly to other components (unlike other satellite models).
Cons
- The sound clarity is fading away when turning up to 100% volume.
- It requires an AC adapter because it comes with a micro-USB cell phone charger instead of an AC adapter.
Buyers Guide
What Is Definition and Working Principles of the Satellite Speakers?
What are satellite speakers? They are smaller versions of the bookshelf speakers that are developed to improve the other speakers’ sound. They’re usually small and designed to be mounted on the wall, ceiling or placed on the even surfaces (desks, tables, shelves). Besides, they are usually marketed in pairs to set them up as a left and right stereo pair.
Their main mission is to boost sound quality. So, they can produce good clear sound with well-balanced frequencies only if the other components (speakers, AVR/amp) feature top quality. Satellite speakers require correct AVRs settings in order to make the necessary enhancement of the desktop system and go well with the turntables or gaming consoles.
They’re designed for small and medium-sized rooms but can be also installed in a large room if connecting a good external subwoofer.
How to Pick the Appropriate Satellite Speaker?
First, let’s deal with the audio quality that depends on frequency response (20 Hz – 20 kHz on average), a built-in EQ to regulate bass and sensitivity that should be no less than 88dB to make a speaker loud enough. So, watch the manufacturer’s characteristics while buying speakers.
When speaking of the speakers building, it’s necessary to pay attention to their mounting system – stands or mounts. Their high quality will provide a hassle-free placement.
Another important point is the type of home theater. If building a Dolby Atmos or a DTS:X system, pick a model that can support those formats.
Since the satellite speakers are developed as extras and should be almost invisible or blend in with the surrounding furniture, bear in mind their size and design. Sometimes, the model is packed with tons of features, but their color doesn’t fit the interior. In this case, check out whether its cabinet is paintable (it usually deals with the models in plastic enclosures).
If the satellite speakers will be placed outdoor, choose waterproof models that can resist heat, cold, rains, and other nature’s whims.
One should also note the size and the layout of the room in order to choose the number of speakers (two or four units) and to decide whether a sub is needed of it’s possible to dispense it. Besides, if having an open layout, it’s better to choose a bipolar modification to build a diffuse sound environment that enhances the wraparound effect.
Is it Possible to Install a Satellite Speaker in a Car?
Technically, it’s possible, but one should consider the speakers’ dimensions. The smaller they are, the easier placement will be provided. Besides, the mounting system should also fit a certain vehicle’s interior and its mounting location. Besides, it’s necessary to pick an active model, but it’s not easy since the majority of models are passive and require wireless connection only. That’s why it’s much more rational to choose dedicated car speakers or find out the satellite speaker with Bluetooth compatibility.