Recent Floorstanding Speaker Reviews

The AXPONA show for 2019 was bigger and better than ever, and Audioholics was there to see and hear much of the best that was on display. In this segment of our coverage, we take a look at the more over-the-top speakers on exhibit, the 'dream speakers' that comes to mind when we purchase a lotto ticket. They may not be affordable, they might not be at all practical, but these are some of the most unrestrained, dramatic, and mind-blowing speakers that AXPONA had to offer.

The 2019 AXPONA show had more to offer than just king-size luxury speakers. In this segment of our AXPONA coverage, we look at a selection of the more affordable loudspeakers that were on display. While the massive high-end speakers seem to get most of the attention, there were a multitude of outstanding lower cost speakers that deserve as much attention as any six-figure behemoth. This year's AXPONA proves that you don't have to be rich to get good sound.

Those who want the big sound of a tower speaker but don't have the big bucks that tower speakers normally cost are in luck, because Dayton Audio and Monoprice have just released two new tower speakers at price points that will considerably stiffen the competition for entry-level floor-standing speakers. The Dayton Audio MK442T and Monoprice MP-T65RT both use their well-received low-cost bookshelf models as platforms to create low-cost tower speakers, but they each take some different design turns that may grant them a step up on sound quality along with more sound quantity. Read our preview of the MK442T and MP-T65RT to see what Dayton Audio and Monoprice have done to raise the bar on low-cost tower speakers.

SVS's newest member of their Prime loudspeaker line is aptly named the Prime Pinnacle, because it is most certainly the apogee of the Prime series and the culmination of the design cues used in the Primes while adding a few new tricks to make the ultimate Prime loudspeaker. The 3-way, 5 driver Prime Pinnacle incorporates features of their Ultra series, but in a more placement friendly design. Will this be the new audiophile go-to speaker among SVS's offerings? Read our preview to see what SVS has brought to the table with their formidable new tower speaker.

Wilson Audio’s Sasha DAW speaker is the latest descendant of the company’s iconic WATT/Puppy loudspeakers. Named after Wilson’s founder, the late Dave Wilson, the Sasha DAW sits in the middle of Wilson’s range of expensive, high-end offerings. The new speaker was redesigned from the ground up by Dave’s son Daryl and his team of engineers. Will the Sasha DAW live up to its decades-long legacy?

Loudspeaker manufacturer Klipsch has received a lot of acclaim for their Reference Premier series ever since its introduction, so it is high time that we have given this lauded line a very close look to see if it truly deserved its accolades. In for a full review is the Klipsch RP-8000F, a dual 8" woofer megalith of a speaker that promises a wide dynamic range for lots of punch and impact, but will that come at the cost of sound quality? Read our full review to find out.

PSB Speakers launched an all-new range of their Alpha series of speakers at the 2019 CES show last January. Like their predecessors, the newest iteration of the Alpha line deliver a remarkable value to performance ratio. The new lineup will consist of four models in all: 2 compact monitors P3 and P5, a center channel C10, and a tower model T20. To see what we think of PSB's new Alphas read on.

McIntosh’s 7-foot-tall XRT2.1K loudspeaker now has a smaller sibling in the XRT1.1K. Designed to deliver flagship tech in a less imposing package, the XRT1.1K still stands nearly 6 feet tall and contains 70 drivers, but should be at home in a wider range of listening environments. McIntosh says its line array design provides superb imaging from any seat in the house. Read on to learn more.

Wharfedale’s new D300 Series seeks to redefine expectations for low-cost, high-performance loudspeakers. The four-strong range consists of two compact bookshelf speakers, one floor-stander, and one center-channel speaker, all priced to challenge Elac’s Debut 2 series for the entry-level crown. Will the Wharfedale D300 Series speakers have what it takes? Read on to learn more.

There is no shortage of floor-standing speakers in the $2k/pair price range, yet Paradigm has decided to jump back in this market segment with a brand new design. Using technology trickled down from their acclaimed Persona series, Paradigm has launched the Premier line so audio enthusiasts can get some of the high-end sound of the Personas but without paying the high-end price tags. In this full review, we take a close look at the Premier 800F floor-standing and 500C center speakers to determine if Paradigm pulled off a sonic miracle.

GoldenEar Technology announced the introduction of their newest tower speaker, the Triton One.R. This new reference quality loudspeaker is a smaller, less expensive follow up to the Triton Reference, which has had a remarkable response in the marketplace from both music and hifi enthusiasts. It carries many of the same technologies found in the Triton Reference along with new innovations. Will the new Triton One.R get the same response as its larger predecessor? Read on to find out.

Ever dreamed about taking a reference-grade monitor speaker (SV-831R) and slapping it on a reference-grade subwoofer (SV-1212NR) to create the ultimate tower speaker? Consider that dream come true. RBH's awe-inspiring SVTR Tower Speaker is here. Dual 12-inch woofers, three 8-inch midrange drivers, and a ribbon tweeter combine to deliver mind-blowing, anvil-like bass, razor-like imaging and astounding dynamics. RBH's SVTR Tower Speaker delivers reference-grade performance that has to be experienced to be believed. Be warned, reading our full review may have you wanting a pair for Christmas.

The Danish loudspeaker specialist Dynaudio has completely revamped its high-end Confidence range of loudspeakers. The new series includes the stand-mounted Confidence 20 ($13k/pair), and the floor-standing Confidence 30 ($20k/pair), Confidence 50 ($27k/pair), and Confidence 60 ($40k/pair). The new Confidence speakers feature all new drivers and cabinet designs that are said to be the most advanced passive loudspeaker range in Dynaudio's history. Read on to learn more.

KEF has revamped its mid-range R Series loudspeakers, offering six new designs with over 1,000 individual improvements over their predecessors. The new R Series includes a stand-mounted speaker, three floor-standers, a center speaker, and a multifunction surround speaker that also works as an up-firing Atmos speaker (last resort option). All are available for pre-order, with shipping expected by the end of this month. Read on to learn more.