If you are looking for the best floor standing speakers under $500, the most important things to consider are the size, frequency response range, and drivers. I’ve summarized my favorite products below based on these features. Keep reading if you want to know more about why these features are so important.
Having a great audio system at home is a worthy investment. If you stay at home most days, you would probably want to have an excellent audio system to provide you with all your music and move essentials. When remaining indoors is fast becoming the newest norm, not needing to go out every so often to entertain yourself and your household members are highly recommended. You can, however, efficiently do your mini singalong concerts and movie marathons with your loved ones indoors when you have the best floor-standing speakers to aid you.
This article will discuss the best floor-standing speakers under 500 that you can conveniently purchase from the different music stores. I checked out the other brands and models to develop a comprehensive list of the top options depending on their performance. Read on and identify the floor-standing speakers that best suits you and your loved ones’ audio needs at home.
The Best Floor Standing Speakers Under $500
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Best Overall  |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
Best for Easy Installation  |
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Best for Durability  |
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Best for Sound Clarity and Sound Quality  |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
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| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
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| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
1. Sony SSCS3 – Best Overall
Key Features
- Frequency Response Range: up to 50 kHz
- Impedance: 6 ohms
- Equipped with Sony Super Tweeter
- 3-way, 4-speaker bass-reflex system
- Maximum Input Power: 145 W
The Sony SSCS3 3-Way Floor-Standing Speaker comes from one of the most popular audio brands in the market. The SSCS3 is an example of their top-grade products as it can provide you with a solid audio performance minus the high price. A floor-standing speaker that merely costs less than two hundred dollars, this unit has a frequency response range of up to 50 kHz. It also has a maximum input power of 145 watts and an impedance rate of 6 ohms.
Because it is equipped with Sony’s super tweeter, this floor standing speaker can offer you high-end frequencies that the competition may not provide. So, you get to have a fuller enjoyment of your music concertos and movie marathons even at the comfort of your home. With a 3-way, four-speaker bass reflex system, you get to have a powerful audio performance without the need to purchase additional speakers. If you plan to use this speaker in a small- or mid-sized enclosure, this speaker is already capable enough to offer satisfying sound.
Despite its low-powered setup, this unit has one of the loudest volumes in its price range. This floor standingspeaker may not look too grandiose, but its simplicity allows you to easily integrate it in any room setup. Because this speaker doesn’t weigh too much—it weighs less than 30 pounds, you can conveniently move it without assistance. It may, however, be a problem if you have a small child or a pet in your home since its lightweight construction makes it quickly knocked over accidentally. While this unit has a broad base, it is pretty unstable, as well. You can, however, fix it to the floor or provide it with some kind of container to improve its stability without impeding its primary audio function.
| Pros • Lightweight and easy to move around • Easy setup • It can be placed in any area of the room • Powerful audio feedback • High-quality sound output | Cons • Limited bass response • Lightweight construction may be a problem |
2. Yamaha NS-F210BL – Best for Easy Installation
Key Features
- Frequency Response: 50 Hz – 45 kHz
- Nominal Input Power: 40W
- Maximum Input Power: 120W
- Sensitivity: 86 dB
- Impedance: 6 ohms
Many speakers have no problem at all with producing a bass response. However, a lot of them get in trouble when the audio requires transmitting higher-end frequencies. While some floor-standing speakers have that extra super soft dome tweeter that allows them to produce higher-end speakers sound, the Yamaha NS-F210BL Floor Standing Speaker quickly offers a full range of frequency responses. Thus, it can conveniently produce those high-frequency tones without the distortions easily observed when using cheaper speaker alternatives.
The Yamaha NS-F210BL 2-Way Bass-Reflex Floor-Standing Speaker has a wide frequency response coverage of 50 to 45,000 Hz. It has a nominal input power of 40 watts that reaches a maximum of 120 watts. It has a high sensitivity rate of 86 dB and an impedance rating of 6 ohms.
This Yamaha floor-standing speaker is aesthetically beautiful. It is equipped with a steel base that makes it equally sturdy and well-built. While this speaker looks too thin, it is made of durable materials that make it more protected from damage. Its slim built is in line with a home studio setup and can be paired with another floor-standing speaker, with each of them placed at either side of your flat-screen television. Because it is colored black, its simple and yet classy design makes it easily incorporated into any kind of room arrangement. Audio signals home
A perfect option for a surround sound setup, the NS-F210BL is the best floor standing speaker that will surely provide you with that optimal singalong or movie marathon experience that you’ve wanted for so long.
| Pros • Beautiful aesthetic build • Durably and well-built • Easy to set up • Can match any kind of home studio arrangement | Cons • It may not be as powerful as other alternatives • May need a subwoofer for effective bass response |
3. Cerwin-Vega SL-15 – Best for Durability
Key Features
- 3-way system design
- Frequency Response 28 Hz – 26 kHz
- Maximum Power Handling: 400 watts
- Peak Sensitivity: 94 dB
- Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
The Cerwin-Vega SL-15 15” 3-Way Floor Standing Speaker is thought of as the flagship model of the SL series. It is a 3-way speaker system that offers superb handling of low-frequency sounds. A perfect companion during online gaming, movie marathons, or music singalongs, this floor-standing speaker provides a high-definition audio performance that is especially apparent in its bass response. Such an extra punchy bass production is due to its special bass-reflex cabinet.
This floor standing speaker offers excellent voice clarity—an essential capability that makes your audio experience even more enjoyable. You get to hear the dialogues in various movie scenes, hear the different instructions during in-game hack-and-slash activities, or even hear the usually garbled vocals in your favorite heavy metal audio file.
While the black-and-red, sporty look of this floor-standing speaker may be an excellent feature for most sports fans, it may not be an ideal design for many living rooms. Its red color may contradict most living room themes. However, you can still opt for this unit if you do not mind such an ill-fitting color combo. Thus, this one’s more recommended for a gaming or family room setup rather than for the usual beige or off-white living room theme.
| Pros • Superb bass response • Extra midrange clarity • Three-way speaker setup • Durable speaker cabinet | Cons • The black-and-red color scheme not for most living room setups • Not aesthetically attractive |
4. Polk Audio T50 – Best for Sound Clarity and Sound Quality
Key Features
- Peak Power Handling: 150 watts
- Nominal Impedance: 6 ohms
- Frequency Response Range: 38 – 24,000 Hz
- Enclosure Type: Bass Radiator
Sometimes, you do not need way too many speakers to provide you with an adequate and enjoyable audio experience. The Polk Audio T50 150-Watt Home Theater Floor Standing Speaker is a single speaker that offers you powerful audio feedback for your home studio setup. Manufactured by one of the most popular audio equipment companies, the Polk Audio T50 is a highly recommended unit. It offers solid sounds and a quality build.
The T50 is durably built. It has an all-black cabinet that is both stable and aesthetically refined. This floor-standing unit is compatible with a variety of receivers. Its Dynamic-Balance Wave-Guide tweeter offers a clear treble response, as well.
Capable of defined bass and midrange responses, this speaker covers a comprehensive frequency response coverage that is effective and heard during various activities, including gaming, movie binges, and impromptu singalong concertos. Because it has an HDF cabinet built to diminish noise and distortion, you get to have clear audio feedback and sound quality irrespective of the genre you prefer to watch, play, or listen to.
Incorporated with Polk’s Dynamic Balance technology, this speaker unit can provide you with soaring highs, shredded mids, and bombastic lows. Thus, you get a solid audio experience all throughout—a perfect pastime while staying indoors.
| Pros • Superbly clear audio feedback • Zero to limited distortion • Excellent bass response • Midrange clarity • Stable and attractive all-black build | Cons • High notes may sometimes come off flat |
5. Rockville TM80C – Best Powered Tower Speakers
Source: Amazon
Key Features
- Frequency Response Range: 40 – 20,000 Hz
- Sensitivity Rate: 106 dB
- Peak Power: 800 watts
- RMS Power: 200 watts
The Rockville TM80C Cherry Powered Home Theater Tower Speakers have classy cherry-colored cabinets. Each speaker is capable of a frequency response range of 40 to 20,000 Hz. They also have a sensitivity rating of 106 dB. They have an RMS power handling capacity of 200 watts that can reach up to 800 watts. Because they already come with subwoofers, these speakers are capable of providing a robust bass response. They are also loud as compared to many of the alternatives.
Built to provide a superb audio experience, these floor standing speakers are highly recommended for any home studio setup. They can easily provide aesthetic beauty to any room arrangement as their cherry color is as classy as the all-black ensembles. Their high sensitivity rate also assures you of clear sound feedback, which is especially crucial when attempting to surround sound experience effectively.
A pair of tower speakers that do not cost as much as their competition, these speakers are integrated with amplifiers that make them active units that do not require any additional amps to power them both. Hence, you get to fully use them for various purposes, including USB and Bluetooth connectivity. Already pre-installed with equalizers, you can conveniently adjust their multiple functions as well. They also have adjustable treble and bass controls that fully make them even more worthy of home studio investment.
| Pros • Bluetooth connectivity • Superb audio feedback • Adjustable bass and treble controls • Attractive cherry-colored cabinets • Full frequency response range • High sensitivity rate | Cons • Limited distance for Bluetooth connectivity |
Polk Signature Series S55 – Best for Deeper Bass Response
Key Features
- Frequency Response Range: 32 Hz – 40 kHz
- Sensitivity Rate: 90 dB
- Recommended Amplifier Power: 20 – 200 watts/channel
The Polk Signature Series S55 Floor Standing Speaker, another offering from the Polk Audio roster of superb speakers, is a unit that has a frequency response range of 32 to 40,000 Hz. It has a maximum sensitivity of 90 dB, as well.
Because it is from the ever-famous Polk brand, you can be sure that this tower speaker provides you with a full range of frequencies. It is easily incorporated into any home studio setup, offering you the most enjoyable audio experience of your movies, vinyl records, and virtual games. It easily provides the most accurate sounds based on your chosen film, music, or gaming source. This Polk unit has a high-resolution Terylene tweeter that offers high-frequency responses from the newer high-res audio formats. Its sturdy mica polypropylene cones provide clear bass and dynamic, amplified midrange sounds, as well.
This unit is reported to give superior audio feedback with the high requirements of an American hi-fi surround sound system. Thanks to its superb build quality and premium-grade drivers, it offers zero to little distortion and tweeter. It is also integrated with the Dynamic Balance of Acoustic Array technology.
| Pros • Deeper bass response capability • Dynamically balanced setup • Anti-diffraction magnetic grille • Designed with Polk’s exclusive power port technology • Zero to limited distortion • Aesthetically attractive • Durable build | Cons • Some may find this unit to be limited in power |
Dayton Audio T652-AIR – Best Budget Choice
Key Features
- Power handling: 90 watts RMS/150 watts max
- Impedance: 6 ohms
- Frequency Response Range: 45-20,000 Hz
- Sensitivity: 88 dB 1W/1m
The Dayton Audio T652-AIR Dual 6-1/2” 2-Way Tower Speakers are a pair of full-standing units that provide both audio detail and clarity superbly. Because they have a slim built and an all-black cabinet design, they aren’t difficult to integrate into any kind of home studio setup. They also have a firm base which makes them stable and durable—a crucial consideration, especially if you have small children or raucous pets at home.
While these speakers require a compatible amplifier to work, they are attractive enough to suit any room in the house. They can provide a full range of frequency responses, from the lower-end tones to the higher-end ones. Integrated with a high sensitivity rate of as much as 88 dB, these speakers are fully capable of producing a powerful audio performance. Nevertheless, some customers report noise and distortion issues, especially when these speakers are pushed to their limits. However, these pair of tower speakers are superb choices when you’re looking for an excellent budget purchase—you get two for the price of one!
| Pros • 2-way system design • Superb sound detail and clarity • Stable and durable build • Wide frequency response coverage • High sensitivity rate • Good Audio Quality | Cons • Audible noise and distortion when pushed to their limits |
The Best Floor Standing Speaker Buying Guide
It is always crucial for you to check out the different factors that make up an efficient floor-standing speaker. To eliminate the possibility of purchasing floor standing speakers that may only be a waste of your hard-earned cash, here are several elements that you should take note of when looking through a roster of options for standing speakers under $500.
Size
While bigger speakers provide you with more powerful audio feedback, it is entirely impractical to purchase such gigantic alternatives when you are looking to set up a small- to the mid-sized home studio room. However, floor-standing speakers typically vary in size, and you should look for one—or even a pair—that doesn’t cram up your space or even overpower your flat-screen TV.
However, tower speakers are highly recommended when you are attempting to have that effective surround sound setup. They can easily provide ample audio feedback for a small- or mid-sized space and even offer adequate sound output for a bigger room. Nevertheless, you need to remember that these floor-standing speakers can also be unstable, especially if you choose slimmer alternatives. This can be a problem for you if you have smaller children or pets in your home. Thus, it would be best to opt for the more stably built options to eradicate the chances of unwanted accidents. Usually, heavier floor standing speakers are far better choices as they do not easily fall over even when leaned on or prodded unintentionally.
Frequency Response Range
Frequency response refers to the high and low notes that your speaker produces. Typically, floor-standing speakers can provide a wide range of frequency responses, but many struggles with the efficient production of lower-end ones. To ensure that your tower speaker choice gets to produce all the different frequencies you frequently listen to, make sure that you obtain a unit with an indicated lower frequency range of 40 Hz. Otherwise, you can provide your speaker with the ability to do so by connecting it to a high-quality subwoofer.
Aesthetics
While your floor-standing speaker’s aesthetics may not be the primary concern when choosing the best unit to complete your home studio setup, it is also essential to consider this element. A classy and sleek finish allows you to easily integrate your speaker to any kind of home studio set up in the sense that it conveniently incorporates itself into your overall room arrangement. You don’t want a sporty-looking ensemble of dubious color combos in your otherwise beige or off-white living room, don’t you? Most customers prefer an all-black or all-gray look since these two colors conveniently complement any kind of living room theme.
Drivers
While most speakers have four general types of drivers—subwoofer, woofer, midrange, and tweeter, not all floor-standing speakers have all these drivers incorporated into them. Some may merely have the three types, excluding the subwoofer. Subwoofers are essential when you want your speaker to produce deeper-end bass responses that can go as low as 20 Hz. A superb floor-standing speaker should have this capability, but you can easily add a subwoofer to your ensemble to adequately have this capability as well.
Configurations
There are three main types of configurations—the two-way, the 3-way, and the 4-way. These types refer to the number of drivers integrated into your speaker option. While the 2-way speaker only has two drivers, usually a tweeter and a woofer, the 3-way and 4-way ones have the extras. A 3-way unit has the midrange driver that provides the mid frequencies, while the 4-way speaker has the subwoofer that capably offers you the deeper-end frequencies.
Depending on your regular audio needs, you should get a floor-standing speaker that can capably produce the usual audio feedback from your music, movie, or virtual game preferences. For instance, if you regularly listen to grungy, lower-end bass, the 4-way option is way better than the 2-way one.
Conclusion
To sum up my discussion, here are the best floor standing speakers under five hundred bucks:
- Best Overall – Sony SSCS3
- Best for Easy Installation – Yamaha NS-F210BL
- Best for Durability – Cerwin-Vega SL-15
- Best for Sound Clarity – Polk Audio T50
- Best Powered Tower Speakers – Rockville TM80C
- Best for Deeper Bass Response – Polk Signature Series S55
- Best Budget Choice – Dayton Audio T652-AIR
