BABY BOOMERS

People say "think big". We say, with stereo speakers, that's not always good advice

Good things come in small Gpackages, we are told, and when it comes to stereo speakers, that's true. Or, at least, it can be. Yes, there is no substitute for a large cabinet if you want a sound with real scale and the deepest bass, but today's speaker technology is so good that even the smallest speakers can deliver authoritative and dynamically adept sound with a fulsome and convincing bass response - especially in smaller rooms. That is good news indeed, because many music lovers simply don't have the space for big speakers.

If you are after a smaller speaker you do, though, need to choose carefully. To help you do so we have compiled this round-up of eight little wonders whose performance belies their dimensions. Four of them are passive, which means they form the last link in a chain that also includes a source and an external amplifier. The other four are powered models. These contain their own amplification, so all you need to do is add your source. In some cases, these powered speakers also include network streaming smarts, making them all-in-one systems - the ultimate space-saving devices.

With prices running from *70,000 for the Ruark MR1 desktop speakers (18cm high) to close to *2L for the Neat Petite Classic (30cm high) there is a little something here for every budget.

Bowers & Wilkins

B&W's newest, smallest entry-level speakers are a delight

Bowers & Wilkins’ entry-level 600 series has a slew of five-star reviews and What Hi-Fi? Award wins to its name, with B&W hitting upon just the right formula of great sound and affordable price tag to deliver real crowd-pleasers.

The smallest and most affordable of the range are these, the 2023 What Hi-Fi? Award-winning 607 S3. While we would hesitate to call the speakers truly ‘budget’, these are still B&W’s entry-level pair and pack in more than enough punch to justify their outlay.