Being in a family that loves music—to listen, sing and play, audio system in the home and car have usually been the topic of heated debate all my life! But you don't need to have gone to war with audio systems to get the right kind. If you have a smaller home, then pick a sound bar, if it's a solid surround sound you're after then go Bose. The great thing is that you can get great quality within different budgets. For from portable, wired, or for movies, sports, or gaming, here’s my pick of home audio systems and speakers (tried and tested!) to make sure things sound as good as they should.
Tried & Tested Home Audio Options Across All Budgets
For Carrying Around: JBL Flip 5
₹10999
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If you are looking for something that delivers quality sound and at a high volume, but is easy to carry around, this is it. It’s useful if you’re streaming from your phone, and if your television isn’t giving out the best sound. I love it as I can simply carry it anywhere I want in the house. It’s slightly waterproof too, so if you’re on your balcony and it’s raining, a few drops won’t hurt.
Favourite Feature: It's waterproof, and is available in 13 colours, including a few camouflage ones.
Price: INR 9,999 but it’s currently on discount
For The Party Person: Sony High Power Party Speaker
Well, and truly out of my current budget, but on my wishlist is this ultimate party box by Sony! Officially called the V83D High-Power Party Speaker with BLUETOOTH® Technology, this one has 360-degree speakers, meaning sound all around. It’s perfect to make sure everyone in the room gets to hear the sound, and since it’s got a party mode, expect lights to go off in different directions too. Apart from high quality speakers, that makes it seems like you are actually in a music festival or better still watching football at the stadium, this one has a Taiko mode which means you can drop a beat on the top panel too. It has sounds of the bongo, djembe, surdo and the Japanese Taiko drum, and I’d love to be making music on it and jamming with friends. Connect via Bluetooth easily, and start the party! Oh, also there are speaker lights with jets of green and blue to give you a solid nightclub or disco vibe
Favourite Feature: If you make DJ gestures, it will change the music! Flick left, and go back a song. Flick up, and turn the music up. Basically, you can be cool. You can also drop a beat on the top panel for sounds on percussion instruments.
Price: INR 73,990
For The Fam As It's Easy To Use: Blaupunkt Sound Bar
₹16990
Don’t mess with German sound. And while the price isn’t sky-high (INR 7,000 on discount), this one comes with a sleek design so you can still see your TV, and have your cabinet uncluttered. With 3D sound, and an EQ mode in typical Blaupunkt style - movies, music, news or 3D, as a family, we love that this one keeps the quality price, and volume subtle. The 3D mode on this is lovely and doesn’t just up the volume. It’s got a subwoofer as well if you’re a perfectionist. What is great about this bar is that even for my slightly less tech-savvy Mum, she can easily control the sound and the inputs. Easily hooked up with an AUX in, HDMI-ARC, BT and USB, play away!
Favourite Feature: Multi-connectivity. You can use HDMI, Bluetooth, USB or the AUX cable.
Price: INR 12,000 without discount, currently it's at an easy enough INR 6,999.
For The Desk: Creative Pebble
₹3999
At my desk, I went old school with cable connected Creative Pepple speakers. The set up is great as I have my laptop, my TV, phone and CD player (yes, I told you, old school!). With mid-bass and heavy bass coming through even though the pebble (it's a nifty round set of speakers), I really like this one to immerse myself in the music or movie. It’s not the loudest when watching TV from a distance, but in closer proximity, I pledge my allegiance to this. Also because it’s INR 6000, and they have targeted sonic drive to where you’re turning the speaker for far more accuracy and better sound.
Favourite Feature: This one can be connected with the AUX cable or the USB-C which is universal! Phew!
Price: INR 1,500 but for just INR 6000, get the ones with the sub-woofer for MUCH better sound.
For Those On A Budget: Portronics Sound Bars
₹6999
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For a real steal, pick from the Portronics sound bars. There are two - one Pure Sound and Sound Slick III. Both have really good sound for their size, and the price (both under INR 4,500 without discount). From experience, the Sound Slick is just a bit better as it’s larger and the stereo sound you get from it is more quality, and less tinny. It’s really light, and can easily be transported from one place to another. It fits in with Bluetooth, USB, and AUX cables. It’s great value for money, and I have no complaints about it in the least. There is also the DECIBEL 22 which is a funky new addition to their collection and apart from being just INR 1,699, it has a funky RBG LED light display too.
Favourite Feature: All of them are really light, and portable. Plus, they're durable despite the modest prices.
Price: Under INR 4,500
Mi Sound Bar
₹5999
This one's been recently tried and tested, and I can say that it’s a bang for your buck this, Mi Sound Bar. Priced originally at INR 5,999 but on sale at INR 4,999, the sleek looking bar covers a solid range of sound from 50Hz to 25000Hz, and that’s a wide spectrum. So whether you are watching sports, a dramatic soap opera or a war film, you should feel like you’re in the centre of all the action! With plenty of connectivity posts - be it aux cable, good old line-in, or even fibre optic and PDIF cables, this one is modern yet can go proper old school if your TV isn’t as smart as you!
Favourite Feature: The connectivity ports! This has S/PDIF, optical, aux-in and line-in connectivity ports so hook it up to your TV, audio device, mobile phone or laptop.
Price: INR 5,999 but currently on sale!
Philips Bluetooth Tower Speaker
I have not used this one, but a very good friend has made these tower speakers his best friend. Apart from great sound, this one even has Bluetooth to make it easier and untangle your life from AUX cables and USB sticks! He uses it mostly for gaming and movies, so you can count on an immersive sound. For music too it’s great, and since it’s connected to a power source, you won’t run out of batteries on your all night parties! Plus, in-built radio.
Favourite Feature: It comes with a wireless Karaoke mic so take centre stage and belt out tunes like you're a pro!
Price: The actual price is INR 13,000
For Supreme Quality: Stanmore Marshall
₹39999
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If it's quality, and power you are looking for, get the Stanmore II. A very versatile speaker as it carries sound in a large room as it would in a smaller one, this one is also portable. What I love is that the sound quality is fantastic. No reverb and echo in the least. Sure it's a bit more expensive, but Marshall products are worth investing in, so expect it to last a good many years.
Favourite Feature: Bluetooth range goes up to 10 metres with no breakage at all. Plus, you can actually tune the speakers to give you the kinds of output you want.
Price: INR 32,999 on sale. Or get the Marshall Emberton for INR 15,000
Bose Lifestyle 650
₹104900
It's Bose. It's got to be good. And it is! Not only does this console look great, but with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay2 compatibility, it's great to connect for all your TV, music and gaming needs. Controlled by Sound Touch, an app that lets your phone turn into a universal remote control, you can even directly browse Spotify and other music apps and radio.
Favourite Feature: It has 6 HDMI ports, so really, no need to take your TV cable out when you want to listen to music, and again when you want to play video games. Oh, also only the front and centre speakers need to be hard wired to the console. So the rear ones can go where ever you want your surround sound to come from, with no wires!
Price: INR 3.58 Lakh (what did you expect?!)