Best Budget Audio Gear 2022: Award-Winning Speakers, Amps, DACs, and Streamers

Introduction

The year 2022 brought a wave of affordable audio gear that punched well above its price. From bookshelf speakers that sound like towers to tiny streamers that changed expectations, the budget segment delivered remarkable value. We tested a wide range of components and found several standouts that deserve attention.

Whether you are building your first system or upgrading a desktop setup, these products offer a mix of performance, features, and price that make them easy to recommend. Below, we break down the best speakers, amplifiers, DACs, and streamers we encountered this year.

Speakers

Emotiva B2 Plus

The Emotiva B2 Plus is our speaker of the year. It is a larger version of the B1 Plus, featuring a 6.5-inch woofer that brings a warmer, fuller mid-range and incredible low-end response. The AMT tweeter reveals details in recordings that are often missed.

At $499, it is an absolute steal. It fills a gap in Emotiva’s lineup, offering performance close to their tower speakers in a bookshelf form. It sounds natural and not veiled. If the top end feels intense, simply toe them out slightly. This is the highest-value speaker we reviewed this year.

PSB Imagine XB

The PSB Imagine XB is a small bookshelf speaker that plays much bigger than its size suggests. It produces a monumental amount of bass and sounds like a tower speaker, despite a rated low-frequency drop-off of 55 Hz. It is fairly sensitive at 90 dB and has an 8-ohm impedance, making it easy to drive.

Its balanced sound signature, great sound stage, and imaging make it a joy. The only drawback is the price, now $649, which is a bit overpriced. Still, it can fill a living room with ease.

ELAC BS41

The ELAC BS41 is a budget standout. This small speaker delivers a non-fatiguing sound that can get loud without shouting. It features a 4-inch woofer and often goes on sale for around $125, sometimes even below $80. At full price of $160, it is less compelling, but at $125 it is an easy recommendation.

It sounds great on its own, and a crossover mod can clean up the bass further. It is sold through Amazon and competes with the Sony SS-CS5.

Wharfedale Denton 80th Edition

The Wharfedale Denton 80th Edition is the runner-up to our speaker of the year. Its build quality is stunning for the price, featuring real veneer and a gorgeous finish. At $499 on sale, it is a bargain.

It has a surprising amount of clean bass, rated down to 44 Hz, and a natural top end that is never fatiguing. With 86 dB efficiency and a 6-ohm nominal impedance, it benefits from a bit of power, but it paired beautifully with a 34-watt tube amp. It works well as a desktop reference speaker and is easy to place.

Amplifiers

Aiyima A08 Pro

The Aiyima A08 Pro is our amplifier of the year. At $139, or often less on sale, it is a remarkable value. It uses Texas Instruments 3255 amp chipsets and comes with a 36V 5A power supply, much larger than the one included with the Aiyima A07.

It has Bluetooth, a VU meter, and tone controls, and you turn it on by turning the volume up. It can drive almost any speaker you might want to try. In blind testing, we could not consistently tell it apart from the Burson Funk, which costs over $500. It has an aux output for a subwoofer, and you can add a remote control via an external DAC like the Aiyima T8.

The tone controls are effective, and you can run an EQ in the middle if you use an external DAC. For headphone use, you would need a headphone amp with preamp outputs. For the price, it is crazy good.

Aiyima T9

The Aiyima T9 is an honorable mention. This $120 integrated amplifier includes a DAC and tubes. It has a quirk: it may shut down when no signal is present, particularly when using an RCA input from another preamp. This issue was not observed with digital inputs, and updated versions may have fixed it.

Compared to a $1000 tube amp, it is not as clean, but at its price, it still deserves consideration. If you buy one, try to get an updated version.

Emotiva TA1

The Emotiva TA1 is the runner-up to our amplifier of the year. At $600, it is packed with features: a phono stage, DAC, Bluetooth, FM tuner, analog inputs, remote control, and tone controls. It can also serve as a preamp and has bass management with a fixed high-pass filter.

It delivers 60 watts into 8 ohms and 100 watts into 4 ohms, both channels driven. Unless you have very inefficient speakers, it will take care of you. It is an amp you can grow with, and the value proposition is hard to argue.

Yamaha A-S301

The Yamaha A-S301 is a traditional integrated amplifier at $350. It includes a DAC, a phono stage, and variable loudness controls. Out of the box, its stock sonic signature did not resonate with us, but with the tone controls and variable loudness, we could dial in a sound we liked.

It has good build quality from a reputable manufacturer. It is a little thin, but the value is incredible, and the remote can also control a Yamaha CD player. It is part of a family that extends up to the A-S801.

DACs

Geshelli Labs J2

The Geshelli Labs J2 (AKM version) is our DAC of the year. It uses the AKM 4493 chipset and delivers a natural, engaging sound with strong bass presence and impact. It replaced the Denafrips Ares II as our reference DAC.

At $250 without USB or $300 with USB, it is incredibly affordable. It is made in the USA by a small, family-run business, and each unit is made to order. The customer service is excellent. The only downsides are the looks, which are not for everyone, and the lack of a remote control or variable output. For pure sound quality under $1000, it is hard to beat.

Topping E50

The Topping E50 is the runner-up to our DAC of the year. At $200, it offers a full, organic, engaging sound that rivals the Topping D90SE, which costs much more. It uses an ES9068AS DAC chip and includes a remote control and Bluetooth.

It has balanced TRS outputs and RCA outputs. It measures well and can control volume, making it a versatile addition to a vintage receiver or preamp without a remote.

The sound is analog-like and refined. If you want a DAC with remote control and Bluetooth, this is an excellent choice.

Schiit Modi 3

The Schiit Modi 3 is our budget DAC pick. At $120, it sounds great and is very analytical, cleaning up the sound from phones, laptops, or CD players. It has no remote control and no variable output; it is a pure DAC.

It is part of the Modi/Magni/Loki stack, which together form a crazy affordable system with a headphone amp and EQ. If you are on a budget, this is a great place to start and possibly end your DAC journey.

Denafrips Ares II

The Denafrips Ares II is an honorable mention. It changed our paradigm about the importance of sources. It increased the sound stage and made every speaker sound better, mellowing forward speakers and filling out thin ones.

It has no remote and fixed output, so you cannot control volume. It sounds incredible, but at around $800-$900, it prices itself out for many. It was our reference until the Geshelli Labs J2 took its place.

Streamers

WiiM Mini

The WiiM Mini is our product of the year. At around $76-$80, it is a fully functioning streamer that supports Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Amazon Music, Deezer, and more. It can access network attached storage and music on a computer, and it has Apple AirPlay 2 and Chromecast.

It also features a 10-band EQ for room DSP. The software update schedule is remarkably fast, with new features added regularly. It is cheaper than many Bluetooth or AirPlay receivers, and it has changed expectations for what a streamer should cost and do.

WiiM Pro

The WiiM Pro is a more feature-rich version of the WiiM Mini. It offers the same streaming capabilities and is also receiving updates, such as a low-latency feature. It works with Chromecast and continues the brand’s rapid software development.

If you need additional inputs or outputs, the Pro is worth considering. It represents the same value philosophy that made the Mini a standout.

Buying Advice

When building a budget system, prioritize the speakers first, as they have the largest impact on sound. The Emotiva B2 Plus and PSB Imagine XB are excellent choices if your budget allows. For a more affordable option, the ELAC BS41 and Wharfedale Denton 80th Edition offer great performance.

For amplification, the Aiyima A08 Pro delivers surprising power and clarity for very little money. If you need more inputs and features, the Emotiva TA1 is a versatile step up. On the digital side, the Geshelli Labs J2 and Topping E50 provide outstanding DAC performance without breaking the bank. And for streaming, the WiiM Mini is an easy recommendation for any system.

Conclusion

The budget audio market in 2022 was filled with exceptional products. The Emotiva B2 Plus, Aiyima A08 Pro, Geshelli Labs J2, and WiiM Mini each set new standards in their categories. Whether you are just starting out or looking to upgrade, these components offer remarkable value and performance. We hope this guide helps you find the right gear for your listening space.