best sound system for music lovers

If you actually like music (not just bass that can stun a possum), skip the one-box wonder and go for separates.

A good starter recipe is streaming DAC/amp plus honest passive bookshelf speakers, or if the room’s bigger, floorstanders—positioned away from walls like they’ve got trust issues.

Add a sealed subwoofer for low-end that doesn’t wobble like jelly, and use room correction or at least a tape measure and your ears.

Prioritise lossless streaming (FLAC/ALAC), keep cables sensible, and spend most of the budget on speakers; they’re the bit that actually moves air.

For apartments or late-night sessions, high-impedance open-back headphones plus a tiny DAC/amp will sound gloriously antisocial.

Audition before buying—your room and your ears are the final judge, and they’re both far fussier than spec sheets.