You have no idea how excited I am to write this best vintage speakers for rock music guide! I love all (well most) kinds of music, but rock is 100 percent my favorite. I was born in 81, so I grew up with parents who listened to stuff like Bon Jovi, Iron Maiden, and Guns n Roses. We have looked at a ton of speakers here on the site ranging from our Best Floor Standing Speakers Under $300 article to our Best Bookshelf Speakers Under $1000 article and everything in between, but today is something really special! I am looking at the vintage speakers that I personally feel have that real rock vibe and will look great and sound awesome in your home.
What Makes These Right For Rock Music?
Look, truth be told, you can listen to any kind of music through any kind of speakers. However, what made me think to write this best vintage speakers for rock music article is that as a lover of rock, I do also love things that I feel have a real rock vibe to them. At the end of the day, our styles are all different, but from one rock lover to another, I wanted to share my own picks with you and if you are in the market for a great set of speakers, you will like what we are looking at today.
The Best Vintage Speakers For Rock Music
Here we have a rather interesting selection of speakers that I feel fit that rock vibe. Some of these I have tested, a few I have not, but I felt these were all in the spirit of what we are looking for today. I have tried to have speakers at all different price points too, so no matter your budget, there should be something here for you.
- Klipsch Reference R-610F
- Edifier R1280Ts Powered Bookshelf Speakers
- Peachtree Audio M24 Powered Speakers
- Sony SSCS5 3-Way 3-Driver Bookshelf Speaker System
- Audio Pro A36
- Victrola 1980s Retro Bluetooth Boombox
1. Klipsch Reference R-610F
First up we have these epic Klipsch Reference R-610F which are speakers I have put through their paces many, many times. These are currently priced at $299 which for a pair of floor standing speakers from Klipsch is not a bad price at all. What made me pick these for this list was the design. These to me just scream the 1980s and in my personal opinion that is when all the best rock music was. The black wood design was a real staple of 80s hi-fi equipment and the design that these have well and truly captures that in my opinion. I really like the feet that these have which are kind of understated, but still pretty cool. These are not wireless, but they do have your standard jacks on the back.
I have yet to test any product from Klipsch and not be impressed with the sound and that is the case here too. Look, if you know anything about speakers, you know that Klipsch knows exactly what they are doing! Even though these are not the most expensive speakers I have ever had the pleasure to use. They still kick some serious ass and I was in particular very impressed at how deep the bass was and how clear the sound was overall, even at louder volumes.
What Other People Are Saying
As of me writing this best vintage speakers for rock music article, Amazon has 333 customer reviews for these speakers. They are sitting at 94 percent for positive reviews which is pretty damn impressive if you ask me. Check out this quick video review if you want to know exactly what makes these things tick and also get a better idea of how they look too. From what I have seen, the majority of people who have used these are very happy with what they have.
Music Recommendation
Just for fun and because I did something similar with our Best Preamps For Rap Vocals article. I thought I would share a music recommendation with you guys for each set of speakers. I am starting with a bang and that is with the limited edition release of Guns n Roses: Greatest Hits which is one of my all-time favorite albums by one of my all-time favorite bands. I love Appetite for Destruction and both Use Your Illusions, but having all the hits in one place and on this awesome looking blood-splattered vinyl is extra special.
If you are an 80s rocker like myself, you cannot go wrong with these Klipsch Reference R-610F. I think these are very, very cool speakers and for a while, they were the ones that I personally used. They sound great at all volumes and if you like your rock music loud, you do not have to worry about any kind of distortion here. Plus the fact that these are just under 300 bucks makes them great value for money if you ask me.
Pros:
- I love the black wood design
- The feet finish these off perfectly
- They produce a very loud and clear sound
- I think they have a very 80s style to them
Cons:
- Might be a tad big for some people
- They do not have Bluetooth
2. Edifier R1280Ts Powered Bookshelf Speakers
With these Edifier R1280Ts Powered Bookshelf Speakers, we are going a lot smaller as these are bookshelf speakers. I actually had this paired up with a House of Marley Stir It Up Wireless Turntable for a while in our backroom and loved them. I am a huge fan of Edifier and what makes these worthy of a spot on our best vintage speakers for rock music list is that I think they have a real “classic rock” vibe about them. These have a nice and compact design and the wood style of them is the kind of thing that was big during the late 70s and into the early 80s. Some classic rock like Kansas or Led Zep would be epic played through these. These do come with a little remote, but you do also have dials on the side if you prefer a more hands on touch.
In the room of my house where I listened to these, it was kind of an office too so I would never blast music. However, I can tell you that these offer a very real, raw, and rich kind of sound that is far more impressive than their just over 100 bucks asking price suggests. Seriously if you want a set of speakers that are high-quality and close to the 100 bucks range, you will struggle to find better than this, especially if you want a classic rock kind of vibe. I will say that I did find that (well for me at least) these did take a bit longer to break in, but that just gave me an excuse to use them. Vocals in particular sound so crisp through this thing, that I actually loved listening to live music with them.
What Other People Are Saying
I found this really cool video unboxing and review which states that these offer a “great look, great sound and a great price” and that is 100 percent something that I can completely agree with! As far as the customer review situation over at Amazon goes. These are quite popular with over 500 reviews (as of writing) and they are 95 percent positive which is great to see.
Music Recommendation
I mentioned classic rock and live music when talking about these so my music recommendation is Point Of Know Return Live & Beyond by Kansas. I freaking love Kansas and this live album is truly amazing stuff. It has the classics like Carry On Wayward Son, but there are some real deep cuts on this album as well as the hits. It can be a tad pricy to find on vinyl now, but even if you have to get this on CD, I would highly recommend it.
For the money, I do not think there is a set of speakers on this list that are better value for money than these Edifier R1280Ts Powered Bookshelf Speakers. I know we are talking about vintage speakers here and these do have a real classic rock look about them. However, they also look cool and hip as well. Plus, the sound once these are fully broken in really is quite amazing.
Pros:
- I love the design of these
- They can produce amazing sound
- You can tinker with the treble and bass thanks to the dials
- These could not be any better value for money!
Cons:
- That white stripe on the grille does kind of stick out
- You will have to break them in
3. Peachtree Audio M24 Powered Speakers
A little while back I was sent these Peachtree Audio M24 Powered Speakers to check out and I was very impressed and I was just waiting for the right time to talk about them. These are bookshelf speakers so they do not take up much space at all. These are black which if you know me, means that I think these have an 80s kind of vibe. What makes these different though is that they have more a of a gloss to them which I think is very cool. Granted, they attract dust and fingerprints like crazy, but I still think they look cool. The hookup options on these are crazy. They offer Bluetooth, but they also have physical inputs for both digital (optical) and your standard analog inputs as well.
I know that $359 for a set of bookshelf speakers sounds like a lot of money, but these are very high-end in their design. Form the 4-inch fiberglass woofers to soft dome tweeters they used. These were designed with giving you a real kick in the face when it comes to power, but not at the expense of them having to make them bigger. Right from the first time I used these, I was impressed by just how much power they had, I kept creeping the volume up a little bit more (until my son shouted at me as he was trying to play Fortnite at the time) and never once had any distortion or other kind of issue.
What Other People Are Saying
Be sure to have a look at this in-depth video review which shows you all of the features that these have. The review is very complimentary about these speakers so be sure to watch it. There are not a ton of reviews for these on Amazon (probably because of the price) and as of writing there are under 100 reviews, but 85 percent of these are positive so that is not bad at all.
Music Recommendation
I do not know why, but when I see the shiny finish of these hair metal comes to mind. That is why my recommendation is actually one of my all time favorite albums and that is Open Up And Say Ahh by Poison. I think I have bought this album every time it has been re-released and I own a ridiculous four copies of it on vinyl! Nothin But A Good Time and Every Rose Has Its Thorn are two of the best 80s rock tracks in my opinion!
I think the fact that these Peachtree Audio M24 Powered Speakers are “powered speakers” makes them perfect if you want something with more power and that is a little more higher-end. I know the asking price is hard to stomach, but if you can afford it and you need a vast amount of hook up options, I do feel that these could be the right option for you or at the very least worth considering.
Pros:
- I like the shiny finish that these have
- They sound amazing
- You have many different hook up options
- These can be used with Bluetooth
Cons:
- They do attract fingerprints and dust
- Might be a tad too expensive for some
4. Sony SSCS5 3-Way 3-Driver Bookshelf Speaker System
I always try to get a set of Sony speakers on any list I am working on and I think that these Sony SSCS5 3-Way 3-Driver Bookshelf Speaker System are perfect for our best vintage speakers for rock music list. To start with these are currently being sold for a great price, they are only $148 which I think is a very fair price for a set of speakers like this. These are dark black which gives them that 80s rock vibe I am a huge fan of and have mentioned about 20 times already during this article! These are nice and compact in their size and usually, I am not a huge fan of anything on the grille, but Sony is the exception as Sony branding was huge in the 80s. Please note that these are not wireless, but they do have your standard jacks for speakers on the back.
For a while, these were the speakers that I was using with one of my turntables that I had in the garage and I was very happy with them. These have what Sony calls “3 speaker bass reflex system” I could not exactly tell you what that means if I am being honest. What I can tell you though is that these things are nice and loud and the bass they provide does kick some serious ass which is what I always like to see. My garage is pretty big and these were more than able to fill it with sound. I do not think I have ever been disappointed with a product that has the Sony name on it and these speakers’ 100 percent continued that trend.
What Other People Are Saying
As is the case with most Sony products these are very popular and on Amazon, there are currently over 2000 customer reviews for these and they are at 95 percent for positive reviews. I found this very well done video review that showcases just why these are so good and excellent value for money so be sure to give it a watch and also have a read of the comments as many people there are singing the praises of these speakers too!
Music Recommendation
I am a massive fan of Bon Jovi and the fact that they are still releasing great music to this day and putting on epic live shows is a testament to just how talented Jon and the boys are. That is why I am recommending, Cross Road which was their first ever greatest hits album which also featured some key new tracks such as Always. This is not the bargain basement CD version though; I am suggesting the amazing special edition that comes on red vinyl. I love this set and it is one of my favorite Bon Jovi vinyl records actually.
No matter if it is speakers, a turntable, a TV, or even a games console, “you cannot go wrong with Sony” is something I always say. These Sony SSCS5 3-Way 3-Driver Bookshelf Speaker System are a fantastic set of speakers and I know we are talking about speakers for rock music today, but I think these are great for pretty much everything!
Pros:
- I love the way that these look
- They produce a very loud and clear sound
- Even though they are rather compact the bass has some real kick to it
- I love the 80s Sony look they have
Cons:
- These are wired only
- Black wood is not always everyone’s cup of tea!
5. Audio Pro A36
I really wanted another set of floor standing speakers on here which is why I went for these Audio Pro A36 which I think look very cool. These due to them being floor standing speakers do take up a lot of space, but they really did catch my eye when I was looking for speakers to add to this best vintage speakers for rock music list. These have that 80s look which I like and I think the way the grille only takes up half of the front gives these a classic rock look, but at the same time, they do have a bit of modern sophistication about them too. The stand is cool as it is a square and it just looks solid. As far as hook ups go, this thing has you covered. It has all of the digital hook ups you could want such as optical and HDMI. It also has your standard analog hook ups too. Plus, this thing has Bluetooth so it can be used wirelessly too!
Now, these do cost around 800 bucks so they are not exactly cheap, but I think the asking price is more than fair when you look at the quality these are giving you. These are a set of speakers that I must admit I have not had the pleasure to test out myself just yet. However, when I was reading about the way that these are designed for movies and music and when I took a good look at the internal components, I do not have a doubt that these will be able to provide you with loud and clear audio! These are high end not just in their presentation, but in the components, they have inside the speakers too.
What Other People Are Saying
Most of the videos that you will find for these like this one here are for the white version of these speakers. You cannot be talking about speakers for rock music and have white speakers! Anyway, that video is actually great in showing you how large these things are as well as giving you more information about the various hook ups and even letting you hear them in action. There are not many reviews on Amazon, but in the looking around I did for these, those that have these tend to be very impressed with them.
Music Recommendation
There are so many great Iron Maiden albums that it is hard to pick just one and I did not want to pick another compilation album for you so I have gone for Number of the Beast. On this album, we have hits such as The Number of the Beast and Run to the Hills, two of my favorite Maiden songs. This album also has my favorite artwork for any Iron Maiden album too.
While I have not had the pleasure to check out these Audio Pro A36 speakers for myself. I am very impressed with what I have seen from these. They have a very cool look (the black ones I am talking about) and I think if you want something large and kickass to blast your rock music through that these could be just what you are looking for. They are a bit on the expensive side so be sure to look at as many reviews and videos of these as you can before you pull the trigger on them!
Pros:
- I like how they have a vintage, but also modern kind of style
- These are designed to be as loud as possible!
- Plenty of hook up options for you
- These even offer Bluetooth!
Cons:
- They are very expensive
- They do also take up a lot of space
6. Victrola 1980s Retro Bluetooth Boombox
How awesome is this Victrola 1980s Retro Bluetooth Boombox? You do not get much more 80s than a boombox! It is the kind of thing one of the dudes from the Michael Jackson Bad Music Video would have on his shoulder!
This is priced at 150 bucks as I write this and I just fell in love with this as soon as I saw it. I would love to get my hands on this one day! It is a Bluetooth speaker so you can stream music from your phone or even a Bluetooth turntable through it if you want. It even has a freaking tape deck on the front of it! I thought for sure that was just for show, but nope this is a fully functional tape deck and that is awesome.
On the side of this awesome boombox, you have your power jack, a headphone jack, and an SD card slot as well as a USB port, you can even record directly from the radio onto an SD card. You can plug in a bunch of those huge heavy D batteries (it needs eight of them!) and you can relive your youth by taking this to the skate part and blasting some Iron Maiden as you skate. Or, you can just have it set up in your man cave and relive your days blasting your favorite bands through your stereo. I am not sure how great the sound will be, but it does have two nice and large speakers on it so I am sure it will be decent enough.
What Other People Are Saying
On Amazon, there are over 500 reviews for this and 84 percent of them are positive. People seem to get a real kick out of the style of this thing, which is what drew me to it as well. However, a few reviews do call into question the build quality so be sure to read as many reviews as you can. I think with something like this you have to be realistic about what you are getting.
Music Recommendation
Just for fun as this thing has a tape deck, I thought it would be cool to suggest a tape so I found this Motley Crue Shout At The Devil cassette tape on eBay. I am kind of shocked at how much cassette tapes are going for these days, to be honest with you! Anyway, if you love the Crue as much as I do then check out The Dirt Soundtrack from the biopic that Netflix put out a short while ago. At first, I thought this was yet another greatest hits album, and while it does have their biggest hits. It also has some new music as well including a very weird cover of Like a Virgin by Madonna!
Look Victrola are known for making cool looking stuff and this Victrola 1980s Retro Bluetooth Boombox fits in with what they usually do. Their products are not meant for someone who is looking for the best audio in the world. In my experience with Victrola products, they are certainly passable, but you are getting something they make because of the style of it and the style of this boombox could not be any more awesome!
Pros:
- It looks like it fell out of the 80s!
- I love how it has a fully functional tape deck
- You can record songs off the radio
- It offers you Bluetooth connectivity
Cons:
- To make it portable it needs 8 D batteries!
- There are some reports that it is not exactly the strongest unit ever built
What Are The Best Vintage Speakers For Rock Music?
I have had an absolute blast looking for the best vintage speakers for rock music with you guys. From the four that I have personally tested, they are all worth considering. I do think if you want something larger then the Klipsch Reference R-610F are the way that you want to go, I love these things and think they are perfect for loud rock music. If you need something a bit smaller then I think that the Sony SSCS5 3-Way 3-Driver Bookshelf Speaker System is perfect. They look cool, have that Sony branding and they sound fantastic. I do also love the Edifier R1280Ts Powered Bookshelf Speakers as they sound incredible, but I must say that the woodgrain kind of style of them may not be what you are looking for when it comes to vintage speakers.