I think it is awesome that there is a market for Hi-Fi systems these days and that inspired me to make this best budget micro HiFi systems list. A little while back I had a look at The Best HiFi Speakers Of All Time and had a lot of fun doing so. However, today I am taking a different approach. I am looking at HiFi systems that take up very little space and most importantly they have to be very friendly to your wallet or purse! That is why I am not suggesting any HiFi systems that cost over 150 bucks!
The Advantages Of A Micro HiFi System
In an ideal world, we would all have a big 80s style HiFi that has a 5-disc CD changer and a turntable on the top, not to mention a double tape deck! The thing is those are cool (and I have a pretty sweet Sony one myself) however, they take up a ton of space! Not just the actual HiFi, but more often than not these types have massive speakers which I think are cool, but they may not be ideal for most people’s homes. With a micro HiFi system, especially a modern one, you are getting a system that is very small in its size, sometimes they are even designed with portability in mind. We are looking for the best budget micro HiFi system today, but I can tell you the biggest advantages of a micro HiFi system are that they are much smaller and also, they tend to be a hell of a lot cheaper too.
The 5 Best Budget Micro HiFi System Reviews
I have picked five of what I consider to be the best micro HiFi systems that are under 150 bucks, some are considerably lower than that! This way, if you are on a tighter budget, you can still rock out and not have to spend a fortune to do so. I also have a few music recommendations for you too, here I am trying to pick a different genre each time so that could be interesting!
- Sony Micro Hi-Fi Stereo Sound System
- PHILIPS Bluetooth Stereo System for Home
- NAXA Electronics Portable MP3/CD Player
- LONPOO Stereo Shelf System
- MAGNAVOX MM442 3-Piece Top Loading CD Shelf System
1. Sony Micro Hi-Fi Stereo Sound System
I am the ultimate Sony fanboy and I will not apologize for it at all. This Sony Micro Hi-Fi Stereo Sound System is priced at $149.90 which I think is a very fair price for a Sony product. It is worth noting there is another version of this that is closer to 200 bucks and it has a DVD player too. Anyway, the first thing to note is that this has a very cool design. The speakers are all black with a little silver Sony logo right on the bottom. The actual Hi-Fi itself has a very interesting and sleek design. The top part of it where the CD player is located is black and then the bottom is silver. It gives the whole thing a very contemporary design. As well as having a CD player, it does also offer Bluetooth connectivity so you can stream stuff off your phone through it, it even offers USB playback too. My only complaint about the design is that the speaker wires are quite short, so you cannot have them all that far away from the actual CD player.
Even though the dimensions of this are a very tiny, 23 x 12 x 8 inches it actually packs quite a punch in the sound department. It has mega bass technology which is there to make it so the speakers, even though small can still be cranked up pretty loud. I was very impressed with how music sounded out of this, after I played around with this for a few days, I actually gave it to my nephew and he still uses it in his bedroom and loves it. For this kind of asking price, you really cannot fault the sound quality of this at all in my opinion.
What Other People Are Saying
I had a good look at the over 500 reviews on Amazon and people seem to like this for the most part. It is currently sitting at 79 percent for positive reviews. The main complaints seem to be about the speaker wire length and also a few people did say that it stopped reading CDs after a short while. Have a quick look at this video showcase which shows off this thing. Here you can get a good idea of just how sleek and cool this looks!
Music Recommendation
For this music recommendation, I am going for Greatest Hits by Bon Jovi. I love me some Bon Jovi and while there are a few omissions here and there, for the most part, this is an awesome collection of the biggest hits Bon Jovi has had since the 80s! If you were to have just one Bon Jovi album in your collection, I would say this is the one to get.
While this Sony Micro Hi-Fi Stereo Sound System is the most expensive item on our best budget micro Hi-Fi system list, I do feel you are getting great value for money with this. My nephew has been using this for over a year at this point and he has zero complaints about it and he does not exactly take great care of it so it must be built fairly decently. I think that it looks cool and it offers far better sound than you would think something of this size could offer!
Pros:
- I love how cool and modern it looks
- The Sony speakers offer way more power than you would think
- It also offers you Bluetooth and USB connectivity
- Overall, it is a very cool mini Hi-Fi!
Cons:
- The speaker wire they give you with it is very short
- The remote control buttons feel a tad cheap
2. PHILIPS Bluetooth Stereo System for Home
Next up we have this very stylish looking PHILIPS Bluetooth Stereo System for Home which if I am being honest, I like the design of even more than the Sony! It has a very similar kind of design at first glance, but this one I feel just has a cooler look to it. It is priced at the moment at $129.99 which is a great price. The speakers and the top of the unit are a very similar kind of black, but the bottom is a different shade, it is subtle, but I think it looks very cool. Rather than being a top loader, this one is a drawer which I know can lead to problems as it ages, but there is no denying it looks far better than a top loading CD player. As well as the CD player, you can also stream music through this via Bluetooth, it also has an AUX port and a USB port right on the front which is pretty handy. I will say that once again the speaker wires are a little on the short side!
As far as the sound quality goes, I was blown away by this the first time I tested it! I say that because the volume dial was all the way up! In all seriousness, this can get pretty darn loud and there is next to no loss of clarity. I am not sure you would have this blasting so you could hear it all over the house, but even in a larger living room, bedroom, or whatever this can easily fill the room with sound. The remote gives you a few different sound preset options that you can play around with too. However, for most people, I would assume they will just leave it as is. That is what I did and I think it sounded great, you cannot go wrong with this when looking for the best budget micro HiFi system!
What Other People Are Saying
This is quite popular. The reason I say that is on Amazon (as of writing) there are well over 1 thousand customer reviews for this and 83 percent of these are for four and five stars. The most common thing you will read is that people were very impressed with the sound quality it provided. Be sure to check out this short video review where you can get a good look at just how compact this thing is. Also, you can hear it in action too!
Music Recommendation
My music tastes are all over the place, while I will always say that at my heart I am a rocker, the fact is I do like some slow jams too! That is why I decided to suggest this fantastic Boyz II Men Twenty: Limited Edition which features some of their greatest hits as well as some new songs as well. My wife is a huge fan of this CD and it is one that we love to listen to together…. If you know what I am saying!
I have to say that the PHILIPS Bluetooth Stereo System for Home and the Sony we just looked at are very close in terms of their design and the sound that they produce. I think this is a great piece of tech and one that right now is currently in the lead as we look for the best budget micro Hi-Fi system! I think Phillips are a great company and they have been making impressive CD players for years.
Pros:
- I like the black design this has
- It is very nice and compact
- The sound quality is far better than you would expect at this price range
- As well as the CD player, you have other connectivity options
Cons:
- Why was the volume all the way up out of the box?
- The speaker wires could do with being a few feet longer
3. NAXA Electronics Portable MP3/CD Player
As soon as I saw this NAXA Electronics Portable MP3/CD Player I knew it had to be on this list! I must admit that I have not had the pleasure to test out this myself just yet, but I am working on it! The first thing to mention is that currently this is priced at right around the 80 bucks mark. The most important thing to mention is that it looks like something I had as a kid back in the 90s! I love the whole retro style that this has going on and it even has a carrying handle so you can move it around if you want. The speakers can be attached to the actual HiFi or you can have them separate if you want. While this has a CD player, it also has a tape deck which is freaking awesome! Takes me back to the days when I would record songs off the radio which I am sure you could do with this. It does not have Bluetooth which may be a bit of a downer for some of you guys. It does have a standard 3.5mm jack on the front though so you could connect your phone to it that way.
When the speakers are attached to it, the dimensions for this are 16.9 x 8.9 x 8.9 inches so it takes up very little space. As I have not tested this myself, I cannot for sure say what the sound quality will be like. From what I have read about this, it is a little lacking the in the power department so it will not be the kind of thing you would use when you are working with tools in the garage. However, as something for a spare room, a study, conservatory or something else like that. I am sure the lack of power would not be as much of an issue, to be honest with you.
What Other People Are Saying
In terms of videos about this, I was only able to find a couple, but this video overview does give you more information about the various features this has. On Amazon, it has over a thousand customer reviews, but the reception appears to be rather mixed as only 69 percent of the reviews are for four or five stars. The main complaints that I read were down to the build quality of the unit which is a real shame as it does look cool, but looking cool does not mean much if it is poorly made!
Music Recommendation
I really wanted to have a movie soundtrack on here and I thought I would go for Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse Soundtrack. I love the movie, but this soundtrack is one of the few albums that my eldest son and I both agree on is cool. This is unusual as I think he has terrible taste in music and he more often than not will say the same thing about me. The standout track is Sunflower by Post Malone, but there are some amazing songs on this album.
I know that some people may be questioning my decision to put this NAXA Electronics Portable MP3/CD Player on our best budget micro HiFi system list, but I have to say I was seduced by the design. I am sure that many people who were teenagers in the 90s can relate to having something like this in their bedroom and that is really cool. There are some major questions about the build quality of this so please do some extra research before spending your money.
Pros:
- I love the whole design of this
- The top loading CD lid and the handle are very 90s
- It does also have a USB and 3.5mm jack
- The speakers can be physically attached to the actual unit
Cons:
- There are many reports of the HiFi being poorly made
- It is said that the sound lacks power
4. LONPOO Stereo Shelf System
Here we have an interesting step in our best budget micro HiFi system journey the LONPOO Stereo Shelf System. This one I have had the pleasure to test out as my parents actually have this unit in their static caravan that they have in a holiday park. At under 80 bucks, this is well worth a closer look if you want to be under that 100 dollars mark. I actually really like the design and think that it looks pretty damn cool. It is mainly black, but the LCD is orange and the volume knob is a kind of chrome that really stands out. It is rather compact too, but you will probably want the speakers next to it as like all the offerings on this list the speaker wire is very short. The first thing that impressed me when I played around with this was how solid the top loading CD door was. Usually, these can feel a bit flimsy, especially at this price point, but that is not the case. As well as being a CD player and a radio, it also has Bluetooth so you can stream music off your phone through it.
Sound quality wise, I must say this did have a bit more power to it than I thought it would. I was impressed and it does have a few different presets that you can play around with so you can get the sound to your liking. I will say that at higher volumes it may struggle, but overall, especially considering the asking price I was happy with the sound quality. The remote control though has these very cheap and spongy feeling buttons that just go right through me when I press one, but to be fair that could be me just being weird!
What Other People Are Saying
There are currently a little under 70 reviews for this and 74 percent of these are positive. I think that the main problem seems to be hardware issues with this, which at this price point can happen. I am not excusing it and if you do get a defective one it can be annoying, but I do feel this is a case of you get what you pay for. Believe it or not, I could not find one video of this thing on YouTube! So, my advice to you would be to fully read all of the reviews on Amazon, at the end of the day there are not a ton of them so it will not take you all that long.
Music Recommendation
I love me some old school rap and I found this awesome Original Album Classics: RUN-DMC which contains five RUN-DMC albums. This features, RUN-DMC, King of Rock, Raising Hell, Tougher than Leather, and Back From Hell. All their original classic albums are in one place which is really cool. Still to this day, I think that King of Rock is the best song that these guys put out. If you want to avoid being accused of being a sucker MC, get this awesome set!
I know that the branding the LONPOO Stereo Shelf System has may not exactly jump out and fill you with confidence, but this is pretty solid and I think exactly the kind of thing that needed to be on our best budget micro HiFi system list. I know that my parents are happy with it and when I was messing around with it, I thought that it was pretty cool, especially as it is under 100 bucks! If you want something cheap and that can get the job done, you cannot go wrong with this.
Pros:
- I think it has a cool and sleek design
- It has Bluetooth connectivity
- I was impressed with how sturdy the CD door was
- It takes up very little space
Cons:
- A few people say it has broken down on them or not worked out of the box
- It is not the best when played at loud volumes
5. MAGNAVOX MM442 3-Piece Top Loading CD Shelf System
I have to be honest and say that I had no idea that MAGNAVOX was still a thing! I have not actually tested out this MAGNAVOX MM442 3-Piece Top Loading CD Shelf System myself yet. However, as it is very close to the 50 bucks mark, I felt that it was worth having on our best budget micro Hi-Fi system list for those that want something that is very affordable. It has a rather interesting design with the front of the CD player looking like something from a sci-fi movie with the way that it has the physical buttons surrounding the volume dial. This thing is tiny coming in at 12.2 x 10.87 x 6.77 inches and weighing under 5 pounds so if you are short on space this could be ideal for you.
While this has a CD player and a radio it also offers you Bluetooth connectivity as well, add to this a USB port and an AUX port right on the front, and for something so cheap, it is pretty stacked with connectivity options. I will say that the remote control it comes with looks like the same remote you get when you buy a LED light strip for like five bucks from Walmart, but they had to cut costs somewhere. As I have not used this myself, I cannot say for sure what the sound quality is like. However, the listing on Amazon states that it has 10 W of power so I would not imagine it will be the best at louder volumes.
What Other People Are Saying
If you want to get all of the vital statistics for this then be sure to have a look at this quick video which breaks down all of the features that this micro Hi-Fi has to offer. At the moment there are 865 customer reviews for this on Amazon so it is quite popular. 79 percent of these are four and five star reviews which, in all honesty, is much higher than I thought it would be so that was good to see.
Music Recommendation
As I started writing this, I heard on the radio that Dusty Hill the bassist for ZZ Top passed away. ZZ Top are legends of the world of rock music so I am suggesting that you check out this ZZ Top which features some of their biggest hits with my personal favorites being Viva Las Vegas, Sharp Dressed Man, and Legs.
I think that around 50 bucks I am going to take the gamble and order this MAGNAVOX MM442 3-Piece Top Loading CD Shelf System as I think that it does seem very interesting. I like the style of it and think that at this price range, getting all those connectivity options is really cool. I am under no illusions that the sound is going to rock my world, but I think for the asking price, you do have to be realistic about what you are getting.
Pros:
- This thing is right around the $50 mark!
- I like the design it has
- It has plenty of connectivity options
- You do not need much space at all
Cons:
- It may be a bit on the underpowered side
- That remote looks very cheap!
What Is The Best Budget Micro HiFi System?
My personal favorite on this list is the PHILIPS Bluetooth Stereo System for Home. I think that the Sony is great too, but I just felt that the PHILIPS offered a sound that was just a tad more pleasing to me, plus I love the all-black design of it. I think if you want the best budget micro HiFi system that is not just “cheap” but also a damn fine HiFi, you will struggle to beat that, especially considering it is not much more than 100 bucks. If you do want to be under 100 dollars, I would suggest taking a closer look at the LONPOO Stereo Shelf System or the MAGNAVOX MM442 3-Piece Top Loading CD Shelf System.
