Best Mini Hi-Fi for Classical Music

Our 5 Best Mini Hi-Fi for Classical Music in 2022

If you listen to classical music and want to know what the best mini hi-fi for classical music is you have come to the right place. While there may be a bit of cross over with our Best Budget Micro HiFi System and our Best Stereo System for Jazz Music articles, you are going to find a great selection of mini hi-fi systems here that will let you relax in style as you listen to your favorite classical music albums. I am not exactly what you would call an expert on classical music, but I do like to dabble in all genres so I thought it would be fun (and give me an excuse) to take a look at a bunch of mini hi-fi systems that I think are pretty cool.

The Definition Of Classical Music!

One thing I want to get out of the way is the whole “what actually is classical music?” as I am sure we all have different definitions of what a great classical music album is. When I think of classical music at first, I think of the likes of Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach. However, stuff like Enya and the soundtrack to movies like Disney’s Fantasia are also things that I would consider classical music. The point I am trying to make here is to not get too hung up on what one person vs another person thinks is classical music. Just go with your own definition and what you like and you will be much happier that way.

Our 5 Best Mini Hi-Fi For Classical Music in 2021

There are not as many mini hi-fis on the market these days as there were in the early 00s. However, there are still some very good ones and for the most part, they tend to be at the lower end of the pricing spectrum. I have picked a few of the ones that I have had the pleasure to play around with and that I think are well worth considering.

  1. PHILIPS Bluetooth Stereo System
  2. Sony Compact Stereo Sound System
  3. Compact Stereo Shelf System
  4. GPX HM3817DTBK Home Music System
  5. Craig CM427 3-Piece Vertical CD Stereo Shelf System

1. PHILIPS Bluetooth Stereo System

First up in our search to find the best mini hi-fi for classical music we have a real favorite of mine the, PHILIPS Bluetooth Stereo System for Home. I think this is a very, very cool and modern looking stereo system that is going to fit into any home, no matter what that person’s style is. Phillips has gone for a very contemporary design with this and I love it. The top of the hi-fi and the speakers are the same color, but the bottom of the hi-fi is done in a different shade of black and it is a very cool effect. The CD player is a drawer which I always prefer as it has a more higher-quality kind of feel to it. If you want more than just listening to CDs. You can also connect your phone to this via Bluetooth and stream music from places like Spotify and Amazon Prime which is always handy. You do also have a USB port and an AUX port located on the front of the system as well. The speakers look cool, but with the rather short speaker wire they have, you will need to have them rather close to the hi-fi. The asking price for this is around the 130 bucks mark which I think is very fair.

As we are talking about classical music, the sound has to be rich and full and you get that here. Even though this is very compact in its size, I was impressed with how loud it could go. Not just that, but the fact the clarity was fantastic really did make me nod my head in agreement. You do have various sound presets that you can play around with if you like, but I found the default setting to be decent enough and I am sure most folks will leave it on that and be fine with it. One other thing I do have to mention is that the remote control they give you with this is far, far better than I thought it would be. Even with the squishy buttons, it feels much better quality than the majority of other remotes we will be looking at today.

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

Be sure to check out this quick video showcase that will show off what the main features this has to offer are as well as give you a better idea of what it actually looks like:

Philips Bluetooth Stereo System for Home 2021;Vinyl community | Philips fx10 Bluetooth stereo system

There are an impressive 1,458 customer reviews for this on Amazon and it has a pretty solid reputation with the four- and five-star reviews sitting at 83 percent. The majority of people who have this do seem very happy with it.

Music Recommendation

My first music recommendation for you guys is what I would consider my go to album when it comes to classical music and that is The Greatest Classical Masterpieces!. This album is done by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and it features many “familiar” songs and they do a fantastic job. I will admit that I am far from a classical music expert, but this is an album I would wager that those who are very knowledgeable about this style of music and those who just dabble like myself will both love.

As far as the best mini hi-fi for classical music goes, you cannot start at a better place than the PHILIPS Bluetooth Stereo System for Home. This really is a fantastic unit and one that ticks all of the boxes for what you could possibly need from a compact hi-fi system. It looks cool, it is very easy to use, it is well made and it sounds absolutely fantastic! I am a huge fan of what Phillips does and this is one of their most underrated products in my opinion. I really do not see anyone being disappointed with what this has to offer.

Pros:

  • It has a very cool and modern design
  • You do not have to worry about it taking up much space
  • You can listen to CDs and music also stream music from your phone
  • The sound quality is fantastic!

Cons:

  • The speaker wires are a tad on the short side
  • The remote is awesome, but the buttons are a bit on the squishy side

2. Sony Compact Stereo Sound System

As a huge Sony fan, I had to have something from them on this list and that is why I have gone for the Sony Compact Stereo Sound System. I actually looked at a very similar version to this on another guide, but this is the more “deluxe” version. The asking price of $199.99 is a tad on the high side if I am being honest. To start with this thing looks so cool, it has a design that is similar to the Phillips we just looked at. I love how the top of the hi-fi and the speakers are black, but the bottom of the unit is silver, Sony always makes cool looking stuff and this is no exception. You have the actual CD player located on the top, but this does also have a DVD player built in as well so you are getting two for one. The DVD player though is not HDMI! That is a real drawback as the version of this without the DVD player is 50 bucks cheaper and you can easily get an HDMI DVD player for that. You can also stream music via Bluetooth through this and there is also an AUX and USB port on here too.

As is the case with the majority of mini hi-fi systems these days, the speaker wires they give you are rather short. Even though this is quite compact in its size, the sound quality is very impressive. To be honest with you, I have never been let down by Sony in the sound department and that is the case here too. This thing sounds fantastic and you do have different presets you can use, but no matter what, you will be impressed by just how clear this is, even at louder volumes. While we are focusing on music, here, we do have to talk about the DVD player as well as it is a feature of this. It is decent enough, but the lack of HDMI and the fact it is region locked make it a very basic DVD player.

What Other People Are Saying

There are over 500 customer reviews for this on Amazon and 77 percent of these are positive. Interestingly, the majority of negative reviews are from people having complaints about the DVD player being region locked not the musical abilities so that is interesting. If you want to get a closer look at this have a look at this video unboxing where you can see it in action and get a better idea of how cool it looks:

Sony CMT SBT40D Home Audio and DVD System

Music Recommendation

This is actually a CD that my wife picked up on a whim when it was on sale on Amazon a while back. The Ultimate Most Relaxing Classical Music In The Universe is a lovely CD and perfect for a Sunday morning when you want to relax. I have to be honest and say that I could not tell you the name of like 90 percent of the songs on this album, but I can tell you that I really do like it and with two CDs, you have a lot of music to relax to here with this.

I always say that you cannot go wrong with Sony and this Sony Compact Stereo Sound System is certainly worth considering if you are looking for the best mini hi-fi for classical music. I will say that as great as the CD player on this thing is, as well as the Bluetooth connectivity. The extra 50 bucks they are asking for the DVD player is not worth it and you would be better getting the cheaper version of this without a DVD player and then buying something like this Sony Ultra Slim Upscaling DVPSR510H DVD Player if you need a new DVD player too:

Pros:

  • It certainly has a very cool design
  • It sounds great right out of the box
  • You can stream music through your phone via Bluetooth
  • It is built very well

Cons:

  • Once again, the speaker cable is way too short
  • There is no way in hell that the added DVD player is worth 50 bucks!

3. Compact Stereo Shelf System

This Compact Stereo Shelf System from LONPOO is very cool and at under 80 bucks, it is also fantastic value for money as well. I really like the style that this has going on as it looks like something I would have had in my bedroom in the early 90s. It is nice and compact standing at only 7.3 inches at its highest point. On the very top, we have a top loading CD player, and just below that is a nice and bright LCD to give you the essential information when you are listening to your classical music. I love the volume dial that is slap bang in the middle of the unit which is then surrounded by various buttons to let you control the various functions. Speaking of which, this obviously has a CD player, but it also has an AUX and a USB port right on the front. You can also use your phone to stream your favorite music via Bluetooth through this thing. The remote is pretty small and cheaply made, but it gives you full control and you can even select from a few different sound presents

In regards to the sound, at under 80 bucks, I feel that you have to be very realistic with what you are getting from this in terms of the sound. This is not exactly packing a ton of power and you would not want to listen to this at the highest volume it can go as it does struggle a tad. However, at what my wife classes as a “normal” volume I found the sound to be pretty decent considering the price range. Just do not expect to be hosting concert nights with this and you will be fine. To be fair, I do feel that the sound quality is great for the asking price.

What Other People Are Saying

There are not exactly a ton of customer reviews for this thing on Amazon. There are only 69 customer reviews for this, but it is sitting at 80 percent positive reviews. As far as videos for this thing go… well, I could not find a single one. I think a huge reason for that is the branding not being that of a Sony or a Bose. Still, I do think that those who purchase this and are realistic about what they are getting seem to be happy with it for the most part.

Music Recommendation

We are going for a little bit of magic with this recommendation as I am suggesting The Legacy Collection: Fantasia. There is actually a whole series of Disney albums from this range so be sure to check them all out. Fantasia was one of the first times I heard classical music as a kid (well that and the Star Wars theme if you count that) and I was blown away by it. This really is a great set and would be perfect for anyone with a classical music collection.

I would wager that many people would look at this Compact Stereo Shel System from LONPOO and say that it is trash. Granted when put next to something that costs four times as much this thing is going to look very basic. However, for under 100 bucks, I think that this is a solid little hi-fi and well worthy of taking up a spot on our best mini hi-fi for classical music list!

Pros:

  • I really do dig the way that this looks
  • You have different music presets to play with
  • It has various connectivity options
  • It costs under 80 bucks!

Cons:

  • That remote is very cheap
  • The sound is not very good when you turn this up loud

4. GPX HM3817DTBK Home Music System

At $49.99 this GPX HM3817DTBK Home Music System is ideal for those of you who want something cheap and cheerful. The fact that this was so low priced made me really want to feature it on this best mini hi-fi for classical music list. I ordered it from Amazon and it came just a couple of days later. As well as the very cheap price, the design of this really caught my attention. The actual CD player is very cool, kind of futuristic looking, you may think that the door will open out, but it actually slides up and it is pretty awesome to see! The whole unit is quite compact in its size and it feels very light and very “plasticky” yet at this kind of price I guess that is to be expected. There is no Bluetooth connectivity on this so you will have to use an AUX cable to connect your phone. It is made so that it can be wall mounted if you want which is kind of neat.

How good can a mini hi-fi that costs under 50 bucks really be? That is the big question you are probably asking right now and I have to be honest and say that the sound is probably what you would expect. It is not horrible by any means and at a mid-level of volume, it is certainly decent enough. After I played around with this, I gave it to a friend of mine and his daughter has been using it for a few weeks and she seems to love it so it cannot be that bad! I will say that at louder volumes the sound has a kind of tiny volume to it. So, if you do like the look of this, I would say that it is best suited to smaller rooms where you will not be playing it super loud. Again, it is not bad, it is just what you would expect at this price range.

What Other People Are Saying

There are over two thousand customer reviews for this on Amazon so it is very popular. Due to the price range, that in all honesty is not a massive shock. The ratings are actually way better than I thought they would be with 81 percent of the reviews being for either five or four stars so that is good to see. There are not too many videos for this out there, but I did find this video showcase which shows things in a bit closer detail which may be handy if you want to get a closer look at this thing:

GPX HM3817DTBK Home Music System with Remote and AMFM Radio black

Music Recommendation

I know that this 20 Classical Favorites CD may seem pretty basic to people who are really into classical music, but I still think this is a great album. Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach are all featured on here so there is a great collection of some of the all time greatest here. I feel that something like this would be a great way for a person to dip their toe in the world of classical music. It would even be great for people who know their stuff as they can just throw this on and have a great mixture of some of the best of the best when it comes to classical music.

When it comes to the best mini hi-fi for classical music that is very cheap, you cannot go wrong with this GPX HM3817DTBK Home Music System. It is 100 percent basic with a capital B, but it does what it does pretty well. It may not have the strongest sound, but at more mid-level volumes, I thought that it sounded pretty good. Plus, this is certainly one of the coolest looking mini hi-fis that we have looked at today. As I said, I gave this to a friend and he says that his daughter loves this so I take that as a positive!

Pros:

  • I like the futuristic design it has
  • The way the CD player opens up is very cool
  • It can be mounted to the wall
  • The sound quality was better than I thought it would be

Cons:

  • At louder volumes, the sound really struggles
  • It looks cool, but it is rather cheap feeling

5. Craig CM427 3-Piece Vertical CD Stereo Shelf System

Last, but by no means least we have this Craig CM427 3-Piece Vertical CD Stereo Shelf System which is currently available for just over 60 bucks. This has a very interesting design; it has a rather slim profile and the speakers and the CD player itself have these strange kickstands on the back which are certainly an interesting way to go and they give the package its slanted look. On the front of the CD player, you have all of our buttons to control it and also a large and rather ugly if I am being honest red LCD which is there for the clock functionality of this. There is no Bluetooth connectivity here, but there is a standard headphone style jack so you could plug your phone into it that way if you like.

It comes with a remote control, but it is pretty basic and cheap, it is like one of those remotes you get with an LED light strip. The speakers are small, but I really do like the style of them. The sound quality this thing produces is ok for the price point. It is not going to blow you away or anything like that. Also, like most other cheaper mini hi-fi systems, the sound is not the best when you start cranking the volume up. Still, for the average person who is not anal about their sound like I am, I am sure this would be more than fine. With something like this I feel that as you are paying close to 60 bucks, you do have to be realistic about the sound you are going to be getting.

What Other People Are Saying

This has over 700 customer reviews on Amazon and they do appear to be a bit of a mixed bag if I am being honest. 75 percent of the reviews are for four and five stars which is not terrible. Most of the complaints do not seem to be about the sound, but rather some of the odd design choices that they made. I could not find one single video showcasing this thing on YouTube which is pretty crazy! However, I did get a kick out of this video showing off a vintage Craig turntable which is worth watching if you want to get a bit more information about Craig:

Craig Turntable, 8 Track Player, Am/Fm Receiver All in One Stereo System

Music Recommendation

Check out this very cool Classical Music From The Movies which is a 3 CD set. This features some of the great composers such as Mozart and Bach, but what is cool is that it features some of their work that was featured in various movies. For example, you get The Marriage Of Figaro by Mozart, but it is on this compilation because it featured in the movie Trading Places. I found it very cool how it has all these classic symphonies and songs that you remember from various movies.

While this is not the best mini hi-fi for classical music, I still felt that the Craig CM427 3-Piece Vertical CD Stereo Shelf System was worth putting on this list. It has a very interesting look to it and for the asking price, you are getting better sound quality than you would think. Be sure to take a look at as many customer reviews as you can as opinions on this are rather mixed.

Pros:

  • I like the slanted design
  • Those small speakers are pretty stylish
  • The sound quality was actually way better than I thought it would be
  • At around 60 bucks, the asking price is very good

Cons:

  • I hate how bright the LCD is
  • The whole thing may be a tad odd for some people

What Is The Best Mini Hi-Fi For Classical Music?

One of the most interesting things about our guide today is that I have actually had my grubby little hands on all five of these hi-fis at some point so I can give them all a fair try. In terms of which one is the best mini hi-fi for classical music, there is a clear winner here and that is the PHILIPS Bluetooth Stereo System. It truly is a great hi-fi. It looks very stylish, it is well built, it has many connectivity options and the sound quality is fantastic. I know that it is over the 100 bucks mark, but that is more than fair in my opinion. While the Craig and the GPX are around half the price, I do feel that the Phillips is worth that extra money. The Sony system is great, but I would highly recommend getting this Sony Micro Hi-Fi Stereo Sound System as it is the same hi-fi, but without the DVD player.

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