Ikea Symfonisk Bookshelf Speaker review

The Symfonisk WiFi bookshelf speaker is the most impressive speaker I’ve ever reviewed at this price. Its performance comes very close to matching that of the $199 Sonos One smart speaker; in fact, I had to listen to the two speakers side by side to discern the difference. It’s not an audiophile product by any stretch—only the Sonos Play:5 comes close to that mark, and nothing in the Sonos canon supports high-resolution audio—but the Symfonisk bookshelf speaker is a very strong performer.

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The first Sonos-quality speaker available for under $100, the Symfonisk bookshelf lacks the thumping bass of Sonos's other products but still sounds great, and fits anywhere. It can even be used as a bookshelf itself.

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A smart collaboration that combines function and performance. It’s also the cheapest way to add Sonos speakers to your home.

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The Symfonisk neatly sidesteps outright gimmickry with a surprisingly competent speaker.

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IF you like the look the SYMFONISK range then you're in for a treat. They sound great, have a price that won't leave a huge hole in your wallet and offer a design that will certainly blend neatly into many homes. Next time you pluck up the courage for another trip to IKEA they are definitely worth a look.

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The bookshelf speaker may be the less interesting product visually, but a lower price and straightforward look make its appeal more general. Available in black or white, this AirPlay 2 Wi-Fi speaker can stand tall or sit flat to tuck away on a shelf or use as end caps between books. When using the speaker as an end cap for books on a shelf, the Wi-Fi speaker just begs to become a stereo pair — not a bad AirPlay 2 solution for $200.

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Thanks to Ikea, it’s never been cheaper to buy into the Sonos wifi speaker ecosystem. While the Symfonisk wifi bookshelf speaker doesn’t quite reach the same audio highs of the Sonos Play:1, it’s also a third cheaper, blends in better with home furnishings and can be mounted in various different and interesting ways. While there are definitely better-sounding £100 speakers available, you’ll struggle to find one that works as well thanks to the Sonos system. The Symfonisk wifi bookshelf speaker is therefore an excellent first step into the highly extensible Sonos ecosystem or an ideal second speaker for another room.

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The Ikea Symfonisk bookshelf is the cheapest Sonos speaker yet - and while the sound is as slim as the design, it's great as an intro Sonos or a shortcut to surround sound for anyone already in the Sonos system.

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These speakers sounded nearly as good as our Sonos Play One set, but are just a hair weaker. They are crisp, articulate, and full sounding without being distorted at high volumes.

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The Symfonisk collaboration between Ikea and Sonos is super interesting because, well, it’s a no-brainer for both parties. For Ikea, who has never had an audio product, it makes sense because sound in the home is becoming more and more important. And it makes sense for Sonos because they can explore that “low-end” market in a way they’ve been able to before. The resulting speakers are a slam dunk. As far as sound quality and ease of use, though, you really can’t go wrong with a Sonos speaker at these low prices.

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