SpeakerCompare^™

Patented Virtual Audio^™ technology

There's always been one big hurdle when shopping for speakers online — you can't tell how they sound. SpeakerCompare™ simulates the sound of home and car speakers through headphones. This exclusive Crutchfield technology lets you compare sonic characteristics between speakers so you can make a more informed shopping decision.

Grab your best set of headphones and listen!

We've preloaded a few speakers so you can try it out

Klipsch Reference R-50M

KEF Q150

Polk Audio Signature Elite ES20

1. Choose a new category below

2. Expand More info on up to four items and check Compare & listen

3. Select the Listen with SpeakerCompare^™ tab at the bottom of the screen

1. Choose a new category below

2. Check Compare & listen on up to four speakers

3. Select the Listen with SpeakerCompare^™ tab at the bottom of the screen

All car
speakers

Floor standing
speakers

Bookshelf
speakers

Center channel
speakers

Outdoor
speakers

In-ceiling
speakers

In-wall
speakers

The best option without going to a showroom. A wonderful sound experience for comparing and listening to many speakers.

– Kate
Crutchfield customer

A better way to shop

Over 20 years ago, Bill Crutchfield imagined a new type of "virtual" store, where speakers could be demonstrated online — something that had never been done before. He hired a team of engineers and built a specially designed testing facility in Virginia. This patented Virtual Audio™ technology is now available as a shopping tool on our website, alongside conventional resources like reviews, feature lists, and specs.

Inside the research lab

It all starts inside our anechoic chamber. This acoustically neutral room uses sound-deadening material to eliminate reflections. It's where lead engineer Rick Wright captures each speaker's frequency response, sensitivity, power handling, and other attributes. SpeakerCompare™ then tailors the listening experience to the specific type of headphones you have. "We control as much as we can," Rick explains, "so that you hear a realistic tonal comparison between the speakers."

How our technology works

First we carefully measure the sonic characteristics of each speaker inside our anechoic chamber.

Then we gather data on everything from room characteristics to how our ears work.

Finally, we create a unique profile for each speaker, so we can replicate it through your headphones.

Exclusive Crutchfield technology

How it works

SpeakerCompare^™ simulates the sound of home and car speakers through your headphones. It lets you compare sonic characteristics between speakers so that you can make a more informed shopping decision.

Why selecting your headphones is important

SpeakerCompare tailors your listening experience to the exact headphones you have, so that what you hear is comparable to auditioning speakers side-by-side in person. Knowing which model headphones you're using lets us remove any sonic coloring from your experience.

Two different listening modes

In an actual listening room, you'd find that some speakers play louder than others when fed the same amount of power. In equal power mode, you'll hear these differences in loudness as they naturally occur between speakers.

In equal volume mode, we've made the loudness of each speaker about the same. This gives you a more direct comparison of subtle voicing differences between speakers.

Nothing beats listening to speakers in your space

SpeakerCompare gives you a sense of the sonic differences. But performance in the real world is affected by the acoustics of your car or home, your choice of amplification, and your source material. We still believe that the gold standard for auditioning speakers is hearing them in your own environment — that's why we offer a 60-day money-back guarantee.

We'd love to know what you think!

Color:

Scorecard by

Sound profile:

Warm

Ideal for extended fatigue-free listening, because they emphasize bass and roll off the highest treble, for smooth, relaxed sound.

Neutral

A solid choice for most applications, because they prioritize accuracy, without emphasizing bass or treble.

Bright

Perfect for listeners who want to hear every detail, because they accentuate higher frequencies for a crisp, energetic sound.

Detail/Clarity score
Bass score
Vocals score

Researched & reviewed by humans, summarized by AI

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SpeakerCompare^™

Patented Virtual Audio^™ technology

Grab your best set of headphones and listen!

Want to try out different speakers?

A better way to shop

Inside the research lab