Best Speakers Under 5K Series:

New Chesky Audio LC2

“Impressively Transparent”

"You Just Get the Sense That The Performers Are in the Room With You"

“The LC2 is an Imaging Champ”

"Capable of Creating a Surprisingly Large Sound Space"

“Excellent Sense of Detail”

"Admirable Sense of Texture and Tunefulness in the Bass"

“Impressive Value”

“The Basis For A Great System”

 

"The system impressed mightily with excellent sustain, a deep soundstage, solid dynamics, and superb speed and energy."

At barely 18 years old, Lucca Chesky continues to shake up the hi-fi world. Dubbed "The Fresh Prince of Hi-Fi" by Stereophile’s Rogier van Bakel, Chesky is a student at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University. That hasn’t blunted his hi-fi flame.

Following the success of his LC1 loudspeaker, Chesky’s has launched LC2 Reference Monitor ($997/ea.), which resembles the LC1 but expands its dimensions and onboard components. Each LC2 employs one "dual-chamber, aperiodic low-distortion” tweeter, one "high-definition cast-basket bass/midrange driver," and "dual inertially balanced, passive sub-bass radiators." The cabinet? "Totally inert monocoque double-walled composite-filled.” The front baffle is 5/8”-thick aluminum. Each LC2 costs $997.50, so, $1995/pair.

Lucca’s all playback system at CAF was similarly thrifty and all Schiit: an Yggdrasil Singular DAC ($3499), Loki Max F Equalizer ($1599), Schiit Kara Preamplifier ($799), and Wotan Stereo Power Amplifier ($1999).

The system impressed mightily with excellent sustain, a deep soundstage, solid dynamics, and superb speed and energy.

A SCREAMING BARGAIN TIPPING THE PRICE/PERFORMANCE SCALE NEARLY OFF THE CHARTS

We’re looking at the new Chesky Audio LC2 Reference Monitor, a passive speaker small in stature but big and impressive in sound and scale that easily filled this small (purple-hued) room with big badass music powered by a stack of Schiit (Audio). Price as you can see in the above image is $1995/pair which in today’s audiophile market makes the LC2 a screaming bargain tipping the price/performance scale nearly off the charts. Bravo to Lucca Chesky, CEO & Founder, a young man on a mission.

 

Capital Audiofest 2025:

Best in Show

Chesky LC2: Next-Gen Innovation from a Rising Star

"One of the best performers in the $2K category"

"Tight, Extended Bass, a Balanced Midrange, and Crisp, Natural Highs"

Eighteen-year-old Luca Chesky returned to Capital Audiofest 2025 with his sophomore design, the LC2 bookshelf speaker ($2,000/pair), following last year’s acclaimed LC1 ($1,000/pair). While similar in appearance, the LC2 is a complete redesign—larger, more refined, and built with higher-quality components, including a new tweeter and crossover network. The cabinets remain 3D-printed, retaining the signature dual side-firing woofer configuration that produces bass response far deeper than you’d expect from a compact enclosure.

The LC2s were paired with Schiit Audio electronics totaling around $10,000, putting the full system well beyond most entry-level budgets. Yet in the context of a show filled with six-figure systems, the LC2 setup stood out as one of the few truly affordable—and genuinely exciting—rigs on display. The speakers delivered tight, extended bass, a balanced midrange, and crisp, natural highs that easily put them in contention as one of the best performers in the $2K category. For a designer barely old enough to vote, Luca Chesky’s trajectory looks every bit as impressive as his speakers sound.

New Chesky LC2 - Amazing Seeing an 18 Year Old Building a Killer $2k Speaker

Favorites from Capital Audio Fest 2025

 

"The LC1 majors in clarity and brings a taste of high-end resolving power to a more affordable price point."

Winner of 

The Absolute Sound

2026 Editors’ Choice Award 

Chesky LC1

Desktop Loudspeakers

Chesky Audio LC1 Wins Best Speaker of 2025 Award

"Clean, Spacious, and Incredible Transparent Sound." 

"Chesky Audio's LC1 Bookshelf Monitor has remarkable resolution!"

"All the integration of the two drivers and passive radiators is so skillfully done that the crossover is incredibly transparent. I consider that a hallmark of this design."

"I can't name any other small monitor loudspeakers below a thousand dollars that can equal the Chesky Audio LC1 Bookshelf Monitor."

"Look no further for a speaker that's willing to give you the music unadulterated"

"The LC1s presented music so transparently that I could hear engineers varying ability to pull off space."

"The LC1's such a small speaker having the ability to recreate a sound space you could lose yourself in left for a really enjoyable experience."

"The frequency response of the LC1s presented a remarkably transparent view of the music."

 

Click to read the full article

Chesky's LC-1 Continues to Impress With More Awards - THE Show 2025

Are Chesky LC1 SPEAKERS the MUST-HAVES For 2025? Designer Lucca Chesky Reveals WHY YOU NEED THEM!

The Chesky Audio LC1 Bookshelf Monitors had "the BUZZ" at 2025's Southwest Audio Fest and are making waves in the audiophile world. I caught up with the 17 year-old Designer, Founder, and CEO of NY-based Chesky Audio to talk about what makes these speakers so damn special! In this impromptu interview, Lucca breaks down his philosophy about hifi, music listening, and reveals secrets about the design, technology, and inspiration behind the LC1. Don’t miss this journey into what could be the next big thing in pint-sized, AFFORDABLE high-end audio! Could these be the speakers for you?

the audio analyst

Florida's International Audio Expo 2025 and the

Crazy Good Chesky LC1

Lucca Chesky's LC1 Speaker  - FLAX 2025

Florida International Audio Expo 2025: A New Chesky and a Cost-Conscious Speaker—the LC1

Doug Schneider

click here for full article  

Best Bookshelf Speakers Under $1,000:

Editors’ Choice 2024 - Chesky Audio LC1

by Ian White

"One of the most surprising new loudspeakers of 2024."

"It’s not often that a new speaker maker bursts onto the scene with a product that shakes up the establishment."

"For under $1,000, the LC1 deliver wonderful articulation and definition, natural sounding timbre, solid imaging, and affordability in a compact and attractive design."

Audiophile Gear Awards 2024:

The Absolute Best of the Year

"I was very impressed with the Chesky Speakers"

Winner of Blue Note Award

Best of CAF 2024 Chesky Audio LC1 Loudspeaker 

The People Who Make Audio Happen: Capital Audiofest Edition

Lucca Chesky's LC1 loudspeakers made a big splash at the show. Chesky Audio offers them at $999/pair, and they offer big sound from small enclosures.

Chesky's new LC1 speakers were a sensation at Capital Audiofest.

by Frank Doris

"Not “good for the money” or “good for their size,” 

but terrific, period."

"They delivered some of the best sound at the show."

"Surprising room-filling bass, exceptional imaging and soundstage capability, and a natural tonal balance."

"Chesky Audio LC1 Bookshelf Speaker Review: Audiophile Nirvana for Under $1000?"

 Chris Boylan - ecoustics.com

Click to read full review

"A small but mighty bookshelf speaker."

"The first word I’d use to describe the LC1s is “natural.” Drums sound like drums; piano sounds like a piano; violins sound like violins and voices sound like actual human voices."

"For under $1,000, the Chesky Audio LC1s represent an impressive first offering from a talented young designer who grew up surrounded by people who actually care how music sounds."

Chesky Audio LC-1 Preview - 1st Impressions

Joey G's Audio Channel

Chesky Audio’s New $500 LC1 Bookshelf Speaker Will Disrupt Affordable HiFi

The 2024 Capital Audio Fest: Inspirational New Products

By Andrew Quint

"Chesky LC1 is a lot of speaker for under a grand."

"With familiar Reference Recordings material, the spatial presentation bordered on immersive when listening in the nearfield."

"The greatest-value small speakers at CAF 2024."

"The buzz was palpable weeks before I hit the show." 

 Ken Micallef 

click to read full review

"What’s not to love?"

"The small speakers blew out a massive soundfield that was rich, dynamic, punchy, and very well layered."

"The hefty cabinets look strong and well built."

"The tone was just this side of rich, clear, generally transparent, and highly engaging."

"Brass had bite and attack. Drums punched like a larger speaker. The sound was how I like it, so I asked to play the LC1s loud."

Tom Martin Reports from the 2024 Capital Audio Fest:

"An under one thousand dollars speaker contending for

BEST IN CLASS!"

"We were seriously impressed by what we heard."

"The LC1 features pinpoint imaging, surprisingly robust bass and a toe-tapping tuneful musicality that was missing from many speakers at more than five times the size and cost."

"In an industry that is slow to innovate and hard to infiltrate, it’s refreshing to see a new voice taking a new approach to providing affordable high-quality sound to the next generation of music lovers. We were seriously impressed by what we heard."

"This “little speaker that could” was holding its own at a high end HiFi show where some of the systems ran into the half million dollar range and beyond. "

 Chris Boylan - ecoustics.com

Joey G's Audio Channel:

"The Future of Audio is Safe At Last"

Click to read full review

"Room-filling coherent and engaging sound coming from his impressive and very moderately-priced LC1’s. Bravo!"

Michael Lavorgna's - twitteringmachined.com

"Lucca Chesky, the next big name in speaker manufacturing."

"A definite find."

"They are a real standout at the show."

"The speakers are pretty no-frills black bookshelf speakers, but the sound is impressive. They have great bass and midrange from what I got to hear, and for the price, they are a definite find."

10 Audiophile Reviewer Observations from Capital Audiofest 2024

by Jerry Del Coliano

"Lucca is making amazing bookshelf speakers."

"These passive radiator-driven small bookshelf speakers for under $1,000 were imaging like a banshee."

"The idea that a teenager can build a speaker like this is impressive." 

"The sound is spectacular"