Craig Electronics sells a range of inexpensive Bluetooth tower speakers, identified by model numbers starting with CHT. They’re slim, all-in-one units designed for casual listening in bedrooms, dorms and small living rooms.
Examples from the CHT range
| Model | Listed features |
|---|---|
| CHT917BT | About 40.7 in. tall and 4.7 in. wide; built-in subwoofer (20 W RMS) plus four speakers; 40 W RMS total; Bluetooth |
| CHT973 | 2.1-channel tower; 2 × 5 W + 15 W subwoofer (RMS); Bluetooth |
| CHT909BT | Tower stereo system with wooden base and remote sensor; Bluetooth |
| CHT884 / CHT828 | Towers with color-changing lights and Bluetooth |
Figures from Craig manuals and retailer listings. Models and availability change; check the exact model number before buying.
Who they suit
- Bedrooms, dorms and small spaces.
- Casual background music from a phone.
- Very tight budgets where simplicity matters.
What to keep in mind
- With tens of watts of total power and small drivers, they won’t fill a large room or deliver deep bass.
- They’re powered, so there’s no upgrade path for the amplifier.
- Lighting effects add fun but not sound quality.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Affordable and simple.
- Slim tower shape.
- Bluetooth plus aux on many models.
Cons
- Low power output.
- Limited bass and volume.
- Not comparable to hi-fi towers.
Better-sounding alternatives
For a real step up, pair a budget passive tower with an amplifier that has Bluetooth:
A slim, light entry-level tower that uses passive bass radiators instead of a port — an easy, affordable first step up from bookshelf speakers.
A stereo integrated amplifier with a phono stage, Bluetooth and digital inputs — a sensible music-first partner for tower speakers.
Getting the best from a small Bluetooth tower
- Placement: a little away from the wall gives a cleaner sound; a corner boosts bass but can make it boomy.
- Source quality: stream at the highest quality your app allows; low-bitrate streams sound thin on any speaker.
- Volume: small amplifiers distort when pushed. If it sounds harsh, turn down a notch.
- TV use: if your model has an aux input, connect it to the TV’s headphone or audio-out jack and set TV volume to a fixed level.
When it’s time to upgrade
If you find yourself wanting more bass, more volume or clearer vocals, the biggest jump comes from moving to passive speakers with a separate amplifier. Even budget hi-fi towers such as the Polk Monitor XT60 offer far more cone area and cabinet volume than slim Bluetooth towers. Pair them with an integrated amplifier that has Bluetooth and you keep the convenience while gaining sound quality. Our budget calculator helps you plan the move.
Frequently asked questions
How powerful are Craig tower speakers?
Listed outputs are modest — for example around 40 W RMS total on the CHT917BT and 2 × 5 W + 15 W on the CHT973. That’s enough for small rooms at moderate volume.
How do I pair a Craig Bluetooth tower?
Switch the speaker to Bluetooth mode, then select it in your phone’s Bluetooth settings. Model-specific steps are in each Craig owner’s manual.
Are Craig towers good for a TV?
Models with an aux input can improve on built-in TV speakers in a small room, but a soundbar or proper speakers with a receiver will sound better.
Related guides: VM Audio Bluetooth towers · JBL vs Bose · Passive vs powered
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