Best Bookshelf Speakers in 2022

Last update: December 19, 2022

Are bookshelf speakers good for living room?

If you’re looking for speakers to use in your living room, bookshelf speakers are a great option. They’re small and unobtrusive, yet still deliver great sound quality. Plus, they’re easy to set up and use.

Are bookshelf speakers good?

Yes, bookshelf speakers are good. They are a great way to improve the sound quality of your music and movies. They are also a great way to save space in your home theater or living room.

Are expensive bookshelf speakers worth it?

If you are looking for high-quality sound, then expensive bookshelf speakers are definitely worth the investment. With these speakers, you can expect to hear lifelike audio that will fill any room. Additionally, expensive bookshelf speakers are typically very durable and well-built, so you can enjoy them for many years to come.

Are soundbars better than bookshelf speakers?

There is no simple answer to this question as it depends on a number of factors, including budget, personal preferences, and the acoustics of your room. That said, soundbars tend to be more convenient and easier to set up than bookshelf speakers, and they often provide superior sound quality. If you're looking for the best possible audio experience, however, bookshelf speakers are usually the way to go.


Klipsch R-41M Powerful detailed Bookshelf Home Speaker Set of 2 Black Review:


This speaker setup sounds fantastic! Mids are present but not particularly noteworthy. Klipsch's trademark highs are nearly excessive, but they contribute to an overall very clear sound for the ordinary listener. The highs are also quite prominent rather than harsh like other Klipsch versions. Amazing bass response for a 4 "woofer. There is a ton of it, and it isn't murky. They do not require a sub for a desk that is quite modest and in a small space, but one would be a nice addition in any case if they wanted to hear thunderous bass or very low frequencies for a home theater system.These are on my desk, and I believe that would be an excellent use for them. Being 4 "They would make fantastic satellites for a surround arrangement, but they aren't really designed for a big room or the front of a theater system. They come in a pretty small package that is suited for a desk and perform admirably at lower volumes.Speaking of the box, it's unquestionably sufficient but not the best ever. Although it has a pleasant feel, the wood grain appears to be a veneer. Without the cover, the front looks fantastic, showcasing the recognizable Klipsch bronze-colored driver and sizable tweeter wave path. However, the magnetic covers are very attractive and, when installed, give the speakers a subdued blacked-out appearance. The bass port is quite huge, and the wire bindings provide a nice tight grip. Even though it is not advised to place rear ported speakers directly up to a wall, they are wall mountable.Each speaker comes with four sticky feet, which can be increased if preferred. The speakers were set directly on the foam of my stands, with the covers off.The speakers enjoy using force. My Yamaha receiver's 100 watt RMS per channel may be turned up to 70% without damaging the woofers or my eardrums. When I tried them with a Lepai 2020A amp (20 watt RMS), I found that in order to reach a respectable volume, it had to be pretty much maxed out, which resulted in considerable distortion. Unfortunately, a $20 amp is insufficient for these unless you simply listen at very low volume.Overall, I'm quite happy with these as a workplace accessory. For newcomers or budget-conscious audiophiles like myself, I heartily suggest.



Sony SSCS5 3-Way 3-Driver Bookshelf Speaker System (Pair) - Black Review:


I don't consider myself to be a geek or an audiophile, but I do appreciate decent speakers and can tell them apart from subpar ones. I have a couple of very pricey home theater setups, each of which uses power conditioners, Sony ES components, outrageously costly interconnects, and Polk LSi speakers and Polk subwoofers as the speakers.My desktop setup is quite basic, consisting of a Fosi Audio DAC, a V2 50x50 amp, and an improved P1 tube pre-amp. All are interconnected using 12 ga twisted pair speaker cabling and specially constructed star quad RCA connections. My laptop is being used to stream Hi-Res music over USB while the Equalizer APO/PEACE program is running. An overall setup that is cheap but has a great sound quality.I've been using a BIC F12 sub and my $800 LSi7 bookshelf speakers for a while. Overkill for a desktop configuration? Yes, possibly.Anyway, I noticed these Sony 3 ways were being sold for $73 per pair. Their reviews are excellent. Because I intended to return my LSi7s to their surround positions, I chose to give them a try. I wasn't that excited because I was anticipating a decrease in sound quality. I did not want to spend a lot because it is a desktop setup that will be used for listening at lower volume levels. Let me tell you something, though. My Polk LSi7 speakers don't sound as good as these little Sony SSCS5 speakers do! improved separation and a better soundstage make it more detailed. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? 73 dollars for a pair? Let's go. I'm blown away by how great these sound. I'm currently listening to the Rippingtons album Built to Last. Wow, I'm in awe and awestruck. I suppose I will now conduct my critical listening at my computer? I'll have to visit a therapist.



Edifier R1280T Powered Bookshelf Speakers - 2.0 Active Near Field Monitors - Studio Monitor Speaker - Wooden Enclosure - 42 Watts RMS Review:


In my 70 years of existence, I have appreciated good music. Like many others, I got my start listening to the Stones, Beatles, and The Who when I was a young teenager. When I began listening to bands like Pink Floyd, the Moody Blues, and others, my mind was given access to fresh sonic experiences. I've ALWAYS been a fan of music. I enjoy listening to a variety of musical genres, including classical, new age, piano solos, hard rock, screaming guitar solos, and heart-pounding drum rhythms (AC/DC). Without the correct instruments, you can't even begin to appreciate the subtleties of these songs.I've gone through the 33 1/3 era over the years, purchasing a variety of turntables



Pioneer SP-BS22-LR Andrew Jones Designed Bookshelf Loudspeakers(7-1/8” x 12-9/16” x 8-7/16” & weighs 9 lbs 2 oz) Review:


Had a pair of Andrew Jones speakers that were significantly more expensive—the (as of March 2019) relatively new Elac Debut 2.0 6.5 "mids speakers, which sell for $250–300 on its own. You question whether the price difference is justified because researching one of these combinations frequently leads to the other. Instead of the Elacs, I bought these. Why?The Elacs sounded good in the sense of being incredibly clear, with minute details apparent and the impression that everything but subwoofer-level bass was present. To my ears, the Elacs were utterly "neutral," though. No of the volume or subject matter, they failed to pique my interest or excite me in the same way that my large standing speakers do " (I have the 8" RP-280F Klipsch Reference Premier towers on a nice amp in another room). Even though I was mentally thrilled by the Elac's sound, I wasn't really motivated to keep listening more music after testing a variety of genres. I also tried some music and games, and they were likewise comprehensive, skilled, and informative. A little bass was almost imperceptibly blended in, making it difficult to hear. They would certainly make fine hobby-level studio monitors, especially on discount. The appropriate adjective might be "clinical," but not in a bad manner. Just not what I was expecting to hear.The Pioneers, on the other hand, were surprisingly kind and interesting. They were well below, instance, my enormous towers (or my tower's bookshelf-sized brethren, which are likewise considerably more expensive than the Pioneers), without meaning to exaggerate. However, this speaker system is among the least expensive ones that have ever given me chills. We had to turn up the volume and try additional songs since they forced my wife and I to turn around and smile at one another. The Pioneers were also, in my opinion, more adaptable. I found these to sound much more "natural" (not like an artificial speaker), and with a broader sweet spot, than the larger Elacs, which would be only a few feet from my ears at moderate intensity. I frequently found myself angling and raising my head to gain a good view of the Elacs.The majority of you won't care about my true beef with the Elacs, but it did lead me to the Pioneer, which you might find interesting. Packaging. In general, the fit, finish, and appearance of the drivers in the Elacs are significantly higher quality than those in the Pioneers; only by comparison with the cabinets, the Elacs make the Pioneers look like they were thrown together at a garage sale. The Elac's drivers are not perfectly circular; instead, they are connected to their drivers in a unique shape with finished trim, high-quality small hex screws, and a decorative hard metal mesh covering the tweeters. The Elacs would have needed woodworking that was above my capabilities, and I intended to port the drivers, bass ports, and internal crossovers/fill to a homemade enclosure. I made the decision after noticing the Pioneers' straightforward circular mounting and simple, exposed screws. My Elacs cost $150 during a sale, whereas the Pioneers cost $95.Fortunately for me, the Pioneers' more traditional cabinet style not only made them ideal for my custom project, but I was also pleased and amazed by how much better they fit my taste. It's not a knock on the Elacs—many people undoubtedly prefer them or have better ears for picking up on subtle qualities—but if you enjoy speakers who are "warm," "energetic," and "engaging," I suggest giving these a try before spending your money on the more expensive Elacs, which typically cost around $300 outside of sales—or before you try anything over $100!———CONTEXT Because sound is so individualized:- Pioneers and Elacs were tested using the identical audio engine (Audio Engine N22, class AB amp), with the same fat-gauge wires.- Both were tested at desktop listening range and across the room. Pioneers later tested them after porting the drivers and crossover circuitry into a homemade enclosure over a bed, and they still sound fantastic when playing music as a morning alarm and ocean sounds at night.Both were evaluated using random Blu-rays and PC games, as well as CD-quality lossless audio and a few 96/24 lossless tracks. PC >> USB 96/24 DAC at full quality, no software modifications Speakers, a 3.5mm cable, a N22 amplifier, and homemade wiring of 12 ga.- My preferred home speakers are Klipsch Reference Premier, but I've also owned a number of less expensive theater and automobile audio systems from manufacturers like Sennheiser, AudioEngine, Harmon Kardon, etc. On the majority of systems, I find that I leave the crossovers, bass adjustments, and treble adjustments at neutral or just a notch above neutral. Although I have a selection, classic rock is often my preferred test music.- I put both speakers through their paces with and without the several subwoofers I have lying around the house. - I even included a picture of my homemade overhead enclosure in case anyone were interested, but my findings were based on the original cabinets.———Summary: Elacs is far more attractive and well-built, weighty and serious-looking, and neutral and 100% competent. Don't pay attention to the delicate, blended highs and lows. No exhaustion, save than the occasional forgetting to play. If you're among the.00001% of folks looking to steal hardware for a home design, you might be interested in some very strangely shaped (albeit neatly crafted) driver enclosures.Pioneers made me feel warmer and made me want to listen to them more. Compared to Elacs, the bass has a touch more "presence," but it is still well-blended and balanced. There is no tweeter exhaustion. Though smaller and lighter than Elacs, the acceptable-looking curve case is eye-catching but has lower-quality fit and finish and is not space-efficient. Both vinyl wrap and the far more expensive Klipsch Reference Premiers are inferior to the tight finish of Elac. Pioneer's internals are simple to pilfer for another cabinet.——-FINAL STEP. WHAT I SOLD/KEPT:If I had purchased the Elacs at the $150 sale/pair, I wouldn't have been unhappy, but I was fortunate to find the $95 Pioneers. I didn't expect the Pioneers to be my style of speaker! These are STILL a value, even when compared to my deal on the Elacs.



Edifier R1280DB Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers - Optical Input - Wireless Studio Monitors - 4 Inch Near Field Speaker - 42w RMS - Wood Grain Review:


I wholeheartedly endorse these speakers!Bass: According to several other critics, the bass is not loud enough. Although it is a question of personal preference, these speakers are actually constrained by their physical characteristics. They exist as they do.I believe the bass it creates to be more than adequate, if you ask me. Actually, I think it's impressive.Studio Monitors: I have a set of Yamaha HS5 studio monitors, which cost $199.99 apiece. Although the Yamaha monitors are excellent, they are a tad costly when compared to standard computer speakers. They are primarily used by me in my music studio to mix audio recordings because, well, that's what they were made for. I can confirm that my Yamaha studio monitors are roughly 90% as nice as the Edifier R1280DBs. They are that excellent! very crisp Very clear, with just the right amount of bass. They make for a harmonious pair of speakers.The Edifier R1280DBs are a great option if you're an aspiring Studio Producer but are short on funds.These will undoubtedly be a nice upgrade if you're wanting to replace your mediocre PC speakers.



Polk Audio T15 100 Watt Home Theater Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) - Premium Sound at a Great Value | Dolby and DTS Surround | Wall-Mountable Review:


These speakers are fantastic for the price. They provide incredibly clear audio that accurately reproduces the full range and even has some bass. Despite considering Yamaha and Sony 3-way bookshelf speakers and the Polk tsi100, which is nearly identical in terms of functionality but for the fact that it has an active crossover and these don't, I was able to purchase them on discount, which made them kind of a no-brainer. But it didn't matter for me because I was using them as surrounds in a Polk 5.1 system with a Sony receiver. Surrounds could cost more, but why? The sound quality is outstanding, and they faithfully handle changes from intricate passages to more solitary ones. They also perform effectively when using both traditional and modern musical instruments. The soundstage is there, with distinct distinction between frequencies, if I had to describe it. In terms of tone, they are perhaps a little on the crisp side but not harsh, however that will also depend on the music you play through them. Although I haven't tested them thoroughly or put them through their paces with a home theater audio source, based on how well they handled music, I have no reason to believe that they wouldn't handle average movie audio just as well. If you're planning to use them as mains, keep in mind that they are only rated to 50w continuous/100w peak. They are ideal as surround speakers in a 5.1 system, which puts less power demands on the rear speakers and makes the wattage rating irrelevant, in my opinion. But in a home theater setup, I could see using 4 of these, or 4 with a subwoofer, for a tiny space. These won't produce deep bass because the frequency response barely dips to 60 kHz. However, you will hear some bass, which on sound selections where low-end is separated and "ripples" through all channels sounds very clean. Because I listen to a lot of music, I personally decided to use the Monitor 60s as my mains. But in all honesty, those might be overkill in some ways given that the area they are in, which is perhaps 10x10 or 12x12, can be filled with relatively little volume. In any case, the M60s sound fantastic when combined with the T15s and PSW10 and are capable of serving as the primary system in a bigger living room. I wouldn't be hesitant to replace my Yamaha surround speakers on the main system with the T15s either, but they are a little bit bigger and bulkier. If you want to attach them or mount them on a wall, there is a keyhole opening on the back of them. Without grilles, these cabinets nevertheless appear remarkable and are manufactured very well. Overall, extremely happy with my purchase; thus far, they've worked perfectly and are everything I wanted them to be. Your options will be at least 2x–3x more expensive if you want a bookshelf speaker with more bass, but they will also be constrained by available space. As an illustration, the Yamaha 3-way, which is marketed as a bookshelf speaker, fits a sizeable woofer into a medium-sized cabinet, where it may be too loud for the treble and mids. If you don't have enough space or money for a subwoofer and/or floor-standing speakers, that might be an option for the primary speakers, but it's certainly overkill for the surround speakers in a 5.1 arrangement. The T15s, on the other hand, do well in comparison to more expensive 2-way bookshelf speakers despite not attempting to deliver floor-speaker performance in a smaller package. They are a technical and design marvel at this price range, and if you have reasonable expectations, they will live up to or perhaps surpass those expectations.



Edifier R1700BT Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers - Active Near-Field Studio Monitors - Powered Speakers 2.0 Setup Wooden Enclosure - 66w RMS Review:


I don't often write reviews, but these speakers merit one.First, just to put things in perspective I rarely use anything else but Klipsch products. I've heard lots of high-end audio gear, including B



Edifier R1280DB Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers - Optical Input - Wireless Studio Monitors - 4 Inch Near Field Speaker - 42w RMS - Wood Grain (Black) Review:


PROS: Good bass for their stature, decent sound reproduction, optical inputLow volume, no remote treble/bass adjustment, and limited mounting choices are the cons.These were purchased for our bedroom's TV (internal speakers are terrible) and music needs. I couldn't install a soundbar in front of the TV because of its relatively short stand, and I didn't want to mount the TV or soundbar to the wall. These speakers are appropriate (optical input, bluetooth, remote operation). They have good audio quality. Although not exceptionally sharp, the highs are nonetheless normal. Given the size of the speakers, the bass end is surprisingly outstanding and the midrange is excellent. Although the bass is powerful and clear, it won't shake the walls, which is great for most music. These speakers won't do Hip Hop, EDM, or other bass-heavy music justice, but what do you expect from a little bookshelf speaker? Even at maximum volumes, there is very little to no distortion.These speakers produce good audio for both TV and movies. The music and effects sound fantastic, the dialogue is clearly audible, but the lack of bass is almost annoying. Again, given their stature, you can't expect much. There isn't a subwoofer out, which is unfortunate, but one can be installed using the speaker wires. These speakers fall short in that aspect because movies have considerably more impact with deep bass. However, they are far superior to the built-in speakers in my TV. No equivalents.The loudness level is one of my greatest complaints about these. It is obvious that each speaker only has 21 watts of power. I wish they had a little bit more authority. The volume would be appropriate in a bedroom, small school, or office. You won't bother a roommate or even the neighbors. 75 dB, if I had to guess.I'd look elsewhere if you're planning to buy primarily for home theater use. A 2.1 soundbar with a comparable price might be a better option. Overall, these serve my needs and I believe they are priceless. I'd buy them once more.



Micca COVO-S Compact 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers Review:


Such a welcome surprise, these speakers.Please understand that these are tiny speakers and are not the greatest option for mains or in a large space. They are also not able to produce loud volumes or powerful bass. They aren't intended to sound like large speakers, so don't expect them to. They have a tiny 3 "tiny mini cabinets, with concentric drivers (the tweeter is in the center of the woofer). To give you an idea, the cabinets are approximately 4" X 5" in size. But they produce a tone that is incredibly pleasant and well-balanced and sounds much, much larger. They actually have some bass, and the highs and midrange are crystal crisp. Without a sub, I'm playing music over them, and it's actually rather enjoyable. A highly rocking mini-system can be created by adding a little sub and crossing it between 100 and 120 Hz.Applications: Office or desk speakers, bedrooms, and for anyone who isn't interested in full-on home theater but wants a significant upgrade over their TV speakers (be aware that an amp will be needed to drive them); they can even be used as surround speakers as long as the space isn't too vast. These speakers look good and sound much better than any other "cube" speakers I've heard. They are also small and portable. I've read that many people in this area have purchased Pyle cube speakers but have been dissatisfied with them due to their tinny sound and complete lack of bass. These belong to an entirely separate class!To get the optimum bass response from these rear-ported speakers, keep them at least a few inches away from the wall.The speaker in this category that I've heard speak is by far the greatest. This business keeps putting out high-quality speakers at reasonable costs. This cube/mini speaker category gets five stars.Excellent listening!———————————————————————————————————————s—Update—Today I had some spare time, so I decided to have some fun and connected these through a tiny, 6 "I have sub. They sound like a lot larger system as a whole since this significantly fills in the bottom end. It blends perfectly when I have it crossed at a frequency of roughly 100 hz. I first thought a higher crossover would sound better, but it becomes a little muddy at higher settings. These speakers appear to be quite powerful at or slightly below the 90 Hz rating.I also observed that the speakers could play substantially louder without distortion when the inbuilt sub's high-pass filter was engaged. Probably because the woofer excursion was constrained. I'm now playing these in my basement workshop and am pleasantly surprised by their volume.In a small bedroom or workplace, this arrangement would work well. Even for a 2:1 TV configuration as opposed to employing a poor sound bar. The Dayton Eight "These would sound fantastic coupled with a sub; your modest system would cost about $110 with them.———————————————————————————————————————Updated on 2/7/15Today, when I got some free time to play, I was interested to see how these would sound over the handy Lepai 2020 amp. They truly do a great job playing on it. It drives them about as hard as they want, and they respond with lots of mid-bass. The bass was strong enough to make the music enjoyable to listen to. It was full and warm. If you want rumble, you'll obviously need a sub, but if you're not like bass, these sound good on their own. The Lepai could produce a surprising amount of volume from these, which astonished me.The ideal low-cost office setup would include these speakers and the Lepai amp. superior to the majority of PC speakers. Additionally, as was already indicated, if you want additional boom, you may add a little sub.————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————I actually bought another pair of these two and a half years later. We've become Alexa enthusiasts and have bought a few Echo Dots for usage at home. Wifey didn't want yet another set of large speakers in the room (I don't understand her problem; I only have two tower speakers, a large center channel speaker, and 2 12 inch speakers), but she wanted a standalone audio system so she could play music from the Dot and have something else on the TV screen at the same time (can't really do that when switching everything through a home theater receiver) "There are 4 ceiling speakers and a subwoofer there. So I buried a low-profile sub under the TV cabinet using a pair of these that are small enough to be unnoticeable. At 100 Hz, the system crosses, just over the speakers' lower 90 Hz frequency range.It sounds fantastic! Clean highs and mids are produced by the COVOs, while the bottom end is picked up by the sub.And the wife approves. Happier life means happier wife.Again, you cannot alter the laws of physics, so these speakers will never be able to match the sound of larger speakers. However, if you add a sub and correctly configure the system, they will sound remarkably similar to larger speakers. These speakers are by far the best I've found for their size. For pleasure only... The five "Jewel Cube" speakers that came with the Bose base module (the ones with the top and bottom speakers that swivel) were recently purchased by me at a thrift shop. There is just no comparison between these COVO speakers and the Bose Jewel Cube speakers. They sound considerably warmer and have better highs and lows. And if you purchase them new, they're much cheaper.Good Hearing!



Sonos One SL - The powerful microphone-free speaker for music and more - Black Review:


I'm in awe of what this speaker is capable of. Since I am a true music enthusiast and collector, I can declare with confidence that this speaker continues to expose me to recently found works every day. It took very little space to put up and was simple to do. I find it hard to imagine such wonderful sound can emanate from a small instrument. The Sonos app walks you through the installation process step-by-step to make sure it goes smoothly and promptly. Once this speaker is all set up and adjusted, you can start adding music services and connecting your existing music accounts. Again, this procedure is quite straightforward and takes a few minutes. To be able to control this speaker with my voice, I connected my Echo Dot, and it works great. I want to buy and add more Sonos speakers so I may place them in various rooms of my home and have the best possible music experience. After setting everything up with this, I began to investigate what it is actually capable of. I'm in awe of the value I can bring to this speaker. Every single song and sound that has ever existed is available on this, I'm not kidding. Everything is here, from the most recent songs to the most obscure. I'll never be able to see everything and consider my options. The list of popular free and paid plans I could ever desire, such as Amazon music or Apple or Pandora, Spotify, and even Calm, goes on and on. There are also podcasts, audio books, radio stations inside of radio stations, and all the popular free and paid plans I could ever want. Amazing sound quality is present. It helped me tune the speaker during setup so that the location and sound could cooperate to enhance the speaker's audio quality. Since this speaker is intended to remain stationary, tuning will need to be done again if it is moved. One speaker has so many excellent features, and the price is so reasonable in comparison to its rivals that I will never be able to list them all in this review. The Sonos creators done a fantastic job of making sure that the speaker and the services it offers are never boring. I am very happy to be able to experience this kind of music now that everything is up and operating nicely.


Can bookshelf speakers fill a room?

Yes, bookshelf speakers can fill a room with sound. They are designed to project sound into a room, and their size and shape make them ideal for filling a room with sound.

Can bookshelf speakers sound as good as tower speakers?

Can I put bookshelf speakers on their side?

Yes, you can put bookshelf speakers on their side. Some people do this to save space, but it can also improve the sound quality in some cases. If you're looking for the best sound quality, it's generally best to keep the speakers upright.

Do audiophiles use subwoofers?

Yes, audiophiles use subwoofers because they improve the sound quality of music by reproducing low frequency sounds that most speakers cannot reproduce. Subwoofers add depth and fullness to the sound of music, making it more enjoyable to listen to.

Do bookshelf speakers have good bass?

Do bookshelf speakers need a subwoofer?

If you're looking to boost your audio setup with some extra bass, you might be wondering if you need a subwoofer in addition to your bookshelf speakers. The answer largely depends on the size of your room and how much bass you're looking for. If you have a small space and are looking for subtle bass enhancement, a subwoofer may not be necessary. However, if you have a large room or want to really feel the bass, a subwoofer can make a big difference.