7 Best Bookshelf Speakers in 2023

Are you searching for a pair of Bookshelf speakers to add to your home theater setup? Purchasing a bookshelf speaker is a bit tricky, the speakers more or less appear the same. To sprinkle salt into the wound, the information provided by the company also is sometimes too technical to understand.

Only a person having a little know-how of speakers can understand and guide you on whether the speaker is good for the job.

I have been playing with the speakers for almost a decade. Here are the few bookshelf speakers that I like for some reason.

Best Bookshelf Speakers

• Best Overall: Q Acoustics Bookshelf Speakers for Home Theater
• Multi-purpose: KEF Carbon Black LS50 Meta Bookshelf Speakers
• Economical: Klipsch Synergy Bookshelf Speakers
• Classic: Edifier Stereo Active Powered Bookshelf Speaker
• Wireless: Audioengine A5+ Wireless Bookshelf Speakers
• Professional grade: Presonus 2 Way Bookshelf Speaker
• Powerful: KEF Q150 Bookshelf Speaker

1. Q Acoustics Bookshelf Speakers for Home Theater

Q Acoustics is a reliable name in the speaker’s world. It has brought us some “really” good speakers, this one is one of my favorite Q Acoustics speakers.

Clear and pure sound

The quality of these speakers’ sound brought it to the top of this recommendation list. What I love the most about these Q Acoustics speakers is that they produce the clearest and purest sound.

The credit for the clearest and purest sound goes to the 165mm mid/bass driver and the impregnated coated paper used.

Connectivity

I did not pay much attention to the connectivity options at the time of purchasing the speaker, found out upon opening the box. The Q Acoustics Bookshelf speakers can only be connected to the other devices via wires.

This is not a con for me at all. It is because most of the bookshelf speakers are still wired. This top-notch speaker being wired is no surprise.

Usability

These bookshelf speakers are genuinely designed for the home theater setup. I usually use these speakers for the same purpose. However, I have also tried them for gaming, they served me well there as well.

Passive speakers

Usually, when we head out to purchase a bookshelf speaker we are made to choose between active and passive ones.

These speakers are passive. The advantage of owning a passive speaker is that they are easier to upgrade, usually super lightweight, and contain fewer wires as compared to the other option.

Read Complete Review: Q Acoustics 3030i

Pros

• Comes in graphite gray, white, English walnut, and carbon black finishes
• Portable shelf-mount design
• Detailed mid and bass
• Classic design

Cons

• None

2. KEF Carbon Black LS50 Meta Bookshelf Speakers

KEF is a brand that has been serving us for more than 50 years. It manufactures high-end HiFi speakers, subwoofers, headphones, architecture, and wireless speakers. However, since we are reviewing the best bookshelf speakers today, here is the best one.

Unique design

The company has still thoughtfully engineered the speakers to stand out in the crowd. The curved front baffle and the contrasting colors give these bookshelf speakers a whole new look.

They come in a variety of colors. All available colors (carbon black, mineral white, titanium gray, and royal blue) are equally unique and worth considering.

Control

I did not mind the bookshelf speakers not having a remote control until I used these speakers.

These speakers come with a remote, controlling the volume and bass gets so much easier with the remote control. You do not have to move an inch from your couch and the job is done.

Compatibility

What I also can not help but admire is that these speakers can be connected to almost all devices we often use bookshelf speakers with. Whether it’s a gaming console, surround sound system, TV, computer, DVD player, or music player the KEF speakers would surely meet your expectations.

Sound

Like the above-mentioned speakers, the sound of these speakers is also natural. However, I found these speakers sound a little plump and juicy. This makes the music sound so much better than with regular speakers.

Read Complete Review: KEF LS50 

Pros

• Can use for gaming, watching movies, and listening to music
• Delivers detailed pure and natural sound
• Solid and compact design

Cons

• A bit pricey

3. Klipsch Synergy Bookshelf Speakers

Klipsch is also an old well-known brand. It offers all kinds of speakers including bookshelf speakers. Almost every speaker being sold under the said brand name is trusted. However, the one being suggested is chosen for a variety of reasons. The few major ones are given below:

Epic sound

As obvious, I became a fan of these speakers because of their epic sound. These speakers produce accurate, non-fatiguing, lifelike sounds that allow you to listen to music 24/7.

Moreover, the speakers come with a wide soundstage so the audio sounds further away from the ears which prevents headaches.

Tight bass

Tight bass is also another reason why I fell in love with these speakers in the first few days of use.

By tight bass I mean these speakers deliver quick bass without any distortion. As soon as the sound stops, the bass drops off immediately as well.

Easy to store and transport

The speakers have small cabinets. Therefore, they do not require as much space as regular bookshelf speakers do.

They are perfect for people who have little space and often need to shift and connect the speakers to different devices. Klipsch bookshelf speakers are easy to placement.

Economical

Everything about these speakers is worth admiring and they also come from a well-known brand. Yet you will be surprised to know that they are quite budget-friendly. Currently, these speakers are on sale, this is the best time to grab the offer.

Pros

• Precise sound
• Almost no distortion
• Delivers tight bass
• Sleek and stylish
• Comes with all necessary accessories and a detailed user guide
• Budget-friendly
• Sold as a pair

Cons

• Works best for home theater only

4. Edifier Stereo Active Powered Bookshelf Speaker

Edifier is a reliable name in the speaker’s world. One can easily judge by reading the reviews and seeing the insane sales. This brand has offered us, several worth-considering bookshelf speakers. This is just one of them.

Excellent sound quality

Though the speakers sound great. What I hated is that the company has not provided much information relating to the sound. However, since I have used these speakers I can say with 100% surety that they have a studio-quality sound. It’s quite warm and has rich lows and bright clear highs.

Classic design

The speakers have a pretty classic design. They do appear as stylish as a few modern speakers look but sound poor.

Almost all Edifier speakers have classic designs. It is probably because the company is busy improving the sound.

Control

For the users’ convenience, the speakers come with control knobs on the face and a remote control.

It is more feasible if you ever lose the remote; the volume, bass, and treble can easily be adjusted through the control knobs. Isn’t it amazing?

Compatibility

The speakers are not compatible with many devices. However, it does a great job when connected to computers, television, smartphones, and tablets. So, if your need is limited to these devices this is a pretty worth-considering option.

Read Complete Review: Edifier R1280T

Pros

• Accepts an AUX and RCA connection without any hassle
• Produces a very warm sound
• Manufactured by a well-known and trusted brand
• Backed by a 2-year warranty
• Economical and reliable

Cons

• Can not be connected to many devices

5. Audioengine A5+ Wireless Bookshelf Speakers

This company is founded to build products that make people fall in love with music even more. It has done the same, the incredible sound of the Audioengine’s speaker inspires people to listen to music more than usual.

Wireless

What makes these Audioengine A5+ bookshelf speakers superior to the above-mentioned ones is the wireless connectivity. It comes with Bluetooth, you can connect it to various devices via Bluetooth.

There is another advantage of having a Bluetooth speaker, you do not have to place the speaker on the same table. Whereas, the wired speakers have to be placed on the same table as they are connected to the device via wires.

Loud

These speakers are loud enough to be heard in a large-sized room. They produce a stereo sound which is a warm, rich, clean, full, and powerful sound that makes the music sound effortlessly better.

Well-built

While taking the speaker out of the box, I was convinced that they are built to last. They are solid and heavy and quite wear and tear-resistant. If you are looking for a speaker that can last ages with you, there is no better option.

Control

Like the Edifier speakers, the said Audioengine has control knobs on the speakers and buttons on the remote control. You can adjust the volume and bass both ways, via the control knob or the remote control.

Read Complete Review: Audioengine A5+Wireless

Pros

• Classic design
• Can be connected to devices wirelessly without any hassle
• Super easy to set up
• Highly compatible with Mac, PC, tablets, or smartphones

Cons

• A bit pricey

6. Presonus 2 Way Bookshelf Speaker

PreSonus was built in 1995 and it has been ruling our hearts ever since. Whether it’s Bookshelf or any other speaker, the musicians swear by this brand.

Comes with a studio monitor

The best part of this bookshelf speaker deal is that they come with a studio monitor. This makes these speakers ideal for musicians and content creators. The aspiring speaker owner does not have to find and purchase a suitable studio monitor.

Clean sound

These bookshelf speakers produce the cleanest sound. It’s all because of the woofers used in the speakers, they have to be given all the credit for producing the cleanest sound.

Usability

Unlike the above-mentioned speakers, these bookshelf speakers are more suitable for professional music and content creators. They are specifically built to be a part of professional studios. However, you can buy them to enjoy music in your home.

Read Complete Review: PreSonus Eris E4.5 

Pros

• Comes with a detailed troubleshooting guide
• Built by a reliable brand
• Equally suitable for homes as well as professional studios
• Delivers deep bass

Cons

• Not-so-durable cabinets

7. KEF Q150 Bookshelf Speaker

This is another KEF bookshelf speaker that made its way to my heart a few years back. The list of best bookshelf speakers would not have been complete without it. Here are a few reasons why:

Three-dimensional sound

The most promising thing about these KEF bookshelf speakers is the three-dimensional sound.

The speaker produces a three-dimensional sound and disperses in the room well because the tweeter is placed acoustic center of the midrange cone. This brings the acoustic closer and produces a three-dimensional sound.

Small but mighty

Upon opening the package, I was pretty disappointed and thought to myself how would this speaker meet my expectations? However, it proved me wrong. The speakers might appear small but it’s mighty enough to serve you well.

Wired

These speakers support a wired connection. You would also be required to put the speakers on the same table. However, the wired speakers are still better as they deliver high-quality sound without any interruption.

Easy to setup

Unlike the other bookshelf speakers, these speakers are surprisingly easy to set up. A detailed guide is also provided by the manufacturer. You would not need any professional help to set the speakers up to perfection.

Read Complete Review: KEF Q150 Bookshelf Speaker

Pros

• Delivers clear natural sound and tight bass
• Disperses the sound evenly in the entire room
• Comes in satin black, white, and walnut colors
• Allows you to purchase the grill separately

Cons

• Suitable only for small spaces

How to Pick the Right Bookshelf Speakers?

Like all other types of speakers available out there, the bookshelf speakers have to be bought to be very careful. Otherwise, what if it does not produce satisfactory sound or has other issues? While searching and judging the speaker you have to pay attention to the following things.

Sound quality

The thing that you need to first pay undivided attention to is the sound quality. Think for a moment about why we get a speaker.

To produce a better sound, therefore, the speaker should have an impressive sound. Otherwise, what’s the use? To know whether the speaker produces a satisfactory sound or not you have to read the product description and read the reviews. It will give you some valuable information about sound quality.

Moreover, you can also judge the quality of the sound by the drivers. Drivers are circular speakers on the front of the bookshelf speaker. The larger the diameter of the driver, the better the bass as well as the sound quality.

Appearance

Even though the speaker’s job is to produce sound, not make the corner of your house beautiful. However, still, the bookshelf speaker has to have an acceptable appearance.

Gone are the days when bookshelf speakers used to come only in black. Nowadays, these speakers have a variety of other colors as well. You can judge the speaker by their color and size.

Keep in mind that these speakers can only be kept on a table, shelf, or some elevated space. Moreover, the bookshelf speakers always come in pairs. Therefore, they should neither be too big or wide that they take up most of the space.

Type

There are two different types of bookshelf speakers, active and passive. The active speakers produce better and come equipped with an amplifier.

The passive ones are lighter, easy to upgrade, and contain fewer wires as compared to the other option. None of the options is inferior, you have to determine your need and pick the right type accordingly.

Connectivity

There was a time when the bookshelf speakers used to be only wired. The time has now changed.

Nowadays, even the most traditional-looking bookshelf speakers can have Bluetooth. However, there are still a lot of bookshelf speakers that support wired connectivity. The wireless bookshelf speakers are a superior option.

They are easier to connect and do not necessarily have to be placed at the same time as the device they are connected to. Therefore, you should give preference to these advanced wireless speakers.

Compatibility

Compatibility must also be checked before hitting the place an order button. Otherwise, the speaker would not serve you as they should.

Even if you only need bookshelf speakers for your little home theater setup, still they should at least be highly compatible with laptops, computers, DVD players, TV, music player, and surround system. If you have found a pair that is compatible with more devices, it’s well and good.

Control

Some bookshelf speakers come with a remote and a few don’t. I have also seen speakers that have control knobs on the front and have a remote as well. Normally, people prefer speakers that have a remote control.

These speakers allow you to adjust the volume and anything else without moving an inch from the couch. Try finding yourself such a speaker and make your lives easier.

Price

Lastly, you have to judge the speaker by its price. Bookshelf speakers are usually not cheap, high-quality speakers would be more expensive.

Expect to pay up to $2300 to get a decent pair home. Keep in mind, you can easily get a decent speaker for the said amount of money.

If the speaker you liked is more expensive, you can continue your search. A fine option would surely be found shortly.

Frequently Asked Questions FAQs

Do bookshelf speakers sound good?

Yes, a bookshelf speaker produces a superior, detailed, and complete sound. While it offers a solid listening experience, the bookshelf speaker lacks bass. A deeper bass can be produced by pairing a subwoofer.

Are expensive bookshelf speakers worth it?

Well, the higher the price point, the better the quality. It is worth investing only if you want precise audio reproduction. Affordable bookshelf speakers provide superior sound for Spotify and YouTube videos.

Which bookshelf speakers is best?

There are plenty of top-end bookshelf speakers such as Q Acoustics 3020i, Dayton Audio B652, and Edifier S1000MKII. These speakers pack a punch and deliver superior audio performance.