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These little speakers are perfect for perching on bookshelves, media units, on each side of turntables, AV receivers, or integrated amplifiers due to their space-saving design, as their name suggests. Indeed, bookshelf speakers are quite adaptable; they may be placed on speaker stands or utilized as side or rear surround speakers in a home theater system.

There are hundreds of speaker brands available, as you would imagine, and the bookshelf category is likely the most well-liked (we also have another roundup covering a wider selection of the finest speakers). For this reason, we’ve compiled our own ranking of the top bookshelf speakers.

There are speakers in this roundup to suit almost every budget, and both new and established audio brands are represented.

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1.Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3

Best overall bookshelf speakers

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Not that Bowers & Wilkins is lacking in status, but when it comes to audio royalty, this brand deserves it all. B&W’s commitment to excellence and performance is evident in all of its products, from its satellites and subwoofers to its incredible floor-standing speakers. We also can’t think of a better term to describe our favorite bookshelf speakers.

The S3s have a broad and engrossing soundstaging overall. Though they perform best as hi-fi speakers, the B&W 607 S3s may also be used with most home theater systems with a little skill. However, we would exercise caution when it comes to genre matching when playing music. Excellent for jazz, classical, and singer-songwriter music with strong vocals are B&W speakers.

Not that you can’t headbang to some Metallica with these, but the 607 S3’s lack of aggressiveness can leave you a little let down; a subwoofer can assist. These bookshelf speakers are elegant and sophisticated, and they do a good job of bringing your music to life.

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2.Audioengine A1-MR

Best budget-friendly powered bookshelf speakers

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At Digital Trends, we are huge fans of Audioengine goods, so it was inevitable that we would include something from the company’s inventory in our roundup of bookshelf speakers. And “best budget-friendly powered speakers” is the ultimate badge of distinction to take home on a plane.

The engineering and construction that goes into the Audioengine A1-MR allows them to produce sound that is comparable to that of much larger speakers despite being barely half a foot tall. We believe you’ll be astonished by the A1-MRs’ ability to provide surprisingly good bass and high frequency articulation in terms of audio. This is also a result of the cabinetry and drivers, each of which has a 2-3/4-inch aramid woofer and a 3/4-inch tweeter for each speaker.

Physically speaking, you have access to an LFE output and a 3.5mm auxiliary input in case you want to add a subwoofer. While the former works well when connecting a phone or tablet, the A1-MR really shines when it comes to wireless capabilities. After downloading the Audioengine Control app (available for iOS and Android), you may connect the A1-MR to your Wi-Fi network, opening up a wide range of music-streaming possibilities.

This includes compatibility for AirPlay and Spotify in addition to high-resolution audio alternatives through services like Tidal, Qobuz, and Amazon Music. You may also group and adjust which audio sources are playing on which speakers when using a networked system by using the Control app. To control up to 12 complete audio systems (including speakers that aren’t Audioengine), you may either buy an Audioengine B-Fi streamer or add up to 12 A1-MRs to the same Wi-Fi network. For a little over $200, it’s little but powerful.

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3.Wharfedale Diamond 12.1

Best budget-friendly passive bookshelf speakers

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Wharfedale doesn’t mince words, and we value everyone who is a straight shooter everywhere. This audio company designs and constructs speakers that will provide you with amazing sound quality at a reasonable price. Regarding the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 bookshelf speakers, the company maintains its high quality standards without breaking the wallet.

This time, Wharfedale is using polypropylene that has been infused with mica, and the materials are being used to create the 5-inch Klarity woofer of the Diamond 12.1. You won’t have to worry about losing a single detail in your favorite songs because this helps the cone keep its shape and react to audio signals as fast as possible.

Neither are these speakers excessively hefty to move, at only 15 pounds apiece. However, since we’re dealing with passive wiring, we presume that wherever you initially install the Diamond 12.1 is where they’ll stay for many years to come—as long as you maintain them, which include occasionally cleaning them. This also implies that, in contrast to other products on our list, these speakers will not have Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity.

The Diamond 12.1 speakers sound fantastic with a variety of musical genres and are best used in conjunction with an amplifier that produces 20 to 100 watts per channel. What about using a home theater system?

In fact, we advise using the Diamond 12.1 as rear speakers for surround sound setups (we also advocate adding banana plugs to your speaker wire for simpler connecting and unplugging). The Diamond is more capable of delivering the kind of subtlety and nuance that a presence speaker needs, even though they can hold its own as front stereo channels.

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4.Sonos Era 100

Best Wi-Fi bookshelf speakers

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The pleasure of streaming music over Wi-Fi is unparalleled. And Sonos is one of the leading brands in the industry for bookshelf speakers with Wi-Fi. The Sonos Era 100 is the company’s next-generation Sonos One speakers, and they’re everything we could expect from the brand’s newest and finest. They operate about as simply as plug-and-play does.

We anticipated a reasonably loud speaker because the Era 100’s woofer is 25% larger than the Sonos One’s, but when we tested the product, we were completely astounded by how much volume it produced. Punchy low-end performance, crystalline treble, and well-balanced mids are what listeners may anticipate. Although there is significant distortion at very high volumes, we doubt you’ll need to turn the volume up past 11 (if you know, you know), especially given how far the Era can reach at just 60% or 70%.

Similar to earlier Sonos speakers, the TruePlay feature is now available for iOS devices, but Android fans will find a unique twist to it. Owners of Android devices can now use the built-in microphone of the Era to calibrate audio to a listening environment, thanks to certain changes made to the calibration tool. Technically speaking, though, this is only the “fast” version of the feature; TruePlay’s more sophisticated version is still only available on iOS. Additionally, we have a comprehensive guide explaining where to put all Sonos speakers—including the Era 100s—in your house.

In addition to Wi-Fi, the Era 100 has Bluetooth and Apple AirPlay capabilities. Additionally, Alexa and the Sonos S2 app (available for iOS and Android) can be used to operate the speaker. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to use Google Assistant to communicate with the speaker because of an ongoing dispute between Sonos and Google.

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5.Kanto YU6 powered speakers

Best bookshelf speakers for turntables

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Listening to hi-fi is very enjoyable when the record player or turntable is paired with the correct speakers. It can be challenging to find this perfect matchup, which is why we’re happy that the bright brains at Kanto created the YU6 model. These appear to be just like any other pair of reasonably priced bookshelf speakers at first glance, yet the YU6 has a whole hub of inputs and outputs. Oh, perhaps the most important of these ports is the elusive integrated phono preamp for configuring your record player.

This means you won’t need to integrate an additional amplifier or receiver because you can link your turntable directly with the Kanto YU6 bookshelf speakers. These babies can go very loud for whatever listening space you need to fill, since their decibel output maxes out at 200 watts and averages at 100 watts RMS. The YU6’s handcrafted MDF cabinets, 1-inch silk dome tweeter, and 5.25-inch Kevlar driver are also responsible for the speakers’ added character and power.

The Kanto YU6 are an excellent pair of bookshelf speakers for Bluetooth, even if you don’t intend to connect a turntable. The YU6’s Qualcomm aptX compatibility ensures exceptionally detailed sound when streaming music from services like Apple Music, Tidal, and Qobuz after it is paired with your phone, tablet, or computer.

Tone, balance, volume, and playback can all be changed with the supplied remote control, however we do wish these speakers came with a companion app. As you amass an impressive collection of records, you may choose from a variety of finishes for the YU6, including white, walnut, and bamboo, to fit your record den.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS

You must choose the size and configuration of your bookshelf speakers because some require a little more room to function properly. Before making a purchase, be sure the speaker measurements and manufacturer’s recommendations match the area you’ve designated for them in your house.

All of these speakers would benefit from being positioned on a certain pair of speaker stands, in our opinion.

The two main things to think about are size and budget. Seeing what matches your space and what you can afford is important whether your stereo speakers are going to be in your bedroom, living room, or home office. Are you looking for a tiny, reasonably priced pair that you can tuck into a room corner? Do you want a big set of bookshelf speakers or do you have a sizable budget for high-end standmount speakers? In any event, don’t forget to account for speaker connections and the requirements of the rest of your hi-fi system.

Finding a great-sounding pair of speakers is vital in terms of audio quality, but the equipment you choose to drive your speakers will inevitably affect how they sound. With thousands of different components available, assembling a hi-fi system may easily become complicated. If you’re building one, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide to creating the ideal hi-fi system.

HOW WE TEST AT TRUSTY PICKED?

WHY TRUSTY PICKED? We have cutting-edge testing facilities where our team of audio specialists evaluates hundreds of goods annually, including bookshelf speakers, which are among the most popular hi-fi devices ever.

We evaluate items based on their performance per pound, thus in order to determine the star rating for the review and the ordering of these five-star performers in our buying guides, we always compare products throughout our testing to similarly priced class leaders. In order to compare a new pair of standmounters, for instance, to the similarly priced KEF LS50 Meta and PMC Prodigy 1 on our list, we listen to them as they arrive in our test rooms.

In order to evaluate bookshelf speakers, we often use them in two systems: one is our high-end reference system, which allows us to hear the speakers at their best when fed the most precise signals; the other is a more affordable system that allows us to assess how the speakers function in actual use with realistic partner equipment. In order to observe how pairings sound when performing a range of different musical genres and styles, we have also selected a broad selection of test tracks.

Our review philosophy remains the same whether we’re reviewing a set of bookshelf speakers that cost a few hundred pounds or a few thousand. You can be confident that any five-star speakers, especially those that have won a What Hi-Fi? Award, will provide an excellent performance for the money.

Reviews are often conducted without considering feedback from sales teams or PR firms, upholding What Hi-Fi?’s decades-long reputation for providing objective, truthful criticism.

F.A.Q

Where should bookshelf speakers be placed?

It is not appropriate to put bookshelf speakers on bookshelves, despite their name and size. Not on the floor, either. The caliber of their support has a significant impact on their performance, therefore you shouldn’t skimp on it. If you’ve spent more than a few hundred dollars on them, it’s ideal to set them up on speaker stands; however, if that’s not an option for you, try to set them up on the strongest, stiffest support you can find. Additionally, think about how near a wall they will function best at and whether they would benefit from any inward angling at all.

Are bookshelf speakers better than a soundbar? Are they good for a TV?

Stereo speakers can be used for movies and TVs in the same way that they are for music. All you have to do is put your speakers on either side of your TV and connect them to an amplifier with the appropriate connections for connecting a TV—most commonly, an optical or HDMI port. For further information, see this guide on connecting your speakers to your TV.

Compared to a soundbar, their physical width will probably provide a more believable stereo effect and fill the space with sound, and their larger drivers will usually provide better dynamic expression as well. However, many soundbars these days are Dolby Atmos soundbars, which may provide surround and height effects for increased immersion. Subwoofers on soundbars always go deeper into the bass than bookshelf speakers.

Are bookshelf speakers better than floorstanders?

For further information, see our page on bookshelves / standmounts vs. floorstanders; however, the short answer is: it depends. Generally, if you enjoy plenty of deep bass or plan to use your speakers for both music and movies, going with the larger cabinet will be your best option. However, engineers of bookshelf speakers are finding ways to provide more bass from a smaller cabinet; floorstanders aren’t always better at producing bass.

Consider the size of the room your speakers will be placed in as well as your desired loudness levels. Floorstanders typically need more room to breathe. Are those little bookshelf speakers really going to be able to fill your football-field-sized living room with loud music?