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Anyone who listens to music at home needs a good set of speakers. Those who wish for a true cinematic or surround sound experience should invest in a home theater system, while those who want a speaker you can easily bring around with you in public should get a portable Bluetooth speaker. Some of you might also have limited space in your house, which is when bookshelf speakers come in handy. Such speakers have a more compact design, and they’re designed for people to put on top of a table or shelf. Their size also makes it easier for them to blend into the aesthetic of your space. When purchasing a bookshelf speaker, you should do your research regarding its specs. If you want heavier bass, you should look for a lower hertz number. If you want speakers with better output, you can opt for one with a higher wattage. Bookshelf speakers have two tweeters and woofers for high-frequency sound and bass, but you can pick a pair with a third mid-range driver if your want sound with a fuller range. Here are some of the best bookshelf speakers you can find on the market in 2022.
If you don’t have any limits on your budget and want a pair of long-lasting bookshelf speakers, the KEF LS50 Meta would be an excellent choice for you. These speakers have a stylish, trendy design, and they’re available in mineral white, carbon black, royal blue, and titanium gray. Their overall design, from its low-diffraction curve to its gently radiused rear panel, is beneficial for the acoustics of the speakers. The speakers come with the superb Metamaterial Absorption Technology that can get rid of the unwanted sound and distortion you may hear from the rear part of the speaker’s driver. It does this through its unique, maze-like structure. You can expect enhanced smoothness and detail from the speaker’s audio quality because it features the 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver of KEF. The speakers have a two-way, bass-reflex design, and you can expect the volume to get really loud. It features a frequency range of 47 Hz-45 kHz. It has a maximum output of 106 dB and a recommended amplifier power of 40-100 watts. The KEF LS50 Meta comes with Computational Fluid Dynamics that reduce turbulence, and it has flexible port walls that prevent resonances from affecting the midrange.
Stylish design with different color choicesTop-notch technologyFantastic sonic transparency
Expensive
The Elac Debut B5.2 is a suitable choice of bookshelf speakers for those who don’t want to go overboard with their spending. These speakers cost less than $600, and if you have extra cash, you can get a bundle with either a C5.2 center speaker or Dolby Atmos modules. The speakers feature a 6-Ohm nominal impedance that supports almost all stereo amplifiers and AV receivers. It promises smooth extended highs and powerful bass thanks to its 1-inch soft-dome tweeter and 5.25-inch woven aramid fiber bass driver. You can conveniently position the speakers up against the wall because of their front-firing ports. The speakers deliver an accurate wide range of reproduced sound with a 46 Hz-35 kHz frequency response. It features a sensitivity of 87 dB, and its suggested amplifier wattage is 20 W-120 W per channel. Users won’t encounter any disturbing cabinet vibration from the Elac Debut B5.2 since it has a thick MDF cabinet that features internal bracing. The speakers come with almost anything you may need or want with a pair of bookshelf speakers, but we wish it had a more trendy or exciting design like its competitors on the market.
Outstanding overall performanceDurable buildSpeakers' placement is simple yet effectiveMore affordable than competitors
Not the most aesthetically-pleasing design
It’s not hard to see why many love the Q Acoustics 3020i bookshelf speakers because they deliver spacious sound and immense detail. It also has a trendy retro design that would be a great addition to any living space. It features magnetic speaker grilles and a stylish chrome bezel. The speakers have a larger cabinet volume compared to their predecessors, so users can get deeper bass and larger scale sound. It features P2P bracing, which promises a more quiet operation, and your soundstage will be more accurate. The speakers have dedicated tweeters that use a compliant suspension system to be decoupled from the baffle. It also has an impressive mid/bass driver that guarantees low resonance and acceleration without flexing. It comes with low-profile binding posts with deep sockets that could accommodate 4 mm Banana Plugs. The Q Acoustics 2020i has a frequency response of 64 Hz-30 kHz, a sensitivity of 88 dB, an impedance of 60 ohms, and a power input of 50-125 W. This bookshelf speaker is available in english walnut, graphite grey, arctic white, and carbon black. Upon purchase, customers will receive eight rubber speaker grips, two speaker grilles, two foam bungs, and a user manual.
Superb bass and trebleImpressive dynamicsOutstanding overall sound qualityNot too pricey
Cabinet is deep
If you have a limited budget and aren’t too picky when it comes to the specs of your speakers, the Dayton Audio B652-AIR would be an excellent deal for you. It’s among the most affordable options you can get because it will only cost you around $60. Many might find it surprising that the speakers are budget-friendly since it comes with an Air-Motion Transformer Tweeter. Such tweeters deliver clear treble that suits audiophiles, and the best part is that it’s non-fatiguing. You can expect rich and punchy bass from the speaker because of its incredible 6.5-inch woofer. The Dayton Audio B652-AIR has a compact design, so you can conveniently put it on a shelf without it being too much of a distraction. Its cabinet finish is black ebony pica vinyl, and it’s versatile enough to blend with whatever the theme of your living space is. Since the speakers have a jaw-droppingly low price tag, you should expect them to have some downsides. Its bass could use some improvements; some say it’s pretty underpowered. Users will also have to use a bare speaker wire because its binding posts don’t support banana plugs.
Detailed and crisp soundExtremely affordable
Binding posts don't support banana plugsBass is pretty weak
The Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition is another pair of bookshelf speakers for those willing to spend a little extra cash. It features a decoupled double dome aluminum tweeter that guarantees clarity and smoothness with its high frequencies. A decoupling rubber ring was used to isolate the entire drive unit from the speaker’s main cabinet, resulting in improved imaging and clarity. The speakers also feature 6-inch continuum mid-bass drive units that take your speaker’s power and clarity to the next level. You can expect enhanced instruments and voices from your audio tracks. The 606 S2 Anniversary Edition also promises clearer bass with reduced air turbulence thanks to its flow port. The bass could be richer, but it’s already good enough for people who aren’t too specific with the audio performance of their speakers. Its magnetic grille ensures too-notch protection for the speaker’s components while staying acoustically transparent. The speaker features a frequency response of 40 Hz-33 kHz. The 600 range of the company has been on the market for over two decades, and this particular speaker is the largest bookshelf speaker among all of them. The other freebies you get along with the speaker are port plugs, a grill, spikes, and rubber feet.
Decoupled double dome aluminum tweeterTop-notch clarityFantastic dynamic punchImpressive midrange and soundscape
Could have a richer bassPriceyLimited availability
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