Everyone from recording engineers to home theater enthusiasts to hardcore audiophiles has a place in their life for a good pair of bookshelf speakers. Small speakers can deliver great imaging and fit into small spaces in ways that floorstanding speakers simply can't.
The traditional bookshelf speaker is passive, meaning that you need to connect it to an amplifier. However, active (powered) bookshelf speakers are growing in popularity, particularly for desktop and other nearfield applications where you sit closer to the speakers.
Combine a set of bookshelf speakers with a subwoofer, and enjoy a two-channel or multichannel system that is both room-friendly and high-performance.
Here are some resources that can teach you more about speaker design.
• What’s the Ideal Speaker Driver Configuration?
• How to Pick the Right Amp for Your Speakers (and Vice Versa)
• Picking and Placing Your Display, Speakers, and Subwoofer by THX
• First-Order Crossovers: Panacea or Problem?
• How DSP Can Take Audio to New Heights
These speakers not only meet but exceed expectations, encouraging listeners to rediscover their music libraries and revealing nuances that may have gone unnoticed with lower-quality audio setups. They exemplify...
The MR3s not only meet but exceed expectations, potentially serving as a gateway to high-fidelity audio for many users. They encourage listeners to rediscover their music libraries, revealing nuances...
I can honestly say the performance of the Studio 89's is what impressed me the most. I've listened to quite a few different speakers with small drivers, and they...
Most bookshelf speakers at this price point each have a different approach, but I feel like these check all the right boxes. These will do great if you’re trying to...
At $369, there are many powered speakers to consider, but the QR65 should be on your shortlist if you value both aesthetics and audio performance, while also needing GaN...
If you are looking to add accurate sound to your desktop for audio editing and Video production without dropping big money, the LP-UNFs are the best I've reviewed at...
Does size matter? According to Focal's new Theva No.1 Bookshelf Speakers the answer is no. These speakers pack quite an impressive punch for their size.
Klipsch Speakers are an excellent choice for anyone looking to get the most out of their music.
Clear and expansive sound makes these Focal bookshelves hard to pass up.
Do the latest SVS wireless bookshelf speakers deliver the goods?
If this is what form following function gets you... I want more, please!
Here are some great active speaker options for putting together a turntable-based stereo system.
Designed to be studio monitors, the Kali Audio IN-8 V2 speakers are more about performance than aesthetics, but the performance is so good -- especially for the price --...
The Ai41 Powered Bookshelf Speakers offer great sound and connectivity options that should satisfy most listeners.
RBH's powerful active speaker is equipped with features and performance capabilities that make it stand out in the studio monitor marketplace.
If you're shopping around for bookshelf speakers under $1,000, you owe it to yourself to audition this wonderfully neutral budget offering from Paradigm.
Bowers & Wilkins 600 Series Anniversary Edition speakers celebrate 25 years of production with the promise of higher performance.
JBL recreates an iconic look with its L82 Classic loudspeaker. Olivia puts the retro yet versatile bookshelf speaker to the test to see how it compares to its predecessors.
Amphion Argon1 speakers deliver pure audio bliss for your desktop system, two-channel stereo listening space, or as part of a surround sound system for movies, TV, and gaming.
DALI makes a push for the US speaker market, and they’ve put their best foot forward with the Oberon 1 bookshelf speaker, Vokal center, and Sub E-9 F.
