Pros: Great for small rooms. Fantastic build quality. Very wide soundstage for a bookshelf speaker. Front-firing port for versatility in speaker placement. A highly affordable bookshelf speaker system available from a producer we haven’t touched on before is Jamo. Their S803 bookshelf speaker setup is sleek-looking, powerful, and highly versatile. Modern design and functions, at first glance, have generated some excitement in the industry. Let’s take a deeper look into what Jamo has to offer. Design and Features You can grab a pair of stands (sold separately) if you don’t have space on a piece of furniture for them, too. Just because they’re labeled as “bookshelf speakers” doesn’t mean they actually have to live on a bookshelf.

Impedance in audio devices is simply the resistance added to the audio circuit and is expressed on a technical specification sheet. Bookshelf speakers come in a variety of impedances, ranging from 4 – 16 Ohms. This specification is only necessary to look at when you are running sensitive, professional-grade stereo setups or music equipment and want to ensure optimal performance from your gear and prevent damage to any components in the signal chain. You can ignore this information for simply streaming music through a computer, TV, HiFi, or other common source devices. Audio Controls – How Can I Control the Unit?It's a huge step up from the MAT-less R3 (a previous five-star model) in terms of refinement, crystal-clear vocals and dynamism. These R3 Metas are spacious, dig deep, perform admirably both at loud and low volumes (a rare talent), and are delivered with a precision and accuracy that seems to come oh-so-easily to them. Pros: Very compact chassis. Great sound quality. Hidden speaker wire inputs for a tidy installation. While the Prodigy 1’s precision and organisation warrant the label ‘analytical’, the speakers aren’t informative at the expense of entertainment. Systematic, yes, but anything but soulless.

Whether we're reviewing a set of bookshelf speakers that cost a few hundred pounds or a fair few thousand, our review philosophy doesn't change, and you can be sure that any five-star speakers (and particularly What Hi-Fi? Award-winning ones) will offer up a fantastic performance for the price. And that story continues with its latest entry-level 607 S3 speakers. The smallest and most affordable stereo speaker that B&W makes (even if that 'budget' price has increased in the last couple of years), the new 607 S3 replaces the previous Award-winning 607 S2 Anniversary Edition speakers and delivers a significantly improved performance. This can be one of the more tech-y topics for bookshelf speakers, but in the real world, it's a simple decision. Whether you need passive bookshelf speakers or powered bookshelf speakers depends on where your audio is coming from.Compatible with Bluetooth wireless technology, Audioengine’s HD3 bookshelf speakers can operate from a wireless distance of up to 100ft, and a 24-bit DAC enables bypassed low-quality sound from most laptops or phones to improve audio fidelity. You can connect the HD3s to your source devices via various connectivity options: USB, RCA, 3.5mm, and Bluetooth Wireless Audio. This means you can connect cellphones, computers/laptops, turntables/record-player systems, televisions, gaming consoles, and more. Sound Quality Dedicated speaker stand are ideal to position bookshelf speakers at the optimal listening height with the tweeters at ear level from the usual seating position. This achieves best imaging and ensures coherency and integration between the woofer and tweeter. They also add weight and authority to enhance bass extension. Many stands are fillable, letting you add weight and mass to further tweak the bass performance of your speakers. Base spikes ensure isolation from the floor and stop unwanted resonance from degrading the sound of your speakers. KEF's MAT ( Meta Material Absorption Technology) innovation has been elevating the performance of its most recent speakers (the Award-winning LS50 Meta above is a prime example), so it was only a matter of time before the tech was integrated into its 2023 R Series of speakers. Sure enough, the R3 Meta standmounter features both MAT and KEF's Uni-Q driver array to great success. Now in its eighth generation and going 20+ years strong, Bowers & Wilkins' 600 series of speakers has more often than not provided some superb speakers. The B6.2 bookshelf speakers build on ELAC’s previous speaker design and have new and improved features. Front-firing ports are a handy addition to the B6.2’s, lessening the impact of issues commonly faced with improper speaker placement, particularly against a wall. This allows for placement practically anywhere within the room! A newly developed tweeter design tends the speaker’s frequency response to an incredibly 35kHz, and modern woofer design promotes high-frequency definition without sacrificing any low end. Sound Quality

Capable of reproducing frequencies between 51Hz and 20KHz, Edifier’s R1280Ts bookshelf speakers are perfect for home theater, office, bedroom, or lounge usage. I’d recommend these speakers for anything music, film, radio/podcast, or sports-related. The R1280Ts come fitted with equalization controls on the side panel, where you can adjust bass, treble, and master volume to the output stage of the speakers, effectively fine-tuning the sound characteristics to your liking. The ability to connect more than one source device is a handy feature. The extra subwoofer output allows for great versatility for those looking to enhance the low-end response of their bookshelf speakers. Conclusion The 606 S3 are the bigger standmounters in B&W's latest 600 S3 range of speakers, and they're bigger, bolder and pricier than the younger sibling, the 607 S3 speakers (above). In the professional audio world, speakers of this type are called monitor speakers. People who edit audio in the music, film, or TV business will monitor their work on very high-quality speakers that are no bigger than the ones you see in this guide. These are called near-field monitors because they’re intended to be listened to at a close distance. In pro audio, such speakers are expected to have sound that is clear, natural, and uncolored, as well as a superb frequency response from one end of the range of human hearing to the other, and beyond. This helps pro audio editors ensure that the product they’re delivering is accurate and has the highest quality audio possible. This is particularly important if you’ll be using your computer speakers for virtual meetings or interviews, as the other party’s microphone levels may require you to push volume on your end, resulting in amplified system noise. WarrantyThe footprint remains the same and they're ideal for smaller spaces. Partner them carefully to balance out a somewhat forward, excitable treble performance, and you'll be rewarded with a terrifically detailed, rhythmically cohesive, agile, and energetic sound. The overall presentation is more open-sounding than before, while the treble performance is so much sweeter and more refined. For their size and price level, each note lands with precision and they even hold dynamic interest at low volume. Basslines are pulled taut and while they don’t go as bone-shatteringly deep as bigger speakers (or as big as the bigger 606 S3, below), they do land with impact.

When we switched over to movies, we were again captivated with the Prime Bookshelf speakers’ output and quality. We knew we were only listening to a fraction of what they could do (again add that subwoofer, but also know that a center channel and rear speakers to fully flesh it all out), but the Primes were a HUGE upgrade over the TV’s built-in speakers. As a bonus, they fit onto the furniture we had in-place neatly. If you don’t have the furniture for these speakers to rest on, please know that there are a variety of speaker stands available to get these speakers as close to ear level as possible. While the retro link will be the main attraction for some, for us that’s put in the shade by the speakers' excellent all-round performance.The 770 have a range of sonic talents that sets them apart from most rivals and earns them a warm recommendation. More importantly, the addition of a subwoofer can direct the bass in the precise location to give you a perfectly balanced sound. In this regard, bookshelf speakers can offer more flexibility than larger speakers, making it easier to match the characteristics of your space, and give you optimal bass response.All bookshelf speaker systems will include onboard controls, such as power on/off and volume up/down. Many will also feature additional controls for subwoofer Activation and equalization options such as bass boosting, dimming (reducing volume at a set level), or controlling the lights of the speakers. Some computer speakers will even include voice command functionality or remote control, which comes in handy when using them for film viewing or live meetings, interviews, or conferences. Power Source France does a lot of things right. France’s premier loudspeaker designer and manufacturer, Focal Audio, is one of those things done right. Focal’s passion and pursuit of audio excellence is displayed throughout their entire lineup - including our Best Front-Ported Bookshelf Speakers winner: the Vestia No.1 speakers. The No.1 is Focal’s traditional 2-way bookshelf speaker and measures 8 5/8” x 10 1/4" x 15 1/4." Another advantage of bookshelf speakers is that you can add more of them to a stereo pair to create a matched surround system. When your side speakers and rear speakers match your front pair, the sound of your home theater can become more coherent and enjoyable. When discussing the sound quality of the LS50s, there is nothing to complain about. KEF has produced a clean, accurate, powerful, and versatile speaker system that complements all music and other multimedia entertainment styles. Modern technological improvements have been implemented to reduce the coloration of the audio due to cabinet design, material, and shape. The MAT features also prove to minimize vibrations and unwanted sound, and an impressively wide frequency range promises an evenly distributed sound stage. Conclusion Budget and size are the biggest considerations. Whether your stereo speakers will be in your living room, home office or bedroom, it's crucial to see what fits your space – and what you can afford.Are you after a small, affordable pair that can go into the corner of your room? Are you after a large pair of speakers, or have an extensive budget for premium standmounters? Whatever the case, remember to also factor in speaker cables and the demands of the rest of your hi-fi system.