Bookshelf speakers are ever-evolving and extremely versatile, making them great for your home theater setup or the best computer speakers for your PC battle station. Our current top choice are the KEF LS50 Wireless, but we’ve found other great options, from high-end combinations of craftsmanship and audio prowess to no-frills, sound quality-focused alternatives. Jump to a detailed look at the best bookshelf speakers, or check the list below:
TL;DR – The Best Bookshelf Speakers
- KEF LS50 Wireless II
- Audioengine A5+
- Audioengine HD3
- Edifier R1700BT
- Sonos One
- Sonos Era 300
- Micca PB42X
- Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus
The best bookshelf speakers immerse you in your games, music, movies, and other media without plopping the best gaming headsets or headphones on your head, which can get uncomfortable during longer listening sessions. Plus, these once predominately passive speakers no longer need an external amplifier to reproduce awesome sound and come with ample connectivity choices. So, many bookshelf speakers are just as easy to use as the best soundbars.
The Best Bookshelf Speakers
1. KEF L50 Wireless II
The Best Bookshelf Speakers Overall
The KEF LS50 Wireless II are the pinnacle of what powered bookshelf speakers can be. The powerful, elegantly-designed pair of speakers each feature a mid-bass driver and tweeter driven by amplifiers built in-house by KEF to produce detailed, impactful sound regardless of what you throw their way. And that’s all before mentioning KEF’s Music Integrity Engine, which utilizes digital signal processing algorithms to place sound exactly where it is intended to be in your listening space.
It’s not just the hardware, though. The LS50 Wireless II come with their own dedicated KEF Connect App for controlling the speakers and adjusting settings as you see fit. In addition to featuring all sorts of physical inputs for connecting to your display of choice, the LS50 Wireless II offer a wide variety of streaming options, such as Spotify Connect, Apple Airplay 2, TIDAL, Amazon Music, Deezer, Chromcast and more.
Now, make no mistake, the KEF LS50 Wireless II are not cheap in any sense of the word. But when you consider all the specs and features that come with these meticulously-crafted speakers, the hefty price tag becomes (a little) more understandable. Realistically, KEF is banking on the LS50 Wireless II being the last bookshelf speakers you ever buy. And, if you get to listen to what they have to offer, they may just be exactly that.
2. Audioengine A5+
The Best Value Bookshelf Speakers
Combining top-tier sound quality and a manageable price tag, the AudioEngine A5+ hit the sweet spot of high-end performance that won’t completely break the bank. Similar to our top pick, the A5+ deliver pure audio fidelity. Their custom aramid fiber woofers and silk dome tweeters produce deep base and crisp, clear sound no matter the frequency. But if you want even more out of the low-end, AudioEngine makes it simple to add a subwoofer to the mix.
Connectivity is king for the AudioEngine A5+, so you can choose to go wired or wireless with this set of speakers. Bluetooth is baked in and works at an extended range of up to 100 feet. There’s even codec support for aptX and aptX HD, ensuring you can effortlessly stream high-resolution audio from your devices. The built-in 24-bit DAC also means these speakers are ready to work with a PC, TV, turntable, or just about anything that can pass audio.
3. Audioengine HD3
The Best Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers
The Audioengine HD3 speakers may have first come onto the market in the mid-2010s, but they are still exceptional Bluetooth speakers ready to take your audio a notch higher. Setting up this pick is as simple as can be, as the left speaker offers a built-in amplifier, connects to the passive right speaker, and plugs into the wall.
Both speakers are well built, look great, and are relatively compact at around 7 inches high, while the left speaker offers a volume knob, 3.5mm input for headphones, and a Bluetooth pairing button. Bluetooth support makes for an easy connection to your phone or tablet, but there’s also a USB or stereo input and outputs to connect to other devices. It’s also simple to switch back and forth between sources.
All that connectivity is great, but you’re probably wondering how these speakers sound, and you won’t be disappointed. You’ll enjoy crisp, clean, and impactful sound, though the bass isn’t as booming due to the lack of a subwoofer. There’s even support for aptX codecs, so you can stream high-res audio over Bluetooth.
4. Edifier R1700BT
The Best Budget Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers
A significant step away from the high-powered likes of KEF and Klipsch, the Edifier R1700BT are best utilized as a pair of impressive Bluetooth speakers backed by quality sound. They technically have auxiliary inputs, but the speakers are better suited for music streaming or serving as computer speakers than they are as a two-channel setup for your TV. Nevertheless, the R1700BTs have built-in digital signal processing and dynamic range control to prevent distortion and produce clear, detailed sound.
Plus, for the aesthetic-minded, the R1700BT are draped in a classic walnut wood cabinet. For a pair of sub-$200 Bluetooth bookshelf speakers to both sound good and not have a distinctly cheap look is a rarity. Somehow, Edifier managed to pull it off. So, if you’re more into streaming music over Bluetooth for solid stereo sound, the R1700BT is an excellent option.
5. Sonos One
The Best Bookshelf Speakers for Streaming
Sonos has been the modern day gold standard for music streaming from the moment it was unleashed onto the audio scene in 2005. Today, the quintessential Sonos value is the One. It’s one of the most cost effective ways to enter the expansive Sonos ecosystem. It offers the polished sound signature that customers have become accustomed to hearing from Sonos products. And, as is the calling card with any Sonos product, it puts millions of streaming songs at the tip of your fingers. Or, if you’d rather, at the sound of the wake word: “Alexa.”
You can pair two Sonos Ones together to act as a stereo pair for music listening. Or, if you have a full home theater setup, the Ones can transition to serve as rear speakers in a 5.1 system. The Sonos One boasts great sound, incredible ease of use, and a layer of flexibility that hasn’t been touched since it became a staple in streaming audio.
6. Sonos Era 300
The Best Bookshelf Speakers for Dolby Atmos Music
Remember the Sonos One? Great! Now, take everything we said about that particular Sonos speaker, and add three-dimensional audio. That’s what you get with the Era 300, which features six drivers outfitted all around the cabinet of the speaker. Thanks to this, the Era 300 does an excellent job with Dolby Atmos Music, bouncing sound from wall to wall to completely immerse you in the content you’re consuming.
The Era 300 can serve as surround speakers for a system that includes the Sonos Arc, becoming the icing on the cake of a completely three-dimensional audio experience. Or, it can simply act as a revolutionary foundation for music streaming. Sonos lets you choose how to best utilize a speaker like the Era 300 for your space, making it a uniquely versatile product in today’s landscape.
7. Micca PB42X
The Best Budget Bookshelf Speakers
Don’t be fooled by their status on this list as “budget” bookshelf speakers. The Micca PB42Xs are a legitimate, worthwhile pair of speakers that adds good sound to your TV and can work as computer speakers. They aren’t the fanciest pair of speakers by any stretch. What they are, however, is a straightforward design equipped with a 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter and a 4-inch carbon fiber woofer.
Of course, the PB42X aren’t wildly powerful like the Klipsch The Fives. Furthermore, they don’t offer a vast plethora of streaming options like KEF’s flagship bookshelves. Instead, the PB42X simplifies what it means to be a quality set of speakers, offering good sound in a compact design and not much else. For many, that will be just what they were looking for and absolutely worth the price of admission.
8. Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus
The Best Desktop Bookshelf Speakers
The Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus speakers may be compact, but their impressive build and powerful sound make them the perfect bookshelf speakers to pair with your PC. Setting them up is simple thanks to a built-in DAC, while every input you could possibly need is on the speakers, including Bluetooth 5.1 and USB Audio. Unlike most bookshelf speakers, these feature a unique design that angles the sound to your ears, and there’s even a detachable handle to get the proper aim.
You’ll immediately notice the wide sound stage on the Vanatoo T0+ has major clarity, and you won’t be disappointed by the low end either, with a surprisingly punchy bass considering the small size. Beyond the sound out of the box, it’s possible to tune these speakers to your personal preferences, and balance control even allows you to adjust the audio if you’re not centered between the speakers. To make your life easier, a full-featured remote lets you switch inputs, change the volume, adjust the treble and bass, and more.
