Best Powered Bookshelf Speakers

Last Update: September, 2023

Bookshelf speakers are one of today’s current popular forms of entertainment. The sound quality of music is important to people who are invested in having the best forms of home entertainment.

Powered bookshelf speakers are incredibly tech-savvy, made for high definition sound quality and built with the benefits of both Bluetooth and WiFi speakers.

The sound of all-in-one speakers pales in comparison to powered bookshelf speakers. Each component of bookshelf speakers cooperates to create the best sound quality that is guaranteed to keep you and your guests entertained.

Some speakers can even be built and modified by sound engineers to have a component that stops the speaker from playing loud enough to where the sound is heavily distorted and no longer has good sound quality.

We have picked five of the most top quality powered bookshelf speakers so you can have an easier time making your selection based on quality. If you are seeking to maximize your audio and home entertainment experience, you may want to invest in these products.

More About The Edifier R1280T

The Edifier R1280T is a speaker that integrates modern day high definition audio quality with a retro appearance with a classic wood finish.

With this stereo, you will be able to connect any device that has a 3.5mm headphone output or dual RCA output through AUX, with no plugging or switching necessary. This speaker is capable of producing top quality natural sound throughout the whole room.

You will also be able to control the volume of the speaker through remote control, as well as a base and treble control built into the side of the main speaker.

The remote control offers you an extra sense of precise control, allowing you to adjust the volume or mute the speaker right at your fingertips.

The Edifier R1280T will allow you to connect multiple audio devices through the dual RCA inputs. The two speakers are connected to each other through a regular speaker wire and they are able to connect to any device, such as PC, tablet, phone, etc. Personalize your audio experience with the Edifier R1280T.

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More About The Edifier R1700BT

The Edifier R1700BT is a speaker that comes with built-in Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and Dynamic Range Control (DRC) to keep the sound from distorting.

You can plug any device into these speakers, such as your gaming console or television, for exceptionally high sound quality. This device would be a perfect fixture for any home theater area.

This speaker has a built-in volume control dials located on the sides, which allow you to control the audio, bass, and treble. It also comes with a wireless remote control so you can adjust the volume or the music playing from the comfort of your lounge area.

With a combination of convenience and high-quality sound for optimal entertainment, there’s a 19mm dome tweeter and a 4-inch bass driver in each speaker.

The Edifier R1700BT is capable of connecting to any of your Bluetooth devices, such as Apple or Windows devices, for an easy and stable wireless connection. It is built with a marvelous classic wood finish, making it a stylish addition to your home decor.

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More About The ​Micca PB42X

The Micca PB42X Powered Bookshelf Speaker is a powerful speaker that can connect to any device to exemplify the sound quality. It can blend perfectly into your home decor and is designed with a clean and modern appearance.

The Micca PB42X is built with a high-performance 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter with precise driver output matching, which gives it its smooth treble output.

Its Class-D amplifier gives you the ability to connect with any analog audio source with it's with RCA and 3.5mm input jacks. With this, the speaker can create a high-quality sound for your maximum entertainment. Its compact design makes it easy to move it around and use it wherever you want.

More About The ​Edifier 1850DB

The Edifier R1850DB Active Bookshelf Speaker is a device that gives you the capability to connect another subwoofer to convert it from a 2.0 system to a 2.1 system. With the additional subwoofer output, you will be able to receive a higher quality frequency response out of your speakers.

This speaker is designed with a high gloss black finish that may be a perfect fit for the aesthetic of your home decor. The design, along with the wireless remote control and Bluetooth capabilities, makes it an excellent system to keep in your home theater.

More About The ​Fluance Ai40W

The Fluance Ai40W Powered Bookshelf Speaker is a system that is built to provide you with a newfound sense of freedom with the sound quality they produce.

The stereo quality sounds are powerful enough to fill the entire room. You can connect to your favorite audio source through RCA/Aux or Bluetooth aptX without a separate amplifier or receiver.

This system is built with precision-crafted wood cabinets, built for both styles and increased sound quality. It can also be easily connected to your Bluetooth devices in order to play your favorite music with ease.

How to Increase Your Audio Experience

What Are You Using Your Systems For?

Different powered bookshelf speakers are built with different purposes in mind, so it is important to consider what you are using your system for.
For example, are you using it for casual music purposes or do you want one better suited for parties? Once you determine this, it will be much easier searching for a system that will suit you.

Know Your Limitations

Know your limitations before you search for a new bookshelf speaker. These limitations can include your budget, the space in your entertainment center or your level of sensitivity to sound.
Take all of the necessary factors into account when you are thinking about what system you need for your home.

Test Your Speakers

Before you buy your speakers, test them to see if they are of as good of a quality as they are advertised. Good quality speakers should always feel strong and solid in your hands.

Once you find the right speakers, test them within your home to see if they are hooked up and working properly so you can utilize them to their best potential.

What are Powered Bookshelf Speakers for?

Powered bookshelf speakers are used as front speakers in confined spaces. They must be elevated, which is why they are kept on raised surfaces such as bookshelves.

Whether you live in a large house or an urban apartment, these speakers are extremely versatile. Bookshelf speakers are specifically designed to enhance the sounds in small to medium-sized spaces within any living space.

By using a tweeter and a driver to maximize sounds, bookshelf speakers are extremely popular among movie buffs, music fanatics, and bigtime gamers. Since the high-fidelity audio enhances acoustics and creates a thrilling at home experience.

If you want your speakers to give a surround sound effect, there are many home theatres that offer built-in bookshelf speakers. However, bookshelf speakers are still an awesome purchase on their own and have no trouble providing high-quality audio.

Essential Features

So we have discussed why a bookshelf speaker is a great addition to any home. But what exactly makes them so awesome?

Let’s go over some of the main features that set a bookshelf speaker apart from the rest so you can begin narrowing down your search and find exactly what you are looking for!

Small and Compact

This is a pretty obvious one, and probably the biggest thing that makes a bookshelf speaker so unique. Unlike most speakers, you can put this on basically any elevated spot in your house and does not take up a lot of space.

Drivers and Tweeters

Like we discussed earlier, bookshelf speakers operate on both a driver and a tweeter. This is a big bonus since these two things together are what produce such high-quality sounds.

Without a tweeter, the driver doesn't work properly, and vice versa. This feature is a huge bonus when it comes to the bookshelf speaker.

Versatility

This speaker can not only fit comfortably anywhere, but it can do a wide range of things. Like we discussed earlier, you can set it up with a home theatre for an amazing surround sound experience or blast your favorite music anywhere in your house.

The versatility is endless when it comes to the placement and purposes of this speaker. The multi-purpose aspect of a bookshelf speaker is one out of the many reasons it is so unique and worth every penny.

Sound Capability

Don’t be fooled by the small build of the bookshelf speaker. What it lacks in size it definitely makes up for in sound. When it comes to speakers, sensitivity is measured in decibels per watt.

The higher the sensitivity, the lesser power required for the speaker to achieve a high volume. The wattage of a bookshelf speaker is usually 88db and can reach 100db/watts with higher sensitivity.

This basically means a bookshelf speaker has the sound capability equivalent to many large speakers. And unlike large speakers, you can place them in any bookshelf, cubby, or elevated space within your house!

This is just another reason bookshelf speakers have such great value and are definitely worth the purchase.

What to Consider?

Frequency Range

The frequency range is bigger when choosing a speaker. Most of it comes down to what you will be using your speaker for mostly.

If you enjoy a thumping bass in your playlist, you will have to find a speaker that can go low enough in the bass portion of the range, otherwise, you will end up with a shallow bass. Another option is to purchase a subwoofer along with your speaker to produce those deeper sounds.

Crossover

Crossovers are a key element to keep in mind when searching for a speaker. When you have multiple speakers on at the same time, it often creates a mixup and your speakers start to conflict with each other.

The most common time this will happen is when you hear a dip in response at a very exact time.

Crossovers are made to eliminate these mixups giving your music a smooth transition. They are a borderline necessity if you are serious about getting high-fidelity audio out of your bookshelf speaker.

Number of Speakers

Most commonly, the best loudspeakers are designed in a set of two. This basically means you have a smaller high-frequency tweeter that controls trebles, while a larger driver that handles the rest. The overall capability of the two speakers together is much greater than just one alone.

No single speaker can produce the full portion of any given frequency range because speakers were made to work together. This is why it is virtually impossible to get the full effect from just one speaker.

Cabinet Design

Last but not least, take into consideration the cabinet design. Cabinets are often the most expensive and difficult part of making a speaker, and it is recommended to have an MDF cabinet at the very least. MDF is considered to be the standard in the industry and offers great performance for its value.

The design of a speaker’s cabinet is one of the biggest components in the overall sound output.  When choosing a bookshelf speaker, you must be careful in making sure the cabinet is up to par because that will have a huge factor in its sound capabilities.

Style and Color

This is still a very important thing to keep in mind since the last you want is a speaker that doesn’t match the decor of your house or apartment.

There are several different colors and styles of bookshelf speakers to choose from. So what exactly are you looking for? If your home has a more modern and sleek feel, go with a black more simple style speaker to match it.

If your home is more rustic, there are plenty of brown and wooden looking speakers as well. Choose wisely so your speakers' appearance is just as awesome as its audio quality!

Addition features

If you are on a budget, this category might not be necessary. However, if you are going all out on your bookshelf speaker purchase, you may want to consider additional features to get even more riveting sounds out of your bookshelf speaker.

The most common additional feature is a speaker stand. Even though this is not necessary when it comes to a bookshelf speaker, it can guarantee your speaker is reaching ear level.

Another great added feature is a subwoofer along with your bookshelf speaker. A subwoofer is not necessary in some cases, but in others it is.

If you decide to buy a lower end bookshelf speaker but you need it to reach the lowest of lows for your music, get a subwoofer.

Conclusion