Brent Butterworth is a writer dedicated to audio gear. He has been reviewing speakers and other audio products for more than 30 years.
A great pair of bookshelf speakers should last for years and deliver better performance than you can get from all-in-one Bluetooth and Wi-Fi tabletop speakers.
The Triangle Borea BR03 set is our favorite pair of passive bookshelf speakers to mate with a receiver or amp, while the excellent Edifier S1000MKII pair adds built-in amplifiers and Bluetooth.
Everything we recommend
Our pick
This is one of the best bookshelf speaker pairs we’ve heard, with extraordinary clarity and spaciousness plus plenty of bass. The design is attractive but somewhat big and boxy.
Buying Options
Runner-up
These passive speakers produce less bass than our top pick, but they’re a little more compact, and we love the styling.
Buying Options
Budget pick
This pair has a full, satisfying sound, but it can’t match the clarity or visual appeal of our other picks.
Buying Options
Our pick
This powered-speaker pair delivers best-in-class sound, looks nice, and comes with useful features such as built-in Bluetooth support, bass and treble controls, and a remote.
Also great
These versatile speakers sound great (though a little light in the bass) and include a phono input for use with a turntable, plus an HDMI input for TV use.
Buying Options
How we picked and tested
- Passive and active
To meet every buyer’s needs, we test traditional passive speakers as well as active (powered) speakers.
- Price range
We cover everything from under-$50 budget speakers up to audiophile-oriented models costing as much as $600 per pair.
- Unbiased testing
We test speakers with expert listeners, and we conceal the identities of the models to eliminate bias.
- Measurements
In addition to our subjective panel testing, we measure each system to get an unbiased “second opinion” and to detect any anomalies.
Our pick
This is one of the best bookshelf speaker pairs we’ve heard, with extraordinary clarity and spaciousness plus plenty of bass. The design is attractive but somewhat big and boxy.
Buying Options
The Triangle Borea BR03 pair is a great buy for serious music lovers who want the enveloping sound of real audiophile-grade speakers but don’t want to spend thousands of dollars. The BR03 produces a fuller, more satisfying sound than most bookshelf speakers do, and it makes voices and instruments sound clearer and more natural. You don’t have to be an audio enthusiast to appreciate how good these speakers are.
The BR03 is available in a variety of attractive finishes, but some people may find these speakers to be a bit too big and boxy for their living room.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTRunner-up
These passive speakers produce less bass than our top pick, but they’re a little more compact, and we love the styling.
Buying Options
If you prefer a more modern-looking aesthetic, the Q Acoustics 3020i speakers sound and look fantastic, although they don’t have as much bass as our top pick and may cost a little more. This set is beautifully designed, with rounded corners that resist chipping and four finish options.
Budget pick
This pair has a full, satisfying sound, but it can’t match the clarity or visual appeal of our other picks.
Buying Options
Music lovers seeking a decent pair of speakers that offers full sound at low cost will love the Micca MB42X. These speakers don’t sound quite as smooth and natural as our other picks, but when mated with a good small amplifier, they’ll easily outperform most portable speakers.
Their plain styling isn’t much to look at, but surprisingly for the price, they do include magnetically attached grilles—so you’ll get a clean, grommet-free look if you decide to run them without the grilles attached.
Our pick
This powered-speaker pair delivers best-in-class sound, looks nice, and comes with useful features such as built-in Bluetooth support, bass and treble controls, and a remote.
If you prefer the convenience of an all-in-one, powered speaker system that doesn’t need an external amplifier, the Edifier S1000MKII set is the best one we’ve heard under $600. In our tests, it had the sweetest, most natural, and most detailed treble range, which made instruments and vocals sound clearer.
It also looks nicer than most powered speakers do, though its retro styling may not appeal to everyone. The system includes tone controls, a remote, a variety of inputs, and built-in Bluetooth support to receive audio from mobile devices.
Also great
These versatile speakers sound great (though a little light in the bass) and include a phono input for use with a turntable, plus an HDMI input for TV use.
Buying Options
If you want a speaker pair that mates well with any record player or turntable, the ELAC Debut ConneX DCB41 is a great-sounding, good-looking set of powered speakers. This pair has a built-in phono preamp to equalize and amplify the sound of vinyl, so it’s a good match for a turntable that lacks its own phono preamp (like several of the picks in our turntable guide).
The wonderfully versatile DCB41 set also offers Bluetooth support, an HDMI input for use with a TV, and a USB digital input for connecting to a computer.
These smaller speakers lack the bass power of the Edifier S1000MKII pair, though—and they cost more.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTWhy you should trust us
I’m a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. I’ve worked as an editor or writer in audio publishing for over 30 years, and I’ve previously served as a consultant on speaker tuning and measurement for some of the world’s biggest tech companies.
In the course of producing the original version of this article and many updates, we’ve enlisted feedback from numerous listeners, including senior staff writer Lauren Dragan and drummer and audio engineering student Kage Shissler. Veteran audio enthusiasts Paul DeMara, Greg Miller, Cam Steere, and Darrin Vaughan contributed their opinions when we conducted brand-concealed listening tests at Innovative Audio, a vintage-audio dealer based in Surrey, British Columbia.
Who this is for
Bookshelf speakers are great for the music lover who wants better performance than one-piece, wireless tabletop speakers can offer. These speakers are sized to fit on a shelf or to be mounted on a stand. They take up less space than tower speakers, but they put out less bass. For most music, though, a good pair of bookshelf speakers will deliver satisfying sound. (If you want more bass, you can probably add a subwoofer.)
This guide covers two categories: passive bookshelf speakers, which you must pair with a stereo receiver or amplifier, or an AV receiver, and powered bookshelf speakers, which have built-in amplifiers and inputs for analog audio sources and may incorporate a Bluetooth receiver, digital audio inputs, and/or a phono input to connect a record player.
A good set of passive bookshelf speakers is perhaps the most sustainable component of an audio system because the speakers should last a couple of decades, are fully repairable, and will never become obsolete. If you decide to upgrade the rest of your system as new technologies arise, the passive speakers will still work fine.
Compared with passive speakers, powered models allow you to eliminate at least one component (the receiver or amplifier) and at least one cable. All have at least one analog audio input, most add some sort of digital audio input, and a few even have a phono input for a turntable. There are some technical merits to building amps into speakers, but in the price ranges we’re covering here, neither type of speaker can claim a clear sonic advantage.
Bookshelf speakers aren’t just for music, either. They can also be great for movie and TV watching, either as a stereo pair or combined with matching center and surround speakers. For more on this topic, see our guide to the best surround-sound speakers for most people.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTHow we picked and tested
Here are the criteria we regularly consider when deciding which models to test:
- Size and styling: These speakers are sized and styled to suit a living room or den. If you need something to use with a computer—for gaming or audio production—check out our best computer speakers guide. Note that you can get better sound from these speakers by placing them on stands (such as the Sanus BF24B or Monoprice 39494 stands) rather than on a shelf, because placing them near a wall can make bass sound boomy, and whatever else is on the shelf may rattle.
- Cost: Our price limit for both the passive and powered categories is $600 per pair. Above that price, you’re getting into models for serious audio enthusiasts, who probably already have strong ideas about speakers.
- Wireless connectivity: Among powered speakers, we look only at models that include Bluetooth support. Some of the models we’ve tested offer support for more advanced Bluetooth codecs, such as aptX or aptX HD, but we don’t require that.
- Extra features: All powered speakers include at least one analog audio input, but we try to find models that also have other useful features, such as a phono input, digital audio inputs, and a remote control.
Before conducting listening tests, I listen to each system for a couple of days, looking for any difficulties that a listener at home might experience during setup and everyday use.
Next, I conceal the speakers behind a sheet of thin, black fabric and play them for various experts and audio enthusiasts. You can read more about our testing methods in this blog post.
In these tests, we listen mostly for the following:
- Voice clarity: Because humans hear other people’s voices so much, people are especially sensitive to the naturalness of voice reproduction.
- Imaging and spaciousness: Imaging is the ability of stereo speakers to produce focused sonic “images” of the various singers and instruments. Spaciousness, or soundstaging, is the feeling of envelopment that stereo speakers can produce. We prefer speakers that do a good job on both.
- Bass: Research shows that listeners prefer speakers that can play deep bass notes cleanly and loudly. The bass must also be reproduced at a level consistent with the midrange and treble; otherwise the sound becomes boomy or thin.
To get a scientific perspective on these speakers, we ran frequency-response measurements on all the contenders. Research shows (PDF) that listeners consistently prefer speakers that have a “flat” frequency response—which means they produce all frequencies of sound at approximately even levels—and speakers that maintain a similar frequency response whether the listener is sitting directly in front of them or slightly off to the side.
Frequency response deviation (smoothness) vs. price
The chart above shows how the speakers’ performance in this test correlates with their prices. (For more information, see our detailed frequency response charts for our picks.) To see how loudly these speakers could play deep bass notes, we did CTA-2010 bass-output measurements. You can see those results in the chart below.
Bass output vs. price
Our pick: Triangle Borea BR03
Our pick
This is one of the best bookshelf speaker pairs we’ve heard, with extraordinary clarity and spaciousness plus plenty of bass. The design is attractive but somewhat big and boxy.
Buying Options
The Triangle Borea BR03 provides the most natural, balanced sound we’ve heard from a bookshelf speaker priced under $600 per pair—and there’s no real need to add a subwoofer unless you’re a deep-bass fanatic.
Its sound is nearly flawless. Even after hours of listening to the BR03, I can’t think of a significant complaint. When we played Lil Baby’s ultra-bass-intensive “Woah” (video) at a loud volume, the BR03 didn’t distort, and it produced only a barely perceptible amount of “chuffing” from its front ports. Every part of the audio spectrum—from deep bass to midrange to treble—sounded natural, and we noticed no sonic flaws that distracted from the music. Voices, in particular, sounded smooth.
The bass impresses. With an average mid-bass output of 116.4 dB (measured with a pair of speakers), the BR03’s bass blew away all of our other picks by at least 6 decibels. It also produced an admirably flat frequency response, with a variation of about ±2.5 decibels through most of the audio range and an even balance of bass to midrange to treble.
Its styling is elegant. The BR03 is available in a variety of finish options and color combinations to suit different room decors (though the prices vary based on the finish). Measuring 15 inches high, 8.125 inches wide, and 12.5 inches deep, it’s the tallest of our picks, but its just-right proportions make it seem less visually intrusive. It comes with a magnetically attached, fabric grille.
The cabinet features a front-facing port, so there’s no concern about blocking the port if you push your pair of speakers back close to a wall. Front ports can make chuffing noises more audible, but the noises are so low with the BR03 that this isn’t a concern for us.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
We can’t find any performance flaws in the Triangle Borea BR03 speakers that you wouldn’t encounter in any pair of passive bookshelf speakers. Some listeners might want even more bass, but they’ll have to add a subwoofer or buy a set of tower speakers to get that.
Depending on the size and design of your listening space, you may want a speaker that’s smaller or more stylized than the BR03.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTRunner-up: Q Acoustics 3020i
Runner-up
These passive speakers produce less bass than our top pick, but they’re a little more compact, and we love the styling.
Buying Options
If you prefer a smaller speaker pair with a more modern look, our panelists said that the Q Acoustics 3020i’s rounded corners and minimalist design, combined with its above-average performance, make it a great alternative for decor-conscious buyers.
The 3020i set was our top pick for at least three years, but we demoted it after its price increased and the price of our top pick (which was a former upgrade pick) decreased. This set sounds almost as clear with voices as the Triangle pair does, but its smaller form yields less bass.
It sounds super clear. What stands out in the 3020i’s performance is its detail and clarity. In our tests with an audiophile favorite, Holly Cole’s version of “Train Song” (video), the sound sparkled, filling the room with the jingle of percussion instruments and the subtle sounds of fingers scraping the strings of the double bass.
Part of that clarity comes from the 3020i’s subtle emphasis of cymbals and other instruments in the treble range. It’s a sound that audiophiles tend to love because it makes music seem a little more exciting and captivating, but fans of bass-heavy music are likely to prefer a larger speaker.
The rear-ported design prevents you from pushing these speakers back against a wall, as doing so would block the ports. Q Acoustics does provide a foam plug for the port for against-the-wall use, but inserting this plug limits the bass even more.
It measures well, although a little light in the bass. The frequency response measurements for the 3020i looked good, with a variance of only about ±2.6 decibels through most of the audio range. That means voices and instruments sound pretty much like they’re supposed to. The measured maximum bass output from the 3020i speaker pair averaged 108 dB, about 8 decibels less than the measured output from the Triangle Borea BR03 set.
We love the modern look. Each speaker’s cabinet is finished in a vinyl wrap that looks far better than the faux wood grain you usually see at this price, and it’s available in four different finishes (white, black, gray, and walnut). The grille is magnetically attached, which gives the front of each speaker a clean look when you remove the grille.
Budget pick: Micca MB42X
Budget pick
This pair has a full, satisfying sound, but it can’t match the clarity or visual appeal of our other picks.
Buying Options
When played at volumes suitable for casual music listening, the Micca MB42X set delivers surprisingly good sound at a remarkably low price. While the styling isn’t particularly inspired, the MB42X doesn’t look cheap, and its magnetically attached grilles are a surprising bonus at this price.
It sounds shockingly good for an under-$100 speaker pair. In our most recent round of brand-concealed testing, which focused on budget speakers, the MB42X emerged as the favorite, even though the other speakers cost at least $150 per pair.
This pair has a natural-sounding balance of bass, midrange, and treble: Voices sound smooth, and no instruments are unnaturally emphasized. The bass is strong for a speaker with a 4-inch woofer, which gives the MB42X a fuller sound than its competitors.
The frequency response measured impressively flat, at ±2.3 dB, and a pair of MB42Xs gave us 100.9 dB of bass output.
Be careful about cranking up the volume. When played loud, these speakers may distort. With Audrey Nuna’s bass-intensive “damn Right” (video) played at an average level of about 91 dB (measured at 1 meter), we heard distortion, and the sound became harsh.
We also found that playing this tune at full volume through the Micca pair could trigger the protection circuits in small amps like the Fosi Audio BT20A, causing intermittent glitches in the sound. In our measurements, the impedance—while averaging 7 ohms—dropped to 3.9 ohms around the 240 Hz range, which might explain this.
We can’t recommend you buy an expensive amp to use with an under-$100 speaker set, so we suggest you keep the volume below about 90 dB (which should be loud enough for a bedroom, office, or garage).
It looks plain. The MB42X is available only in a textured-black, vinyl-wrap finish. It’s of higher quality than we usually see at this price, but it’s utilitarian nonetheless.
At least the grilles attach with concealed magnets rather than pins and grommets, so the speaker looks better without its grille than do most models in this price range.
The speaker is compact, at just 9.375 inches high. It might be tempting to put it on a small shelf and push it against a wall, but don’t. Because of the speaker’s rear-ported design, this could interfere with the bass response. We suggest placing them on stands, a table, or a desktop.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTThe best powered bookshelf speakers: Edifier S1000MKII
Our pick
This powered-speaker pair delivers best-in-class sound, looks nice, and comes with useful features such as built-in Bluetooth support, bass and treble controls, and a remote.
Despite the Edifier S1000MKII system’s decidedly old-school looks and basic feature set, it’s a clear performance standout among the speakers we’ve tested, and it’s a great option for anyone who wants a powered system, one that doesn’t need an external amplifier.
Its sound is best-in-class. In our latest round of brand-concealed tests, three of four listeners picked the Edifier S1000MKII as the best-sounding powered model, and the fourth panelist called it a close second. They described the sound as “clean” and “detailed,” and they loved the way the system played loud without strain. It produced a slight exaggeration of the treble, which made the sound subtly thinner but added a welcome sparkle to snare drums, cymbals, and acoustic guitars.
The frequency response measurements for the S1000MKII were the best of any of the speakers we tested, varying by only ±2 decibels, which is why voices sounded so natural. Its measured mid-bass output was impressive for the price, at 106.3 dB.
Its features are basic. The only thing high-tech about the S1000MKII system is its inclusion of the aptX HD Bluetooth codec, which can deliver somewhat better sound from PCs and aptX HD–equipped phones. It comes with two sets of RCA analog inputs, coaxial and Toslink digital audio inputs, bass and treble controls on the back, and a remote control.
The S1000MKII system lacks some features found on competing models such as the ELAC Debut ConneX DCB41. For starters, it doesn’t include a phono input to connect a turntable, an HDMI input for connecting to a TV, or a subwoofer output. If you want to play records, you need to pair these speakers with an external phono preamp or a turntable that has one built in. A Wi-Fi version that accesses AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect is also available, but we haven’t tried it.
A 16-foot proprietary cable links the two speakers. Because the S1000MKII has a rear-ported design, pushing these speakers up against the wall can affect the bass response. The grille attaches to the speaker via steel posts that stick out from the front baffle, so this pair looks much better with the grille on; the grille is extra thin and has little effect on the sound.
Also great: ELAC Debut ConneX DCB41
Also great
These versatile speakers sound great (though a little light in the bass) and include a phono input for use with a turntable, plus an HDMI input for TV use.
Buying Options
If you wish to assemble a simple turntable-and-speaker combo, we recommend the ELAC Debut ConneX DCB41 powered speakers, which have a built-in phono preamp and many other worthwhile features. In fact, comparing these speakers with other under-$600 powered speaker sets we’ve tried is like comparing an electric guitar with an acoustic guitar—both work great, but the former is much more versatile.
It sounds clear, but it doesn’t play especially loud. Despite the DCB41 design’s small size (each speaker is only 9.6 inches high), our listening panel ranked this set a close second to the much larger Edifier S1000MKII pair among powered models.
Our panelists praised this system’s clarity, its surprisingly full sound, and its focused, realistic stereo imaging. One fault they found was that it tended to distort at a loud volume, especially with pop and hip-hop recordings; it sounds full, but bass-heavy tunes don’t have the kick you might want.
The DCB41 set’s measured bass output was just 101.5 dB with its XBass Enhancer feature activated and 100.7 dB without XBass Enhancer. But its frequency response was essentially flat at ±2.3 dB through most of the audio band, which means that no instruments or voices stand out unless they’re supposed to.
Its feature set is unmatched at this price. It has an RCA input with a switchable phono preamp so that it can connect directly to any turntable, plus USB and optical digital audio inputs, a subwoofer output, and aptX Bluetooth support.
This is also the only powered speaker system we’ve tested with an HDMI ARC input, which lets it connect to a TV and allows the TV’s remote to control the speakers’ volume.
It looks sleek. Thanks to the DCB41 set’s minimalist, modern design, it’s one of the best-looking powered speaker systems we’ve seen. It’s available in black, orange, blue, and walnut finishes.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTOther good bookshelf speakers
If you want an under-$50 passive speaker pair for a secondary listening space: The Dayton Audio B652 set costs barely more than you might expect to pay for shipping, but it has a long-standing reputation among audio enthusiasts as the “best super-cheap speaker.” It can sound a little rough in playing female vocals, though.
If you want an affordable powered speaker for a secondary space: Our listening panel praised Dayton Audio’s MK402BTX system for sounding more balanced and detailed than other powered systems in the $100 price range. It offers only a single 3.5 mm analog input in addition to Bluetooth support.
If you want smaller active speakers and don’t need loud volume or deep bass: The diminutive Audioengine HD3 powered speakers put out a surprisingly full sound that our listeners liked in previous panel tests. The HD3 set offers a rich array of features, including aptX HD Bluetooth support, a USB digital input, a front headphone output, and a variable-level analog audio output that you can use for connecting a subwoofer.
If you want more conventional-looking powered speakers: The Monoprice Monolith MM-5R system costs a bit more than the Edifier S1000MKII set and has a more traditional black-box design. It offers similar overall sound quality with somewhat more powerful bass, and it includes a USB digital input and a mono subwoofer output. Another option is the Klipsch R-51PM pair, a former pick that some panelists found a bit too trebly for their taste. It’s less expensive than the Edifier and Monoprice models, and it includes phono and USB inputs.
The competition
Over the years, we’ve reviewed about 105 speaker systems for this guide. Below are capsule descriptions of some of the systems that we believe are of most interest to Wirecutter readers. If you don’t see a certain model you’re interested in, check out our running list of bookshelf speakers we’ve tested.
Passive speakers
The DALI Oberon 1 set is competitive with the Triangle Borea BR03 pair except in deep-bass performance.
The ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 pair doesn’t sound as spacious or detailed as the Triangle Borea BR03 but now costs about the same.
The KEF Q150 is an excellent speaker and a former recommendation, but our panelists preferred the Triangle Borea BR03 in recent listening tests.
The Micca RB42 sounded a little less clear to us than the less-expensive MB42X did.
Our listeners thought the Neumi Silk sounded pretty good for the price, but they thought the Micca MB42X’s treble sounded clearer.
The NHT SuperZero 2.1 has exceptionally clear treble and natural voice reproduction, but it has so little bass capability that we can’t recommend using it without a subwoofer, and a subwoofer crossover that filters the bass out of the main speakers. The larger SuperOne 2.1 also sounds good, but the Triangle Borea BR03 sounds more spacious and has much stronger bass.
The Sony SS-CS5 pair sounds very good, with slightly soft treble; it would be a good “in-between” choice if you want a budget speaker that has stronger bass than the Micca MB42X's.
The SVS Ultra Bookshelf speakers produced room-filling bass, but our top pick offered superior midrange and treble performance.
Though the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 and Diamond 12.2 pairs sounded good, they were somewhat soft and mellow in comparison with our picks.
Powered speakers
The Electrohome McKinley system had lots of bass for its size and price, but in our listening tests it produced an unnatural sound that made singers sound as if they were singing into a box.
The House of Marley Get Together Duo is a neat idea—the right speaker has a rechargeable battery, so it can work on its own as a portable speaker. But the speakers’ sound was rather thin and crude in our tests.
While the Mitchell Acoustics uStream One speakers are fully wireless and don’t have a speaker cable connecting them, both speakers do have a power supply that must be plugged in, and we were never able to get them paired correctly.
All of our panelists said that the Q Acoustics M20 speakers had an emphasized midrange that made them sound notably thin and somewhat dull in the treble.
This article was edited by Adrienne Maxwell and Grant Clauser.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTMeet your guide
Brent Butterworth is a senior staff writer covering audio and musical instruments at Wirecutter. Since 1989, he has served as an editor or writer on audio-focused websites and magazines such as Home Theater, Sound & Vision, and SoundStage. He regularly gigs on double bass with various jazz groups, and his self-produced album Take2 rose as high as number three on the Roots Music Report jazz album chart.
Further reading
The Best Stereo Amplifiers and Receivers Under $300
by Brent Butterworth
Stereo amplifiers come in various flavors. We have affordable picks for full-featured integrated amps, discreet mini amps, and powerful stereo receivers.
Apple’s HomePod Is a Good Smart Speaker. But the Mini Is Better for Most People.
by Nena Farrell and Brent Butterworth
Apple’s second-gen HomePod sounds good and works well, but its high price and Apple-exclusive constraints give it more-limited appeal than other smart speakers.
Gear to Get Better Sound From Your TV
by Grant Clauser
TVs are made for great pictures, so we recommend the best ways to get great sound too.
The Best Outdoor Speakers
by Brent Butterworth
The OSD Audio AP650 is the best all-around choice in a passive outdoor speaker because it sounds great and has a rugged, sealed design with a versatile mount.
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