The 8 Best Affordable Bookshelf Speakers To Buy in 2017

These best-selling bookshelf speakers evoke a retro feel with their classic wood finish, but the sound quality is very modern. The combination of grained walnut brown wood and a smart grey speaker grill look great in any room, while the two sets of RCA inputs and easy aux setup make for a flexible option for any sound system.

The active speaker comes with built-in tone control that can adjust treble and bass from -6 to +6db. A remote gives control over volume from across the room, while 100-240v full range voltage input makes it easy to listen. Sound is amazing for the price, thanks to 42 watts RMS power 13mm silk dome tweeters and a four-inch full range woofer. Because you can use this incredible pair of speakers on their own or as part of a larger audio set-up, they are ideal for just about anyone but the most discerning audiophiles. 

Klipsch, an iconic American audio manufacturer, has designed a remarkable pair of copper and black bookshelf speakers that are guaranteed to put a smile on your face every time you fire them up. The small, versatile speakers are built with one-inch aluminum linear travel suspension horn-loaded tweeters and a four-inch copper high-output IMG woofer. A proprietary 90x90 Tractrix Horn pairs with the tweeter for crystal clear high-end response, resulting in a dynamic and natural sound. Meanwhile copper-spun Injection Molded Graphite woofer minimizes cone breakup and distortion, creating remarkable low frequency response. Together they produce speaker efficiency and clean sound unrivaled in its price range.

This is all packed in a black polymer veneer cabinet with a rear-firing port with five-way binding posts, so it's ideal for connection flexibility that will work with your setup.

This pair of Polk bookshelf speakers has been a mainstay on the market for a few years now, but it is still the best entry-level option. The case is finished with minimalist black polymer veneer, matched by a black mesh speaker grill. Inside, you will find a polymer composite 5 ¼-inch woofer and a silk ¾-inch tweeter that can handle 100 watts at overall frequency of 60Hz-24kHz.

The wide dispersion drivers and tweeters are enhanced by Polk’s exclusive Dynamic Balance function that deliver a cinematic wide response and low distortion. The pair of speakers have magnetically shielded enclosures for reduced distortion and improved clarity, while the engineering ensures the speakers work in a synergistic manner, performing complementary tasks for the best sound performance. 

These bluetooth-connected speakers offer a hassle-free wireless audio experience that pairs well with any Apple or Android device. They also have two aux inputs where you can simultaneously connect two devices, as well as a remote to control the action. Inside, clear sound comes from a 19mm dome tweeter and a four-inch bass driver that make for a well-rounded sound. Low frequencies are enhanced by a front-facing bass reflex port, which routes to give more bass power. You have further adjustment options with included digital volume control, including bass and treble adjustment between -6b and +6db.

The pair of speakers are constructed with a classic high quality MDF wood and have an attractive walnut finish. One speaker is active with a five-pin connector to the passive speaker and both include RCA input.

If you are pressed for space, these entry-level compact bookshelf speakers will be an excellent building block for a home audio setup. The M-Audio AV32 delivers professional standard audio quality via three-inch woofer and a one-inch ferrofluid-cooled silk cone tweeter. The speakers have a frequency response of 12Hz-24kHz and each contains a 10-watt channel amplifier. Instead of a classic grill, the woofer and tweeter cones are left uncovered for a more intricate waveguide. At just under eight inches tall and equipped with headphone and RCA plugs, this small pair of bookshelf speakers will look great on your desk and fill your room with crisp sound.

Passive speakers require an amplifier or stereo receiver, but if you are ready to build a complete audio center, these budget bookshelf speakers are a great option. The speakers are built in a ported enclosure that balances a four-inch woven carbon fiber woofer with a .75-inch silk dome tweeter. They also contain a 12dB crossover and baffle step compensation, creating a balanced and dynamic sound that faithfully reproduces highs and lows.

The tweeters and woofers are housed in a classic back polymer casing with a mesh grill. The sophisticated design looks great in any room, while the frequency response of 60Hz-20kHz and impedance of 4-8 ohms sounds great.

Fill your room with an unprecedented and expansive audio experience with these Core Series speakers from Sony. They feature a three-way, three-speaker bass-reflex system that stays in harmony with your room, whatever its layout may be. The speakers are constructed with foamed mica woofer diaphragms that deliver supple sound and balance low weight with powerful and deep bass response from a 5-¼-inch foam woofer. The woofer is complemented with a one-inch polyester main tweeter and a ¾-inch Sony Super Tweeter. The super tweeter delivers ultra-responsive high-frequency audio up to 50kHz. The speakers have a 100-watt max input power that delivers clear and powerful audio.

KEF is a high-end audio engineering company that designs speaker systems for audiophiles who want to enjoy music in pristine sound that can be optimized to faithfully reproduce the greatest range of frequencies. The LS50W is their latest upgrade to their celebrated LS50 design. This pair of fully active speakers now includes WiFi and Bluetooth capability, allowing listeners to string directly to the app.

But unlike any old wireless speakers, the LS50W are powered by KEF’s signature Uni-Q driver, which is capable of reaching down to 40Hz and has a built-in 192Khz/23bit DAC and 230W amplifier. These elements exist within a precision-engineered cabinet, which sport a curved baffle and an elliptical flexible sound port to reduce any external audio coloration. The cabinet case is available in glossy black or blue, bold titanium grey and red or elegant white and copper.