When it comes to investing in your home setup, of course, you would want nothing but the best for yourself. So to help you out, here’s a quick buyer’s guide on getting the best sounding bookshelf speakers this 2021.
What better way to amp up your living room, right?
Click here to check out our top recommendations of the best bookshelf speakers for 2021.
What Are Bookshelf Speakers?
For some of you reading this article right now, this might be the first time you’ve ever heard of bookshelf speakers. Some of you might even be thinking about why you need a set of speakers for your bookshelves. I know, I’ve been there.
But to set aside any confusion, bookshelf speakers aren’t actually meant to be placed on actual bookshelves despite their name. They’re a portable alternative to the larger floor speakers we are all familiar with. In fact, these devices are named bookshelf speakers due to their rather compact size and lighter weight.
These types of loudspeakers are perfect for people who want to upgrade their home theatre setup but don’t have enough floor space for a dedicated floor speaker.
While they won’t be delivering the same heart-thumping bass and rumbling power a regular-sized speaker would don’t underestimate the power bookshelf speakers can provide.
They can deliver solid and loud stereo sounds and loud that is more than enough for a small to medium-sized room. Perfect for bedrooms, home offices, smaller living rooms, or even home gyms! Some even put them inside kitchens to get their groove on while they cook.
If you really want that extra oomf in loudness, you can easily add a subwoofer to really amplify your listening experience. Unlike floor speakers, bookshelf speakers are so versatile and their compact sizes contribute to that a lot. So however you want to use your sound system, bookshelf speakers are your new best friend.
The 2 Types Of Bookshelf Speakers
When it comes to bookshelf speakers, you will be faced with 2 types of them: the active speakers and the passive speakers. Below, I’ll be explaining each type thoroughly so you know which one is suitable for you.
Active
Active speakers are great for people who don’t like multiple cables snaking around their living room and don’t mind that they are stuck with the loudspeaker’s default sound.
This type of loudspeaker has all the components of a traditional stereo system combined into one body. You’ll find that the amplifier is built inside the cabinets and will provide you with the best sound quality possible for that specific unit.
Active speakers also usually have a decent amount of inputs for all of your playback devices. Some models also only require a single power source and a minimal number of cable connections.
As time goes on, loudspeaker companies slowly make active speakers more modern and adaptable to today’s technology. Now, you will find a lot of modern active speakers producing top quality stereo sound in a way that popular Wi-Fi speakers are not able to do.
Active speakers also have a lot fewer moving parts because they don’t usually need an external amplifier attached to them.
Generally, they’re a lot cheaper because they don’t require so many separate amps. They also look cleaner without a bunch of separate components connected to them. If you have a very minimalist interior, then I highly suggest going for this type of bookshelf speaker.
Some active loudspeaker units are even more impressive, including built-in Bluetooth or having the ability to support music streaming services so you don’t need your phone to pair it up with. All you need to do is open your preferred music app, select your music of choice, then let the speakers do their thing.
Overall, when it comes to active speakers, ease of use and convenience is definitely is its biggest advantage.
Passive
If you’re someone who likes to tinker and customize their sound systems to suit your preference, passive speakers will be great for you.
Unlike active speakers, you won’t be resigned or stuck with a stereo pair of bookshelf speakers. Passive speakers are much easier to upgrade because you can easily pick external amplifiers or power sources of your choice. This is great because you can also adjust the sound quality you need for any occasion or room.
So if you want more power or more bass or whatever, all you need to do is find an external component in the store and connect it to your existing passive loudspeakers. You don’t have to consistently replace the actual speakers if you want to make any upgrades.
When you choose passive speakers, you’re also getting a lot of flexibility with it. But keep in mind, having this kind of option can also be a little confusing or even overwhelming on your end if you’re just starting. It can get hard to pick which ones are the best to complement your sound system with so many choices.
Though I can imagine any experienced or veteran audiophile can probably do this in their sleep. The only downside of passive bookshelf speakers is having to deal with multiple extension cords laying across the floor.
Want to check out actual loudspeakers? Click here to see our top recommendations for you this 2021!
Things You Need To Consider
Now that you essentially know what bookshelf speakers are and its two types, let’s tackle the things you need to consider before making your purchase.
Budget
No matter what kind of product you’re looking to buy, your budget should always be the first thing you consider. This will determine the price range you’re going for as well as narrow down your choices.
You can stretch your budget for as much as you like if you’re really eyeing a certain premium brand or lower it if you want to save up money. Just as long as you make sure you’re not spending money more than you can actually afford.
I get it can be tempting to get the latest releases but you have to consider and prioritize your necessities first. The good thing is the market is brimming with different bookshelf speakers at every price point you can imagine. From luxury choices to extremely budget-friendly finds.
Space
Another important factor to consider before making any final decisions is the space in your home. This will also determine the size of the bookshelf speakers you need to look for.
Luckily, bookshelf speakers are made to be placed on raised surfaces so not having enough floor space won’t be too much of a concern. What you need to find is the right placement for your bookshelf speakers. The right placement can make a lot of difference in how your speakers will sound when being used.
Typically, harder surfaces like your walls will reflect the sound from the speaker. While softer surfaces will absorb those sounds. So I highly suggest testing out your bookshelf speakers in different parts of your room to see where it performs best.
Drivers
The drivers are mainly responsible for producing your bookshelf speaker’s sounds. That being said, more drivers in a bookshelf speaker usually mean it can handle more frequencies. The material, as well as the placing, also plays a part in the quality of the sound being produced.
Subwoofers
This part is completely optional but if you feel like the speakers you’ve chosen don’t quite satisfy you during your listening sessions, you can get a subwoofer to further amplify the sound quality of your unit.
A subwoofer is another type of speaker that will boost the lowest of frequencies in whatever audio you’re listening to. These frequencies usually include deep basses, sound effects, drums, and every other instrumental you want to be more refined or detailed.
Subwoofers are usually added when bookshelf speakers are used for home theatre setups to amplify sound effects of any show or movie you’re watching. Making the whole experience as immersive as possible.
Test It Before You Buy It
Last but not the least, I highly advise you to go to a physical store to test out your desired bookshelf speakers rather than buying online.
While reading and watching reviews can be quite helpful, no amount of sound tests online will compare to the actual experience when you listen to the speakers personally. This way, you’ll have a more informed decision whether the loudspeakers live up to your expectations or not.
Conclusion
All in all, bookshelf speakers are undoubtedly the best alternative if you don’t have the space for a full-sized floor speaker and you feel like the portable wireless Bluetooth speakers don’t have enough power. It’s a perfect balance in between those two options.
Bookshelf speakers can easily complement any home interior and really upgrade your overall home setup. Regardless if it’s for your home theatre system, your bedroom, your home office, or anywhere else in your house.
Finding the best sounding bookshelf speakers shouldn’t be hard, but it’s also best to purchase these kinds of stuff when you’re well-informed of your choices and options.
So I hope this buyer’s guide was able to help you out with the things you need to consider. Happy shopping!
Already own a pair of the best sounding bookshelf speakers for your home setup? Let me know about your thoughts and experiences below in the comments section! I would love to hear what you have to say.
Recommended reading for you:
The Best Bookshelf Speakers 2021 For Your Listening Pleasure
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The 10 Best Bluetooth Speakers For Camping This 2021: Which One Is The Best For You?
The KEF LS50 Wireless II Review: Your Best All-In-One Loudspeakers
The Q Acoustics 3020i Review: The Best Affordable Bookshelf Speakers
