Are you looking for a cheap bookshelf speaker that produces crisp sounds? Many people think that only high-end and expensive speakers can create high-quality sounds with precise details. If you just focus on essential features and functions without requiring too many things in a model, you can buy the best budget bookshelf speakers as a pro unit produces. This task seems complicated, but I can help you pick up a suitable model in the list below:
Here are the best budget bookshelf speakers you can buy in 2024:
- Sleek Design (2-Way Bookshelf Speaker): Klipsch
- Compact (2-Way Bookshelf Speaker): Acoustic Audio
- Easy To Install (2-Way Bookshelf Speaker): Edifier
- Best For Small Spaces (3-Way Bookshelf Speaker): Sony
- Best For Home Studio (3-Way Bookshelf Speaker): Moukey
- Lightweight (3-Way Bookshelf Speaker): Moukey
| 6 Best Budget Bookshelf Speakers | ||
|---|---|---|
Sleek Design | Klipsch
| |
Compact | Acoustic Audio
| |
Easy To Install | Edifier
| |
Best For Small Spaces | Sony
| |
Best For Home Studio | Moukey
| |
Lightweight | Moukey
| |
Sleek Design: Klipsch
- Very clear sounds
- Well-made and sturdy
- Requires you to buy extra gear
Apart from listening to music, the Klipsch 2-way bookshelf speakers can add a piece of beauty to your room, thanks to their sleek design. Each speaker designed with 10 exposed fasteners creates unique details on the surface. Meanwhile, the combination of low-profile magnetic grilles and the scratch-resistant textured wood grain vinyl material brings a modern and polished look.
| Klipsch Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 11.3 inches x 5.75 inches x 7.9 inches |
Nominal Impedance | 8 ohms |
Overall Frequency | 1,730 hertz |
Highlight Features | Single 4" spun-copper IMG woofer 1" aluminum LTS tweeter mated A 90x90 square Tractrix Horn Sensitivity: 90dB 200 watts power handling |
Klipsch 2-way Bookshelf Speaker brings wonderful sounds and adds a beautiful decorative piece into your space.
Compact: Acoustic Audio
Although small speakers can’t produce loud sounds, it’s easy to move everywhere. If you are looking for something to perform in different places, this compact design is a great solution. Despite the size of 3.5" x 3.5" x 4.5" / each, they still can produce high-quality sounds.
| Acoustic Audio Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 3.5" x 3.5" x 4.5" |
Nominal Impedance | 8 Ohm |
Overall Frequency | 150Hz-20 kHz |
Highlight Features | Mountable indoor wired speakers 2.5" Polypropylene woofers |
This compact Acoustic Audio 2-way Bookshelf Speaker is ideal to use in your kitchen and bathroom.
Easy To Install: Edifier
- Nice look
- Solid
- Easy to use
- Heavy
Unlike wireless speakers, wired speakers usually require completed installation. If you need a wired speaker that can produce loud sounds and take less time and effort on your end to install, consider the Edifier 2-way Bookshelf speaker. Simply, you connect an amplifier or the receiver to the power of your speakers. This model comes with built-in wall mounts, which allow you to hang these speakers on the wall easily and quickly.
The simple installation won’t sacrifice its sound quality. Its bass reflex port and 4-inch Nomax diaphragm driver respond deep and punchy bass.
| Edifier Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 6.61 inches x 5.04 inches x 9.37 inches |
Nominal Impedance | 6 ohm |
Highlight Features | Speaker wires included Nomex diaphragm driver Built-in wall mounts |
Though the Edifier 2-way Bookshelf Speaker isn’t a wireless model, you can quickly install it.
Best For Small Spaces: Sony
- Big sounds in a small space
- Low price
- Solid
- Versatile
- Not enough power on the low end
If you live in a small and limited flat, there is no need to invest in a bulky and heavy speaker. Instead, you should consider the Sony 3-way bookshelf speaker that is small and compact so that it can fit into a tight corner.
| Sony Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 7 1/8" x 13 1/4" x 8 3/4" |
Nominal Impedance | 6Ω |
Overall Frequency | 53～50,000Hz |
Highlight Features | 3-way, 3-speaker bass-reflex system 5-1/4 inches Foamed-Mica Cellular Reinforced Woofer 1-inch Polyester Main Tweeter 3/4 inches Sony Super Tweeter for immersive sound staging |
Sony 3-way Bookshelf Speaker fits in small areas and creates wonderful sounds in this area.
Best For Home Studio: Moukey
- Easy to set up and connect
- Clear voice
- Straightforward to lose the too-small controller
Home studio use always requires more features and functions than regular use, so you must choose a professional model for this task. The Moukey 3-way bookshelf speaker can meet these requirements.
Its middle frequency can restore the singer’s real voice and highlight the human voice.
Depending on which device is used, you connect with a suitable model. Pick up one among 3 ones: CD player, TV, and headphone.
| Moukey Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 169x156x251 mm |
Overall Frequency | 1KHz |
Highlight Features | The 20-20000Hz frequency band Bluetooth 5.0 version Bluetooth wireless transmission technology 3.5mm headphone output Remote control |
The Moukey 3-way Bookshelf Speaker has many special features and functions to perform professional tasks.
Lightweight: Moukey
- Impressive look
- Affordable
- Well-made
- A small little sounds
If you plan to move your speakers regularly or you want to set them up on a thin and not too strong shelf, the lightweight Moukey 3-way bookshelf speaker is a suitable solution. It won’t add much weight to your shelf. They are so light that you can mount them on the wall through the wall-mountable panels on the back.
| Moukey Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 6.61x7.71x10.63 inch |
Nominal Impedance | 6Ω |
Overall Frequency | 20-20kHz |
Highlight Features | 3-way frequency Intelligent crossover Wall-mountable pental |
The design of Moukey 3-way Bookshelf Speaker is so lightweight that you can easily and quickly move it anywhere.
How To Choose The Best Budget Bookshelf Speaker?
After answering all of the questions below, you will know what you need to pick up the most suitable speaker with your needs and requirements:
What Is The Best Size Of A Bookshelf Speaker?
The different-sized speakers result in different-sized drivers, directly influencing how to push varying frequencies effectively.
Most girls love small and cute speakers, but they aren’t loud. Instead, you should pick up one that fits your space. If you have a large room, it’s better to invest in a big and high-quality speaker that comes with a large woofer and tweeter to produce body and clarity sounds.
However, some large bookshelf speakers are so heavy and unwieldy that it’s hard to put them on a weak shelf.
Are Your Speakers Compatible With Your Devices?
Most speakers, especially old models, work well with central control. Although this unit can connect to different devices, speakers alone can’t connect to other things.
Meanwhile, some versatile devices allow you to use your computer, TV, or cell phone as a central control unit. It works through HDMI, Bluetooth, USB, and more, so it is space-saving.
Will You Choose Wired Or Wireless Speakers?
The wired bookshelf speaker uses a speaker wire to connect to a stereo amp that sends the audio signal to the speaker. You need to buy a separate stereo amp that can boost the sound quality, which a wireless speaker can’t do. This solution is for people who like customizing their setup, but its traditional and clumsy design requires you to handle a mess of cables.
The wireless bookshelf speaker has its internal amps, so you just need to connect to a power supply, and the model will take responsibility for the rest. This type of speaker is convenient, but you can’t listen to anything when losing Bluetooth or Wifi connection signs. This is good for starters because you don’t have to match the wattage rating or overpower the speakers with the amp. Plus, this all-in-one solution features good portability.
The wired and wireless speakers are passive (requiring an external amp) and active (with their own internal amps) speakers.
How Much Wattage Is The Best?
Many people think that the higher the wattage speakers are, the louder sounds are. This is the wrong point of view. There are 2 types of wattage:
RMS (root mean square) wattage is the average continuous wattage your speaker can handle from an amplifier without damage. A good number should be half the total peak wattage.
Peak wattage is the total number of watts your speaker can deal with in short bursts without damaging. The number should be at least twice the wattage rating above.
If you connect your speakers to an amp that produces a higher wattage than what your speaker can deal with, it is easy to blow your speakers.
How many decibels (dB) can a speaker produce? (sensitivity)
When investing in a bookshelf speaker, most people love high sensitivity. But, this can change depending on each person’s preference. Below is some essential information:
- Under 86 dB is low.
- From 87-95 dB is the average volume
- Over 95 dB is severe dB
Which Brands Make The Best Budget Bookshelf Speaker?
Here are 4 reliable and famous brands in the speaker industry. They provide not only good products but also excellent customer service:
Moukey
I recommended 2 Moukey speakers in this article, so you might know how reliable and high-quality their products are. This company produces and sells studio mixing and home audio recording products, microphones, karaoke machines, amplifiers, and live sound accessories.
The Moukey company has several standard laboratories to innovate and develop products and many experienced designers.
Klipsch
Although Klipsch speakers are more expensive than others, this is really a good brand. It comes with an average range of price and quality. The Klipsch, established after the second world war, has an old and prestigious history of speakers. Nowadays, this brand is famous all over the United States and throughout Europe.
Though there are different types of Klipsch speakers, all of them tend to have the same design. They have applied horn tweeters to make horns and brass instruments to produce more realistic sounds. This is so ideal for dealing with high-frequency sounds like films.
Acoustic Audio
Acoustic Audio is a household name for professional contractors, designers, and home builders because their products are made from high-quality materials, create unique sounds. This brand has produced many high-quality in-wall and in-ceiling surround speakers.
Goldwood - Acoustic Audio’s parent company - has over 30 years of experience, so you can completely believe in their customer service, integrity, dependability, material quality, and sound quality.
Edifier
Edifier specializes in product lines, including subwoofers, Bluetooth speakers, headphones, other speakers, and desktops for music entertainment purposes.
This brand has over 25 years of experience in this industry producing and designing premium audio models and accessories in different environments such as IP phones, cars, offices, and homes.
FAQs
Are bookshelf speakers good for music?
Yes. Apart from music, bookshelf speakers are also good for watching movies because they can produce better dynamics and vocal clarity than built-in TV speakers. Some speakers even have matching center speakers for dialogue reproduction.
Can you get good cheap bookshelf speakers?
Yes. All products that I recommend in this article are examples.
How many watts is a good speaker?
For home use, it’s 15-30 watts, but 20 watts is sufficient enough. For big gatherings, 50-100 watts is ideal.
Can bookshelf speakers be used as surround speakers?
Yes.
Do you need your bookshelf speakers to have Bluetooth or not?
This depends on your specific needs. You can connect Bluetooth bookshelf speakers to your electronic devices without using wires. It’s convenient and easy to bring everywhere. However, it doesn’t produce sounds as good as wired models.
Conclusion
A low-price bookshelf speaker can’t provide you with all high-end features and functions, so be sure that you just choose a unit with your favorite features, such as Bluetooth capacities and powered or passive outcomes. For example, consider a compact and lightweight speaker if you want to move your speaker around regularly. But, this model can’t produce loud sounds.
