Best bookshelf speaker on Reddit
220 reviews from r/BudgetAudiophile, r/hometheater, r/StereoAdvice and 8 more subreddits
220 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Kef
4.2
(25)
"I have the KEF Q150 and love them."
"You can get a pair of Q350 for $500."
"Around $1500, I'd consider: KEF R3"
"Right now the kef q150 is on sale for $300."
"Kef q-150 would be a great speaker."
"The KEF L and R are not expensive nor bass heavy."
"The KEFs are better than the Sonys (because they are)."
"The KEF Q150 for $349 is a good deal."
"I'd get the Kef and add a sub later."
"2x SVS 3000 micro with the Kef R3 would do great."
#2
Elac
4.5
(23)
"Very happy with the purchase, so far."
"They bring joy whenever I hear them."
"They simply rock."
"Go ELAC!"
"Love my elacs."
"I would go with the Elacs."
"A bt20a pro in a bedroom with elac debut b6.2s."
"ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2. Hard to beat in this price range."
"Love my Elac debut b5.2 bookshelves."
"Elac Debut B6.2 sound good to me."
#3
Klipsch
4.1
(14)
"The new Klipsch 600m II speakers have fantastic mid bass along with incredible highs."
"The Klipsch RP-600M ii is it that price range."
"They were $450 a pair during Holidays season."
"I’d say the kliptch rp 500m ii sounds better then the 6 if paired with a sub."
"I would recommend the Klipsch over the Audio Engine."
"I’d go with the Klipsch in a carpeted room with drapes."
"Klipsch r51m."
"I think the Klipsch brand is the one that caught my eye the most."
"I have the Klipsch “The Fives” which I got for $400 and I like them a lot."
"Klipsch or wharedale are good options."
#4
Emotiva
4.7
(11)
"Emotiva B1+ are my rec in that price range."
"**Emotiva B1+**."
"Emotiva B1+. Smooth highs, great coherence and soundstage!"
"Emotiva B1+, especially now when they are $250."
"I would stick with your instinct and get the B1+."
"Check out the Emotiva B1+."
"Emotiva Airmotiv B1+, no doubt."
"Emotiva b1+."
"Emotiva XB2."
"Emotiva Airmotiv B1+"
#5
Polk
4.0
(13)
"I would combine with Polk Signature Elite ES20 Bookshelf Speaker with stands"
"Polk delivers, imo, a masterful balance in the bass and midrange without the annoying brightness."
"$1000 is a good budget, something like Polk R200, Elac DBR6, Revel M16."
"Polk R200."
"I would combine with Polk Signature Elite ES20 Bookshelf Speakers."
"Look for brands like Polk, Kef, b&w, Wharfedale etc."
"Polk or ELAC have some solid bookshelf speakers."
"I like Polk es series and Polk r series depending on budget."
"Better speakers would be something like the Polk R200."
"I almost got the Polk R-200’s which came in a close second."
#6
Wharfedale
4.5
(11)
"They are great speakers, and my overall pick of any speakers under $300."
"I am very happy with my Warfdale Diamond 12.2 speakers."
"I had the KEF, but I prefer the sound of the Wharfedale over that."
"Wharfedale 12.2 and NAD Hybrid Digital C328/NAD C316BEE v2 or a Cambridge audio"
"Wharfedale 220,225,12.2."
"I think I’m going to go with the Wharfedale 12.2s."
"Or maybe the Wharfedale Linton if you have a bit of room for them."
"I'd look at the English speaker lines Wharfedale, Monitor Audio, Bowers & Wlkins, Tannoy."
"Wharfedale Diamond 12.2."
"If so, the British speaker companies have made some excellent ones like Warfdale."
#7
Dali
4.3
(10)
"I really liked the Oberon and would happily snap them up."
"My Dali Oberon 3s have never failed me!"
"I got a pair of Dali Oberon speakers and the quality is first class."
"On the used market in Europe there are good deals because there's more supply than demand: Dali."
"Id look at Dali and Elac."
"For $500 check the Dali Oberon 3."
"Dali Oberon 1, Wharfedale EVO4.1."
"Other options could be: DALI Oberon 3."
"I'd like to also throw Dali Oberon 1s out there as an option."
"Dali or Triangle speakers."
#8
Kanto
4.2
(9)
"I have been super happy with them."
"I have the kanto YU4s at my desk and love them."
"Love my Kanto powered speakers. YU5’s."
"Thinking I’m down to the Kantu YU6 or Edifier R2000DB."
"Better passive speakers on sale: Kanto YU Passive."
"Kanto YU passive 5.25"
"Kanto YU passive 5.25."
"My buddy recently Kanto Yu4's and paired them with a new Klipsch 10" sub and he's pretty happy."
#9
JBL
4.6
(8)
"Get the JBL 580, that's the gem of the lineup."
"JBL A130 $199."
"For $300 you can get a pair of refurbished JBL Studio 530."
"I'd take a look at JBL Studio 530's. Those bookshelves ended my search."
"If I was making a choice I'd go with the JBL Studio 530."
"The JBL Studio 530 are on sale for $239."
"JBL A130."
"JBL"
#10
Revel
4.5
(8)
"I have a za3 in the living room with Revel m106 speakers."
"Revel Concerta2 M16 (currently on solid discount sale) & Wiim Amp would be my choice."
"Revel M106, very difficult to beat."
"Very highly rated bookshelf speaker."
"Consider the Revel Concerta2 M16s."
"$1000 is a good budget, something like Polk R200, Elac DBR6, Revel M16."
"Revel M106/M105 are on sale now."
"If you don’t mind waiting til July for them revel m16 white are 285 each right now."
#11
Q Acoustics
4.5
(8)
"I think it sounds real nice."
"Second hand Q acoustics 3020 or 3020i are fantastic."
"Q Acoustics 3030i are really great."
"Another vote for the Q Acoustics 3020i or 3030i."
"I found the QA 3030i to be very decent."
"Q acoustic 3020i $450"
"QA 3020i, refined, easy to listen to, little bass"
"Q Acoustics 3020 are in your price range and dimension range."
#12
Edifier
4.1
(7)
"Good sound quality."
"Is really great."
"I just got a pair of Edifiers I’m happy with."
"I was also thinking of getting an Edifier R1280DB along with the digital piano."
"I used Edifier R1280DB for a while then upgraded to Micca RB42."
"They get plenty loud for a living room and the sound is good for the price."
"I see people talking up Edifer products, but the reviews have a pretty substantial undertone of 'hey these quit working after a few months'."
#13
PSB
4.5
(6)
"I love my PSB Imagine XB. They’ve got a really impressive soundstage."
"Consider PSBs! I have a pair and they punch way above their cost."
"Or PSB Alpha p3"
"The PSBs are very good and a bargain."
"Try the PSB Alpha P3."
"I have a pair of PSB Imagine XBs, which I love."
#14
Micca
4.3
(6)
"I’d get an amp and a pair of Micca speakers."
"I doubt you'd find anything as good as the Micca RB42 you mentioned."
"I have a set in one of my spare bedrooms in a 2.1 setup paired with a Definitive Technology ProSub 1000 and really like them."
"I’d get an amp and a pair of Micca speakers."
"What about Micca RB42?"
"Seems like some Micca RB42s can fit in that space."
#15
Ascend Acoustics
4.4
(5)
"Ascend Acoustics Sierra LX."
"The BMRs are a winner and the Ascend Acoustics Sierra-LXs are at the top of my recommendation list."
"A little more power needy but good value."
"I would add a few more to consider: Ascend CBM-170 SE $368."
"The Ascend Acoustics CMT-340SE2 is a little over your budget but worth the cost."
#16
Triangle
4.8
(4)
"The Triangle Borea BR03 is a highly rated bookshelf speaker for around $400."
"Triangle Borea Br03 is probably your best bang for the buck if you’re not using a sub."
"I have been very happy with my Triangle Borea BR03s."
"Triangle Borea BR03 is front ported and 450."
#17
Jamo
4.5
(4)
"I'm very pleased with them and there is plenty of bass."
"I absolutely recommend them, they sound very very nice for the price."
"On the cheaper side, I recommend checking out the Jamo S803."
"I got the jamos s803s for my beginner system and they’ve been great."
#18
Sony
4.3
(4)
"Sony SSCS5 is a decent choice."
"Sony sscs5 ($70 like new Amazon warehouse)."
"Sony SSCS5 are normally $160 and right now are $88."
"I'm replacing the towers with the sony sscs5 bookshelves."
#19
Monitor Audio
4.0
(4)
"Brands like Monitor Audio, Revel, Focal would have bookshelfs in that price range."
"Monitor audio bronze 100 if you have the space for a larger speaker."
"Monitor Audio Bronze 100 $450."
"I’m currently using last gen Monitor Audio Bronze 100."
#20
Dynaudio
5.0
(3)
"Maybe Dynaudio Evoke 10?"
"Are easy recommendations."
"I would say : Dynaudio evoke 10"
#21
Buchardt
4.7
(3)
"Buchardt gets my top recommendation here."
"Hands down the Buchardt S400 Mkii. They can’t be beat."
"Go higher and get the Buchardt S400mkii."
#22
Heco
4.3
(3)
"Check out Heco Aurora 300. Best bass out of all the speakers in this price range."
"If you want something that is good value and punches above its weight, check out the Heco Aurora 300."
#23
Studio
5.0
(2)
"It’s the 530s, hands down."
"Studio 530s are insane speakers."
#24
Philharmonic
5.0
(2)
"Philharmonic BMR's."
"Philharmonic BMR bookshelf speakers!"
#25
Focal
4.5
(2)
"I’m quite fond of the Focal Chora 806."
"Focal chora 806 are front ported and can be pretty close to the wall."
#26
ELAC
4.5
(2)
"I would put the ELAC Debut 3.0 up there around top spot with the KEF, and Polk R200 would be there as well."
"I have both the Elac db6.2 and the reference variant."
#27
DALI
4.5
(2)
"They just sound fantastic for their size."
"Should work well for near-field listening."
#28
Bowers & Wilkins
4.5
(2)
"If you're after clarity and precision these are quite the speaker."
"Secondhand B&W 600 series speakers would be perfect."
#29
SVS
4.0
(2)
"I had my eye on the SVS Prime Wireless Pro a while back."
"I'd add these to your research list."
#30
Paradigm
4.0
(2)
"Is worth a serious look."
"I paid around $300-$400 a pair off eBay."
#31
NHT
4.0
(2)
"I suggest you talk to the people at NHT."
"NHT superhero bookshelf."
#32
Polk Audio
5.0
(1)
"Accesories 4 Less got factory refurbished Polk Audio R200 for $500. Easily top 3 best in that price range."
#33
Genelec
5.0
(1)
"Genelec 8341a and KEF Reference 1 are two of the best speakers imo."
#34
Dutch and Dutch
5.0
(1)
"Dutch and Dutch 8c, Genelec 8361a, and Neumann KH 420 all outperform the Ref 1."
#35
Philharmonic Audio
5.0
(1)
"You won't find a better value proposition."
#36
HTD
4.0
(1)
"If you can stretch it, the HTD level 2 bookshelf and center would work well there."
#37
Fosi
4.0
(1)
"You get a unit that's well reviewed on ASR, has a small footprint."
#38
Bowers & Wilkins, Monitor Audio, Mission, KEF
4.0
(1)
"For £150 you can look for some second hand Bowers & Wilkins, Monitor Audio, Mission, KEF."
#39
Polk, KEF, Q Acoustics
4.0
(1)
"Polk R, Kef, Q Acoustics are a nice group of different sounding speakers to audition."
#40
Salk
4.0
(1)
"The Leak Stereo 130 is a beautiful piece of equipment."
#41
Creative
4.0
(1)
"I think my Creative T20 Series 2 are pretty good for their price."
#42
KEF
4.0
(1)
"Something like the KEF Q3 Meta or Q Concerto Meta."
#43
Pioneer
4.0
(1)
"The Pioneers would be a great choice if you're looking for a more accurate sound reproduction."
#44
Tannoy
3.0
(1)
"I found my floorstanding and front ported Tannoy Mercury M3's much more satisfying."
Discover your audience
GummySearch is an audience research toolkit for 130,000 unique communities on Reddit.
If you are looking for startup problems to solve, want to validate your idea or find your customers online, GummySearch is for you.
Sign up for free, get community insights in minutes.
Tell me more
Get started
