Da scaffale
Da scaffale
Bookshelf speakers, also known as monitors or bookshelf speakers, are compact two-way (or sometimes three-way) speakers that sit on a piece of furniture, a bookcase, or, better yet, a dedicated stand. Their small cabinet makes them easy to place in a living room, bedroom, or study, and their small size helps achieve a precise stereo image, with vocals and instruments well-placed between the two speakers. They're the ideal starting point for a first hi-fi system, for small to medium-sized rooms, and for those seeking a discreet system. However, there are also high-end bookshelf speakers chosen by discerning listeners for their coherence and transparency.
Stand or mobile: tweeter height matters
A bookshelf speaker sounds best when the tweeter is roughly at ear height for a seated listener. This is why stand-mounted speakers, mounted on rigid, stable stands, almost always perform better than the same model placed on a bookshelf: the stand raises them to the right height, distances them from the walls, and reduces vibrations transmitted to the cabinet, which otherwise color the mids and bass. If you must use a shelf, place the speaker on its front edge and place some decoupling feet between them. More advice on height and stands can be found in the guide on how to position speakers.
Rear-view, front-view or closed-body reflex
Many bookshelf speakers use a bass reflex port to extend the bass response. If the port is at the back, the speaker requires space behind it: enclosed within a bookshelf or placed against a wall, it produces bloated, boomy bass. In these cases, some manufacturers provide foam plugs to dampen the port. Models with a front-firing reflex port or sealed enclosure are more forgiving and become the safest choice when space is limited behind it. Those looking for bookshelf speakers with deep bass must remember that physics imposes a limit: a small woofer in a small cabinet cannot move as much air as a tower, no matter how well designed.
Bookshelf and subwoofer: a pair that works
This is precisely why pairing two bookshelf speakers with a subwoofer is such an effective solution: bookshelf speakers handle midrange, highs, and imaging, while the subwoofer handles the lowest octaves, and you can position each where it performs best. If you're wondering whether it's worth it or whether you'd rather go with a tower, our guide to floorstanding vs. bookshelf speakers compares the two options based on your room and budget. Finally, remember that passive bookshelf speakers require an amplifier: their sensitivity, often lower than that of towers, should be considered when choosing the right power.
The bookshelf speakers you can find with us
New bookshelf speakers include Wharfedale, Sonus faber, JBL, Triangle, Klipsch, Indiana Line, Yamaha, Martin Logan, Tannoy, Graham Audio, Fyne Audio, Canton, Paradigm, and ProAc, ranging from small desktop monitors to more ambitious bookshelf speakers. Among the most popular are the Klipsch RP-600M II, Triangle Borea BR03, Indiana Line Tesi 3, JBL L52 Classic, and Wharfedale Linton.
You can listen to and compare them in the Carpi (MO) showroom listening room, including stands and subwoofers, or order them online from our website with shipping. If you have any questions about the size of your room or the amplifier, please email us; we'll even consider trading in your existing speakers.
