The unstoppable rise of smartphones and other mobile devices has given rise to a new category of compact, one-piece speaker systems for use both at home and on the move. Yet there are still times when you need a good old-fashioned set of "2.0" speakers that use separate left and right speakers to provide true stereo sound.
And we’re not talking about little desktop speakers that sit next to your computer monitor either. If you want to hear Brian May’s guitar gleefully bouncing from left to right on "A Kind Of Magic", then you need speakers that can be physically placed wide apart from each other, either on a bookshelf or on floor stands that enable you to move them as far apart as your living room allows.
How to buy the best bookshelf speakers for you
A recent report found that the size of the average living room in the UK has shrunk by almost a third since the 1970s, so many bookshelf speakers focus on compact designs that can sit easily on a bookshelf or window sill. And, of course, many bookshelf speakers are designed for use in smaller rooms, such as bedrooms or student digs, where space really is at a premium. Bookshelf speakers tend to be the most affordable route into ‘real’ hi-fi, with some decent pairs around for under £100. Yet you can also get some pretty serious bookshelf speakers, with prices reaching well over £1,500 per pair.
What should I look for – and listen for – in the speakers?
You don’t have to spend nearly that much, but you might want to avoid the cheapest options. The challenge for the manufacturers, of course, is to coax decent sound quality from such a small unit. This makes it crucial to look for speakers that feel well-built, with cabinets made of wood, MDF or another sturdy, inflexible material that helps reduce the vibration and distortion that can spoil your sound. If you tap the speaker cabinet and hear the rattling sound of cheap and cheerful plastic, just move on…
Many of the latest compact bookshelf speakers can provide an impressive combination of both power and clarity, but the inevitable weak spot for many compact speakers is their bass output. You’re never going to get big, booming bass from a set of speakers that only stands six inches high, so if you want a more powerful low-end for dance music or Max Richter’s epic electro-ambient noises, then it’s worth rearranging the bookshelves to free up a bit of space for some larger speakers. Or, if you have enough room and cash, spend a bit extra on a set of floor stands.
Is there anything else I need to think about?
Connectivity is always a key issue – in fact, it can be a genuine deal-breaker for some speaker systems. Some manufacturers still take a very traditional approach, with speakers that need to be wired up to a proper amp or hi-fi system, which is fine if you’ve already got an amp, CD-player or one of those old vinyl turntable thingies (which seem to be making a comeback). However, many of us now use our computers and mobile devices as our primary source of music – especially if you’re of the Spotify generation and stream all your music online.
This means that even old-school hi-fi companies are now embracing digital tech and connectivity, producing compact bookshelf speakers that include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for wireless streaming, as well as optical, coaxial and USB-Audio connectors for connecting to computers, games consoles and other devices. Unless you’re planning to splash out on a Hi-Fi setup, make sure that the speakers you intend to buy will connect to the source or amplifier you’ve already got, though you may need to invest in new ‘banana clip’ plugs or speaker cable.
Choosing the right combination of sound, size and connectivity is very much a personal thing, but you’re spoilt for choice these days, with impressive speaker systems suitable for most types of home, and most types of devices. Read on to find the best bookshelf speakers currently available.
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The best bookshelf speakers from £100
1. Q Acoustics 3010: Best bookshelf speakers under £150
Price:£120 | Buy now from Amazon
The 3010 is the smallest and most affordable member of Q Acoustics’ 3000 series of speakers, but this pint-sized system really punches way above its weight. The speakers stand just 235mm high and 200mm wide, so they’re ideal for sitting on a bookshelf or window sill, and the company also sells wall mounts fso that you can set them over your TV as part of a home cinema system. And, if you want to go the whole hog, you can also buy a second pair along with a centre speaker and subwoofer, giving you 5.1 surround sound.
All the same, just two of these mini-marvels will do the trick for most rooms. Most of the unit is given over to the mid/bass driver, which produces much firmer and more expansive sound than you have any right to expect from such a compact speaker. The little tweeter on top handles the higher frequencies equally well, and with 75W of power the 3010 can easily fill most medium size rooms with clear, detailed sound.
Key specs - Type: 2.0 stereo wired speakers; Max power: 75W; Inputs: 2x terminals/banana plugs; Dimensions:235 x 200 x 150mm; Weight per speaker: 3.6kg
2. Wharfedale DS-2: Best wireless bookshelf speakers under £100
Price:£179 | Buy now from Amazon
Wharfedale invented the modern two-way speaker, with its separate woofer and tweeter for high and low frequencies. It miraculously compresses its decades of experience down into the compact DS-2 speakers, which, at just 190mm high, are perfect for bookshelf or desktop use.
Boasting ‘hi-fi sound in miniature form’, a pair of DS-2s sound great, with a warm, detailed tone that works particularly well for classical music or laid-back acoustic sounds. The sturdy little cabinets are solidly built – weighing 1.5kg each – and that helps to reduce vibration and distortion, as well as providing a surprisingly firm bass sound.
The £179 price tag is a bargain, particularly when you consider the built-in amplification and Bluetooth/AptX wireless connectivity, but there are some compromises. Firstly, physical connectivity is basic, with just a 3.5mm auxiliary input on the side. The 30W output isn’t spectacularly loud either, so if you want something beefy for party-time then you should look elsewhere. But if you need a compact, high-quality set of speakers for a bedroom or study then the DS-2 is terrific value for money.
Key Specs - Type: 2.0 stereo wireless speakers; Max power: 30W; Inputs: 3.5mm line-in, Bluetooth/AptX; Dimensions: 190 x 120 x 140mm; Weight per speaker: 1.5kg
3. Edifier S880DB: Best speakers for hi-res audio under £300
Price: £260 | Buy now from Amazon
They may not have the outlandish design of some of Edifier’s other speakers, but the new S880DB speakers provide really attractive sound, along with an impressive range of digital audio features and a competitive price.
Standing 235mm high, 140mm wide and 170mm deep, the two speakers are small enough to fit easily onto a shelf or sit on a desk alongside a computer. However, they can still squeeze in two sets of RCA inputs for analogue audio (with a 3.5mm adaptor included for computers and mobile devices), while the digital features include USB-Audio, optical and coaxial inputs with support for high-res audio up to 24-bit/192kHz. And, of course, there’s Bluetooth for wireless streaming too.
Thee Edifiers aren’t slouches, either, when it comes to sound quality, producing nicely detailed higher frequencies and a respectably rock-solid bass. But it’s the high-res support and connectivity that really stand out, making the S880Db a great choice for high-res streaming services such as Tidal or Qobuz, or as part of a wider home entertainment system.
Key specs - Type: Wired and wireless 2.0 stereo speakers; Max power: 88W; Inputs: 2x RCA (with 3.5mm adaptor), optical, coaxial, USB-Audio, Bluetooth; Dimensions: 235 x 140 x 170mm; Weight per speaker: 3.2kg
4. Monitor Audio Bronze 2: Best stereo speakers under £300
Price:£280 | Buy now from Amazon
They’re not terribly exciting to look at, but Monitor Audio’s Bronze range has been around for a few years now, and the company has fine-tuned the speakers to the point where they provide terrific sound quality for their sub-£300 price tag.
They are, admittedly, primarily designed to be used with floor-stands, and if you’ve got room to arrange them with a bit of space between the two speakers then they can produce a really expansive room-filling sound. But, if you’re tight for space, you can still set them up on a window sill or sturdy set of shelves. They sound terrific in any environment – fastidious and precise like Freddie Mercury’s Killer Queen, but with great energy and sense of rhythm, not to mention a nice, taut bass sound. The Bronze range also includes subwoofers and surround speakers too, so you’ve got scope to expand the system in the future.
Key specs - Type: 2.0 stereo wired speakers; Max power: 100W; Inputs: 2x terminals/banana plugs; Dimensions: 350 x 185 x 255mm; Weight per speaker: 5.3kg
5. Bayan Silverpoint SP1: Most versatile speakers under £300
Price:£300 | Buy now from Bayan Audio
Bayan has done a great job of packing good sound quality and versatile digital features into its little SP1 speakers. Available in a variety of tasteful colours and finishes, the highly compact speakers stand just 165mm high and 120mm wide, so they’ll easily sit on a shelf or desk without taking up too much space. However, they’re packed with connectivity features, including RCA for a hi-fi system, optical input for use with a TV, and both Bluetooth and multi-room Wi-Fi (although there’s no 3.5mm connector). They’ll even work with Spotify Connect over your smartphone.
And, despite their compact design, the SP1 speakers provide 60W output, providing a really full-bodied sound that is more than capable of filling most medium-size rooms. The sound is clear and detailed, and while the bass could be a little stronger it’s still pretty respectable given the compact design. If you’re looking for more raw power, try the slightly larger SP2 for £400.
Key specs - Type: 2.0 stereo wired and wireless speakers; Max power: 60W; Inputs: 2x RCA phono, Ethernet, optical, Bluetooth, Wi-FI; Dimensions:65 x 120 x 150mm; Weight per speaker: 3.4kg
6. Yamaha NX-N500: Best wired and wireless speakers for under £500
Price:£449 | Buy now from Tesco
Yamaha makes dozens of speakers, but we keep coming back to the awe-inspiring NX-N500 – especially now that the price has dropped almost £200, down to a really competitive £450.
They’re a little chunky at 280mm high and weighing more than 12Kg in total, but they’ll still fit onto a (sturdy) bookshelf without too much trouble. They’re packed with digital audio features, including support for high-res FLAC files, and both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, while also cramming in support for Apple’s AirPlay. There’s also an Ethernet port in case your Wi-Fi is a bit dodgy, plus 3.5mm, optical and USB-Audio connectors too.
And then there’s the sound – 140W of roof-rattling awesomeness so powerful that the speakers even have their own heat-sinks bolted onto the back. That power is matched by clarity and detail, with a precision tweeter effortlessly soaring to 40kHz peaks, while the big, sturdy cabinets roll up their sleeves and deliver a muscular, room-filling sound in the mid-range and lower frequencies.
Key specs - Type: 2.0 stereo wired and wireless speakers; Max power: 45W; Inputs: Analogue line-in, Digital Optical in, USB-Audio, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth; Dimensions: 285 x 170 x 222mm; Weight per speaker: 5.9kg/6.3lg
7. Bowers & Wilkins 685 S2: Best wired bookshelf speakers for under £500
Price:£499 | Buy now from Seven Oaks Sound and Vision
Bowers & Wilkins’ 600 series of speakers has got rave reviews in the hi-fi press, but you don’t have to be a super-rich audiophile to enjoy them. The sweet spot for us is the 685 S2 model, which is about as good as you’ll get for £500.
The rigidly rectangular speakers aren’t going to win any design awards, but they sound great. They’re crisp and clear on the higher frequencies, yet boast a strong, full-bodied bass sound that comes from a 6.5in woofer made from bullet-proof Kevlar. If you’re a bit tight for space then the speakers are small enough to sit on a shelf or on either side of your TV, but you can also buy a set of floor-stands for £99, which will really make the most of their epic room-filling sound. The 600 series also includes a number of subwoofers and surround speakers, so you can start with a basic stereo pair and gradually expand into a full-scale home-cinema setup.
Buy now from Seven Oaks Sound and Vision
Key specs - Type: 2.0 stereo wired speakers; Max power: 100W; Inputs: 2x terminals/banana plugs; Dimensions: 345 x 190 x 324mm; Weight per speaker: 6.8kg
8. Kef Q350: Best wired bookshelf speakers for room-filling Hi-Fi sound
Price:£530 | Buy now from Richer Sounds
Kef’s eye-catching Egg desktop speakers have long been a favourite in our office, but while the Q350s have a far more conventional design, they’re an impressive option if you want a more room-filling sound.
Both sets of speakers share KEF’s Uni-Q driver design, which combines the woofer and tweeter together, with the tweeter sitting right in the centre of the combined driver unit. This creates a ‘single point source’ that more accurately reproduces the original sound from your recordings.
Techno-babble aside, the Q350s sound great, with warmth and detail on the higher frequencies, and a precise and beautifully controlled mid-range and bass. It’s an impressively spacious sound too, and while the chunky speakers – 362mm high and weighing a total of 7.6kg – will need to rest on a fairly sturdy set of shelves, they’ve got more than enough muscle to fill most rooms with music.
Key specs - Type: 2.0 stereo wired speakers; Max power: 120W; Inputs: 2x terminals/banana plugs; Dimensions:362 x 210 x 306mm; Weight per speaker: 3.8kg