Best Bookshelf Speakers Under $200
Are you interested in buying the best bookshelf speakers under $200, but so far had no luck finding what you need? Well, you’ll be glad you found this buyer’s guide because we have found the best options available in the market. We have done all the searching and research on the speakers so you won’t have to.
In addition, you’re in luck if you’ve never bought a pair of bookshelf speakers before and you have no idea what features to look at because we have created a buyer’s guide section that goes over the many small details you should be paying attention to.
We hope that by the end of this buyer’s guide you will find what you’re looking for, but if you don’t find anything of interest in this guide then at least you will have the necessary knowledge to make a good choice when purchasing elsewhere.
Budget |
---|
Definitive Technology |
4.8/5.0 |
Weight: 7.8 Pounds |
Mountable: Yes |
This has wide frequency response and excellent audio. |
Check Amazon |
Best Value |
---|
Pioneer SP-BS22-LR |
4.7/5.0 |
Weight: 9.13 Pounds |
Mountable: No |
This has an amazing wooden design and great audio. |
Check Amazon |
Top Pick |
---|
Edifier R1700BT |
4.9/5.0 |
Weight: 14.55 Pounds |
Mountable: Yes |
This comes with remote control and a built-in EQ. |
Check Amazon |
Top buying factors to consider
Audio specifications
Design
How convenient is the speaker?
Brand of the speaker
Durability
Bookshelf Speakers Under $200 Comparison Table
1. Edifier R1700BT Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers
Editor’s Rating: 4.9/5
One of the best bookshelf speakers in the market today is the Edifier R1700BT Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers, because of its many useful features. Unlike most bookshelf speakers this one has Bluetooth connectivity, which means you can quickly pair your smartphone or tablet to play beats instantaneously.
In addition, you can connect to the speaker using an AUX cable cord if you don’t have Bluetooth, which is another great method because you can connect other devices too such as your PC. Also, the bookshelf speakers have a remote control that makes them easy and practical to use. With the remote, you can adjust the volume, skip beats, and mute the speaker when needed.
The design of the Edifier R1700BT Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers is great and gives off a warm vibrant feel due to the wooden design. Upon purchasing the speaker you will get two years worth of warranty that covers manufacturer faults.
The only minus we could find with these speakers is that if you connect via AUX cable then you must have a high-quality wire because otherwise, the audio can sound terrible with many cuts and static noises. Also, it is better to purchase multiple AUX cables, since they easily bend and tear if not looked after properly.
To summarize, the Edifier R1700BT Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers is one of the best options on this list and you can’t go wrong buying it. The Bluetooth connectivity makes the speakers easy to use, plus it comes with its own remote control. Also, you get a two year warranty upon purchasing the bookshelf speakers, which covers manufacturer faults.
Tech Specs |
---|
Weight: 14.55 Pounds |
Frequency Response: 60 Hz – 20k Hz |
Mountable: Yes |
Warranty: 2 Years |
The Pros |
---|
Comes with remote control |
Built-in EQ |
Bluetooth connectivity |
The Cons |
---|
Extremely heavy |
May need to buy longer wires separately if you want surround sound |
2. Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000 Bookshelf Speaker
Editor’s Rating: 4.8/5
The Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000 Bookshelf Speaker uses an extremely wide frequency range of 47 Hz – 30k Hz, which means you will be able to hear music in excellent quality. Also, the efficiency of the speaker is 90 dB, thus you can play music at really loud levels and experience pinpoint audio without the decrease in quality.
Moreover, the design looks plain using a black glossy color. In addition, you can take off the front of the speaker to reveal the drivers for a unique look, but this means you will be exposing the drivers to any sort of water/dust damage.
Furthermore, the speaker is convenient to use and setup, because it uses basic wires that are connected to the back. You can mount the speaker to a wall if needed, which is a feature some of the heavier bookshelf speakers don’t have.
The Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000 Bookshelf Speaker may produce great sound quality, but the looks aren’t that great. The design is very basic and if you’re looking for a speaker to go well with your setup then this may not be the right choice for you.
To conclude, the Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000 Bookshelf Speaker outputs excellent sound quality, because it uses a wide frequency response of 47 Hz – 30k Hz. In addition, the speaker is easy to mount and to set up because the cables are made for quick use. Lastly, the black glossy design looks nice and can work well with many black decors.
Tech Specs |
---|
Weight: 7.8 Pounds |
Frequency Response: 47 Hz – 30k Hz |
Mountable: Yes |
Warranty: N/A |
The Pros |
---|
Wide frequency response |
Excellent audio |
Glossy black design |
The Cons |
---|
Water spills will easily break the drivers |
No built-in EQ |
3. Cerwin Vega SL5M 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers
Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5
The Cerwin Vega SL5M 2-Way speaker is quite big for a bookshelf speaker at a third of a meter. This means that the sound engineers could use more space and therefore use bigger and better drivers leading to a premium musical experience. The peak of the speakers is 85 dB and the frequency response is 58 Hz – 26k Hz, which means you will be able to listen to music at unbelievable quality – even at full volume.
Moreover, the power handling of the speaker is 125 watts, which is quite a lot so make sure your setup can handle the power. Featuring a 5 ¼ inch low-end driver the bass sounds incredible and with the help of the newly designed soft dome tweeter the highs sound accurate.
In addition, the bookshelf speaker features a classic black style that also has a removable grill, which unveils an orange design of the tweeter and woofer. Keeping the speaker this way can be stylish and goes well with any orange setup. Plus you can see the woofer vibrating as you play music.
The only minus we can think of with this speaker is that it is large and is a pain if you want to switch it between setups. Also, mounting it can be a challenge due to its large size that it takes up.
In summary, the Cerwin Vega SL5M 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers are a great choice if you want loud audio with deep bass. The woofer and premium tweeter delivers excellent audio with no chance of it sounding low quality as the peak sensitivity is 85 dB. Also, the front grill can be taken off to show the orange driver design.
Tech Specs |
---|
Weight: 6.6 Pounds |
Frequency Response: 58 Hz – 26k Hz |
Mountable: Yes |
Warranty: N/A |
The Pros |
---|
Stylish orange design |
85 dB peak sensitivity |
Can output extremely loud pinpoint audio |
The Cons |
---|
Big and inconvenient to move around |
Can’t tune the speaker to your preferences |
4. Pioneer SP-BS22-LR Andrew Jones Designed Bookshelf Loudspeakers
Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5
The Pioneer SP-BS22-LR Andrew Jones Designed Bookshelf Loudspeakers uses a 4 inch structured surface woofer with oversized magnets and a vented pole piece for improved bass response. Also, using a 1 inch high-efficiency soft dome tweeter the higher and mid-range notes sound incredible – even at high volume levels.
Each speaker uses around 80 watts of power, which is a lot for home devices and the nominal impedance is 6 ohms. Also, the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR Andrew Jones Designed Bookshelf Loudspeakers is part of a whole speaker set, which means you can purchase these speakers and when you save up you can add more devices to your setup.
Furthermore, the design of the bookshelf speakers is beautiful using a dark wood design that gives off a warm inviting look. Taking off the front grill is recommended with these bookshelf speakers because they look much nicer with the exposed drivers. However, this is not a must and is up to the user preferences.
There aren’t many minuses with these speakers, but if we had to think of one it would be that they sound much better with the whole Pioneer setup than them being solo speakers. The reason why is the subwoofer gives the audio life and with the addition of other speakers you can give yourself a 360 degree experience.
In summary, the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR Andrew Jones Designed Bookshelf Loudspeakers is one of the best options on this list, because you can buy them and keep on adding to the setup. Also, the design is stylish with a dark wooden look, which looks amazing when you have the complete Pioneer setup.
Tech Specs |
---|
Weight: 9.13 Pounds |
Frequency Response: 55 Hz – 20k Hz |
Mountable: No |
Warranty: N/A |
The Pros |
---|
Amazing wooden design |
Is part of a whole Pioneer setup, thus you can keep on adding to the collection |
Great audio |
The Cons |
---|
Could use a bit more bass |
Looks better without the grill, but taking them off can leave the speaker exposed to various damages |
5. Fluance Signature Series HiFi Two-Way Bookshelf
Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5
The signature series ultra-high end neodymium tweeters produce excellent high-frequency notes with captivating clarity and spacious imaging. The audio sound is controlled, but not too aggressive as the bass from the woofer gives life to the beat without over delivering.
Upon purchasing the Fluance Signature Series HiFi Two-Way Bookshelf Surround Sound Speakers you will receive multiple items including sound isolation pads, two magnetic front grills, an instruction manual, and lifetime customer support.
In addition, the materials used to create the speakers are ultra-durable and made to last, which is excellent because you won’t have to upgrade your speakers in the near future. The speaker is fast and easy to mount, plus you can put them in different locations to create a surround sound system.
The only negative we could find with these speakers is that the dB level is 85, which means it won’t be as loud as other speakers. However, the speaker is still loud compared to the other options and the quality doesn’t change – even at max volume.
In summary, the Fluance Signature Series HiFi Two-Way Bookshelf Surround Sound Speakers is an excellent choice, because the audio is amazing with vibrant bass and pinpoint highs. Also, you get multiple items with the speakers such as noise isolation pads and life time customer support. Also, you get magnetic grills if you want to cover up the exposed drivers.
Tech Specs |
---|
Weight: 9.7 Pounds |
Frequency Response: 60 Hz – 20k Hz |
Mountable: No |
Warranty: N/A |
The Pros |
---|
Comes with noise isolation pads |
Amazing audio |
Easy to quickly setup |
The Cons |
---|
No built-in customizable EQ |
May need to buy longer wires separately if you want surround sound |
6. Polk Audio TSi200 Bookshelf Speakers
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5
The Polk Audio TSi200 Bookshelf Speakers uses a wide frequency response of 43 Hz – 25k Hz, which means the bass will sound much better than usual. Deeper bass is important as it gives the audio life and to help amplify the speaker there are 5.25 inch diameter bi-laminate organic fiber cone woofers.
The speaker is fast to setup, because it uses easy to plug in cables that are included in the box. The stylish look is made with wood grain finishes, a piano black top, and pewter trim rings. The combined look leads to a brilliantly design bookshelf speaker.
The impedance rating of the bookshelf speakers is 8 ohm, which is quite good for a speaker costing under $200. Also, the recommended amplification is 20-150 watts – this setting brings out the best in the speaker because it prevents the drivers from damage due to managing the power output.
The weight of the speaker is 17 pounds, which can be an issue if you are going to move around the speaker from time to time. Also, mounting it can be tricky if you don’t have a stable mount on the wall.
To summarize, the Polk Audio TSi200 Bookshelf Speakers are a great choice for various platforms such as PC, TV, or stereo. The wide frequency spectrum delivers excellent audio and you can set the power to not overwork the drivers. Also, the design is nice with a wooden style and a black piano top.
Tech Specs |
---|
Weight: 17 Pounds |
Frequency Response: 43 Hz – 25k Hz |
Mountable: Yes |
Warranty: N/A |
The Pros |
---|
Uses bi-laminate organic fiber cone woofers |
Sound quality is great |
Wide frequency response |
The Cons |
---|
Very heavy to carry around |
Can be tricky to mount due to big weight |
7. M-Audio AV42 | 20-Watt Compact Studio Monitor Speakers with 4-inch Woofer
Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5
The M-Audio AV42 20-Watt Speakers with 4-inch Woofer is made for desktop computers and small home studios. The compact design and drivers used take up little space, while still being able to produce beats at a high-quality level. Also, the speakers are great for gaming, DJ gear, mixers, and other audio related activities.
RCA inputs can be used to quickly establish connections and get playing in no time. The wide frequency response of 75 Hz – 20,000 Hz makes the beats sound amazing – especially the bass.
The dimensions of the speakers are 8.4” x 5.7” x 7.4”, which is quite large so you need to make space before placing the order. Also, the power consumption isn’t too high, but the speakers still use two detachable conductor line cords for extra safety. The weight is quite low at only 7.6 pounds, which makes the speaker easy to move around.
The M-Audio AV42 doesn’t come with built-in EQ, unfortunately, which means you can’t customize the audio. Also, the bookshelf speakers aren’t as powerful as some of the other options on this list.
To summarize, the M-Audio AV42 20-Watt Compact Studio Monitor Speakers with 4-inch Woofer is not a bad option if you’re looking to use the speakers with a PC. The woofers deliver excellent bass and give audio life with its vibrancy. Moreover, the speakers are light and therefore easily portable.
Tech Specs |
---|
Weight: 7.6 Pounds |
Frequency Response: 75 Hz – 20k Hz |
Mountable: No |
Warranty: N/A |
The Pros |
---|
Lightweight |
Made for desktop users |
Excellent frequency response |
The Cons |
---|
Can’t mount them |
Other speakers can output louder audio |
8. Sony SSCS5 3-Way 3-Driver Bookshelf Speaker System
Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5
The Sony SSCS5 3-Way 3-Driver Bookshelf Speaker System offers high-resolution audio, because it uses bitrate accuracy of each sample to improve the output. Also, using a three-way driver system the audio is further enhanced making the lower frequencies sound amazing while keeping the mids and highs clear to listen to.
Moreover, the speakers are built on sound foundations, which means they won’t wear out that quickly. This allows the speakers to output even louder audio without the chances of the speakers crackling and taking damage over time. Also, the speaker has a smart black finish the blends well with most contemporary interiors.
The Sony SSCS5 3-Way 3-Driver Bookshelf Speakers is part of a whole Sony system of bookshelf speakers, floor standing speakers, and a central speaker. Together they combine to make an amazing sound system that can play music at an unbelievable level.
However, using the Sony SSCS5 3-Way 3-Driver Bookshelf Speakers without the addition of the whole system is not ideal as you are missing out on a superb audio experience.
In conclusion, the Sony SSCS5 3-Way 3-Driver Bookshelf Speaker System is an excellent choice, because it’s part of a whole audio system. That means you can keep on adding pieces to the setup when you have the money saved up. Also, the three driver system delivers better sounding audio with vibrant lows, excellent mids, and pinpoint highs.
Tech Specs |
---|
Weight: 19.9 Pounds |
Frequency Response: 53 Hz – 50k Hz |
Mountable: No |
Warranty: N/A |
The Pros |
---|
Part of an audio system |
3 driver technology outputs excellent sound quality |
Excellent frequency response |
The Cons |
---|
Speaker cannot be mounted |
Can be tricky to setup if you’ve never done it before |
9. BIC America DV62si Bookshelf Speakers
Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5
The BIC America DV62si Bookshelf Speakers use 6.5 inch graphite woofers that produce incredible vibrant bass. Also, using a 0.75 inch soft dome tweeter the mids and highs sound amazing. Plus the wide frequency range of 43 Hz – 20k Hz helps the speakers produce lifelike beats.
In addition, the style of the speakers goes well with all sorts of decors, because it uses a dark wooden design. You can take the grill off to reveal the soft dome tweeter and woofer, which can change the look of the speaker giving it a whole new vibe.
The bookshelf speakers are easy to install as it only needs to use two wires that connect to a stereo. Also, the dB sensitivity is 90 dB, thus you can play audio quite loud without putting the volume on full blast.
One main minus is that if you don’t have a stereo system to connect to via cables then you cannot use the speakers. Also, you can’t mount the speakers on the wall so you have to make the space for them beforehand.
In summary, the BIC America DV62si Bookshelf Speakers is a good choice since the audio is great and the 90 dB sensitivity means you can play your music very loud. Also, the wide frequency response allows the bookshelf speakers to play notes on a wide spectrum, producing lifelike music the way the artist intended it to be heard.
Tech Specs |
---|
Weight: 14 Pounds |
Frequency Response: 43 Hz – 20k Hz |
Mountable: No |
Warranty: N/A |
The Pros |
---|
90 dB sensitivity |
Wide frequency response allows speaker to play more notes than most speakers |
Stylish wooden design |
The Cons |
---|
No option to mount the speaker |
No Bluetooth connectivity |
10. Klipsch R-14M 4-Inch Reference Bookshelf Speakers
Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5
The Klipsch R-14M 4-Inch Reference Bookshelf Speakers can fill a small to medium room with powerful lifelike audio. The speaker uses a 1 inch aluminum linear travel suspension horn loaded tweeter that produces excellent highs and mids. In addition, the 4 inch copper spun high output IMG woofer produces vibrant bass that gives life to music.
The speaker is not that big at 9.75” x 5.88” x 7.5”, which means you can put them pretty much anywhere. Also, the copper design looks great and might be the option to go with if you want it to blend in with a particular interior decor style.
In addition, the bookshelf speakers are lightweight at 8 pounds each. This means you can easily transfer them to other setups with ease. Also, the cables are straightforward to apply and you can start listening to music within minutes.
Unlike other bookshelf speakers the Klipsch R-14M has a copper design that may not be stylish for some people, but if this is not a big problem for you then this speaker is a great choice. Also, you can’t mount the speakers as there are no hooks or keyhole designs. However, you can build a stand for the speakers, which is a good alternative.
To conclude, the Klipsch R-14M 4-Inch Reference Bookshelf Speakers are great for any home audio system. The woofer can output excellent bass giving beats life and the tweeters produce amazing highs with pinpoint mids. Lastly, the bookshelf speaker isn’t too big so you can place them pretty much anywhere.
Tech Specs |
---|
Weight: 14 Pounds |
Frequency Response: 40 Hz – 20k Hz |
Mountable: No |
Warranty: N/A |
The Pros |
---|
200 watts of peak power |
Not too big |
Stylish copper design |
The Cons |
---|
Copper design may not be for everyone |
Not AUX connection available |
Contents
- Top buying factors to consider
- Audio specifications
- Design
- How convenient is the speaker?
- Brand of the speaker
- Durability
- Bookshelf Speakers Under $200 Comparison Table
- 1. Edifier R1700BT Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers
- 2. Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000 Bookshelf Speaker
- 3. Cerwin Vega SL5M 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers
- 4. Pioneer SP-BS22-LR Andrew Jones Designed Bookshelf Loudspeakers
- 5. Fluance Signature Series HiFi Two-Way Bookshelf
- 6. Polk Audio TSi200 Bookshelf Speakers
- 7. M-Audio AV42 | 20-Watt Compact Studio Monitor Speakers with 4-inch Woofer
- 8. Sony SSCS5 3-Way 3-Driver Bookshelf Speaker System
- 9. BIC America DV62si Bookshelf Speakers
- 10. Klipsch R-14M 4-Inch Reference Bookshelf Speakers