It is very tricky when you set out to get the best bookshelf speakers under 500 dollars. This is because in this bracket, you will either get some of the best speakers or those that are totally for the bin. What separates them, however, is how carefully and deeply you are able to look.
These speakers are designed to match your furniture and still give you good beats. What the good ones are supposed to do is to accompany their simple design and good audio quality.
Best Bookshelf Speakers Under 500
Table of Contents
1. ELAC Uni-fi UB5 Bookshelf Speaker
This speaker has a lot of things going for it from a design that is authoritative to an audio reproduction that is complete. With a weight of 16.5 pounds, this is a heavy box that houses the high-performance speakers that gives you more than the bargain.
One of the main things that makes it easy for one to fall in love with the box is the concentric driver that sees the tweeter fitted into the midrange driver.
A step backwards, the sight of this speaker is very pleasing that it will meet the yearnings of aesthetically sensitive buyers. You can get it in satin black or white finishes as well as walnut finish. However, the design may get the price even higher.
To the performance of the beast, it gives detailed and balanced reproduction no matter what you are listening to. More so, there is clarity for dialogue. This means that whether you are simply into music, movies, or even both, this will still serve.
Pros
- Good and quality design
- It has complete and strong bass
- There is clarity and details to the speaker
- The soundstage is rightly separated.
Cons
- There are some that may still consider the bass on the strong side.
Verdict
This speaker surprises you what you can get for $500 with great reproduction, design, and technology. It will serve you for movies, music, and gaming.
2. DALI – ZENSOR 1
There are many speakers that only function in theory but once they find themselves in the real world, you will find them limping to perform. With this speaker, it performs in the real world.
With a good design and an intelligent build, the DALI – ZENSOR 1 may just be an ideal shelf speaker for someone who doesn’t have a very fat wallet. The design is simply clean and dare I say, almost premium.
Even better than the design is the sound quality of the piece which although may not satisfy the complex needs of an audiophile, still remains a very excellent pick for anyone looking to get one of the very best bookshelf speakers under 500 bucks. Like any good speaker, it has detailed and well-balanced sound. More so, it has an open soundstage.
Pros
- It is designed to please the eye and at the same time, to last
- There is balance and clarity to the sound.
- It is slim and compact.
- The price is very good
Cons
- They are not exactly the loudest that you will find.
Verdict
While this is quite small, it is a piece that is very good whether you need it as a front speaker or as a back one. Even in this price range, this is even cheaper.
3. Edifier R2000DB
There are many who would place this at the top of any list of best speakers under 500 dollars even though you will get it somewhere close to half the price. It is a very popular and affordable pair of speakers among those looking for a speaker that will satisfy audiophiles.
With a wooden enclosure, it also has a nice design like others on the list and it very compact. Because of this, you can use the speakers for desktop use as well.
Regarding the audio reproduction, it puts its 5” 36W full range driver and a 24W 25mm eagle-eye tweeter, you get a very strong audio reproduction with a strong bass and treble that is easy to satisfy.
Pros
- It is very cheap
- Good even for audiophiles
- The bass is rich and complete.
- Very functional remote.
Cons
- When you look at its accessories such as remote, cables, and other things, it has a cheap feel.
Verdict
Although this is still below the very expensive speakers, it is still one that is great in many ways. More so, it is affordable, compact, and versatile.
4. Audioengine A5+ Premium Powered Speaker Pair
Under the sleeves, this speaker comes with power and good audio reproduction to its name. It is designed by a company that is not necessarily old, but it still performs like a piece from a company that has spent ages in the business.
Made of Carbonized Solid Bamboo, it has a nice design and versatility making it easy to use it for almost anything from gaming to movies, to computer use, music, and much more.
With the performance, things even get better. It delivers good sound to fill a small to medium sized room. For its size, it gives you a very authoritative sound and for the price, it is something really good.
Pros
- It has good design
- Very versatile
- Has both the wired and wireless version although the wireless is more expensive
Cons
- It may not have as much bass as some may want.
Verdict
This is an excellent performing pair of speakers that may be good if you are looking for something that does not come with too much bass and yet gives good reproduction.
5. Edifier S1000DB
Edifier speakers are always among the best speakers that you will always find among the best when you are looking for shelf speakers that are affordable. What makes this even better is that it is an audiophile grade speaker.
While these speakers may not entirely be the most beautiful piece you have on your shelf, they still have good looks and they dominate your shelf. The main thing, however, is that they are not exactly as compact as many may want, but that is one of the things that contributes to giving it the audiophile performance.
With a 5.5” subwoofer and tweeters that sound good, it gives a strong audio performance at the highs, mids, and lows. More so, it has clarity and details to it. It has both optic and Bluetooth connection enhanced by the BLUETOOTH 4.0 aptX connectivity.
Pros
- Good audio performance
- The accessories it comes with are good and useful
- Active sound.
- This is better than the R2000DB being the upgrade
Cons
- The size may be big for some
- Not what some would consider beautiful
Verdict
If you want something that is even better than the R2000DB, this may just be the choice. However, if you prefer something more compact, the former is better.
6. Bose 301-V Stereo Loudspeakers
There are those that genuinely believe Bose is overrated. I genuinely disagree. It is one of the few companies that has sustained for a very long time returning some of the best audio devices we have seen. Of course, it has had its shortcomings, but if you are looking for some of the best bookshelf speakers under 500, the Bose 301-V Stereo Loudspeakers are not among the shortcomings.
With a design that is not very regular and still beautiful, these speakers may not exactly look sturdy, but they are not for the trash can either.
Like most other Bose speakers, your money when it comes to this piece is on the audio reproduction which is both good and strong. The only thing, however, is that it needs power to run this. The sound is good and the bass is quite strong. Despite the size, you will find them sounding much bigger.
Pros
- Good audio reproduction
- Very different design making it pleasant
- It has a compact build.
Cons
- They need power to run.
- These speakers do not look sturdy.
Verdict
If you are looking for a pair of speakers that are not the regular design and with good audio reproduction, this is a good pick. It can serve for music and movies above most other things.
7. JBL Studio 230 6.5-Inch 2-Way Bookshelf Loudspeaker
Another manufacturer with a name as strong as the Bose is JBL, but beyond the name is the JBL Studio 230 which finds its way onto this league. The pair of speakers come with a good design and strong build thanks to the premium material used in the make.
Beyond the build, we have with us a pair of speakers that have high-frequency detail and balance to give you the best when it comes to music and movies. More so, it is able to handle a wide range of audio reproduction thanks to its frequency response that is 52 Hz – 22 kHz.
Pros
- It has a good and strong sound performance.
- The pair has a strong build.
- One that would last for a very long time.
- Compact
Cons
- It does not have the strongest bass you can get.
Verdict
While this is a good one for music, it is also strong for movies and gaming.
8. Klipsch R-15M Bookshelf Speakers
With a dual high output 5.25-inch woofers, the Klipsch R-15M is a very powerful and versatile pair of speakers that is very much complete in the design, technology, build, and audio performance.
The speakers do not have a shape that is out of the ordinary but it is still easy to make you appreciative most especially because it has a durable build and the perfect size for a shelf.
With the most important thing, the audio production, it delivers a sound that is bigger than the looks of the speaker itself, and it has a very strong bass. What makes the strong sound even better is that you do not get distortion thanks to the Linear Travel Suspension horn-loaded tweeter that it comes with.
Pros
- One of the most versatile on the list.
- Great design and nice size
- The audio production is topnotch for a pair of speakers this cheap
- No distortion even at a very high volume
Cons
- There are some who may feel the bass too strong.
Verdict
This is the one for a small to medium room that you want to fill with good audio quality. Beyond other things, why this is the favorite one for many is that it is a versatile speaker.
9. Q Acoustics 3020s
The Q Acoustics 3020s is a pair of speakers that you would be forgiven if you take for granted on the first sighting because of its mini size. Nonetheless, it will come around to surprise you. A small sized piece, this has good looks and quality build.
Looking at the audio performance, this gives a very detailed and exciting audio reproduction. Interestingly enough, it does not struggle or strain to give a good sound nor does it struggle to be heard. That said, considering its size, you will not expect this to give the strongest of bass. However, it still does well with the bass, but it is not as strong as some who want thick bass may want.
Pros
- Good construction and nice looks
- Detailed audio performance
- It is rather cheap.
Cons
- If you are looking for strong bass, this piece is not for you.
Verdict
This tops the list of the best bookshelf speakers under 500 bucks for someone who also wants something with a mini price and maxi performance. It will also work well as a computer speaker.
10. ELAC Debut B6
The ELAC Debut B6 is another good bookshelf speaker that is both large in size and strong in performance. With a black vinyl finish, these speakers look like something that are designed to last forever.
What is even more than the bold build of the speakers is the technology with a woofer that features the Aramid-Fiber Cone that is meant to produce natural sound. It is also designed with the Soft dome tweeter and other technology that makes it as good a speaker that it is.
See Also: 7 Best Bluetooth Speakers Under $200- Excellent Performance (Review)
With the audio reproduction, this has a complete audio performance with bass that is rich, treble that is detailed, and an overall performance that is natural.
Pros
- An audiophile grade piece
- It beats the game in terms of price and performance
- The features are very good.
Cons
- Limited design options.
Verdict
If you are an audiophile who is looking for something that works and is still affordable, this will be the pick for you.
Things to Consider Before Choosing Bookshelf Speakers Under 500 Dollars
Before settling down to get a good bookshelf speaker, there are many things that you would want to consider including the following:
- Good quality and interesting design: getting a piece with good quality is very important because do not want to end up with a speaker that will go bad only after a short usage. More so, we do not need to pretend that aesthetics do not count.
- Audio Performance: Once it doesn’t have a good audio quality, you cannot find it on the list or even among the speakers that you would want to go with. While there is what can be said to be good or bad quality, you also need to find something that will satisfy your taste.
- Use: There are many speakers that are versatile, but the use of the speakers should also be considered because one for music may not be good for gaming or movies so you need to know which to go with.
- Price: The price is yet another thing to consider.
