On a normal day, great sound does not come cheap and it is because of this that you will find great speakers, earphones, and bookshelf speakers costing more than some wallets can handle. However, there are some that can be considered as the best bookshelf speakers under 200 dollars.
It is important to point out that it is easy to get a bookshelf speaker at this price range, but they may not necessarily be the best that the market will offer. However, if you can look deep enough, there are many that you will find that are exceptional.
Best Bookshelf Speakers Under 200 Dollars
Table of Contents
1. Klipsch R-15M
This is not the biggest boy that you will get to see, but it is one of meanest when it comes to performance. The Klipsch R-15M has a very good design even as it is compact.
More so, because of its design, this can also serve as your computer speaker. What gives it more points here is that the sound is loud and is good for most things including music, gaming, and movies.
It comes with a 5.25″ copper-spun high-output IMG woofer and a 1″ aluminum Linear Travel Suspension horn-loaded tweeter which places it in a very good place when it comes to the audio reproduction, although it will not give you the strongest of bass. That said, the audio reproduction is detailed.
Pros
- It comes with very good features
- Interesting design and value
- Detailed audio reproduction.
- It will last a long time.
Cons
- If you need a low-frequency bass sounds, you may need a subwoofer.
Verdict
This is for someone looking for a pair of compact speakers that do perform very good although they may not be the strongest in the bass department.
2. ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is not the oldest pair of speakers on the block, having started only in 2015 with the B6. However, it has risen to be one that you can put your money on if you want something that balances affordability and performance.
With a lot of things working for it, this is on the large side of speakers although it is still well designed and it has a quality build.
See Also: Bookshelf Speakers Under $500
To the audio reproduction, at under $200, you may not get something that will move heaven and earth, but some like this have done their parts in a very good way. Better than the Elac Debut B6, the B6.2 is more adventurous than the former was it has a sound that is both lively and clear. The bass is also good, but the emphasis is more on clarity than anything else.
Pros
- There is clarity to the audio reproduction
- Beautiful design and great quality
- It has good value.
Cons
- Some may find it too big.
Verdict
If you are looking for something with good clarity and a value that is good, this is a good one to pick. What is, even more, is that the price is friendly when you look at what it gives.
3. JBL Arena 120
The JBL Arena will definitely make its way on any list of the best bookshelf speakers under 200 dollars. The JBL Arena comes with a strong build and good looks although it will not necessarily go in for a beauty contest.
It comes with a 1-inch (25mm) and a 5.5-inch (140mm) woofer which helps it in delivering a very balanced audio reproduction. Beyond the balance, you will also have to give it to the strong sound that it gives.
Pros
- The Arena 120 is a speaker of great value.
- Good sounding speakers.
- It is a versatile piece
Cons
- Not the best bass you can hope to get.
Verdict
JBL is one company that has built and maintained its reputation with very good speakers like the Arena 120. If you need a bookshelf speaker that is not only affordable but also very performing, this may be the best pick.
4. Pioneer SP-BS22-LR
This shelf speaker has become very popular among many people who are looking for something that among most other things comes with quality, simple design, and amazing audio performance.
With the design of the speakers, you will get something with a rather bold than beautiful looks only coming in black. It has a curvy shape that makes it quite unique from most other things that you will get. From the looks, you will have no problem betting that it is one to last a very long.
To the performance, this does a lot of surprising thing most especially when it comes to the clarity of the vocals. Although like most other speakers at this price range, at some point you will find this struggling to keep up with the bass. However, it still does well.
Pros
- It has a very good build
- The sound is very good.
- The speaker is very cheap
Cons
- When the volume is ramped up, it may have some distortion.
Verdict
This is the one to recommend for someone who loves movies as well as songs that are more with vocals. Overall, it will perform, even though the bass is not the strongest around.
5. Edifier R1700BT
The Edifier R1700BT speakers are very adventurous speakers that finding them among the best bookshelf speakers under $200 is nothing but a serious kill because they look like things that should cost much more than that.
With Bluetooth connectivity, this does not only come with the design that will help it survive any runway, this piece also has a lot in terms of features and controls, giving you more than almost all others on the list. It has a wooden enclosure. Back to the Bluetooth connectivity, it supports everything from iOS to Android, MacOS and Windows devices.
Coming with a 4-inch bass driver as well as a 19mm tweeter, it has a bass that like others, will not bring down the walls of Jericho, but it will get the sounds heard and the job done. There is clarity to the speakers as well as strength to the sound making it a must-have.
Pros
- It has a strong and clear stereo sound performance
- Very good Bluetooth connectivity that supports wide devices.
- The design is not only pleasing, but it also promises to last
- It is a very valuable set.
Cons
- Just like others, the bass is rather weak.
Verdict
If you are looking to have a pair of Bluetooth shelf speakers that will add beauty to your setting and also not fail in the department of good audio reproduction, you will not find too many that will be better than this at this price range.
6. Polk Audio TSi100
With a frequency range of 53Hz – 25kHz the Polk Audio TSi100 is definitely a great budget bookshelf speaker. For the design, it comes very easy and not so different from most of the ones you get on the list, although it is also good and it allows to be mounted on the wall.
Polk is not the most popular company even though it has been around since the 1970s. Rather than going for the whole market, it has a massive followership among people who are looking for a detailed audio performance which is what you get with the speakers.
It has a compact size and at the same time a very strong audio reproduction. To the bass performance which is what has embarrassed a lot of bookshelf speakers, this is able to offer something worth listening to, although if you are really looking for something that will rock your shelf, it will be missing from the party. However, it does better than most others on the list.
Pros
- Easy customization options
- Compact and of good quality
- The audio reproduction is good
- Brilliant for the price
Cons
- Even though it is better than many others on the list, the bass is still shy.
Verdict
Although the bass is not the strongest that you can get, it is better than most others on the list, hence this may be one of those you should go for if you want clarity with a touch of bass reproduction.
7. YAMAHA NS-6490
YAMAHA is not only a name that you can relate to, but it is also one that has sustained for a very long time and has conquered the electronics market as a whole. However, when it comes to music equipment and things such as speakers, it has done so much.
With the YAMAHA NS-6490, what you are offered is a bookshelf speaker that is on the large side of things even though it has a very good design. Looking at it, you may not want to bet on the quality of the speaker, but it is sure to give a good run.
When it comes to the audio performance, the sound does not struggle even when you take it to the top. Also, it has detail, clarity, and crispness under its belt. The bass is quite good, or maybe better than others on the list, although it is still not there yet.
Pros
- The speaker is a beauty to behold.
- There is crispness and clarity to the audio reproduction.
- The bass is quite good although it still has not reached there.
Cons
- It has a large size.
Verdict
If you have a problem with size, this is something that you will want to stay clear of. That said, if you prefer them large and beautiful, this may just be the one for you. In addition to that, the audio reproduction is good.
8. BIC America DV62si
When the name BIC America is mentioned, one of the first things that come to mind is clarity of audio and quality speakers. With the BIC America DV62si, it does not betray what is known.
This is a rather light speaker that for someone seeing them for the first time, one may even believe that they cost probably twice as they do because of the quality that they come with. More so, it is aesthetically on point while also being fairly compact.
Let’s look at the performance of the speakers. Normally, you will need some time for speakers to break in and deliver at their best. With this, you don’t need that time as it is good once you start using it. It still gets better with time. With a good tweeter and woofer, it has a strong bass and general completeness to the sound.
Pros
- Solid and interesting build.
- Straight from the box, the audio performance is good.
- Good features.
Cons
- Some may question the tweeter performance.
Verdict
For many things, this is a very good one that you may want to get if you are looking to get quality and good performance with a bass reproduction that is quite strong.
9. Klipsch RB-10
The Klipsch RB-10 is not necessarily the most popular one on the stage, but it is one that has a lot of things going well for it. The design is good although not the simplest you will get. More so, it is easy to be mounted on the wall if that is what you want. More so, it has a compact design.
Even as it has a small build, the audio reproduction is very good and strong even though, the bass will be lacking is that is the main thing you are looking for. The sound is very detailed and
Pros
- Compact and with a good design
- The audio reproduction is very detailed
- Good for a lot of things including music listening (not for bassy songs) and movies.
Cons
- The same problem of bass as most others
Verdict
This speaker is a good option if you are looking for something that has a good build and easy performance. Now again, the bass is not the strongest around, so you may decide on another if the bass is the main thing for you.
10. Fluance Signature Series HiFi
These two-way bookshelf surround sound speakers come with beauty and grace although they are not necessarily too different from what you are used to seeing. One more thing to note here is that it also has a good and compact size.
See Also: 7 Best Bluetooth Speakers Under $200- Excellent Performance
Without too much to talk about when it comes to the looks, the main emphasis of the speakers is the audio performance which as simple as can be said, is detailed and rich. No, the bass is not the strongest you will see. While the reproduction is good, it may need a little time for you to break in.
Pros
- Compact design
- It is built to last a very long time
- The audio performance is amazing.
Cons
- It also has the problem of weak bass
Verdict
While this is a good speaker, it is not out of this world. However, if you need something with solid design and generous performance, this is a good kid.
Quick Guide To Selecting the Best Bookshelf Speakers
If you are looking to get the best bookshelf speakers under $200 or even at any other price range, there are some things that are very important for you to consider apart from just the price. The issue with concentrating on the price is that there are times when you can get speakers that are expensive and still with nothing more to offer in terms of either performance or durability while there are others that may come cheap and yet they offer a lot of things.
Some of the important things you should put into consideration are:
- The durability of the speaker
- Specs and the features
- Audio performance
- Looks and design
With the audio performance, it is important to point out that while the audio performance is mostly great, bookshelf speakers do not mostly have the best in bass reproduction most especially when you come down the ladder to those that are on the budget list.
