Best Bookshelf Speakers Under $300 (Buying Guide & Reviews)

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So, I see that you are on a hunt for a bookshelf speaker! I must say that bookshelf speakers are exactly the items that need to be hunted. Thanks to their amazing performance, their vantage appealing appearance, and their compact size, bookshelf speakers have managed to maintain wide popularity for years. Everybody deserves and needs a set of speakers in their house, no matter if you are an audiophile, musician, or just a regular music lover. Especially audiophiles that prefer music that is small in scale, like a jazz quartet, should have a speaker in their studio or house.

Bookshelf speakers will give you a great three-dimensional sound stage, and don’t get me wrong, they are not destined only for music, but also for movie and TV watching, because guess what, a pair of good speakers can deliver much better dynamics and vocal clarity than the speakers built into any TV.

And what do you think, why are they called bookshelf speakers and not just speakers?! Yes, I know you have asked yourself that question, too. Well, the thing is that bookshelf speakers are built to stay and be put on a shelf, table, or other elevated surfaces, anywhere but you cannot place them on the floor. I mean, you can, but then you will not have the maximized sound that bookshelf speakers offer.

When it comes to the price of the bookshelf speaker, they can be a little bit pricey, and that’s because they are high-end speakers, and high-end speakers, in general, are more expensive compared to plain speakers, and that’s because of their design, the quality of materials, the durability and weight, and even the branding.

But, price shouldn’t be your concern, and you know why?! Because I got you covered! In this article you can find 6 of the best bookshelf speakers under $300, that guarantee quality and an amazing audio experience, so stick with me and let’s go through each of them separately. Okay, let’s get going!

ImageProductFeaturesPrice
The Perfect Upgrade
Audioengine A2+

Audioengine A2+

9.7
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The Best Overall
Edifier R1700BT

Edifier R1700BT

8.6
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The Most Stylish One
Edifier R1280DB

Edifier R1280DB

8.5
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The Outstanding Purchase
Elac Debut B6.2

Elac Debut B6.2

8.8
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Best Overall
Klipsch R-15M

Klipsch R-15M

8.6
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The Big One 
Yamaha NS-6490

Yamaha NS-6490

8.2
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6 Best Bookshelf Speakers Under $300

6. Edifier R1700BT – The Best Overall

This speaker will easily fit the style of any home décor, and that’s because of its classic wood finish. This speaker reduces interference and that generates a better audio experience. The 10-degree angle design will direct the sound to you, satisfying any of your audio tastes.

This speaker uses newly developed 19mm “Eagle Eye” dome tweeters, that catch every beat and every sound and make it better.

You can easily control your volume, bass, and every other single detail that will guarantee you full enjoyment of your favorite music.

This speaker is a Bluetooth bookshelf speaker, which means you can easily connect to different devices, including a gaming console, computer, or TV.

The downside of this speaker might be its bass. Although the audio is extremely good, the bass lacks the possibility to reach the high end, but it’s enough for low and mid-level. Overall, the sound quality is good enough to make these the best bookshelf speakers under $300.

Specifications of Edifier R1700BT:
  • Power output (RMS)15W×2 (tweeter) + 18W×2 (mid-bass driver)
  • Signal-to-noise ratio≥85dBA
  • Input sensitivityLine In1: 700±50mV; Line In2: 550±50mV
  • Dimension154mm × 254mm × 214mm (W×H×D)
  • Net weight6.6kg
  • Audio codecsSBC
  • Frequency response60Hz-20kHz

Why Should You Buy It?
A pleasant experience worth considering, I would say. Outstanding stile, easy connection, eagle eye tweeter, guarantee an enjoyment of your favorite music to the fullest. Definitely one of the best bookshelf speakers out there.

5. Edifier R1280DB – The Most Stylish One

Somewhere in this article, I have mentioned that I’ll be covering two articles from the brand of Edifier, and that was inevitable. Edifier makes these powerful bookshelf speakers that also come at a reasonable price, reachable for anyone that would like to have a speaker in their home.

Edifier R1280DB comes with even a better design and I think that’s Edifier’s main formula, they base their products on modern technology but offer you a classic and sleek look. These particular powered speakers offers you innovation and style.

They come with a wireless remote control which makes everything much more enjoyable.

On the side panel of these powered speakers, there are located all the controls that you can use to adjust your music the way you want it. I mentioned modern technology, and with these powered speakers that’s shown through HD audio with the help of the optical and coaxial inputs. The sound quality itself is great.

Specifications of Edifier R1280DB:
  • Total power outputR/L: 21W+21W RMS
  • Signal-to-noise ratio≥85dBA (A)
  • Noise level≤25dB (A)
  • Input sensitivityLINE IN1: R/L:450±50mV, LINE IN2: R/L:550±50mV, OPT/COA: R/L:500±50mFFS, Bluetooth: R/L:700±50mFFS
  • Frequency response55Hz-20kHz
  • Bass unit4 inch (116mm)
  • Dimension146mm×234mm×196mm (WxHxD)
  • Tweeter unitΦ13mm silk dome tweeter
  • Audio codecsSBC

Why Should You Buy It?
The brand new design, the on-board controls, the fully featured inputs and the wireless remote control should be enough to convince you to purchase these amazing powered speakers.

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4. Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 – The Outstanding Purchase

Elac as a company does constant improvements on their products, and this amazing speaker is the result of such an improvement, so the Debut B6.2 raises the bar for bookshelf performance higher than ever before. These passive speakers consist of a brand new silk-dome tweeter that features a wide-roll surround and takes response up to 35,000 Hz. What’s brand new about this speaker is also its woven aramid-fiber woofer.

With these bookshelf speakers, you will have clear highs, awesome mids, and even better lows. What’s interesting about these passive speakers is that you can also use them without a subwoofer, but if you want to level things up. you can also pair these bookshelf speakers with a Polk subwoofer.

Overall, with this speaker, you would be making an outstanding purchase and you won’t regret it. If you want exceptional sound quality at an affordable price, then this is the one to go with.

Specifications of Elac Debut B6.2 passive speakers:

  • Enclosure Type – 2- Way Bass Reflex
  • Frequency Response – 44Hz – 35000Hz
  • Nominal Impedance – 6 Ohms
  • Sensitivity – 87db @2.83v/1m
  • Crossover Frequency – 2200Hz
  • Max Power Input – 120 Watts
  • Tweeter – 1″ Cloth Dome
  • Woofer – 6-1/2″ Aramid Fiber
  • Cabinet – CARB2 Rated MDF
  • Cabinet Finish – Black Ash Vinyl
  • Port – Dual Flared
  • Binding Posts – 0 5 – Way Metal
  • Dimensions (WxHxD) – 7.69″ x 14.76″ x 10.55″

Why Should You Buy It?
New tweeter with a wide-dispersion waveguide, a brand new woven aramid-fiber woofer and new cabinets with easier placements.

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3. Klipsch R-15M – The Most Transparent One 

Now, let me tell you that with these passive speakers you can imagine studio monitors, but with a tiny twist and with more advanced solutions. The Tractrix horn for the tweeter of this speaker is what makes this speaker an outstanding transparent audio item. The Tractrix horn for the tweeter comes along with neutral voicing of the transducers and results in a great output and performance.

If you compare it with other passive speakers from Klipsch, this one is the winner because it will give you the most memorable listening experience.

The bass is a little lacking in power for your tastes depending on the kind of music you will be playing through these compact bookshelf speakers, but the highs and mids are exceptionally well defined and performed with nuance and clarity that seems unusually good for the price range, so don’t let a minor problem stopping yours from purchasing this amazing speaker. All klipsch products have a great sound quality, and this one is no exception.

Specifications of the Klipsch R-15M passive speakers:

  • FREQUENCY RESPONSE –  62Hz – 24kHz +/- 3dB
  • SENSITIVITY – 94dB @ 2.83V / 1m
  • POWER HANDLING (CONT/PEAK) – 85W/340W
  • NOMINAL IMPEDANCE – 8 Ohms Compatible
  • LOW FREQUENCY EXTENSION – 54Hz
  • CROSSOVER FREQUENCY – 1800Hz
  • HIGH FREQUENCY DRIVER – 1″ (2.54cm) Aluminum diaphragm compression driver mated to 90° x 90° square Tractrix® Horn
  • LOW FREQUENCY DRIVER –  5.25″ (13.3cm), copper spun magnetically shielded IMG woofer
  • ENCLOSURE MATERIAL –  MDF
  • ENCLOSURE TYPE – Bass-reflex via rear-firing port
  • INPUTS – Single binding posts
  • HEIGHT – 12.5″ (31.8 cm)
  • WIDTH – 7” (17.8 cm)
  • DEPTH – 8.11” (20.6 cm)
  • WEIGHT – 10.3lbs (4.67 kg

Why Should You Buy It?
It is small but mighty. It delivers big sound from a small footprint.

Whether you’re looking for information on audio equipment, looking to learn more about how things work in the music field, or looking for reviews of products, we got you covered!

 
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