Bookshelf speakers are the celebrities in the world of speakers! Many people use them, and for them, they are the best purchase that one can do. Bookshelf speakers, in general, are amazing, and they include many features within.
Anyways, some bookshelf speakers tend to be a bit expensive, and that kind of creates a blockage for you whenever you want to buy one or a pair. Well, that’s basically why I am here: In order to help you with those issues.
In this article, you will find some of the best bookshelf speakers under $500! What I would like to add is that all the picks that you will encounter throughout the article are from well-known and believed brands in the audio industry.
Right now, without further ado, let us take a closer look at the best bookshelf speakers under $500 that I chose!
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
The Cheapest  | 8.6 | Check Latest Price | |
Best for Bass Lovers  | 8.5 | Check Latest Price | |
Best Mid-Range  | 9.1 | Check Latest Price | |
Best Wireless  | 8.8 | Check Latest Price | |
Best Runner-Up  | 8.6 | Check Latest Price | |
Best Overall  | 8.2 | Check Latest Price |
The Top 6 Best Bookshelf Speakers Under $500
6. Sony SSCS5 – The Cheapest
Sony is one of the most famous brands when it comes to many different devices that a person may need. The Sony SSCS5 comes as a pair, meaning that you will have two speakers at a very cheap price, based on the way that it is listed.
Considering the importance of the speakers’ size, each of them measures 8 x 4 x 4 inches meanwhile the weight is 9 pounds for each.
As a type, this pair of speakers are three-way speakers meaning that they are divided into three main parts. On the bottom part of the speakers you can find the woofer which is 5.12 inches, then goes the tweeter which is 1 inch, and the third one is the ¾ inches super tweeter.
The parts that I mentioned above are all in charge of bringing you amazing audio quality. The woofer is in charge of bringing a great bass meanwhile the tweeters are in charge of the highest frequencies, and they bring them super clear to you.
The Sony SSCS5 speakers are known for their ability to create a great 5.1.2 home theater system, which is completely related to Dolby Atmos.
Key Specifications
- Frequency Response: 53 Hz – 50,000 Hz
- Sensitivity: 87 dB
- Impedance: 6 Ω
- Input Power: 100 W
Why Should You Buy It?
Considering the fact that I am talking about bookshelf speakers for under $500, I would gladly say that this one is for those people who don’t want to spend too much money on speakers because this one is under $200. You may want to take a look.
5. Q Acoustics 3020i – Best for Bass Lovers
Q Acoustics is another very famous brand, and it is in charge of bringing you only devices that have to do with sound in general. The 3020i from Q Acoustics is a 2018 launch, and from the moment the speakers were released, they quickly became many people’s favorite.
These speakers from Q Acoustics are very good-looking when it comes to the design part. They come in two color choices that include black and white. The measurements of each bookshelf speaker are 10.9 x 6.7 x 11.0 inches and the weight is 10.59 pounds per speaker.
Differing from the ones mentioned above, the speakers are two-way and they include a bass driver that is 5 inches big and a tweeter that measures 0.9 inches.
I mentioned the bass driver, and it is more than clear what it does. This driver brings to you a great bass accuracy of sound, meanwhile, the tweeter deals with high frequencies of sound, and it is in charge of bringing them in the best way possible.
Key Specifications
- Frequency Response: 64 Hz – 30,000 Hz
- Sensitivity: 88 dB
- Impedance: 6 Ω
- Input Power: 50 – 125W
Why Should You Buy It?
In case you are a bass lover then these speakers are definitely made and brought to the market for you. As I mentioned, the drivers of these speakers deliver an amazing bass accuracy that in my opinion will make you fall in love with the bass all over again.
4. Polk Signature Elite ES15 – Best Mid-Range
Everybody has heard about Polk at this point. Polk Audio, the brand as a whole, has brought to the market many series of speakers, but still, the Elite series is one of the greatest ones because it indeed brings Elite speakers just like the ES15 pair.
Totally different from the speakers that I mentioned above, Polk brought these ones in three different colors. You can choose from black, white, and walnut. That basically tells that these speakers will look good in any kind of room that you may put them. As for the measurements, each bookshelf speaker is 10 x 7 x 12 inches in size and 13 pounds when it comes to weight.
Being two-way speakers, the Polk Elite ES15 includes a woofer that is 5.25 inches and a tweeter that measures only 1 inch. What I would like to mention here is that most woofers in two-way speakers have these measurements.
Now, when it comes to sound, we all know how powerful Polk speakers are, and these ones are no exception. They know how to deliver one of the highest resolutions of audio and most importantly, the speakers are compatible with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X; which are the most famous surround sound technologies.
Key Specifications
- Frequency Response: 70 Hz – 18,000 Hz
- Sensitivity: 88 dB
- Impedance: 8 Ω
- Input Power: 20 – 100W
Why Should You Buy It?
Speakers that have the main features and what may be considered a normal price tag are the greatest things that we can find. Well, these speakers from Polk are one of those. They know how to bring quality and quantity in an only product.
3. Audioengine A5+ – Best Wireless
The fourth bookshelf speaker that definitely deserves a place on our list is the Audioengine A5+. Why does this pair of active speakers deserve the place? Well, this one is one of the greatest wireless bookshelf speakers that you can find, and most importantly, it comes with a price tag of under $500.
The Audioengine A5+ are some other active speakers that look too good to be true. They come in black, white, and bamboo, and all these finishes are matte which makes the powered bookshelf speakers look cooler than you can ever imagine. As long as the size is concerned, each of them measures 9 x 7 x 10.75 inches, and they each weigh 15.4 pounds. This active speaker also comes with a remote control, which makes everything much more enjoyable.
Well, I may become a bit boring, but these active speakers are also two-way speakers that include a woofer and a tweeter. The woofer measures 5 inches and the tweeter measures 0.75 inches, and it is made of a silk dome.
The two parts that I mentioned above are able to perform in the best way possible when it comes to the sound quality as a general form. Everything that you may listen to with these powered bookshelf speakers, comes balanced, detailed, and super clear.
Key Specifications
- Frequency Response: 50 Hz – 22,000 Hz
- Sensitivity: 95 dB
- Impedance: 10 Ω
- Input Power: 150W
- Remote Control: Yes
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Yes
Why Should You Buy It?
Wireless devices are the best ones that a person can buy or purchase. It goes the same with powered bookshelf speakers as well. The Audioengine + is one of the greatest purchases that you can do in case you are in love with wireless speakers.
2. Klipsch RP-600M – Best Runner-Up
Klipsch is one of the flagships in the world of sound! Why do I say that? Whenever you are searching for speakers of any kind, what appears on those lists is always Klipsch since they definitely know what people are in need of and what people require from speakers. The Klipsch RP-600M pair of speakers is one of the most used worldwide.
The speakers that I mentioned above, are all very pretty, but when I mention Klipsch, you may all know how beautiful Klipsch speakers, in general, look. These ones are also one of those speakers that look super nice in any environment that you might use them. The colors that they come in are three and include black, walnut, and ebony. The speakers have a very compact form as they measure 15.69 x 7.95 x 11.85 inches and they weigh around 16.1 pounds.
The woofers of these speakers are smaller than the ones mentioned above because they measure 6.5 inches, and by the way, they are made of spun copper cerametallic. The tweeter, on the other hand, measures an inch only, and it includes the famous Tractrix Horn.
As I mentioned the Tractrix Horn, you should know that it is one of Klipsch’s best features, that was ever added to speakers. It is related to the sound quality that these Klipsch speakers bring since it brings to you perfect precision of sound and an immersive clarity of every note.
Key Specifications
- Frequency Response: 45 Hz – 20,000 Hz
- Sensitivity: 91 dB
- Impedance: 8 Ω
- Input Power: 100 W
Why Should You Buy It?
I mentioned that Klipsch is a flagship and who wouldn’t want a flagship, right? Well, this pair of speakers is one of those that is aimed at those people who want quality and quantity at the same time.
1. ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 – Best Overall
Coming at the last bookshelf speaker in this article, here go the famous Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2, which is listed as the best overall. This one is also a pair, and it has everything that you may need or require from bookshelf speakers.
Elac brings these passive speakers with a very cool vintage look. They are mostly made of wood as a general form, and they come in black color. Each one of the speakers measures 7.69 x 14.76 x 10.55 inches, and they weigh 16.31 pounds. Don’t let the weight fool you because these passive speakers can be moved around your house super easily.
Again and again, we have here two-way speakers that include a woofer and a tweeter. Now, the tweeter, just as in many speakers measures one inch, meanwhile, the woofer on these passive speakers measures 6 1/2 inches, and it is made of aramid fiber.
These passive speakers, by some people, are considered audiophile ones because they are super powerful while bringing sound to you. Each and every melody, each and every voice that you will be listening to with these passive speakers comes powerful enough to make you fall in love with the Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 speakers.
Key Specifications
- Frequency Response: 44 Hz – 35,000 Hz
- Sensitivity: 87 dB
- Impedance: 6 Ω
- Input Power: 120W
Why Should You Buy It?
As the best overall, these passive speakers bring the best out of them and they include everything that you may need. Everything works just as it is supposed to. They look good and they sound good. What could be better, right?
FAQ About Bookshelf Speakers Under $500
What are bookshelf speakers used for?
Bookshelf speakers are simple speakers that are made to stay somewhere, but not on the floor! Funny enough, but yes! Bookshelf speakers are those speakers, that are made to stay on a table, a shelf, or anywhere else that you may want to put them.
Do I need bookshelf speakers? / Are they good?
Yes, they are! Bookshelf speakers are known for some great things that they bring to us. They have everything included. For example, bookshelf speakers look very good wherever you may want to put them, and most importantly most of them, to not say all of them, have immersive sound quality.
Are bookshelf speakers expensive? / Are they worth it?
Considering the fact that this article is related to bookshelf speakers under $500, I wouldn’t say that bookshelf speakers are very expensive. However, there are some professional brands that know how to bring bookshelf speakers with very spicy price tags but as a general form, they are quite affordable.
When coming to the part of the worth, bookshelf speakers are definitely worth it! They are those types of speakers that are considered a lifetime usable device and they stay with you for a pretty long time.
Do audiophiles use bookshelf speakers?
As I mentioned many times throughout the article, bookshelf speakers, in general, deliver great sound quality, and everything is quite balanced. Well, audiophiles do use them, and they talk proudly about them!
Final Words
Here we came at the end of this article in which I tried to explain to you guys some of the best bookshelf speakers under $500.
As you can notice, the speakers that I chose, all come from different brands, and all of the brands are professionals in the field of sound.
I really hope that this article will be your biggest helper and the biggest support in case you want to purchase a bookshelf speaker!
Further Reading
As mentioned throughout the article, bookshelf speakers are the most used speakers by many people worldwide. However, they tend to be a bit pricey and high prices definitely hurt us in many ways. That’s why I would like to add my article regarding the greatest bookshelf speakers under $1000.
You can notice that the speakers that I mentioned above in the article, are different from one another and the most important one that should be mentioned is the type of speakers that they are. You can notice two-way and three-way speakers. In order to find the differences or notice which one is better, check out my article regarding 2-way vs. 3-way speakers.
Now there’s also something else that deserves to be mentioned, and that is the mono speakers and the stereo speakers. Let me introduce you to the differences between mono and stereo speakers.
In case you need speakers for a particular device, then I would like to mention some of the most prominent speakers for the MacBook Pro.
Have fun!
Audio Engineer
You’ll never find anyone more passionate about audio as me. I love to share my knowledge with others and help people find the right equipment for them.
