One of the simplest and most adaptable ways to begin your hi-fi adventure is with a decent set of bookshelf speakers, commonly referred to as standmount speakers. There is a wide selection of bookshelf speakers available today, whether you’re searching for a pair of TV speakers, a high-end speaker for your hi-fi system, or an incredibly small one for a tiny room.
‘Bookshelf speakers’—why be that? since many of them are small enough to fit on your desk, in a corner, or inside a bookshelf. But, in order to get the greatest quality possible, we always advise setting them up on specialized speaker stands rather than on a bookshelf.
You may get a louder, more powerful sound from larger speakers, but not everyone has the space, budget or inclination for a set of floorstanders. Thankfully, a smaller set of bookshelf speakers can give you an amazing listening experience too, while also fitting into most spaces. The best bookshelf speakers offer clear detail, snappy rhythms, engaging dynamics and a decent helping of bass, even despite their small dimensions. We also expect good build quality that will last for years (if not decades), while our expectations of how subtle, transparent and precise the sound quality is go up as the price tag gets higher.
1.PMC Prodigy 1
Despite our admiration for PMC’s Twenty5 series, it is undeniable that they were a very expensive entrance point into the company’s speaker lineup. We were therefore a) thrilled and b) curious to see how the British brand would perform against the established competition around this highly popular and competitive price point when it unveiled a new entry-level range at the High End Munich show earlier this year, with a starting price that was almost half that of the previous most affordable PMC model (the Twenty5 21i). We’re talking about well-established models from Bowers & Wilkins, Dalis, Wharfedales, and your KEFs, among others. Well, it’s time to find out after only a few months.
The 13cm mid/bass driver and 27mm soft dome tweeter of the two-way standmounts were lifted from higher-end models in the company’s lineup. While the natural-fibre, dished-cone mid/bass unit is the same found in the company’s ci (custom install) series, which PMC claims has become the standard for Dolby Atmos music mixing in studios worldwide, the soft-dome tweeter was developed from the one found in the five-star PMC Result6 studio monitors.
The driver was created especially to work with PMC’s patented ATL (Advanced Transmission Line) bass-loading technique, which is employed in all of their speakers. In essence, this directs the mid/bass driver’s backward energy through damped material inside the speaker and out the front port. Low frequencies are mostly absorbed, with the exception of for a lowest-end portion that leaves the front port and contributes to the driver’s output for more powerful bass. The ATL also works to keep air pressure inside the cabinet consistent to improve control of the driver.
Once more, in spite of their relative price, the Prodigy speakers are designed and manufactured in-house in Luton, UK, and receive the same manufacturing care as their more expensive counterparts. In comparison to their closest competitor, the shorter and wider Oliver Hardy-KEF LS50 Meta, the Prodigy 1 are taller and slimmer than other mid-range bookshelf speakers. Their profile makes them the Stan Laurel on the stage floor of our test room.
The Prodigy 1 is significantly less eye-catching and fashionable than not only the KEFs but also several pairs at and below this price range, like the Sonus Faber Lumina 1 and Bowers & Wilkins’ 606 S3, to mention just two. This is probably where PMC decided to make cost reductions in the design department. These otherwise “plain Janes” have one thanks to the ATL/Laminair implementation.
Pros
Hugely impressive clarity and resolution
Precise and organised
Cons
Relatively low perceived value
2.Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3
In B&W’s most recent 600 S3 speaker lineup, the 606 S3 standmounters are larger, bolder, and more expensive than their younger sibling, the 607 S3 speakers (above).
With numerous upgrades and enhancements, the 606 S3 builds upon the 606 S2 Anniversary Edition from the previous generation, which was also an award winner. They have the same improvements as the 607, including the new titanium tweeter and the updated rear speaker terminal arrangement. The 606 S3 offers even another improvement in sound quality, yet the two-way setup, the same excellent build quality and finishes, and the same dimensions are all back.
The 606 S3 has a more sophisticated presentation in contrast to the lively, entertaining nature of the 607 S3. Compared to the previous S2 model, there are newfound levels of openness and refinement, as well as a spacious sounding presentation and enough of headroom for that cleaner treble to soar. In the meantime, the deeper cabinet and larger 16.5cm mid/bass driver give weight, punch, and authority.
The 606 S3 speakers are less susceptible to the slightly excitable and forward treble of their lively 607 S3 sibling thanks to this additional bass power, but the more level-headed, staid personality of the older siblings comes at the expense of the endearing and instantly entertaining sound that we love so much about the new 607 S3.
Although the 606 aren’t weaklings in terms of assault and agility, we find they don’t hold songs together as cohesively as when played through the enthusiastic 607. But this didn’t stop us from enjoying the speakers, as we said said in our original review: “Did we have any trouble playing albums continuously without getting bored through the 606? Absolutely not. The pristine, capable nature of these new standmounters is still very impressive and they are a big, easy listen.”
The B&W 606 S3 will appeal to you if you can afford and make room for a move up from the little 607 S3 speakers, want a bigger sound spectrum, and require more bass punch.
Pros
Bigger, punchier, more open sound
Stunning clarity, detail and refinement
Cons
Take care with partnering equipment
3.Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3
Bowers & Wilkins’ 600 series of speakers, which is currently in its eighth iteration and has been around for more than 20 years, has typically produced some excellent speakers.
With its most recent entry-level 607 S3 speakers, that tale continues. Although the ‘budget’ price has gone up in recent years, the new 607 S3 is still B&W’s smallest and most reasonably priced stereo speaker. It replaces the award-winning 607 S2 Anniversary Edition speakers and offers a far better performance.
A brand-new 25mm titanium decoupled double dome tweeter, a redesigned elongated tube loading system, an upgraded motor assembly for the 13cm Continuum mid/bass driver, better-quality crossover components, and stronger cabinet bracing are just a few of the many upgrades made to the 607 S3. Both of the drivers overlap to improve integration, while the use of titanium means more refined and detailed high frequencies.
The footprint remains the same and they’re ideal for smaller spaces. Partner them carefully to balance out a somewhat forward, excitable treble performance, and you’ll be rewarded with a terrifically detailed, rhythmically cohesive, agile, and energetic sound. The overall presentation is more open-sounding than before, while the treble performance is so much sweeter and more refined. For their size and price level, each note lands with precision and they even hold dynamic interest at low volume. Basslines are pulled taut and while they don’t go as bone-shatteringly deep as bigger speakers (or as big as the bigger 606 S3, below), they do land with impact. Overall, they’re just incredibly fun to listen to.
As we wrote in our review: “These talented speakers bring to life songs that we know and listen to over and over again while assessing, including Alt-J’s Breezeblocks, Bruce Springsteen’s Terry’s Song, and John Williams’ Jurassic Park theme. Their music is agile, well-structured, and rhythmically consistent.
Additionally, the Triangle Borea BR03 needs to be considered. Because they give a large sense of scale for their size, they are ideal for filling small areas. But the B&Ws appeal to us due to their divisive aspect and rather peaky treble.
Pros
Improved clarity, refinement and openness
Punchy, dynamic and lively sound
Cons
Sweet treble can sound a touch forward
4.Elac Debut B5.2
Elac’s Debut B5.2 speakers are among the company’s best offerings; the amiable and reasonably priced pair provides excellent performance for those on a tight budget.
For the price, the Elac Debut B5.2 performs admirably. The speakers are sturdy, easy to position, and capable of handling any music you put in front of them. They can handle it all with their dynamic expression, detail resolution, and tonal complexity. They also have enough range in their skills to improve even further with a system that is more expensive than they naturally are. They’re great for this kind of money.
“These are expressive performers who deliver sound with a precision and cohesion that’s rare for this level,” we stated in our initial review. The earlier debuts were well-timed.but these ones go even further, conveying the changes of musical momentum beautifully.”
To put it briefly, Elac has altered nearly every aspect of the new Debut speakers. The cabinet’s volume is comparable to what it was previously, but its dimensions vary by around 2 cm in every direction. In an effort to appear more sophisticated and less visually intrusive, they have grown taller (34 cm), slimmer (18 cm), and deeper (23 cm). These modifications, in our opinion, have been successful in giving the Debut B5.2s a more contemporary appearance.
The 13cm mid/bass unit has also been completely redesigned, with a new cone made of aramid fibers and a new form to increase damping and rigidity. Most people will consider it a trivial feature that the dust cover is now convex instead of concave, but there are advantages at the upper end of the driver’s operating range.
The bass is adjusted via a reflex port, just as the majority of competitors. This has been moved to the front panel on the new Debut to make placement easier by reducing the sensitivity of the speakers to their closeness to the rear wall.
Despite being concealed by a unique grille, the tweeter is a significant improvement over the previous model. With better dispersion and a top-end response that reportedly reaches 35 kHz, it is now a wide surround design. We anticipate far more top-end sparkle and openness than the last one, which peaked at only 20 kHz.
Elac’s engineers have responded to these new drivers’ favorable demands for a better working foundation by creating a more solid, braced MDF casing. This is asserted to display fewer resonances and add less distortion to the sound than that found on the previous model. Connection to the amplifier is through a pair of solid single-wire terminals.
Pros
Detailed and organised sound
Solid build
Cons
Tough competition
5.KEF LS50 Meta
One of our top picks for speakers is the KEF LS50 Meta, which provides excellent value for the money. They might not appear all that different from the ordinary LS50 of the previous generation, and they aren’t in many respects. We agree that it’s a high-quality, well-built speaker, so the firm chose not to alter the exquisitely designed shell after finding that there wasn’t much room for improvement.
The LS50’s recognizable Uni-Q driver array, which houses the tweeter in the mid/bass unit’s throat, was the one component that KEF determined required enhancement. This has been completely redesigned, incorporating all of the improvements KEF has made over the last eight years and introducing a novel solution in the form of Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT), which is KEF’s method of handling the sound that emanates from the back of the 25mm aluminium tweeter dome.
It quickly becomes apparent that these LS50 Meta speakers are significantly better than the originals, offering a new degree of precision and clarity that the originals could only suggest. They are therefore excellent all-around players. With incredibly clear and complex high frequencies, the new Meta technology proves its value, and they sound balanced and smooth. A fantastic performance is produced by the combination of a punchy bass, subtle dynamics, and deft timing.
In our assessment, we stated: “For a speaker of this size, there is a considerable amount of muscle and large-scale dynamics are handled well. Unless volume levels are excessive, these artists are calm and sophisticated and rarely sound anxious. They complement a wide range of partnered amplifiers and are excellent all-around players.
The LS50 and the LS50 Meta are identical in many aspects and have the same appearance. The business thought about making changes to that exquisitely designed enclosure but decided there wasn’t much room for improvement.The curving front panel, which is composed of Dough Moulding Compound, a polyester resin mixed with glass fiber and calcium carbonate, continues to provide an incredibly strong and well-controlled base for the Uni-Q drive unit array, and the cabinet’s shape and dimensions remain functional.
MDF, which makes up the remainder of the box, is meticulously damped and heavily braced to reduce resonances. Mineral White, Carbon Black, Titanium Grey, and a Royal Blue Special Edition are the four finishes offered for the LS50 Meta.
The rear panel is the only visible modification, as it has been tidied up. The fixing holes for the front baffle retention bolts have disappeared, and there has also been some cosmetic detailing to make it all look neater.
Pros
Exceptional sonic transparency
Subtle and precise presentation
Cons
Don’t place them in a bookshelf or up against a wall
How we test bookshelf speakers
In order to determine a star rating for the review and the ranking of these five-star performers in our buying recommendations, we always compare products to similarly priced class leaders during our testing process. This is because we evaluate products based on their performance per pound. Therefore, we compare a new pair of standmounters to the similarly priced KEF LS50 Meta and PMC Prodigy 1 on this list to evaluate how they perform in comparison to those class leaders.
In order to evaluate bookshelf speakers, we frequently use them in two or more systems: our top-tier reference system, which shows how well they sound when fed the most precise signals, and a more affordable one to test how well they function in real-world scenarios with realistic partnering equipment. Our choice of test music is varied, too, to see how pairs sound when playing a variety of different genres and styles of music.