Bookshelf speakers are known for their vintage durable designs and quality sound. In this post, we have listed the best bookshelf speakers under 500.
Moreover, bookshelf speakers can be stereo speakers for your turntable or can be put in a home theater set-up from the left/right to the back.
It can be placed on your desk or floors for background music for your computer. Bookshelf speakers provide superior audio output in a compact range.
The best bookshelf speakers under $500 deliver high fidelity sound thereby delivering an immersive hearing experience.
Bookshelf speakers have elegant appearances which complement most of the home decor as well.
The key is to look for bookshelf speakers with quality sound and smart features. After scouring the internet for days, we have curated a list of the 19 best bookshelf speakers under 500 that you should consider in 2021.
Top 3 Best Bookshelf Speakers Under 500
1. Audioengine A5+
What We Like
- High-fidelity sound
- Bluetooth aptX-HD
- Custom aramid fiber woofers and silk tweeters
What Is Missing
- Standalone low-end extension for bass-heavy tracks.
2. PSB Alpha P5
What We Like
- Good bass
- Transparent sound
- Does not bend at massive volumes
What Is Missing
- Average cabinet layout
3. Edifier R2000DB
What We Like
- Bluetooth
- Wireless Controls
- MDF Wooden Enclosure
What Is Missing
- Controls are mounted on the rear side.
Best Bookshelf Speakers Under 500
- 1. Audioengine A5+
- 2. PSB Alpha P5
- 3. Edifier R2000DB
- 4. Klipsch RP – 600M
- 5. Polk Audio A3
- 6. ELAC Debut 2.0
- 7. Triangle Borea BR03
- 8. Bose 201
- 9. NHT C Series C-3
- 10. Edifier R1850DB
- 11. Micca MB42
- 12. Mackie CR
- 13. Sony SSC55
- 14. Yamaha NS – 6490
- 15. Edifier R1700BT
- 16. Pioneer SP-BS22
- 17. KEF Q150
- 18. Bose 301
- 19. Klipsch RP – 500M
- Best Bookshelf Speakers Under 500
- 1. Audioengine A5+ Powered Bookshelf Speaker Pair
- 2. PSB Alpha P5 Bookshelf Speaker
- 3. Edifier R2000DB Bluetooth Bookshelf Speaker
- 4. Klipsch RP – 600M Bookshelf Speakers
- 5. Polk Audio LSiM 703 Bookshelf speakers
- 6. ELAC Debut 2.0 Bookshelf Speaker
- 7. Triangle Borea BR03 Bookshelf Speakers
- 8. Bose 201
- 9. NHT C Series C-3 3-Way Bookshelf Speaker
- 10. Edifier R1850DB Bookshelf Speakers
- 11. Micca MB42 Bookshelf Speaker
- 12. Mackie CR Series Bookshelf Speaker
- 13. Sony SSC55
- 14. Yamaha NS – 6490 Bookshelf Speaker
- 15. Edifier R1700BT Bookshelf Speaker
- 16. Pioneer SP-BS22 Bookshelf Speaker
- 17. KEF Q150 Bookshelf Speakers
- 18. Bose 301
- 19. Klipsch RP – 500M Bookshelf Speakers
- Buying Guide
1. Audioengine A5+ Powered Bookshelf Speaker Pair
Audioengine A5+
Key Highlights
- High-fidelity sound
- Bluetooth aptX-HD
- Custom aramid fiber woofers and silk tweeters
Audioengine was established in 2005 and is an independent speaker company based in Austin, Texas which designs some of the best bookshelf speakers at affordable prices.
The A5+ flagship luxury bookshelf speaker won various nominations and awards from audiophiles and critics all over the world for the sound they were able to deliver.
Audioengine speaker is made of carbonized solid bamboo and is built as an high-performance speaker.
Moreover, these speakers can be conveniently connected to a computer, laptop, turntable, TV and Gaming console.
This is an efficient speaker system with integrated bookshelf styles such as power amps, 50W/channel RMS, enhanced thermal administration, tailored kevlar woofers with silk woofer, and a firm bamboo frame.
The flagship A5+ is ideal for your PC, living room and staple for the library system.
A5+ low-end is deep resonating and accurate to the music recorded in the studio.
The AudioEngine speakers deliver punchy bass which makes these speakers ideal for hip hop, edm and bass heavy genres.
Movie sound effects on these speakers provide a realistic viewing experience.
Audioengine A5+ offers dynamic output, art efficiency, and closes the gap between home and PC music.
The AudioEngine A5+ speakers include Bluetooth 5.0 connection which offers stable connectivity.
Additionally, these speakers support aptX-HD audio codec which supports high res files.
Overall, the AudioEngine A5+ speakers provide room filling sound at an affordable price which makes these speakers one of the best bookshelf speakers under 500.
Pros
- Maximum 150W power
- Manually adjusted input voltages
- AB monolithic form dual-class amplifier
Cons
- Standalone low-end extension for bass-heavy tracks.
2. PSB Alpha P5 Bookshelf Speaker
PSB Alpha P5
The PSB Alpha P5 bookshelf speakers have a good reputation in Canada for their outstanding sound quality and affordable prices.
Moreover, these speakers have an enormous amount of depth and clarity which seperates these speakers from the others.
Additionally, these PSB speakers have a 5.25 inch polypropylene woofer, wide enough to ignore the external subwoofer for most listeners.
The newly built 3⁄4 inch black, aluminum anodized cup woofer has a cooling of the ferrofluid that eliminates dynamic compression.
Furthermore, with these cup woofer the sound produced is incredibly clean even on the high notes.
The PSB speakers sound clear without the sound of shrillness, that you might foresee at this price point.
The low-frequency expansion is deep and can achieve room-shaking bass because of the double layer of voice coils.
The bass-reflex design comes with a rear-firing port which enhances the clarity of the low notes.
The mids on these speakers are detailed and accurate which makes the hearing experience immersive.
The brand PSB is not commonly known however the sound quality is top notch.
Pros
- Good bass
- Transparent sound
- Does not bend at massive volumes
Cons
- Average cabinet layout
3. Edifier R2000DB Bluetooth Bookshelf Speaker
Edifier R2000DB
Edifier R2000DB are versatile speakers that provide spectacular sound with multiple connectivity options.
The Bluetooth connectivity of these speakers is stable with minimum dropouts and quick pairing.
Additionally, the speakers have two auxiliary inputs due to which they can be attached to two computers at the same time.
With its specific optical input, it is possible to connect any system with a digital output to your speakers.
The Edifier speakers include a special optical approach that allows you to connect the speakers to any computer with a digital output.
The speakers have an encased MDF wooden enclosure to eliminate accoustic resonance.
The high gloss black top finish adds a touch of elegance to the speakers.
They are particularly well matched for receivers, game consoles, TV sets, and other related gadgets.
Pros
- Good appearance
- Easy remote control
- Standard performance
Cons
- Controls are mounted on the rear side.
4. Klipsch RP – 600M Bookshelf Speakers
Klipsch RP – 600M
Key Highlights
- Bass-Reflex via Rear-Firing
- Spun Copper Cerametallic Woofers
- Dual binding posts for bi-wire/bi-amp
Klipsch RP – 600M Bookshelf speakers offer exceptional home theater experience sound.
The Klipsch sound signature is popular in the audiophile community because of its brilliant tone, encapsulating sound, and strong dynamics make it well suited for movies, music and games.
The mids and highs of these speakers are detailed without any distortion.
The vented tweeter lowers standing waves behind the tweeter diaphragm to deliver a high smooth frequency reproduction.
The titanium tweeters light weight composition exceeds the performance of silk, polymer and aluminium tweeters.
The Klipsch speakers come with a compressed molded silicone face which is matted to the 90×90 Tractrix horn to lower the horn resonance for a smooth frequency response.
The cones of these speakers are matted with a dual layer with a copper wound voice coil for spectacular conductivity.
The reference woofers of the speakers are housed in a non resonating stamped steel basked which is installed to a large magnet motor to deliver low distortion and exceptional effeciency.
Additionally, these speakers deliver incredible acoustics to fill your room with loud, clear sound and punchy bass.
The RP-600M is highly responsive and powerful, so you won’t need a giant amplifier considering its scale.
Another amazing feature is that because of the dual connecting posts, you can operate a bicycle wiring and a bi-amp speaker.
Pros
- Bass-Reflex via Rear-Firing
- Spun Copper Cerametallic Woofers
- Dual binding posts for bi-wire/bi-amp
Cons
- The signature sound of Klipsch can be too vivid for certain people.
5. Polk Audio LSiM 703 Bookshelf speakers
Polk Audio LSiM 703
Polk Audio LSiM 703 bookshelf speakers are known as high performance with advanced features which makes these bookshelf speakers
The Polk Audio speakers have a super cell aerated polypropylene materials which are used in the sound drivers to provide high quality sound.
Moreover, these speakers include Dynamic sound engine which provides a wide dispersion, higher power and clarity.
The woofers of the speakers have their dedicated PowerPort to deliver deep resonating bass, eliminate distortion and rich range of sound for movies, tv and music.
Moreover, you can pair a center channel to these two speakers to create an exception surround setup with immersive sound.
The Polk Audio bookshelf speakers provide high quality and comes with heavy duty enclosure construction on the bottom and back to eliminate cabinet resonances.
The Lsim703 bookshelf speakers deliver a wide deep and dynamic soundstage which makes these speakers ideal for movies, music and tv shows.
Moreover, the additional proprietary 1 inch ring radiator tweeter maximizes pinpoint detail for realistic imaging.
Pros
- Powerport Technology
- Dynamic Sonic Engine
- Exceptional Audio Accuracy
Cons
- Speakers are heavy
6. ELAC Debut 2.0 Bookshelf Speaker
ELAC Debut 2.0
The German audio manufacturer ELAC has created the best telephone collaboration with iconic loudspeaker Andrew Jones to produce a device that can compete with some of the big brands in the market.
The smooth audio profile does not artificially enhance or boost the bass thereby providing a realistic hearing experience.
Everything sounds true to the source which is why these speakers are one of the best bookshelf speakers under 500.
Moreover, you can hear the overuse of high hats of pop culture, several of the major labels such as Klipsch and Polk Audio have a vibrant sound.
Elac advises that any amplifier that supplies up to 120 watts per channel can be wired to these speakers.
Its sensitivity of 87dB and frequency response of 44Hz-35000Hz mean that it would have no issues filling an entire room.
The new tweeters come with Wide-dispersion waveguide which provides the best hearing experience.
The cabinets of the speakers include internal bracing to reduce vibrations and minimize the influence on the overall sound.
Overall these bookshelf speakers come with a durable stylish design and high quality sound which makes these speakers one of the best speakers you should consider in 2021.
Pros
- Affordable
- Regular sound
- High-quality construction
Cons
7. Triangle Borea BR03 Bookshelf Speakers
Triangle Borea
Key Highlights
- Beautiful design
- Clear mids and sparkling highs
- Moving ports provide versatility in positioning
The Borea Triangle speakers are popular in the audiophile community because of their high quality audio.
If you dont have trouble investing additional dollars for extremely informative and detailed sound then these new speakers are worth considering.
The bass of these speakers is punchy because of the 6.5 inch midrange/bass driver which highlights the low frequencies.
The woofer of the 1 inch silk dome offers clean and accurate highs with minimum distortion.
The two front ports of the cabinet have no sound gain over one. However, they add a classic finish to the speakers.
The Borea BR03 speaker has a premium texture with a broader sound stage and higher separation, though its precision and tonal balance are identical.
These Hifi speakers come with a 5 year warranty which is more than what regular speakers offer.
The build quality of these speakers is top notch due to the 20mm MDF and special DVAS cabinet reinforcement technology.
The Traingle Borea speaker system significantly eliminates the directivity regardless of your listening location which is impressive.
The accuracy, size, and pacing of the BR03 won’t leave you disappointed when you’re able to pay extra for high quality speakers.
Pros
- Durable build quality
- Clear mids and bass
- Sparkling highs
- Moving ports provide versatility in positioning.
Cons
- Priced at a premium
8. Bose 201
Bose 201
Key Highlights
- Unique design
- Stereo targeting woofers
- Direct/Reflecting speaker technology
Bose 201 Direct/Reflecting Bookshelf speaker is one the most common redesigning bookshelf speaker available with quality music/home theatre performance.
The trendy 201-V speakers are ideal for a small living room, dorm, or work space.
Their sleek appearances makes them perfect for every decor.
The Bose speakers are best in pairs, for stereo or home theatre, with superior loud sound enough to encapsulate small or medium sized rooms.
The speakers have a single 6.5-inch woofer and flared slot port.
This construction is specially designed to align woofer and port geometry to reduce air turbulence.
The Bose speakers deliver deep bass, particularly when you listen to music at high volumes.
The small size and horizontal structure offer the possibility of supple positioning.
Each 201 woofer requires a long hiking trip and a highly responsive two-stereo-woofer.
The speaker is machine tested to achieve supreme quality and detailed sound which seperates these speakers in the speaker department.
Moreover, these speakers include relevant wide-scope ‘Stereo Everywhere’ technology which blends detailed and mirrored sound to fill a broad musical genre with your listening environment.
Dialog sounds clear, sound effects are sensitive and the soundstage is wide.
With an exactly angled, 2.5-inch proprietary stereo targeting woofers you can experience immersive hearing sessions from sophisticated DVDs to classical records.
Overall these Bose speakers are able to deliver high quality sound with minimum distortion which makes these speakers one of the best bookshelf speakers under 500.
Pros
- Unique design
- Stereo targeting woofers
- Direct/Reflecting speaker technology
Cons
- Bass could have been better
9. NHT C Series C-3 3-Way Bookshelf Speaker
NHT C Series
Key Highlights
- Premium Aluminum Drivers
- Acoustic Suspension Design
- Excellent dispersion and detail
NHT stands for “Now Hear This.” The C-3 substitutes the famous classic third of the NHT and has a 3-way configuration.
There is a wooden cone of 6.5 inch aluminum, 2 inch aluminum dome, and 1 inch woofer in each cabinet which is designed to deliver loud sound.
NHT was known to for their insulated cabinets with audio suspension, but there are no ports or openings for the microphones which can be a let down for some users.
It not only has certain features that minimize distortion, but it also offers a large spot, which ensures that it sounds fine anywhere the listener is located in the house.
These speakers have been proven to sound premium without any recession.
Moreover, the tone of the speakers is precise and the samples are minimally different.
The frequency response of 55Hz-20kHz has a good roll-off at the top.
The wider box and nominal impedance of 6 ohms mean you want a reliable amp to balance the speakers for an optimum hearing experience.
Additionally, it is recommended to mix luxury speakers with a subwoofer, but the volume of bass won’t disappoint audiophiles who are not bass lovers.
Pros
- Premium Aluminum Drivers
- Acoustic Suspension Design
- Excellent dispersion and detail
Cons
- No mic port
10. Edifier R1850DB Bookshelf Speakers
Edifier R1850DB
Edifier R1850DB Bookshelf Speaker provides an outstanding wireless experience.
The several networking choices of these speakers allow you to connect it with your smartphone, device, or notebook.
This dynamic 2.0 activated bookshelf speaker with an MDF frame which damps unwanted vibrations to provide the best hearing experience.
The Edifier speakers come with Bluetooth 4.2 version which makes it easy to connect these speakers to smartphones and tablets.
The woofer of these speakers provide high-quality sound clarity and punchy bass.
The bass highlights the soundeffects of the movies which makes these speakers ideal for movies, tv shows and music.
Moreover, you can add a subwoofer to the other woofer output and you can convert the device from a 2.0 to 2.1 music setup effectively.
Pros
- Bluetooth 4.2
- Removable grill
- 2 year warranty
- Wireless remote control
Cons
- Needs AC power outlets
11. Micca MB42 Bookshelf Speaker
Micca MB42
Key Highlights
- Excellent vocal clarity
- Neutral sound signature
- Woven carbon fiber woofer
The Micca MB42 Bookshelf Speaker is a comparatively expensive Micca Model because of the high-quality construction of the top.
These passive speakers provide a fantastic surrounding left and right sound.
These Micca speakers have premium components and durable construction which makes these speakers stand out from their competitors.
Moreover, these speakers are extremely loud despite their comparatively small footprint (5.8 inch X 6.5 inch) and their altitude is just 9.5inch.
Their maximum power per speaker is around 75 watts.
The enclosure is ported with a high MDF rating and a wood-grain vinyl lining, to have the finest bass audio quality.
The cones in a woofer are constructed of fabricated rubber carbon fibers to remove excessive vibration.
The woofer has a 0.75 inch silk-dome high-performance tweeter, and is provided with a filtering condenser.
They cover a relaxed frequency response together and have a balanced overall sound spectrum.
Pros
- Excellent vocal clarity
- Neutral sound signature
- Extended bass response
- Woven carbon fiber woofer
Cons
- No bluetooth
12. Mackie CR Series Bookshelf Speaker
Mackie CR
Mackie CR Series Bookshelf Speaker is another striking Mackies CR type monitor pair with the colorful fixings.
They are produced of high-performance sound components with a rich depth, ideal for all multimedia applications.
The drivers have high performance sound and quick handling.
It is a rated 2-way package with a three-inch woofer and a specially built speaker system that is located in a wood-filled wardrobe.
It has a front panel volume control and a headphone port.
Moreover, these speakers can be connected to smartphones, tablets and other devices with the Aux cable.
They have a low power output of 28 watts which is why they are a low power alternative.
Pros
- Studio-quality design
- Premium build quality
- Ultra-wide frequency range
Cons
- No bluetooth
13. Sony SSC55
Sony SSC55
The Sony SSC55 Bookshelf Speaker is a newly revamped version of their first-class series.
These Sony speakers are able to provide digital music at another level because of High Resolution Audio by capturing music at higher rate than CDs.
Hence the speakers are able to increase both the bitrate accuracy of each sample and audio samples per second to provide a near perfect sound of the music.
The speakers are able to deliver clarity and depth in all audio.
Moreover, the 3-driver bookshelf speakers have a rigid 5.12 in MRC Woofer for dynamic bass.
The polyester fiber included in the 0.98 inch soft dome main tweeter delivers authentic clear sound.
With the help of advanced sound absorbing felt and precise acoustic tuning the rear sound pressure is eliminated from the tweeters to provide a natural sounding vocals.
Pros
- 3-driver speakers
- High precision tweeter
- High-Resolution Audio
Cons
- No Bluetooth
14. Yamaha NS – 6490 Bookshelf Speaker
Yamaha NS – 6490
These Yamaha 3-way speakers are another designed for stereo or home theater applications.
These speakers are designed for larger systems because of the sound quality they provide which is impressive.
Due to its unique 3-way configuration, which involves a high-performance woofer, a medium-range driver, and a balanced dome tweeter, they have a wide frequency response.
These speakers are made of high-quality materials.
The Yamaha 3 way speakers deliver room filling rich sound with an ultra wide frequency response.
The speakers are magnetically shielded to suit home theater applications.
The speakers have a perfect front and rear surroundings. Moreover, it can be added to a second room as a replacement.
Pros
- Powerful sound
- 3 way speakers
- 45Hz to 23Khz frequency response
Cons
- No bluetooth
15. Edifier R1700BT Bookshelf Speaker
Edifier R1700BT
Edifier R1700BT are versatile Bluetooth active pair bookshelf speakers.
They feature some of the popular features such as their sophisticated digital signal processing and Dynamic Range Control to ensure consistent distortion-free audio.
The high-performance bass driver has a diameter of 4 inch and has a compound blend of the highest consistency.
The silk dome woofer is 19mm long and suitable for optimized cooling.
The undesirable echo of its acoustic wood enclosure is dampened by its outlined bass reflex port, which features a flawed, facing front.
You can find handy control panels on the active speaker in the pair, allowing users to change their equalization between bass and triple, and of course their speed.
They also have wireless capability, and Bluetooth pairing is straightforward.
The 4-inch bass driver delivers clear highs and rich lows which is impressive.
Moreover, the Edifier speakers come with additional cables which makes it easy to connect these speakers to the Tv, smartphones and tablets.
Pros
- 2 year warranty
- Remote control
- Value for money
- Wood enclosure design
Cons
- Warranty applicable only in USA and Canada
16. Pioneer SP-BS22 Bookshelf Speaker
Pioneer SP-BS22
Pioneer is renowned for its excellent audio and this set is a credit for it.
They were designed by world-famous and renowned Andrew Jones with great care and packed in some luxury quality aspects.
They are the first graded 2-way set of speakers designated for the woofer.
The 4-inch woofer as a newly structured surface now carries over-sized magnets and an opened polar portion, which boosts the bass and other dimensional capacities.
Each driver is made of manually chosen composites that are appropriate for their specified frequency spectrum areas.
The most important changes are the new 6-element Hybrid Crossover, which works smoothly between the two and provides a wide spectrum of high-definition standard intermediates.
The Pioneer SP-BS22 speakers utilize a premium 6 component high quality cross over to ensure high quality sound.
Pros
- Bass is good
- Curved cabinet design
- Crossover technology
- High Efficiency Soft Dome tweeter
Cons
- Design could have been better
17. KEF Q150 Bookshelf Speakers
KEF Q150
The KEF Q150 Bookshelf Speakers are newest iteration of KEF award winning series.
They have a combined energy of 100 watts per speaker, which has an output between 55Hz and 28,000 Hz.
The KEF speakers have an 8 ohm nominal impedance.
The Uni-Q aluminium tweeter is 5.25 inch and the tweeter is 1 inch aluminium dome.
The KEF speakers are passive speakers due to which they need a receiver to drive them.
KEF continues developing, researching and manufacturing its signature goods from its original location. Its other goods are now made in China, including the KEF Q150.
The KEF Q150 speakers are fine and authentic HI-FI speakers installed in vinyl-covered cabinets with high-quality parts.
The drivers of Uni-Q sound like jet engines which look classic, grim, even a little aesthetic.
These speakers can’t be wrapped in grills which can be a let down for some users.
The recently revamped 5.25 inch Uni-Q Array has a new, strengthened suspension in an expanded surround.
This Uni-Q Array led to a healthier bass supply with improved numbers.
In addition, a new cone structure has increased midrange clearance and improved bass detail and efficiency in the auxiliary bass radiator.
Their improved functionality helps make the trim substantially cleaner and to replicate sound more reliably in all frequencies.
In addition, the release of new tweeter, damping has further increased the efficiency of the lower peaks.
More internal damping and the repositioning of the reflex in the rear of the speaker have also helped to minimise vibration, which with aluminium drivers is still more noticeable, and increase visibility.
These bookshelf speakers can deliver true HI-FI quality sound in combination with the right amplifier.
Pros
- Uni-Q Sound
- CFD Designed Port
- Q Series Optimised
- Wide frequency response
Cons
- No Bluetooth
18. Bose 301
Bose 301
The Bose 301-V Bookshelf speakers come in horizontal design due to which they fit easily on bookshelves.
The tweeter faces away, and the other face back.
The spatial dispersion speaker lens provides a wide distribution and smooth higher frequency of sound.
Spatial Dispersion speaker lens creates a smoother high frequency spatial response and wider distribution of sound
They have no magnet shielding, so at least 24″ from a TV or computer display must be mounted.
These speakers are passive and have a nominal impedance of 4 to 8 ohms with a warranty for five years.
You have to give it to Bose; they don’t fear doing it differently.
They have taken their own path and tried something new with the Bose 301-V Stereo Bookshelf speakers.
However, the architecture of these speakers is a cool improvement from the traditional box concepts, which have churned out in their millions, with little consideration.
These Bose speakers provide impeccable sound and have an elegant appearance.
The Bose 301-V is fitted with two tweets, one forward and a rear faces, offering high frequencies with reasonable visibility.
Their range in the higher frequencies is clean with two tweeters.
The middle is well articulated, and the eight-inch woofer provides a deep resonating bass.
The sound is high quality, but without a strong emphasis it merely sounds dispersed.
The machine disperses a vast area of sound tremendously, but it produces a slightly confounding sound stage.
Their theory is that higher frequency sounds travel more directly than bass sounds.
Therefore, behind the speaker a rear tweeter represents, adjust the sound characteristics to avoid listening from a single position.
Pros
- Spacious Sound
- Removeable grill
- Good build-quality
- Stereo everywhere
Cons
- No magnetic shielding
19. Klipsch RP – 500M Bookshelf Speakers
Klipsch RP – 500M
Key Highlights
- Rear Tractrix ports
- Removable magnetic grille
- Copper cerametallic woofers
The Klipsch RP-500M Bookshelf speaker is 6-15/16′′ x 13–1/2′′ and weighs 12 livres, respectively.
The RMS is 75 watts per speaker with a maximum power of 300 watts, and the frequency response ranges from 48Hz to 25000Hz.
A CerametallicTM cone with a 1-inch titanium tweeter and a Tractrix Horn are available 5-1/4 inch.
A new bass-reflex tractrix port on the rear is also available.
The speaker grills can be separated from the microphones.
These are passive speakers with a nominal impedance of 8 ohm with a promise of five years.
The RP-500M Bookshelf Speakers at Klipsch have tons of noise and can be heard in large-scale rooms too.
Briefly looking at the concept and production efficiency, the Klipsch R-500M is both well built and designed.
Copper is spun, and the cone in the horn looks incredible.
Klipsch are long-standing supporters of horn technology. In R500M, the speakers cleverly use it to channel high frequencies to the listener directly while reducing echoes that might falsely colour the sound.
The Tractrix horn also improves performance and dynamics that transmit precise and accurate sound at all volumes.
The higher centre is well-defined, but the lower centres are not as reliable and a little more difficult to distinguish in the combination.
RP – 500M Bookshelf speakers emit heavy, small distortion thumping bass, at higher volumes.
The rear tractrix corn-shaped port, which effectively directs airflow to and from speaker for maximum performance, is to a large extent achieved.
Pros
- Rear Tractrix ports
- Removable magnetic grille
- Copper cerametallic woofers
- Premium scratch-resistant finish
Cons
- Lower mids can be stronger
Buying Guide
A bookshelf speaker is a type of speaker built to be put or elevated on a shelf.
Although they serve as a stand-alone loudspeaker pair on a 2.0 system by themselves, many are equipped for the larger systems in the left and right front or rear environment.
Sometimes the bass is not as deep as you may like or may not be adequately loud in the mix, since bookshelf speakers are typically compact and the bass has to be optimized in a limited area.
Many manufacturers battle this with the use of ported and vented box designs. This uses a funnel for the new and continuous intake of oxygen.
Different types of Speakers
Speakers were around for quite a while and initially, they had a single driver and therefore a single driver type.
Over time, various improvements have been made to make the speakers broad, loud, bass, and so forth loudspeakers.
However, since the audio quality is a task for sound engineering, they recognize that sound isolation is an integral aspect.
To this purpose, multiple speakers must concentrate on creating different sounds.
In other words, each speaker can only produce sounds within a small frequency range to maximize sound quality.
This encourages a motor so that it doesn’t have to play too many sounds simultaneously creating sound interference, to specialize within the frequency spectrum.
As a consequence, three different speakers are the most common set-up for the balanced tone, where one is in charge of high-frequency sound transmission and the other two for mid-range and bass respectively.
The three speakers are normally located in an individual cabinet often referred to as a loudspeaker set up to produce an overall balanced tone.
The loudspeaker is typically designed to cover some kind of speaker, covering the entire spectrum of human hearing, from 20 to 20,000 Hz.
Tweeter
A tweeter is the smallest type of loudspeaker often referred to as a triple speaker.
The speaker is designed to replicate the upper-frequency spectrum of the audible range.
It varies between tweeters, but the sound frequency usually varies between 2,000 Hz and 20,000 Hz.
Specific tweeters can produce up to 100,000 Hz, but those sound waves cannot hear.
The word “tweeter” is derived from a “tweet” meaning high pitch noises made by certain birds.
The diaphragm must vibrate more to generate high-frequency sounds, making the smaller speaker size necessary.
Indeed the speaker diaphragm needs to travel further, making the diaphragm a crucial component for the production of higher frequency sounds.
Larger drivers cannot travel rapidly and hence cannot produce high-frequency sounds of high quality.
Modern tweeter diaphragms consist of silk, film, or manufacture of polyester, aluminum, and other special alloys or even titanium.
The diaphragm is placed on the wide end of a metal rim that enables the rotation of the cone, which is the same as a suspension.
The basket is attached with a flexible metal brace, which facilitates bow motions and maintains them safely.
The three speakers are primarily positioned in the central enclosure alongside the other speakers, but tweeters are set up to sit in their semi-independent unit.
Mid-Range Driver
A speaker with the mid-range is a motor sometimes named squawker. It is equipped with a frequency range between 250 and 2000 Hz.
The driver has cone form much of the time, but you can find drivers of the dome type, but they are less common.
The configuration is simple, most often with the diaphragm fitted with a voice coil on the neck and the cone surface on the exterior side.
Paper is the most common material used for mid-range cones. Resins and polymers are often used more commonly than paper, as they boost the vibration damping.
The drivers may also be made from fiberglass, light metal alloys from carbon fiber, or also from Carbon fiber.
The most important aspect of the sound spectrum is handled by medium-range speakers.
Next, the medium-range is normally the fastest of all frequency ranges because the majority of the sounds we hear fall within this range every day.
Further, human ears were conditioned to quickly detect inconsistencies and distortions due to continuously hearing mid-frequency sounds.
Secondly, most musical instruments are placed within the range of the human voice, which is vital to the general sound quality of the album or soundtrack.
Currently, the majority of common sound playback systems including radio, TV sets, and many others have only one driver.
It is necessary to understand that only the reproduction of medium frequencies will produce acceptable sound efficiency.
The same cannot be said for high or low frequencies since the complete sound perception gave is not realistic or usable even if repeated together.
Low Range or Bass
The low range frequency of woofers and subwoofers is transmitted.
The term derives from the barking of the dog or a woof that uses lower frequency frequencies, as opposed to the tweeting of birds that arise at the top of the scale.
The variations in the frequency spectrum are intended to replicate with former frequencies usually running between 40 Hz and 500 Hz, and latter with sub 100 Hz.
Many commercial speakers merge woofers and subwoofers into one speaker so when you step up in sound fidelity the two are isolated to make the sound purer, smoother, and slimmer.
Full-Range Driver
As the title indicates, a wide range of speakers has been built to cover the whole audio spectrum from low to high frequencies.
The difficulty for a full speaker is physical constraints and limitations, which often preclude themselves when contemplating the effective replication of low or high-frequency ranges.
A lot of adjustments have to be taken to provide as much of the audible frequency spectrum as possible.
One of the main factors is to make sure it is minimal, as physical air flow must be produced to reach low frequencies.
Around the same time, the diaphragm can be too large to produce an appropriate bandwidth for the high end of the audio spectrum.
Thus, the most general size is between 3″ and 8″ on the entire spectrum of drivers.
The central configuration is like most drivers and is equipped with a single voice coil that drives the diaphragm.
Additional technical decisions are often applied to overcome some of the physical constraints mentioned above.
One such example is the horn or Whizzer cone at the narrow end of the diaphragm to facilitate high-frequency reproduction (see image above).
Other options include the use of the dome rather than the conventional dust cap and much more.
The whole set of speakers is usually a compromise of sound quality, simplicity, and physical scale.
They are not especially well done with any frequency band, they can provide adequate amplitude and at times produce a slightly unreliable sound reproduction.
They are no superiors but a balance justified by numerous audio implementations where practicality is more critical than sound loyalty.
Woofers
A woofer, also known as a bass speaker, is a loudspeaker concept or driver with low-frequency sound amplification.
It most often has an efficient paper or different polymers electrodynamic motor.
At around 20 Hz in the lowest end of the human ear, woofers usually do not exhaust people’s listening capacity at 40 Hz and up.
The frequency of a woofer stretches to 3000 or even 5000 Hz in certain loudspeaker systems.
These speakers are referred to as ‘mid-woofers,’ usually used in home theatre systems where the subwoofer is mounted in its compartment.
They leave the lower reproduction to a subwoofer in realistic ways and take the frequency delivery of the woofer and mid-range speakers.
Woofers are usually bigger than most speakers in the box, heightened, and have slightly larger magnets.
The speaker must have a greater surface, raw electric energy, and hence the larger diaphragm and magnet to replicate the underside effectively.
The low-frequency amplification drives the magnet, which forces the diagram to create a mechanical airflow on the comparatively plane board.
This decreases vibration but is much greater compared to other drivers in the box.
Sub-Woofer
Subwoofers are typically full loudspeakers. It is meant for use in a separate enclosure and is geographically situated apart from the main high-frequency drivers.
The purpose of the subwoofer is for the bass or sub-bass to replicate the two to three octaves lower of the human ears.
The majority of human beings can record 20 Hz and more, where sub-woofers work, for consumer-grade items below 200 Hz and advanced studio-grade applications 100 Hz.
The bulk of subwoofers consist of a single speaker installed in a special lamp frame.
There are less traditional two-speaker subwoofer configurations, in which one speaker is operating in the opposite order from the other.
When the first speaker forces the air out of the cabinet, the second lets it in and vice versa.
Usually, the enclosure is made of natural wood to both ensure durable sound reproduction and aid low-end.
A port, passive radiator, closed cage, strand passport, whistle, or infinite baffle is feasible.
Studio Monitors
The studio monitors are the professional audiophile’s speaker of choice.
Know for their ability to play both singing and music plainly, studio monitors are optimized to listen or play instruments in a relaxed manner.
There are two kinds of monitors, powered and unpowered. The strong monitors just play and plug in the wall.
They seem to bring buzz to the speakers since they are powered internally.
Unaligned monitors (also known as passive studio monitors) need to be operated by a certain external source.
These are also the speakers you normally hear of from ancient times, two cords, one red and one charcoal. Wrap and screw them around a post.
They don’t have as much mood as the powerful speakers and don’t need a close outlet to position them.
They don’t necessarily get into pairs with a word of caution when purchasing studio monitors. Some are advertised separately, others are offered as a package.
Loudspeakers
The loudspeaker is the most popular speaker in the household. Since the dawn of radio, these have become a cornerstone of family life.
The only way to get sound from your TV or stereo is also for older generations.
Giant speakers on the floor are how the older generation grew up.
Nowadays, they also come in slim, fit in your sound pocket types. Or maybe you should go for a portable PA system somewhere in the middle.
The loudspeaker typically has a tweeter and a mid-range loudspeaker, such that many separate kinds of loudspeakers are not required to build a maximum scale.
They can be connected to the roof or the wall, and certain styles can also be built outside.
Many are powered, known as ‘active,’ while others require a PA-speaker amplifier.
They are often used in stage shows, karaoke, or some other use where a lot of land in the unique setting needs to be covered.
Computer Speakers
Computer speakers are small little speakers connected at the motherboard before machines first got speakers inside them.
They quickly become sound cards that would allow you to attach your headphones or very tiny desktop speakers.
The speakers are just not very effective, but back then you could function with only 8-bit, 16-bit sound.
The new generation of computer speakers is usually 2.1, which is suitable for your uncomfortable listener who only needs his Spotify or iTunes history.
There are 5.1 or even completely interactive 7.1 surround devices for the gaming enthusiast.
These primarily plug and play systems which are connected by a USB connector from the subway to the device, while the other satellite speakers are operated by the subwoofer.
Floor Standing Speakers
Cornerstone is a dramatic way to explain something, but the floor standing speaker describes it when it comes to speakers.
The standing speaker should form the basis for this configuration when shopping for a house theatre device or just a home studio style of setup for listening comfort.
They would be visible anywhere in the room at around four feet.
Imagine entering a Shaquille O’Neal room in it — it is important to put it! They come in endless combinations, with a vast variety of sounds, depending on the settings you require.
These speech forms provide a Tweeter, medium-range and woofer.
Some models incorporate even a sound subwoofer to the mix. Many standing speakers on the floor are powerless and need a receiver or amplifier.
Center Channel Speakers
Perhaps the middle speaker is the abnormality of the lot in respect to speech forms. It’s like a floor speaker standing right in front of or on top of your TV.
There isn’t any major need for the home studio because the studio speakers can give you better sound alone.
The added centre speaker will, however, enhance the atmosphere of the studio.
The middle speaker normally has 2 centre low speakers with a tweeter in the center (MTM).
In-wall Speakers
Quality speakers within or inside the wall can be a little hard to mount and they don’t necessarily make it easy to make money, but it is still something to walk from room to room and see your music around.
In other words, the wall/ceiling speaker is the best option for a home with premium floor space.
Professional construction is desirable and it is not a weak core to bring the wires into the ceiling, down the wall, and through the firewall.
For certain parts of the wall advanced equipment is required and a weekend is not enjoyable to go through the cellar.
Sizes and collections range from 2-way to 10 or more speakers.
Most of them have a cover that wraps the speaker flush in the wall and have high-quality sound on the floor of the seat.
On-wall Speakers
On-wall speakers ensure that you can not place them anywhere you want by putting huge holes in your ceiling or on your walls.
Through the placement of the speakers on the wall in a surrounded setting, you can resolve the need to buy floors with standing speakers completely.
Installation is simple for some models, including brackets. It becomes a difficult part to cover the cables.
They are available in different colors and designs so that it should not be a challenge to match your decor.
On the wall, there is an unpowered sort of speaker, so you need an amplifier or receiver to attach to them.
Satellite Speakers
Satellite speakers are smaller than most standing or bookshelf speakers. They are wired and must be powered as part of a machine.
This kind of speaker is mostly a midbass speaker with a tweeter because there is also a subwoofer.
The satellite speaker is a traditional energy source.
Now that all this additional detail is out of the way, satellite speakers are critical when buying a new device.
You get to pick which one will give you the sound quality you want for so many available settings.
Most models come with a support bracket, based on the amount of usable space, so you can match them from floor to ceiling.
Bluetooth Speakers
The Bluetooth speakers on the block, deliver the portability of the house and courtyard for your sound needs.
The Bluetooth WIFI speaker can access and deliver high-quality sound to your phone or stereo recipient.
You can take camping or sporting events in even bigger racing speakers.
Most Bluetooth speakers must be connected to an outlet, except the Bluetooth wireless speaker you can charge.
Surround Speakers
Surround speakers are a component of any device of home theatre. 5.1 and 7.1 numbers have different interpretations.
The standard machine has a left, right, and middle speaker without being so technical (LCR). In principle, 3 speakers face the audience or listener.
Surrounding the audiences are producing a 360° sound experience by adding 2 or more channels.
The same sound is sent to the right speaker at a time of multi-channel replay.
The central channel is the surrounding tube, the left and right front channels, the left, and the right-hand surround channels, and a subwoofer channel.
Hence, it’s only five speakers and a subwoofer. The 5.1 surround system integrates the audio from both sides into 2 speakers.
A configuration of 7.1 is the same as 5.1 but splits the rear and side audio into four speakers.
Outdoor Speakers
These kinds of speakers are weather-resistant and some are built to hide as rocks in your yard.
Depending on what you want outside you will buy them as systems and a single speaker.
Some devices include a subwoofer and multiple tweeters for the entire courtyard and patio.
The exterior speaker boxes stand up to heat and moisture as well as UV rays and the wires are attached to the speaker in a weatherproof shell.
Soundbars
We are not going to waste much time on soundbars.
This one is a combination of both speaker styles. They are essentially a middle speaker in the traditional sense.
It’s a flatter, horizontal standing speaker on the concrete. The surrounding sound is achieved with many smaller speakers in the bar, such as woofers, midsize, and tweeters.
The low bass frequencies typically have a lack of acoustic consistency, but today you can buy them with a subwoofer and accompanying speakers to improve the surrounding experience.
Factors to Consider Before Purchasing a Bookshelf Speaker Under $500
- Efficiency
Bookshelf speakers are built for elevated surfaces such as tabletops or shelves.
Afterall, you need something small enough to work comfortably in narrow spaces.
To measure the room in which you want to position your speakers and pick a suitable model. There is no one-sized solution; the room available defines the best size for you.
- Construction
Few speakers on the bookshelf are more elegant than others. Don’t settle for some style that doesn’t please you.
Note that the majority of wooden constructions have a glistened finish, although some do not match other styles.
Some also have a black look; these models are perfect for you if you want to retain the feeling of being uncomfortable in your music room.
Some creative models allow you to cut the front so that the speaker becomes transparent. This feature switches the whole voice view.
- Audio Response
The model covering between 90 Hz and 1500 Hz, is designed for the high and medium range. It displays the number of nodes that the device will use.
Each model with a range of 90-1500 offers vivid bass and reliable highs.
Choose a unit that provides built-in EQ for an overall full audio experience.
This bonus feature helps you to adapt your audio to your tastes.
- Usability
It is not similarly easy to mount and run all speakers. Those that are more realistic in mounting and using replace those needing a degree of experience.
The whole experience is made not only easy but simple.
It is irresistible to overrun the tracks, change the volume, and mutate the audio without moving an inch!
Two more valuable improvements are the availability of cables and keyholes.
The former avoids the frustration of purchasing it individually, although keyholes allow quick installation; only a pre-installed screw is required.
- Connectivity
Models like Bluetooth come in handy for new connectivity capabilities.
That’s because the computer can be connected to devices such as Linux, iOS, macOS, and Windows using operating systems.
They can even be logged into your MP3 player.
Conclusion
This post includes some of the best Bookshelf Speaker under 500 and will produce excellent sound quality with compact dimensions.
Therefore the trendy look and the small video should not be deceived.
However, it can be difficult to define the desired model with the immense variability in nature combined with stiff competition on the market.
This completes the bookshelf purchasing guide for speakers under $500.
Although it’s still far from the top, you can potentially try certain solutions that sound better than the large majority of hi-fi systems.
Hence, we hope the above guide will help you to select the best bookshelf speaker according to your requirements.
Check our recent posts on headphones, speakers, soundbars and earbuds.