The 9 Best Bookshelf Stereo Systems in 2023 – Reviewed & Rated

The quality of the sound diffusion coming from the speakers is partly influenced by the environment in which they are located and by their positioning.

We are talking about what experts call the “acoustic scene”, but also about cables, connections and transmission systems. Bookshelf stereo system is the means by which an electrical signal is transformed into a sound wave.

The sound quality depends largely on the speakers, but if the source it comes from is of bad quality, that is, in the case of a digital source, the quality of the format in which the sound was compressed and, secondly, the quality of the reproduction tool (from the smartphone to the stereo, passing through TV and PC), then the speakers cannot do anything.

Here we had selected the best bookshelf stereo systems that provide best quality sound.

Buying Guide to Select the Best Bookshelf Stereo Systems

It Takes Ear, but Not Only

To choose which speakers to buy, it is advisable to do a practical test: in specialized stores, they should usually allow a comparison between the different models.

If instead, you have chosen the Net, as a place to buy, you will have the opportunity to test the product at home, in your spaces and with the background sounds of your daily life, and of course, you can decide whether to confirm your choice or proceed with the return.

As we have anticipated, the speakers translate (transduction is the technical term) an electrical signal into an acoustic one. This signal is measured in Hertz (Hz): the human ear is, more or less, able to perceive from 20 to 20,000 Hz, where 20 is the lowest sound and 20,000 the highest.

A single speaker cannot cover the whole range and this is why at least two speakers are usually used. The speakers divide the frequencies, and for this reason, we speak of two-way, or three-way systems.

Two-way does not mean two speakers: the ways indicate the splitting of the signal. If the signal is divided into two ways, it means that there will be one channel for low sounds and one for high notes, which theoretically can be conveyed by well over two speakers.

When you read the purchase recommendations you will find the term woofer, which is used to transmit low sounds, tweeters for high frequencies, and midrange for medium ones.

In two-way systems, midrange sounds are borne by the woofer. There are systems made up of two speakers to which a third element is added to be placed on the ground, and perhaps hidden: the subwoofer. This element can also be added later if the product requires it.

Two-way speakers are the most common, and three-way systems do not necessarily correspond to better sound diffusion.

Dimensions and Power

In the same way, it is not a mathematician that larger speakers make sounds better, not even the lowest ones, although there are precise physical limits.

In addition, the speakers can be active or passive. Passive, to make a sound, must be connected to an amplifier. The active ones are already amplified and often equipped with an autonomous battery.

In the case of passive speakers, it is essential that the speakers and amplifier are compatible, otherwise, however efficient your speakers are, the result will be disastrous.

A common mistake when wondering which speakers to buy is to focus on power. The passive speakers do not have an autonomous power, in case they must support that of your amplifier. The amplifier can be integrated into the source or be an autonomous object, chosen and purchased by you.

The power of the amplifier and that supported by the speakers is measured in watts and it is important that the two values ​​are compatible. A power of 100 watts is more than enough for a room of around 20 square meters.

For speakers, efficiency is more important. Not in a generic sense: efficiency, also called sensitivity, calculates the acoustic pressure, measured in decibel (dB).

We give values: between 85 and 90 dB, we can speak of average efficiency, but they are always abstract values, which must pass the test of your ear.

Impedance: What Is It?

Another technical term you come across when asking how to choose a good speaker is impedance. Technically, this is a measure that allows you to understand the ease with which alternating current passes through an electrical circuit.

What does this have to do with the speakers? First of all, it is necessary to verify that the impedance value tolerated by the speakers is compatible with that of the amplifier.

In fact, the value declared by the producers often hovers around 8 Ohms, but the most precise specify a variation between 4 and 8 Ohms. If you go down (mind you: you go down) below the minimum load values, the speaker may be damaged.

In this case, more than ever it is the ear that you will have to trust. Pay attention to the most intense and most important passages of the music you like and check that they sound as you would expect. This is the best way to understand if your amplifier communicates well with the chosen speakers.

When consulting reviews and opinions, however, it is good to know the basic vocabulary and the fundamental specifications, to then move on to the market of the best loudspeakers of 2020.

Compatibility

If you are not particularly satisfied with the low frequencies expressed by the speakers, you can always think of connecting them to a good subwoofer. The speakers are in fact compatible with other Bose devices that can significantly improve the experience.

For the bass, you can connect them to a Bose Bass Module 500 or 700, while to enhance the treble you can take advantage of a Bose Soundbar 500. The connection with these devices is quick via wireless connection. The only drawback lies in the overall cost that you will have to face in case you want to buy the whole Bose system.

From the Shelf to The Floor

The bookshelves are of a size compatible with shelves and shelving, but some precautions must always be taken in their location. Since they are on average smaller, they may return low sounds with less density, but we have already explained that this is not always the case.

This thanks, for example, to a widespread system, called Bass reflex. Without going into details, it allows compensating for the small dimensions in the rendering of low and medium-low frequencies. Sound purists horrify the idea of ​​sound speakers placed in a library or inside a piece of furniture.

The golden rule would be that the speakers rested on ad hoc supports, with the tweeter at ear level (obviously in the position where you will listen to the music). The two speakers must be on the same wall, possibly the one opposite the point where you will be placed.

It would be a good rule to leave a fair margin of the distance between speakers, walls and floor unless otherwise indicated. Those who have the budget and space, in fact, can opt for floor speakers. In English, they are called Tower speaker.

They are columns, often very elegant but also bulky. They adapt to fairly large living rooms and usually require fairly powerful amplifiers. They lend themselves to the creation of stereo systems or home cinema systems.

Cables and Bluetooth

A sometimes overlooked element in the creation of a sound system is the cables with which to connect the speakers to the amplifier, or to the direct source that integrates it.

These also play a role in the transmission and diffusion of sound, so it is good not to go hunting exclusively for low prices. Today, Bluetooth headsets and speakers are very popular, allowing you to connect to a source without the aid of cables.

From the point of view of sound quality, we would feel advised against it, because however efficient the connection, there is always a significant loss.

However, they are very comfortable, because they can be placed wherever you want without worrying about power cables (not always, but often they are equipped with autonomous batteries), they can migrate from one room to another and, in the case of portable single-speakers, go on trips with you.

In this field, the new market of so-called Smart speakers is emerging: they also rely on Bluetooth technology or home Wi-Fi and integrate with the best-known digital assistants, such as Alexa and Google Assistant.

One example is the Bose Home Speaker 500, which includes Alexa and can integrate numerous online music services. These devices allow you to interact with voice commands and perform functions well beyond the sound diffusion.

From Subwoofer to Multichannel

There are those who are not satisfied with two speakers and set up multi-channel systems or add a subwoofer to two satellites. Multiple speaker systems is distinguished mainly by the number of elements, with different roles, but the need for a receiver that supports multiple channels.

A set usually includes two speakers for the surround, two fronts and a subwoofer, to which sometimes a front speaker is added.

The subwoofer was born because the speakers often could not reproduce some particularly low sounds. This element could be placed and even hidden, for example, under a sofa or table.

It is interesting to remember that very low sounds have one characteristic: the human ear struggles to understand which direction they come from and create a feeling of disorientation.