5 Best Bookshelf Speakers Under 200: Top Budget Bookshelf Speakers

When we speak about choosing the right bookshelf speakers, there is a need for a bit more research than raw specifications that you read. This can often get very confusing for the new users as bookshelf speakers can highly vary from performance to construction. Understand that having an expensive speaker doesn’t always mean that audio quality will be the best.

You may like: Top 5 Best Bookshelf Speakers Under 500

Therefore, when you are looking for the best bookshelf speakers under 200 ranges, there has to be attention paid to detailed specifications. We have tried to make your work a little bit easier by listing down the best bookshelf speakers that you can get in the market today.

Best Speakers Under 200 Comparison

 

Bookshelf Speakers Under 200 Dollars Review

Product Image	Product Name	Value	Check Price
	Sony SSCS5	$$$	Buy on Amazon
	Edifier R1700BT	$$$	Buy on Amazon
	Yamaha NS-6490	$$$	Buy on Amazon
	Edifier R1280DB	$$$	Buy on Amazon
	Klipsch R-14M	$$$	Buy on Amazon

Top 5 Best Budget Bookshelf Speakers under 200 Dollars

 

Are you looking to buy speakers for music and don’t know which are the bookshelf speakers of all time to buy? Bellow is the top 5 budget bookshelf speakers which good for your home audio setup.

Sony SSCS5 3-Way 3-Driver Bookshelf Speaker System (Pair) – Best Sound Optimization

 

The Sony SSCS5 speaker system offers high versatility for offering an exceptional and realistic sound experience. There is a massive soundstage that it comes with and you can surely feel that passion and energy of being close to a live performance. The speakers interestingly will be providing you with great sound and still settle well with the listening space you have. There will be no need for having a special listening room or setup.

This is 3-driver, 3-way unique speaker that makes sure you have ultimate clarity and natural depth when you are listening to the favorite music. You should be making good use of the high-resolution sound or taking the digital music collection to another level. The design is compact and the stylish black color will go well with almost all modern-day decors.

Edifier R1700BT Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers – Best Connectivity Options

 

If you have been in search of something that’s not the only budget-friendly but still offers all modern connectivity options, then Edifier R1700BT will be a great choice. You will get the best design and the speakers can handle 66 watts of RMS.

These speakers are active powered, so means that you can get a bit larger stature with the additional power. Its bass driver is 4″ and is well built with composite materials that are well-tried, tested, and researched. The tweeter size is 19 mm that gives you the needed clarity even at high power outputs.

There is digital signal processing with Dynamic range controls for ensuring there is no distortion. You get good Bluetooth connectivity for playing digital music.  And you also get a remote control for volume adjustment and keeping the speaker on stand-by mode if you want.

 

Yamaha NS-6490 3-Way Bookshelf Speakers Finish (Pair) Black – Best Output Woofer

 

The Yamaha NS-6490 is a 3-way speaker that has been well designed for making sure it settles well with any kind of home setting. These are also easily able to fit with any kind of home setting as these function well as auxiliary spears in different rooms. These can also be used as part of the sound system that you already have.

One of the great features of these speakers is the magnetic shielding it comes with. This means that you can easily use this with a home theater without an issue. Because of the 8″ woofer that the bookshelf speaker comes with, users will be enjoying full, clear sounds that have tight responses. The sounds are rich and room-filling.

Edifier R1280DB Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers – Best Build Quality

 

Edifier R1280 DB is the upgraded variant from the brand. The build quality is great and there is a detachable speaker grill in the front. The speakers come with a 4″ woofer and ½” dome tweeter. The speaker produces RMS power of 40 watts and has a frequency range from 55 to 20,000 Hz.

Something that you get with this upgraded version that’s different from the previous variants is the remote control. Letters D and B in the name suggest Bluetooth and digital capabilities the speakers have.

The Bluetooth compatibility makes sure that you can pair the speakers with a tablet or smartphone and enjoy a wireless music experience. These speakers will work for both Android and IOS devices. There are coaxial and optical inputs for offering connectivity with laptops and computers as well. The audio that you get with Edifier R1280 is of high quality.

Klipsch R-14M 4-Inch Reference Bookshelf Speakers (Pair, Black) – Best Budget Friendly

 

Klipsch is the brand that has builds its reputation over the years for offering electronic products of great quality at an affordable point. And Klipsch R-14 M is no exception to this. This is a bookshelf model that looks high-end and comes with Tractrix Horn technology within a low budget. It has an LTS tweeter which makes them stand out from their competition and gives ultimate high frequency for minimizing any kind of distortion.

There is a 4″ dedicated woofer that’s copper spun that makes sure there are little breakup and no distortion. You can surely get the best audio in this range and it’s able to handle RS peak to 90 watts per speaker.

Best Bookshelf Speakers under 200 Buying Guide:

 

There are some important factors that you should be paying attention to before you invest in a budget-friendly bookshelf speaker. Here is a simple guide that will be making your shopping much easier and you will be able to narrow down your choice depending on the specifications that you need:

1. Your Budget:

 

Fortunately, when we speak about bookshelf speakers, the best part is that you can get excellent audio quality while not spending too much. The ones we have mentioned on our list are all under 200, and you can see by the customer reviews that they are exceptional in terms of performance. The fact remains that if you are willing to spend slightly more you will be able to get better features and you can always get a good discounted price as well.

Most of the bookshelf speakers of high quality will be available to you on a budget from $ 100 to $ 350. After that, you might get more options and some of them can cost ten thousand dollars. As we see in terms of quality there isn’t much variation seen in bookshelf speaker that goes over $1000. So there is no particular need for someone to go over that amount until they have some specific reason in their heads.

2. Wireless or Wired:

 

This is a comparatively simple decision to make. Are you looking for a wireless or wired bookshelf speaker? This is the question that comes to preference for sound quality and convenience. Most of the time, the wired speakers need to be connected with a stereo amp through a speaker wire. This amp then sends sound signals to speakers.

But with wireless speakers, the case is different. They usually come with internal amps and this means that you just have to connect it with a power supply and nothing else. We are talking here in broader terms now. The wired speakers can be a bit clumsy and are traditional. At the end of the day, you will be dealing with many cables, but the good thing is that the sound is also better when compared with wireless speakers. Remember that you will also have to buy an amp as well.

Wireless speakers on the other hand are great for convenience. You will be fine if you have a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection. A good thing is that wireless speakers also offer wired connectivity most of the time. Generally, you will be able to get plenty of choices when it comes to the wireless or wired speaker and it will be your personal preference for going with a specific one.

3. Passive or Active:

 

You will notice that sometimes the bookshelf speakers are referred to as passive or active. Passive speakers will need an external amp. And when we talk about active speakers, they usually come with internal amps. Active speakers are usually wireless and passive ones are not. This is one of the complicated aspects when you are thinking of making a purchase, but surely something that you must know about.

4. Audio Capability:

 

This is again an important specification that you should be taking a look at. Make sure you are paying attention to the drivers, EQ that’s built-in, and frequency response well. The bookshelf speaker that comes with customizable EQ will be able to select the audio preference you have. Then the frequency response gives you the information on the notes that the speaker can make use of. Drivers usually indicate the audio strength of the speakers.

Tweezers usually have drivers that aren’t less than an inch while subwoofers aren’t less than 3”. We advise that you shouldn’t be buying bookshelf speakers that don’t have distinctive drivers as mostly there is a compromise with the audio experience.

5. Sensitivity and Volume:

 

While we were talking about the speaker size, we did mention the loudness of the speakers as well. In case you are searching for a way by which you can understand the potential loudness of a specific speaker, you should be taking a look at the sensitivity information.

Sensitivity is measured in decibels dB and numbers below 85 dB are low, if it ranges between 86 to 95 dB its average and over 95 is something with high volume capabilities.

Therefore having high sensitivity will be something that will also cost more. This is a specification where manufactures use varied ways for measuring the sensitivity. Therefore making comparisons can sometimes get difficult too.

It’s better that you take a look at the general idea for measuring the loudness indication. Also, depending on the kind of music that you usually listen to will help you with making the final choice here.

6. Speaker Design:

 

You will notice a slight difference in the bookshelf speaker designs in terms of elegance. Fortunately, most of these speakers have wooden construction that easily mixes well with all kinds of interiors and decors. Having a completely black speaker design will be perfect for someone that wants the interior feel to remain dark.

There are some speaker models where you can remove the grill in the front and reveal the unique speaker design. But this is usually not a great idea, as this can expose the speaker units or accidental spills and dust particles.

7.  Convenience for Usage:

 

You can see a difference in the usage ease that some of the speakers have, while others can be a struggle. There are also specific features that can make some of these bookshelf speakers convenient, this can be easily set-up, cables, and remote control.

Your music experience will be a breeze if you go ahead with the purchase of speakers that come with remote control. This is because you will be able to change volumes, skip songs and switch the speakers on or off without even moving.

Apart from these accessories, it is a good idea that you buy the speaker that also comes with its cables as you won’t have to buy them separately. Then the speakers that don’t have mounting features will be easy for setting up. There is just a need for protruding screw for fitting in the speaker.

8. Connectivity Options:

 

When you are looking for the best bookshelf speakers, the analog outputs have importance as it helps you in connecting them with TV or computer. However, as we see that wireless devices are being used constantly there is a need for connectivity alternatives. Therefore see that there is Bluetooth connectivity with the speakers that you get so that you can connect it with your mobile phones easily.

9. Size of the Speakers:

 

Understand that having bigger size speakers doesn’t mean that it will have better sound quality. Bookshelf speakers are usually heavy and large but you can still manage to find some of the lighter and small-sized options which are easy to shift when needed. For the most part, people rarely change the position of the speakers once placed, but finding the right position can be difficult and this experimentation will make you work harder.

Best Bookshelf Speakers under 200 FAQ

 

1. Can we make use of bookshelf speakers as the front speakers?

 

Yes, you can! A good quality bookshelf speaker should be of 2.1 stereo or setup 5.1. In case you have been using a subwoofer, then its crossover frequency must be matched well for the best audio that you can get.

2. Where should the bookshelf speakers place?

 

For making sure there is the best listing position, it’s recommended that you place the bookshelf speaker at 2 o’clock or 11 o’clock positions. Then the tweeter for optimal performance should be at your ear levels.

3. What should be the distance between the bookshelf speakers?

 

Around 4 feet of separation is perfect for bookshelf speakers. If you are placing the speakers very close to each other, there is a possibility of the audio blending together and hence results in muddy sounds.

4. Should the tweeters be outside or inside?

 

For a stereo image that wider, the tweeters have to be placed outside. The reason being higher frequency will mean more directional.

Bottom Line:

 

Now, as we come to the end of this article, one thing is for sure that you must have learned vital features about bookshelf speakers, especially when you are on a budget. Be assured that all of the best bookshelf speakers under 200 that we have mentioned here on the list will be able to meet the specific requirements that you have.

For making sure you make a wise choice, we have added the buying guide so that you can get a speaker that’s well suited as per your preference and space. Therefore go through the list and make a comparison amongst the varied models or just go for any of the ones on the list and you won’t be disappointed for sure.