List of Budget Bookshelf Speakers

[sweetchaos]

-=List of Active Bookshelf Speakers=-

List of Active Bookshelf Speakers (<US$300)

docs.google.com

-=List of Passive Bookshelf Speakers=-

List of Passive Bookshelf Speakers (<US$300)

docs.google.com

I created a list of budget bookshelf speakers (both active and passive).
I'm keeping the list under US$300/pair (approx 250 EUR/pair) for now.


I've included:
1. Photo
2. Model
- Colour-coded by brands to make it easier to differentiate.
- 99% of models are available to purchase in USA, but I've included a few discontinued models for reference.
3. Bluetooth compatibility
Only with Active speakers, of course
4. Woofer
Size of woofer in inches
5. Price
- US$/pair
- Lowest amazon.com price in the last year (I used keepa or camelcamelcamel to view history)
6. Amazon.com direct link
- No affiliate links.
7. 2nd Link
- If Amazon.com links aren't available, link to 2nd source.
- Usually from manufacturer directly, but something a reseller.
8. Review Link
- Links to Reviews by Amir or Erin only.
- Recommendation on whether to buy (conclusion from review).

If you have further suggestions (both in speakers recommendations or how to improve this), please let me know.

Sneak Peak:

Changelog:

- 2020-10-06: Passive: 89. Active: 72. Total: 161
- 2020-10-07: Passive: 97. Active: 72. Total: 169
- 2020-10-08: Passive: 110. Active: 80. Total: 190
- 2020-10-09: Passive: 111. Active: 103. Total: 214
- 2020-10-10: Passive: 112. Active: 113. Total: 225
- 2020-10-18: Passive: 117. Active: 129. Total: 246
- 2020-10-24: Passive: 121. Active: 132. Total: 253
- 2020-10-25: Passive: 122. Active: 133. Total: 255
- 2020-10-26: Passive: 128. Active: 133. Total: 261
- 2020-12-23: Passive: 130. Active: 133. Total: 263
- 2020-12-24: Passive: 130. Active: 144. Total: 274

 

[sweetchaos]

Improvements:
- Added woofer sizes, for easy comparison

Observations:
1. Out of 214 speakers, I only found 1 speaker that's a 3-way.
- Yamaha NS-6490
- It has 8" woofer and 4" midrange-woofer.
- US$120 only!
2. Out of 103 active speakers, only 4 speakers (under US$300) have 8" woofer.
- JBL 308P MKII
- Monoprice SV28
- Behringer Nekkst K8
- Nady SM-300A
3. I didn't expect to find 214 speakers under US$300.

 

[amirm]

At first I thought the few you listed was it.

 

[sweetchaos]

Improvements:
- Added amazon # of reviews and date first available

Observations:
- Infinity R152 (which has 11 reviews) and R162 (which has 18 reviews) shows us that the # of amazon reviews is irrespective of speaker performance.
- Several speakers have >1000 reviews, and those look like prime candidates for *headless panther* awards

 

[sweetchaos]

Improvements:
- Bluetooth capability for active speakers

Observations:
- Of Active speakers, 40% have bluetooth and 60% have no bluetooth

 

[A800]

I miss the excellent Focal Chorus 706.

 

[sweetchaos]

I miss the excellent Focal Chorus 706.

Looks like it was discontinued sometime in Dec 2019 from amazon.com with last known price of US$450/pair.
But a refurbished model is available for US$440/pair from accessories4less

Certainly looks good.

 

[proudboyslookniceshaven]

I miss the excellent Focal Chorus 706.

It has the same (Al-Mg inverted 1") tweeter as the 906 / Shape 45/55/65 which is excellent, wide open smooth timbre not prickly needle points like KEF. Don't know how much the flax midwoofer helped but Focal makes fine sounding speakers that I though was very fair at $900 pair for the passive 906, but I have not heard many speakers in that price range so I can't be certain on comparisons.

 

[kieran]

FYI, You show the Monoprice Monolith K-Bas passive bookshelf speakers as $140/pair, whereas their website shows $257/EACH... :-O

 

[sweetchaos]

FYI, You show the Monoprice Monolith K-Bas passive bookshelf speakers as $140/pair, whereas their website shows $257/EACH... :-O

That price must have been the lowest price I saw on Amazon in the last year, at the time when I added it.
Currently it's US$512/pair on monoprice, US$568/pair on amazon.com (but was US$270/pair in the last year, so I'll use this as the new low price).

Also, Covid pricing surge is ridiculous...

 

[dogtagkz]

For a totally new guy when it comes to speakers, having like the AKG K371 (I prefer it over the HD650) and ER2XR, would the JBL A130 be a good start for me to wet my feet?

I do have a class d amp lying around the house.

Thanks!

 

[sweetchaos]

For a totally new guy when it comes to speakers, having like the AKG K371 (I prefer it over the HD650) and ER2XR, would the JBL A130 be a good start for me to wet my feet?

I do have a class d amp lying around the house.

Thanks!

JBL A130 => Excellent choice for a budget build.
It's currently US$180/pair at crutchfield.com (and other places...)

Here's what Amir wrote as his review:

I can recommend the A130 even if you don't have an EQ. If you can apply EQ, then the JBL Stage A130 gets one of my highest recommendations. It is a great example of how we can fix one or two minor flaws in a speaker with EQ and create a hybrid solution that is nearly untouchable in its price range or even higher.

 

[dogtagkz]

JBL A130 => Excellent choice for a budget build.
It's currently US$180/pair at crutchfield.com (and other places...)

Here's what Amir wrote as his review:

Thank you, sir. The selling price is US$350/pair in my country (on discount).

 

[shadowings]

JBL A130 => Excellent choice for a budget build.
It's currently US$180/pair at crutchfield.com (and other places...)

Here's what Amir wrote as his review:

Thanks for your suggestion buddy, but A130 is a passive speaker, is there a amp under 500$ for it?
I've read Amir's tests and charts, unlike dacs,all the inexpensive amp is not that good. Now Im confused about what to buy. I already have a E30 and L30 for headphones.

 

[sweetchaos]

Thanks for your suggestion buddy, but A130 is a passive speaker, is there a amp under 500$ for it?
I've read Amir's tests and charts, unlike dacs,all the inexpensive amp is not that good. Now Im confused about what to buy. I already have a E30 and L30 for headphones.

No problem.
1. Go to 'Audio Electronics Review and Measurements Index'
2. Enable "Device Type":
AV Receiver/Processor Integrated Amp Speaker Amp Speaker Amp (DSP)
3. Enable "Recommendation":
Yes
4. Price (max):
US$500

Results (sorted $$-$):

If you would like further assistance, please create a new thread and members will help you out.

 

[kyahushan]

-=List of Active Bookshelf Speakers=-
-=List of Passive Bookshelf Speakers=-

I created a list of budget bookshelf speakers under 500 (both active and passive).
I'm keeping the list under US$300/pair (approx 250 EUR/pair) for now.


I've included:
1. Photo
2. Model
- Colour-coded by brands to make it easier to differentiate.
- 99% of models are available to purchase in USA, but I've included a few discontinued models for reference.
3. Bluetooth compatibility
Only with Active speakers, of course
4. Woofer
Size of woofer in inches
5. Price
- US$/pair
- Lowest amazon.com price in the last year (I used keepa or camelcamelcamel to view history)
6. Amazon.com direct link
- No affiliate links.
7. 2nd Link
- If Amazon.com links aren't available, link to 2nd source.
- Usually from manufacturer directly, but something a reseller.
8. Review Link
- Links to Reviews by Amir or Erin only.
- Recommendation on whether to buy (conclusion from review).

If you have further suggestions (both in speakers recommendations or how to improve this), please let me know.

Sneak Peak:
View attachment 87151

Changelog:

I would go with Aperion

 

[dealpapa]

really like your list. Thanks.