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

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
IGNORE THIS BELOW:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Topping New Products sometime in June 2024:

Topping Product	Type	Cost USD$	Website	Buy Direct	Buy from Resellers
A50 III	Headphone Amp	200	toppingaudio.com	aliexpress.com	apos.audio shenzhenaudio.com
D50 III	DAC	230	toppingaudio.com	aliexpress.com	apos.audio shenzhenaudio.com
D90 III Sabre	DAC	900	toppingaudio.com	aliexpress.com	apos.audio shenzhenaudio.com
E1x2 OTG	Interface	160	topping.pro	aliexpress.com	not sold by resellers
E2x2	Interface	160	topping.pro	aliexpress.com	not sold by resellers

 

[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.