6 Best Bookshelf Speakers for Under $100/Pair

Here at Audioholics, we recently completed a string of reviews of loudspeakers in an unusually low price-range:$45 to $100 a pair. This was done with two thoughts in mind; first, that there may be some folks who want a good sounding system but who might be on a very tight budget, and second, that there may be some low-budget gems out there that can really compete with more expensive speakers in some fashion. So we surveyed the market and choose a handful of speakers that we felt had potential to exceed their modest price points. The speakers that we settled on were the Dayton Audio MK402 and MK442, Monoprice MP-65RT, Polk Audio T15, Dayton Audio B452-AIR and C452-AIR. The designs of each of these suggested some merit or usefulness that could make them a great low-budget alternative in low-cost sound systems.

For those who are shopping for speakers in this price point and trying to decide which one is right for them, let’s take a quick glance at the advantages that each  brings to the table in the order that we reviewed them.

Dayton Audio MK402 and MK442

MSRP: $69/pair (MK402), $50/ea MK442 | Buy Now

The Dayton Audio MK402 and MK442 are Dayton Audio’s attempt to make something low-cost yet much higher fidelity than their classic, super-cheap B562 bookshelf speakers. The MK speakers have a far superior build quality than the B562 series: decent drivers, a real crossover, a solid cabinet, and actual binding posts instead of spring-clips. Where the B562 were Dayton Audio’s attempt to make a functional bookshelf speaker for as inexpensively as possible, the MK speakers seem to be Dayton Audio’s attempt to make a really good bookshelf speaker for as inexpensively as possible. In this, they have succeeded, especially with the MK442 speakers. While I liked the MK402 speakers, their sound quality potential is largely fulfilled after some equalization or tone control adjustment. The MK442s, on the other hand, sounded terrific right out of the box. As we stated in the MK402/MK442 review, where Dayton Audio is mostly intending for the MK442s to be used as a center speaker, they really shine as a left and right pair when turned on their sides (vertical orientation).

Dayton Audio MK402 (left pic) ; MK442 (right pic)

Due to its small size and surprisingly deep bass extension, the MK402 is a good choice for a desktop PC speaker, or a small hi-fi speaker system for a small room or office, especially if no subwoofer will be used since it can legitimately dig down to 60 Hz. I have to admit to liking the MK442 quite a bit more. If the extra height is permitted, I recommend a pair of MK442s situated in an upright orientation. It has greater dynamic range, a more natural sound out of the box, higher power-handling, and carries the acoustic advantages of an MTM design. A pair of upright MK442s would make for a very nice two-channel system. so for those who want a straightforward stereo speaker pair on a tight budget, this is where I would be looking.

Monoprice MP-65RT

Monoprice MP-65RT

MSRP: $45/pair | Buy Now

For those who want a two-channel system on a very tight budget, I would be looking at the Monoprice MP-65RT, at $50/pair. While their big selling point is the planar tweeter, the real star of the show is the woofer for having such well-controlled high-frequency behavior in the absence of any low-pass filter. This is exactly what one would hope to see in an ultra-low cost speaker where the lack of a true crossover circuit is a given. The treble runs a bit hot, but it happens at such a high frequency that it is not very bothersome. The MP-65RT produced an amazingly vivid soundstage considering its price. The MP-65RT speakers would be a great entry point into good sound for those who want a starter system for two-channel music. They would also be a great choice for those who want much better sound from their TV sets without spending a lot of money. They are clear and detailed, and they surprised me by how good such a modest design and construction could sound.

Polk Audio T15

Polk Audio T15

MSRP: $100/pair ($70/pair on sale) | Buy Now

The Polk Audio T15 was a peculiar speaker to review at first, but when you come to understand its likely usage, its design makes sense. The T15 is made to be mounted at elevated or lowered placements with respect to the listener, so it was designed to cope with non-ideal placement. This makes it great for a surround speaker on a budget since surround speakers tend to be mounted at higher elevations than front stage speakers. Many bookshelf speakers do not work as well as surround speakers unless they are angled to be aimed at the listener, but the T15 was made to be positioned at a level angle, making it a lot easier to wall-mount for optimal positioning. Furthermore, the T15 has an unusually wide dynamic range for such an inexpensive bookshelf speaker, and, in our round-up, is easily the go-to speaker for those who like their music loud. If you are putting together a surround sound system in a large room on a small budget, these speakers are easily my first choice, especially in the capacity of surround channel speakers. They may be small and cheap, but they still pack a punch!

Dayton Audio B52-Air (left pic) and C52-Air (right pic)

Dayton Audio B452-Air and C452-Air

MSRP: $45/pair (B452-Air), $34.88/ea (C452-Air) | Buy Now

If your budget is tight, and your available space to place a speaker is tighter, consider the Dayton Audio B452-AIR and C452-AIR speakers. These are relatively small and inexpensive bookshelf and center speakers that still manage to project a natural and easy sound. For a measly $80, you can have a reasonably good sounding front-stage speaker setup of a left, right, and center speakers, and these are very likely the least expensive speakers in the world that utilizes AMT tweeters. They would also be a good choice for an affordable desktop sound system. They are a bit bass-shy, so a subwoofer is needed to fill in the low-end, but the high-end is crisp, detailed, and extraordinarily clear. These are a great alternative to HTiB (Home-Theater-in-a-Box) speakers for a similar cost and likely better sound. With keyhole hangers on the rear, they are very easy to wall-mount, and their low-end response would benefit from the boundary loading of that kind of placement as well. What’s more, the B452-AIR speakers have an extremely benign electrical load that could work well with any amplifier.

Conclusion

One thing this series of reviews has taught us is that when the budget gets low, the priorities of the engineers for what a loudspeaker should do becomes more stark since the design trade-offs become more severe. How much should be invested in the crossover circuit? How much should be invested in the drivers? Or the cabinet? Designers have to carefully weigh the benefits of investing in any one of these areas since they are operating on such a slim components budget. However, because the engineering trade-offs become so sharp, designers have to focus on just getting a few key area right, and this gives each speaker its own strength, so the individual advantages and disadvantages that each of these speakers have is more clear. That isn’t quite the case at higher price points where the differences between the same class of speakers is not as distinct.

The bottom line here is that just because you don’t have a lot of money to invest in a sound system doesn’t mean you can’t have good sound. Buyers just have to decide on what aspect of sound quality and setup is most important to them, although that is true of speaker systems of any price range. While none of these speakers are flawless, they all accomplish what they set out to do through resourceful engineering. With some care and a little bit of homework, a very nice audio setup can be had for an extremely modest sum- friends and acquaintances with far more expensive systems may even become jealous when they hear it!

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.