Recent Bookshelf Speaker Reviews

Audioholics has recently completed a string of reviews of ultra-affordable bookshelf speakers from Monoprice, Dayton Audio and Polk that we thought could possibly punch above their price points. These speakers are priced in the $45 to $100 per pair range and bear some signs that the engineers who created them were really trying to get good sound out of modest components. In this article, we summarize our findings and discuss the advantages that each design brings to the table.

Would you believe that you can get a reasonably good sound from a $45 pair of bookshelf speakers? What's more, would you believe that speakers of this cost actually use sophisticated AMT tweeters? In this review, we look at the least expensive speakers that Audioholics has ever covered, the Dayton Audio B452-AIR bookshelf and C452-AIR center. Read our review to see why you don't need to spend thousands of dollars or even hundreds of dollars to get a better sound.

In this review, we look at the Polk T15 bookshelf speakers, which are among the more affordable choices out there at $100 per pair ($69/pr on sale right now). Loudspeaker manufacturing giant Polk Audio has the resources to engineer a good sounding low-cost speaker, but the question is what approach would they take? Polk pulls out a few tricks to optimize this speaker for the conditions that a low-cost bookshelf speaker will likely be used in, which are typically not the perfect placement and setting that hi-fi speakers usually require for great sound. Read our review to see what Polk has done to make the T15 bookshelf speakers produce audiophile sound in imperfect circumstances.

How low in price can a full-size bookshelf speaker go yet still sound good? Monoprice tries to answer that question with the MP-65RT, which, at an impossible $50 per pair price point ($40 on sale), has to be the least expensive speaker in history to sport a ribbon tweeter. However, the inclusion of a ribbon tweeter in such an inexpensive speaker doesn't mean the rest of the speaker isn't good. Read our review of the MP-65RT Ribbon Bookshelf speaker to find out how Monoprice managed to make it all work at such a low cost.

With the recently released MK402 bookshelf speaker, Dayton Audio answers the challenge for a small bookshelf speaker that has significant bass extension and is also very inexpensive. The MK402, along with its corresponding MK442 center speaker, manages this engineering feat, but what else can these little over-achievers do? The answers to that question surprised us but you will have read our review of these budget wonders to find out.

Wilson Audio’s new TuneTot monitor 2-way speaker features high-performance drivers in a compact cabinet to boldly go where no Wilson has gone before. From the bookshelf to the desktop, Wilson’s go-anywhere speaker is said to break the audiophile rules to work in the most hostile acoustical environments. But, does it also break the bank or is it a viable product in an already saturated category?

Dayton Audio proudly announced the newest addition to their best-selling line of home theater speakers. The MK402 is a simple 2-way, rear ported speaker featuring a 4" woofer and a 3/4" soft dome tweeter, with bass extension down to 60Hz and a real crossover network all for the almost unbelievable low price of $70/pair. Can these really be an audiophile dream speaker for those on a tight budget? Read on to find out.

If you are looking for a price friendly desktop or surround loudspeaker with an audiophile RAAL tweeter, Zapf audio woofer and superb crossover network than look no further than the Mini Philharmonitor from Dennis Murphy and Philharmonic Audio. The Mini Philharmonitor is a relatively new speaker and you'll be amazed how well they handle many genres of music for dedicated music listening. At this price point, the Mini Philharmonitors are the only speakers with a RAAL tweeter that we could find. Please read on to see how these did in a sound demo in an in-home audition.

When you asked for the best possible medium-sized bookshelf speaker, respected loudspeaker manufacturer RBH Sound delivered. You get a lightning-quick AMT tweeter, a premium 6.5" woofer with a chrome phase-plug, a rounded cabinet with an exquisite veneer, and RBH's highly-regarded engineering acumen. These are certainly promising ingredients for a loudspeaker, but how well do they add up in actuality? In our review of the RBH Sound SV-61R, we get our hands on RBH's best efforts for a medium-sized bookshelf speaker and see how well it performs not only in our laboratory testing but also with our favorite music.

It's been a while since Definitive Technology has released a new bookshelf speaker. So when they announced that they would be showing a new series of bookshelf speakers off at CEDIA in San Diego it made heads turn. The three new models D7, D9, and D11 range in price from $499 to $999 a pair. If they're anything like other versions of Definitive Technology Bookshelf speakers we've reviewd in the past, they're gonna be GREAT! Read our preview to find out why.

If you're in the market for a magnificent 3-way bookshelf speaker for a price that won’t break the bank you might want to check out the BMR Philharmonitor from Philharmonic Audio. With the Philharmonitor you get quality instead of quantity. The BMRs can play a wide variety of music really well relying on the superb craftsmanship of the RAAL tweeter. Check out our full demo report of the Philharmonitors to see if they're right for you.

Ever since Hsu Research announced their new coaxial CCB-8 bookshelf speakers, we had been anxious to get our hands on a pair to see what they could do. The CCB-8 is an audacious new design featuring an 8" woofer utilized as a waveguide for a center-mounted tweeter. Hsu sent us a set, and for the past couple months we've been giving them a workout on a variety of music and movie content, plus a full battery of testing in our labs. To put it mildly, we were impressed by Hsu's latest offering. To see what they did exactly that left such a good impression, read our full review.

If you're looking for a budget friendly, high quality speaker manufacturer look no further than Ascend Acoustics. We had an opportunity to demo one of their latest speakers, the Sierra Luna mini-monitor. We found these bookshelf sized speakers to be extremely versatile high-performance no compromise mini-monitors, ideal for use as desktop, on-wall, and especially as stand mounted front and/or rear main speakers. Read our demo report to get more details.

We had an opportunity to take a tour of Destination Hi Fi, one of Legacy Audio’s local dealers in Hollywood, CA. and demo the Legacy Audio Caliber bookshelf speakers. If you have a space constraint, this product gives you the performance and drivers of a Legacy tower folded into a bookshelf cabinet. With 4” AMT tweeter, 7.5” mid-woofer, 8” bass driver, and dual 8” mass loaded opposing pneumatic radiators good things can come in small packages. Read on to see how these "little guys" perform in a BIG way.