If you are looking for the best bookshelf speakers for under $200, the most important things to consider are the crossover element, bass response, and frequency range. I’ve summarized my favorite products below based on these features. Keep reading if you want to know more about why these features are so important.
If you love listening to music in the comforts of your home, you’re probably considering what the best speaker system setup that you can install to elevate your listening experience is. Instead of just going for your headphones, why not invest in bookshelf speakers that will provide you with surround sound that you can share with friends and family?
Even if you are on a tight budget, you don’t have to sacrifice the quality of loudspeakers. This article lists our top 7 choices for the best bookshelf speakers for just under $200.
Let’s take a look at our top choices for high-quality bookshelf speakers for under $200.
The Best Bookshelf Speakers Under $200 Comparison
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
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Editor's Choice  |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
Runner- up  |
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Runner- up  |
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| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
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| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
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| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
Edifier R1280T Powered Bookshelf Speakers
Key Features
- 4-inch bass driver
- 13mm silk dome tweeter and 4-inch full-range unit
- 2x aux input for RCA to RCA or RCA to AUX connections
- Remote controllable
- It has a frequency range of 55Hz-20KHz.
- Bass and treble control can be accessed on the side of the main speaker.
- High-quality MDF wood build finish
- It has a power rating of 40 watts RMS.
Product Review
The first on our list is the Edifier R1280T Powered Bookshelf Speakers because of its decent performance and affordable price. This is perfect for those beginner audiophiles looking for a mid-range bookshelf speaker that is easy to navigate and control. Because of its remote controllable feature, you won’t have to walk around the room or reach for the speakers. This means you can remain comfortable in your seat or on your bed while looking for the perfect music/podcast to listen to.
The R1280T boasts a dual RCA input, which means that you can connect to multiple audio devices using a 3.5mm headphone output or dual RCA output. Whether you are using a PC, laptop, tablet, phone, or record player, you can enjoy music from most devices right out of the box. It also has a built-in tone control at the side of the active speaker that allows you to make micro-adjustments of treble and bass from -6 to +6 dB, depending on your preference.
When it comes to its build, the Edifier R1280T features a superior design with volume, bass, and treble controls. The wooden finish gives off a retro vibe that will add a touch of class to your bookshelf. The audio quality is decent and can produce a seamless sound with crisp highs and an overall full range depth. Overall, the sound quality is balanced with neutral settings, but as expected from mid-range speakers, the bass and high frequencies could still be better.
| Pros • Well-built with a wooden finish • Budget-friendly • Multiple hook-ups • Separate bass & treble controls • The sound is warm, balanced, and loud. | Cons • The highs are lacking in terms of clarity. • Power could be improved. • The bass lacks depth. |
Klipsch R-14M 4-Inch Reference Bookshelf Speakers
Key Features
- 1″ aluminum Linear Travel Suspension horn-loaded tweeter
- Brushed Black polymer veneer cabinet
- 4″ copper-spun high-output Injection Moulded Graphite (IMG) woofer
- It has a power rating of 50 watts.
- 90watts peak RS per speaker
- Compact design fills small to medium-sized rooms.
- Dimensions: 9.75″ H x 5.88” W x 7.5″ D
- Rear-firing bass port
Product Review
With its simplicity and elegance, Klipsch R-14M is simply one of the most well-designed bookshelf speakers in the market today. Measuring only at under 10 inches in height and 7.5 inches of depth, these speakers will fit nicely even in rooms with limited space. Its sleek and refined black finish will blend seamlessly with the audio entertainment setup in your home or studio. The veneer cabinet is also adorned with a stylish black polymer which adds to its charm.
When it comes to sound performance, these small speakers will surprise you with a crisp and present sound with a high response. This is because of its 90 x 90 Tractrix horn with its aluminum tweeter, allowing a high-frequency response. The spun copper IMG woofers are also made from lightweight materials so they can induce a low-frequency response. Not only are these speakers good as stereo systems, but they also work well for a home cinema system. The rear-firing port also helps in minimizing unwanted noise.
Overall, the Klipsch R-14M provides an excellent audio output at an affordable price. This Klipsch audio product model can blend measured quality with profound efficiency, which means it is also beginner-friendly for audiophiles who are just starting to learn about quality speakers. Even though it does not have many unique features, the Klipsch R-14M gives value to your money with its high-quality manufacturing and excellent audio output considering its price range.
| Pros • Budget-friendly • Good sound and quality build • Nice visual design by Klipsch • Compact design | Cons • Ideal only for small to medium rooms • Overall, power could be better. |
Polk Audio TSi100 Bookshelf Speakers
Key Features
- 5.25-inch dynamic balance bi-laminate composite woofer
- Frequency response: 53Hz-25kHz
- 2-way class pair for a wider sound dispersion
- 1-inch silk/polymer composite dynamic balanced dome tweeters
- Solid MDF with 3/4-inch baffles
- 30 watts RMS
- Removable front grilles
- Rubber surround cabinet
- Gold-plated, professional-style 5-way binding posts
Product Review
The Polk Audio TSi100 is a nice pair of compact speakers that only weigh around 10 pounds, making it easy to mount on your wall, especially in smaller rooms. It has a basic design, and the front grilles are removable so that you can customize its look depending on the interior of your room. Because of its two-way backported design, it is best to leave room for the rear end of these speakers to avoid any sound obstructions.
The speaker output of about 30 watts RMS does not sound much, especially if you are planning to install these speakers in a large room. However, if you have a smaller space, the sound is quite adequate. Its wire connections are also gold-plated to prevent them from rusting, providing more secure connectivity. It can produce clear mids and crisp highs that are balanced well with the low-end frequency. This means that its performance is not bad for a mid-range bookshelf speaker.
The only thing you need to know about the Polk Audio TSi100 is that it is not ideal for listening to extremely loud audio outputs because the receiver might give out before it reaches its full power. Even though this model is not high-end, it can still outperform similarly priced passive bookshelf speakers. Overall, these speakers have a classy visual design and an above-average performance. This is why Polk Audio’s TSi100s are a strong entry for the $200 bookshelf speaker category.
| Pros • Compact design to accommodate smaller spaces • Budget-friendly • Functional and attractive visual design • Excellent audio performance for this price range. • Can be placed on a stand or the wall. | Cons • Power could still be better. • Not that loud enough • Bass response is underwhelming |
JBL Arena B15 Black Bookshelf & Surround Speaker
Key Features
- 1-inch (25mm) soft dome tweeter
- 5.5-inch (140mm) polycellulose woofer
- Integrated wall-mount solution for flexible installation
- Surround speaker in stereo or multi-channel systems
- 100 watts of power per pair
- Recommended Amplifier Power: 20 – 100W.
- Cabinet shape and all-black grilles
- Frequency Response: 100Hz – 40kHz.
- Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms.
- 2-way class and constructed from premium parts
Product Review
JBL is a well-known brand when it comes to audio speakers and other sound system setups. The B15 is a superb set of affordable surround speakers from the JBLs Arena series. These bookshelf speakers offer an exciting design with their all-black front grilles that will suit any interior design of any room. It is a 2-way class and constructed from premium parts that ensure great visual design and durability at the same time.
For its sound output, it can handle when played loudly, but loud volumes might compromise the quality. The high-frequencies are decent, and the crisp and sharp sound is still there. However, the mids tend to get a little crowded by the highs when you play it at a full volume. If you are considering buying these speakers for a home theatre setup, I recommend finding a sub to have a more comprehensive frequency range. The bass driver cone is also made from poly cellulose that is rigid and highly responsive.
The JBL Arena B15’s woofer can effectively fill your room with a full sound, and if you want a more fixed surround sound experience, mounting these speakers on your wall is the way to go. This is also because of the high-quality crossover circuitry that allows it to produce a well-balanced full-range sound. Overall, the JBL Arena B15 offers one of the best dynamic surround sounds for speakers under $200. What it lacks in bass power can still be mediated by installing a sub with this setup.
| Pros • Affordable for its quality and premium build. • Crisp high-frequency output • Compact • Excellent tonal balance for their size | Cons • Its low frequencies are not so great. • Lacks bass power • The sound quality is affected with extremely loud volume |
Behringer MS40 Studio Monitor Speakers
Key Features
- 2-way active studio monitors suited for computer studios and multimedia workstations
- Built-in powerful 2 x 20-Watt amplifiers
- Powerful woofers and high-resolution tweeters
- Ultra-high resolution 24-bit/192 kHz D/A converters
- Optical and coaxial inputs
- Ultra-linear frequency response
- Frequency response from 50 Hz to 25 kHz
- Individual volume controls for both line inputs.
- Bass and Treble EQ controls
- TRS headphone connector with auto-mute loudspeaker function
Product Review
Behringer MS40 is a set of active bookshelf speakers that features unrivaled connectivity which can be used simultaneously or mixed with a digital stereo source. For speakers that cost under $200, these speakers are of studio quality and offer an outstanding balance of price and performance. Whether you want to connect to your computer sound card, keyboard, or MP3 player, the MS40 can undoubtedly offer exceptional sound quality with superb dynamics.
These speakers have slightly larger tweeters than average tweeters from bookshelf speakers to boost your listening experience. On top of that, the MS40 also has a front-mounted volume, individual bass, and treble control, so you can make more accurate adjustments, especially if you are an audiophile who operates a computer workstation. The MS40 monitor speakers bring high-quality audio because of their high-resolution tweeters and powerful woofers.
These bookshelf speakers also feed 40-Watts of super-clean power to the internal speakers for a broader frequency response of 50 Hz to 25 kHz. The built-in mixer feature allows for stereo inputs for connecting CD/MD/MP3 players, while the dual RCA jacks make the MS40 an excellent add-on speaker for electronic keyboards. You can also add a subwoofer to deepen the low end in these speakers because the bass response can be a little underwhelming for some people.
| Pros • Ideal for studio and professional work • Great performance across the frequency ranges. • Ergonomic and compact cabinet design | Cons • The bass response can be underwhelming. • The full range driver is a bit undersized. |
Fluance Signature HiFi 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers
Key Features
- Ultra high-end Neodymium tweeters
- Midrange pointed dome
- Five-inch midrange woofer made from a glass fiber
- The power rating of 120 watts
- Compact build measuring 12.8 inches by 7.87 by 8.22 inches
- Cabinets are precision-crafted with specially engineered wood.
- The frequency response of 60hz – 20khz.
- Rear connection terminals
Product Review
Because of its extremely low price point, you might think that the Fluance Signature Series doesn’t offer much when it comes to sound quality, but its performance is pretty good. Fluance is relatively new to the audio system market and is an online company based in Canada. They have been making quite an impact since they formed in 1999 because of the quality of their speakers’ sound.
This Fluance bookshelf speaker can be used either as a stereo pair in a traditional HiFi setup or as part of the Signature Series Package. Its design is similar to the other loudspeakers in the Fluance Signature Series with its bright yellow woofer and a smooth neodymium tweeter. The woven glass fiber of the pointed dome center also adds a modern look to the pair. This means that these bookshelf speakers will fit in just nicely into almost any decor in your room or studio.
When it comes to its performance, the Fluance Signature Series is impressive because it offers an aggressive, overly-bright treble that is perfect for almost any listening experience– whether it be any genre. The wooden cabinets also create a warm sound that is virtually free of distortion. The mids can deliver prominent vocals. However, it slightly lacks when it comes to the low-end frequency department. Either way, it’s hard to find speakers that provide impacting bass within this price range. Overall, it is still a great bargain.
| Pros • Compact and lightweight build • Great sound at an affordable price. • Perfect dimensions for any small room | Cons • The low-end bass response could be better. • Don’t have much space inside the cabinets |
BIC America DV62si Bookshelf Speakers
Key Features
- Custom-designed 6.5″ poly graphite woofer
- Magnetically-shielded speakers
- Video-shielded, 2-way, Venturi-tuned vent
- 0.75″ soft dome tweeter that is cooled by Ferrofluid
- Black laminated finish
- 90 dB sensitivity
- 10 to 150 watts per channel
- Removable front grille
- Frequency response of 43 to 20,000 Hz
- Multi-channel listening system
Product Review
The BIC America DV62si is not the kind of bookshelf speaker considered lighter than other speakers in the market. This is perfect for looking for high-quality speakers that don’t need to be mounted on a wall. This is because of its six-and-a-half-inch graphite woofer three-quarter-inch soft-dome tweeter that is cooled by Ferrofluid. However, it does have a decent frequency response of 43 to 20,000 Hz, which means it has a wide frequency response.
This wide frequency range makes the BIC America DV62si a high-value bookshelf speaker despite having a price range that does not exceed $200. These speakers are suitable for stereo systems as well as home theatre systems. The black laminated finish is also accented with an imitation wood grain giving it a classic retro vibe. If you are someone who loves minimalist design, this speaker is perfect for you.
The only downside of this bookshelf speaker is that you might need to add a sub if you would like to add more low end. Because these are a set of mid/high heavy speakers, the low end is a potential problem. However, the woofer and tweeter do work seamlessly to give you a well-rounded sound perfect for your listening needs.
| Pros Good build and frequency range. Very budget-friendly Low key, compact design Minimal distortion | Cons The cabinet design is not liked by everyone Can’t handle the heavy bass response A bit heavy, weighing at 25 pounds |
Buying Guide for $200 Bookshelf Speakers
When deciding what bookshelf speaker will suit you best, you should first consider your budget. For $200, most people will only expect low to mid-range speakers. However, many speakers are decent enough within this price range that won’t compromise your listening experience.
Some of the features you should look for when buying bookshelf speakers are the crossover element for a refined transition between different parts of the frequency range. This is important because each speaker will have varying frequency ranges, and your choice will depend on what kind of sound you want from your speakers.
The next feature you need to consider is the bass response. If you are an audiophile, chances are you are looking for an affordable speaker system that delivers decent to exceptional bass output. You need to look for the low-end response in the speaker’s key features to determine if the bookshelf speaker you will choose can handle earth-shattering bass while maintaining low vibrations.
When it comes to sound clarity, look for speakers with crisp mids and high-frequency responses. If a speaker has a higher frequency range, that usually means that it will produce the least distortions. This is perfect for those who are after exceptional sound clarity instead of heavy bass drops. At the end of the day, your preference will still determine the brand you choose, so make sure you check your boxes first.
Our Top Choice!
Now that I have listed our top 7 products for high-quality bookshelf speakers, it is time to choose the one that stands out among the rest, and that is– the Behringer MS40 Studio Monitor Speakers. It is simply one of the best options because of its powerful woofers and high-resolution tweeters. It is a professional-level speaker that won’t cost you a fortune and does not rob you of premium parts and quality audio output. The cherry on top feature for MS40 is its unrivaled connectivity that allows you to directly connect with a computer sound card, keyboard, or even MP3 players.
