What is a Bookshelf Speaker?

Speakers DJ Equipment

How to Choose a Bookshelf Speaker

Ok at Speakers DJ Equipment we’re always being asked – What is a bookshelf speaker? – simply put – it´s a speaker that will fit on a bookshelf – does it have to go on a bookshelf and is it the best place to get the best sound? – probably not to the latter 2 questions but it´s all a matter of choice and options available – some so called bookshelf speakers weigh up to 30lbs or more and can be up to 24″ in height so unless you have some really strong well installed bookshelves you´re not going to want to place speakers of that size on them.
It is a bit of a misnomer “bookshelf speakers” as there are also Micro and Mini Monitors that fit into this description.
In choosing speakers your main consideration should be..

1. What do I want to listen to?
2. Where do I want to listen to it?
3. What does the speaker sound like?
4. Is the speaker within my budget?
5. Will the speaker fit my desired location?

What do you want to listen to? – A pair of bookshelf speakers can fulfill different functions, you may want to use them just for listening to your preferred music or utilize them as part of your surround sound  system and therefore would want to choose something that has more bass tones, if you like classical then look for a speaker that produces a more balanced tone over a wider range.

Where do I want to listen to music? – Oddly enough putting bookshelf speakers on a bookshelf is probably not the best place to get the best out of them and this type of speaker sounds at it´s best when it is placed away from walls, floors and ceilings, which is why you´ll find purists often use floor stands that are placed well into the room – experiment by moving them around and you´ll soon see the difference location will make to the output. If you have to place them against a wall or hard surface try and position them as far in front as is possible and angle them towards your usual listening position and avoid placing then in corners – try the rule of thirds and place them 1/3rd in from opposing walls.
Always have the left and right speakers at the same height and if you´re using a sub woofer try and locate that at head height for better effect.

What does the speaker sound like? – This is much more difficult as they are a sum result of the components, cones and domes etc, the enclosure itself and the mechanics of the crossover that routes outputs in specific ways to the tweeter and woofer. Just looking at the specifications will obviously give you no idea as to how they sound but it is always a good starting point to determine that they are in the ball park  – if you´re buying online then look at reviews of your intended purchase and if possible try to listen to your particular choice of music through them. It´s what they sound like to you that is most important.

Is the speaker within my budget? – This is easier since you can find speakers to match any budget you may have even if it´s only $50 or up to many $1,000´s – more importantly, having set a budget, try and stick to it and then do enough research to short list 3 or 4 different manufacturers initially and then do a more thorough investigation to narrow the choice down to just one or two – it´s easy to get carried away if you´re not careful!

Will the speaker fit my desired location? – Always measure the space where you want to locate your speakers and make sure that the dimensions of your final choice will fit. There´s nothing worse than ending up having to move or re-arrange furniture or fitments to accommodate them. Neither do you want to have the speakers crammed into a small space thereby affecting the quality of the sound.

By following some simple guidelines which you´ll find listed on the site at Speakers DJ Equipment and using your common sense you can ensure that you make the right choice now and have a quality sound which suits you – it is important since the right purchase can give you great listening pleasure for many many years – I´ve still got speakers that I purchased over 30 years ago and still sound as good as the day I bought them!!