Bookshelf Speakers are meant to rest on a shelf, table or other elevated surface – anywhere but the floor. They’re specifically designed to maximize sound in small to medium-sized spaces. Like anything else, doing your homework before making a decision will definitely pay off. For instance, some are geared specifically for movie buffs, while others are tailored take your music listening experience to the next level.
When you’re ready to pull the trigger on bookshelf speakers, we’ve got you covered with the basics every consumer needs to know.
BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS AS PART OF A HOME THEATER SYSTEM
You can purchase bookshelf speakers as stand-alone additions to your living room, or as part of a larger home theater system. If you’re serious about upping your audio game, there are tons of great home theater systems that incorporate bookshelf speakers.
But if making that type of commitment isn’t in your budget, opting for a pair of high-quality bookshelf speakers can certainly add some bang to your music or movies. Even still, when buying these kinds of speakers a la carte, it isn’t a bad idea to look for ones that will ultimately fit well into a larger home theater system. Keeping the big picture in mind will save you from having to buy another pair of speakers later down the road.
ACCESSORIES FOR BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS
What good is a bookshelf speaker if it doesn’t have a shelf to sit on? The truth is that you’ll need a piece of furniture to place these speakers on. While an actual bookshelf is certainly an option, many prefer to use a speaker stand. These are great because their height is designed to bring the speakers to ear level when the listener is seated. (Keeping bookshelf speakers at ear level is crucial when it comes to achieving tonal balance. Otherwise, the sound will be out of whack.) If you don’t really have the space for freestanding speaker stands, or if you have young kids who run the risk of knocking over your new equipment, wall mounts will also do the trick.
HOW TO POSITION BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS
Whether you place the bookshelf speaker on an actual bookshelf, on speaker stands or on top of a media console, you need to properly place the speakers. The general rule is to put bookshelf speakers at 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions, angling them towards your preferred listening position. The tweeters should be at ear-level for optimal performance of the Bookshelf Speakers.
