10 Best Bookshelf Speakers under $300

Bookshelf speakers are designed with sound quality, space, and price in mind. In fact, I manage to find lots of great options for under $300 and this roundup is the result of my work.

I also divided them into Active and Passive speakers to help you choose. Remember that Active speakers are easier to use and come with a built-in amplifier while Passive ones have better quality sound but you need an amplifier to use them.

Which one is the best speaker under $300 that you are looking for? Well, scroll down to see what we’ve found after many hours of research.

Do I Need an External Amplifier for These Bookshelf Speakers?

There are two types of bookshelf speakers, passive (unpowered) and active (powered). Passive speakers will need to be connected to an external amp or a receiver. Active speakers are designed to be connected to any source without a receiver.

Most bookshelf speakers are passive and will need an amp. Those that already have an amp can just switch out their old speakers with the new ones.

There are several speakers on this list like the Edifier R2000DB and the Polk RTI A3 that are active speakers requiring no external amps. While an amp isn’t necessary or required, it will improve the sound quality of passive speakers.

Why Do I Need an Amp for My Speakers?

You might need an amp if your speakers are passive. Amps will take the signal they receive and output a better sound. The more powerful the amp you have, the louder and distortion-free the sound that emits from the amp will be.

It’s important to know the impedance and power handling of your speaker. This is because you’ll want an amp that will be compatible with your speakers. For example, low-impedance speakers can be problematic with amplifiers that aren’t designed to output continuous current in large amounts.

A speaker’s frequency (Hz) will tell you the range of tones it can produce. The first number will tell you how deep the bass goes while the second number indicates the tonal range. The wider the frequency, the fuller the sound.

Sensitivity is another thing to note. Sensitivity is measured by watts and by decibels (dB). It will tell you how effective it is at converting the power into volume. If you have a low-powered amp, you’ll want a speaker with higher sensitivity ratings to get the most out of it.

Pairing an amp and speaker that aren’t compatible will not only reduce the sound quality but can cause damage to both the amp and the speaker.

The Best Bookshelf Speaker under $300 Reviewed

The first five are listed in the best passive bookshelf, while the last five are the best powered bookshelf speakers. Let’s have a look at your cozy room filled with great music.

1. ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 (Best Passive)

• Wide-dispersion waveguide
• Woven aramid-fiber woofer
• Internal bracing
• Front-firing ports

Pros:

• Sound quality doesn’t change at higher levels
• Deep, tight bass
• Wide soundstage

Cons:

• At lower levels, they lack soundstage and presence

The ELAC Debut has front-firing ports for easy room placement. It also allows for sound to expand throughout the room. The 1-inch soft-dome tweeter extends the frequency response.

The woven woofer gives a smoother high-frequency response while still providing you with clean, tight bass. The internal bracing reduces cabinet vibration to give better sound quality.

2. Q Acoustics 3020i (Best Passive)

• P2PTM bracing
• Low Profile Binding Posts
• High-Frequency driver unit
• Mid/bass driver

Pros:

• Projects a wide soundstage
• Mids and highs have great sound clarity
• Compact for saving safe

Cons:

• The treble isn’t sharp enough, so it doesn’t work well with heavy bass genres or hip-hop

The Q Acoustics has P2P (point to point) bracing that supports the enclosure to improve the stereo image and give the soundstage more accuracy.

The high-frequency driver with the tweeters coupled with the mid/bass driver reduces the interference. The low-profile binding posts accept banana plugs, so you can position the speakers close to a wall. The upgraded cabinet size allows for a larger sound.

3. Polk Audio RTI A3 (Best Passive)

• 6.5-inch dynamic balance mineral/polymer cone driver
• Neodymium magnet
• Power Port technology
• Resonance free enclosures

Pros:

• Beautiful cherry wood design
• Punchy, tight bass
• Great sound clarity

Cons:

• They work great in smaller rooms but have trouble filling in larger rooms

The Polk Audio RTI A3 has MDF red cherry wood construction and resonance-free enclosures for better sound production. It has a 6.5-inch balanced mineral and polymer cone driver.

Power Port technology reduces chuffing or port noise. The neodymium magnet has low viscosity ferrofluid cooling and a heat sink on the back. This allows for longer playing times.

4. Yamaha NS-333 2-Way Bass (Best Passive)

• 5-inch PMD cone woofer
• Waveguide horns for improved imaging
• Monster Cable internal wiring

Pros:

• Great bass even at high levels
• Sound quality is crisp and clean
• Aesthetically pleasing

Cons:

• Missing transparency and smoothness in the midrange

The Yamaha NS-333 is pleasing to the eye. It has a 5-inch PMD cone woofer and a 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter in each speaker.

It has improved imaging with tweeters combined with the waveguide horns. This also reduces the reflected sound and increases the proportion of sound waves to produce a clear and precise sound.

The Monster Cable internal wiring ensures you get a clean, clear signal from the crossover network to the speaker driver. The elliptical cabinets and finish allow for diffraction of sound.

5. Polk Audio RTI A1 (Best Passive)

• Real wood construction
• Power Port technology
• Neodynium magnet
• 5.25-inch dynamic balance mineral/polymer cone driver

Pros:

• Sound is clean and detailed
• The build is sleek, modern, and durable
• Bass is powerful

Cons:

• At higher volume levels, sounds flat and loses the smaller details

The Polk Audio RTI A1 is a real cherry wood bookshelf pair of speakers with MDF construction and resonance-free enclosures. The cone drivers and 1-inch silk tweeter not only add to the aesthetic but also improve sound quality.

The Power Port technology reduces chuffing or port noise when listening on your favorite devices. It also has a neodymium magnet to increase driver power.

6. Edifier R2000DB (Best Powered)

• 2 AUX inputs
• Optical input for gaming consoles or TVs
• Bluetooth compatibility
• 25mm Eagle Eye tweeters

Pros:

• Bass is tight
• Sound is clear
• Speaker controls are on the speaker and a remote control

Cons:

• Bluetooth signal drops when moving around or leaving a room with a connected device

The Edifier R2000DB is one of the best powered bookshelf speakers. It comes with two AUX inputs that you can connect with headphones or RCA. This allows for two devices to be connected at the same time.

There is also an optical input. You can connect your computer, gaming consoles, or TV without having to worry about connection loss. The speakers are controlled with a remote control that includes DSP (digital sound processing) modes.

7. Fluance Ai40WW (Best Powered)

• Bluetooth compatibility
• Compact/space saver
• 70W Class D amplifier
• RCA input

Pros:

• Powerful bass
• Remoted controlled
• The sound quality of the mids and trebles are great

Cons:

• There is a high-pitched noise when music is played at low volumes

The Fluance Ai40WW is the best powered bookshelf speakers that provide significant performance in any setup such as turntables to Bluetooth streaming. The Class D amplifier allows for a more powerful sound.

The silk soft-dome tweeters produce the highs while the glass fiber drivers produce the detailed mids and deep bass. The cabinet enclosure design is constructed to deliver warm and distortion-free sound.

Enjoy all of your music from any source without having a separate amplifier and room-filling sound with the convenience of self-powered speakers.

8. Edifier S350DB 2.1 (Best Powered)

• Titanium dome tweeters
• 8-inch subwoofer
• Bluetooth compatibility
• aptX compatible

Pros:

• Durable construction
• Crisp highs, clear mids, and tight lows
• Tight, punchy bass

Cons:

• An optical cable is very short limiting where you can place the speakers

The Edifier S350DB is a 2.1 sound system. It has tiny satellite speakers and an added subwoofer. It can be connected to Bluetooth, RCA, optical, coaxial, or AUX giving you a wide range of options. You can control your audio with the side panel controls.

There’s the option to adjust the bass, treble, and volume. The wireless remote will let you control basic sound controls and switch in between inputs. The side panel bass reflex port enhances the bass at all levels.

The S350DB has a built-in amplifier that helps power and uses digital signal processing. This helps the speakers provide a clear and standardized level.

9. Logitech Z623 2.1 (Best Powered)

• THX-Certified
• Compatible with multiple devices
• 2.1 Speaker System
• Two satellite speakers with subwoofer

Pros:

• Tight and deep bass
• Set up was simple and quick
• Crisp sound

Cons:

• Cables are too short
• Hissing sound from the right speaker sometimes happens regardless of volume levels

The Logitech Z623 is a THX-certified 2.1 speaker system that delivers 400W Peak/200W RMS. It has two satellite speakers with a powerful subwoofer to fill even the largest room.

It can hold up to three devices at once and is RCA compatible along with Bluetooth, so you never have to disconnect your devices. There is a control panel on the right speaker for the power, volume, bass, and headphone jack.

10. Audioengine A2+ (Best Powered)

• aptX codec
• Custom aramid fiber woofers
• Built-in analog power amplifiers
• Multiple audio inputs and outputs

Pros:

• High-quality construction
• The great sound quality in the highs and mids
• Small in size for saving space

Cons:

• Sound quality is lacking in the lows
• The satellite cable runs short

The Audioengine A2+ is 2.0 high-fidelity stereo sound speaker that can connect over 5.0 Bluetooth. The hand-built wood cabinet design is made for desktops with their compact size.

It has USB audio inputs and RCA analog inputs to connect to all your devices. Set up is quick and easy since no receiver is required and there are no push buttons.

Bookshelf Speakers under $300: What to Consider

The best speakers under $300 are typically a presentation of what the Hi-Fi market has to offer. Some in this range can even stand up against speakers that cost thousands.

There are some speakers that may exceed your expectations and some that may not. Speakers come in all different sizes, power, internal build, and cost. You shouldn’t expect a small bookshelf speaker to be able to deliver sound throughout a whole house or very large rooms.

Most bookshelf speakers are designed for small rooms or apartment-style living. This doesn’t mean the sound quality or internal build is made poorly or that it can’t produce great sound. It just may not be able to live up to your standards if you want to fill up larger spaces.

Sound Quality

Sound quality will depend on a few things. Materials that your speakers’ drivers are made of can make a huge difference. For example, tweeters that are made with softer materials tend to have a much smoother sound than ones made of metal.

Aluminum drivers can get large amounts of detail other types lack. The drawback is they dent easily and have a more “slappy” bass response. All the attributes that you usually find in professional studio monitor speakers.

Aramid fiber drivers are more durable than other types. It responds quickly to vibration and reproduces voice coils accurately. It has a broader midrange, smoother highs, and more controlled lows. This material is considered the best among audiophiles but others will work for a “normal” listener.

Usually, driver materials have a balance of lightweight and strength. The quality of the materials has an effect too. Cheaper materials will yield lower-quality sound than more premium materials.

The use of amplifiers can also increase sound quality. Amplifiers take the weak signals and output stronger and better sound. Not all speakers will require an amplifier (some come with them pre-built).

Another factor that can affect the sound quality is the placement of your speakers. Most bookshelf speakers are designed to be mounted to produce a wider sound range and to enhance the quality. Some speakers produce better sound at certain angles too. This is usually due to the type of driver they use.

2.1 Sound System

There are a few types of sound systems within speakers. The most common types are 2.0 and 2.1 sound systems.

A 2.0 system has two channels without a subwoofer. It has left and right speakers with an amplifier placed in one of the speakers. These types of speakers are usually more compact than a 2.1 system and are considered space savers.

A 2.1 system uses two channels and a subwoofer. Typically, they will use smaller left and right speakers called satellites. This is used for high frequencies. They will also include a larger speaker or amplifier to produce the lower frequencies.

The major difference that a sound system lacks without being 2.1 is the lack of being able to produce the lower frequencies which leads to a more powerful bass or bass extension. This doesn’t mean that a 2.0 system will sound worse than a 2.1 system.

It’s just if you are someone who wants more bass or control over the bass then you’re better off with a 2.1 over a 2.0. Keep in mind that you will have to forgo space as 2.1 systems are generally much larger than 2.0 systems.

Final Thoughts

Out of all the bookshelf speakers we reviewed, there is one that stands out among the rest. The Edifier S350DB takes our number one spot as the top bookshelf speaker under $300 for many reasons.

The system itself is 2.1 and not only could be plugged in with AUX, RCA, or optical but can be powered through Bluetooth. It has a wireless remote-control option with side panel audio controls.

The only real downfall is the short optical cable limiting where you can place the speakers if using a device connected to that. And feel free to stay with us and read our selection of best bookshelf speakers under $200 to see more options and learn more about this beautiful and useful technology.

What are the best speakers under $300 for you? I hope you like the one we recommend!