There are plenty of places to start when buying or upgrading a hi-fi system (turntable, streamer, amplifier), but the one component you'll always need is a pair of stereo speakers. And standmount speakers (or bookshelf speakers, as they're also known) are the easiest, most versatile ways to begin your journey.
Big speakers might give you the meatiest sound, but not everyone has the space, budget or inclination for a set of floorstanders. Thankfully, a small set of speakers can give you a pretty amazing listening experience, too (and fit into most spaces), as evidenced by these fantastic five-star speakers below from Bowers & Wilkins, Elac, KEF, PMC and more. Whether you're on a tight budget or have thousands to spare, our recommended picks below will show just how good the standard of speakers are these days, at any price.
Why bookshelf speakers? They're commonly known as such as some models are small enough to fit in a bookshelf, in a corner, or even on your desk. But a bookshelf isn't necessarily where you should put them – if you're serious about your hi-fi system's performance, we would always recommend placing them on dedicated speaker stands to ensure they sound their best. Many of the products on this list, such as the KEF LS50 Meta, clearly demonstrate they deliver their full potential when not shoved into a corner or in a bookshelf.
We've tested every speaker on this list in our dedicated listening rooms in recent years with suitable partnering equipment, and we've compiled this list to ensure you get the best sound-per-pound performance and have a range of options to choose from that suit your listening needs and budget.
BEST BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS OVERALL
The KEF LS50 Meta don’t look any different from the LS50, and in many ways they aren’t. The company considered revising that beautifully made enclosure but concluded that little could be improved.
The one area ripe for improvement was the LS50’s Uni-Q driver array, where the tweeter sits in the throat of the mid/bass unit. This has been thoroughly reworked, taking in all the refinements that KEF has developed over the past eight years and adding something new in the form of Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT) – KEF’s way of coping with the sound that comes off the back of the 25mm aluminium tweeter dome.
It doesn’t take long to realise that the LS50 have improved significantly. While the basic sonic character is instantly familiar, the new ones have gained a level of clarity and finesse the originals only hinted at. Which makes them superb all-rounders.
Read the full KEF LS50 Meta review
BEST CHEAP BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS
Elac has been in the speaker business since the 1980s and has made many fine products in that time. It’s fair to say that these new Debut B5.2 speakers should be considered one of the company’s finest efforts.
The Elac Debut B5.2 are brilliant performers for the money. The speakers feel solid, they're unfussy about placement, and they take any music you throw at them in their stride. They have the dynamic expression, detail resolution and tonal sophistication to handle it all, and enough stretch in their abilities to get even better with a system above their natural price range. For this sort of money, they're exceptional.
If you're not sold, you could also consider the Dali Spektor 2. They cost about the same, they offer an agile, articulate, expressive sound and are similarly unfussy over where they're placed. They also have a slightly richer midrange, which some might prefer.
Read the full Elac Debut B5.2 review
BEST BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS FOR SMALL ROOMS
Now in its eighth generation and going 20+ years strong, Bowers & Wilkins' 600 series of speakers has more often than not provided some superb speakers.
And that story continues with its latest entry-level 607 S3 speakers. The smallest and most affordable stereo speaker that B&W makes (even if that 'budget' price has increased in the last couple of years), the new 607 S3 replaces the previous Award-winning 607 S2 Anniversary Edition speakers and delivers a significantly improved performance.
The 607 S3 has been updated throughout, with a brand new 25mm titanium decoupled double dome tweeter, a new elongated tube loading system, a revised motor assembly for the 13cm Continuum mid/bass driver, higher-quality components used in the crossover, and sturdier cabinet bracing. The two drivers overlap to improve integration, while the use of titanium means more refined and detailed high frequencies.
The footprint remains the same and they're ideal for smaller spaces. Partner them carefully to balance out a somewhat forward, excitable treble performance, and you'll be rewarded with a terrifically detailed, rhythmically cohesive, agile, and energetic sound. The overall presentation is more open-sounding than before, while the treble performance is so much sweeter and more refined. For their size and price level, each note lands with precision and they even hold dynamic interest at low volume. Basslines are pulled taut and while they don’t go as bone-shatteringly deep as bigger speakers (or as big as the bigger 606 S3, below), they do land with impact.
Overall, they're just incredibly fun to listen to. There’s clarity and refinement in the mix here – to a really admirable level – but we’re struck by just how entertaining, zippy and musical this new pair sounds right from the start. We’re glad that, alongside a newfound level of clean detail, openness and precise sound, the new 607 S3 speakers have remembered to add in big doses of energy and dynamic prowess.
You should also consider the Triangle Borea BR03. For their size, they pack an immense sense of scale, making them ideal for filling smaller rooms. But their slightly peaky treble and divisive aesthetic means we prefer the B&Ws.
Read the full Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 review
BEST MID-PRICE BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS
The 606 S3 are the bigger standmounters in B&W's latest 600 S3 range of speakers, and they're bigger, bolder and pricier than the younger sibling, the 607 S3 speakers (above).
The 606 S3 takes on from the previous generation's 606 S2 Anniversary Edition (also Award winners) with improvements and updates throughout. They're furnished with the same upgrades as the 607, from the new titanium tweeter to the revised speaker terminal layout around the back. The two-way configuration, the same well-made build quality and finishes and the same dimensions return, but the 606 S3 are yet another step up in sound quality.
Unlike the peppy, fun character of the 607 S3, the 606 S3 offer a more mature presentation. There are newfound levels of refinement and openness compared with the older S2 model, with a spacious-sounding presentation and ample headroom for that cleaner treble to soar. Meanwhile, that bigger 16.5cm mid/bass driver and deeper cabinet result in added weight, punch and authority.
This extra bass power means the 606 S3 speakers aren’t quite as prone to the slightly excitable and forward treble of its lively 607 S3 sibling, but the older siblings' more level-headed, staid character comes at the expense of that charming and immediately entertaining sound we like so much in the new 607 S3.
While the 606 aren’t slouches when it comes to attack and agility, we find they don’t hold songs together as cohesively as when played through the enthusiastic 607. However, we find the bigger 606 speakers to be an easy listen. If you can afford and accommodate a step up above the compact 607 S3 speakers, want a larger scale of sound and need more oomph to your bass, the B&W 606 S3 will be to your liking.
BEST BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS FOR AUDIOPHILES
These might be PMC's entry-level standmounts, but they sound anything but (and they're not exactly cheap, either). That's hardly surprising – they're measured and listened to alongside the firm's reference models, and feature the same 27mm soft dome tweeter and 13cm mid/bass driver taken from models further up the company’s line.
They also feature Laminair – the aerodynamic port which was first developed for the flagship QB-1 studio monitors. This smooths the passage of air exiting the speaker to minimise airflow noise and improve bass definition.
The design is pleasingly minimalist, though it lacks some of the high-end polish of PMC's pricier models. But sonically, they're stunning, boasting excellent detail, clarity and charisma. The midrange is full of dynamic expression and solidity, and the bass digs deep without losing definition. Low frequencies have pace and punch to complement that impressive presence and depth, too.
While the Prodigy 1’s precision and organisation warrant the label ‘analytical’, the speakers aren’t informative at the expense of entertainment. Systematic, yes, but anything but soulless.
Read the full PMC Prodigy 1 review
BEST PREMIUM BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS
KEF's MAT (Meta Material Absorption Technology) innovation has been elevating the performance of its most recent speakers (the Award-winning LS50 Meta above is a prime example), so it was only a matter of time before the tech was integrated into its 2023 R Series of speakers. Sure enough, the R3 Meta standmounter features both MAT and KEF's Uni-Q driver array to great success.
These are gorgeous-looking speakers, with impeccable finish and build quality. KEF's 12th-generation Uni-Q driver array has been tweaked to accommodate the puck-sized MAT contraption (which absorbs 99 per cent of unwanted back radiation from the tweeter), and the resulting sound is astonishingly clear and insightful. The KEFs have a graceful nature to them that hides just how accomplished they are. They’re wonderfully transparent, at ease with any genre thrown at them: heavy metal, ’90s pop and classical works are all played over the testing period and the KEFs take it all in stride, simply relaying the music as faithfully as possible.
It's a huge step up from the MAT-less R3 (a previous five-star model) in terms of refinement, crystal-clear vocals and dynamism. These R3 Metas are spacious, dig deep, perform admirably both at loud and low volumes (a rare talent), and are delivered with a precision and accuracy that seems to come oh-so-easily to them.
Best of all, they're also hugely fun to listen to. You'll be drawn into emotive vocals, punchy bass and tactile guitar plucks and everything in between with whatever song you throw at them. Pair them with equally talented partnering kit, and these KEF R3 Meta speakers will soar and shine. Highly recommended.
Read the full KEF R3 Meta review
BEST BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS FOR LARGE ROOMS
We think these new Mission 770 are right up there with the very best at this price, and one of the best ways to fill a large room with sound. Mission takes design inspiration from the original 770 speakers launched in the 1970s, but has improved and modernised every other element: from the cabinet design to the drivers and even new dedicated stands.
While the retro link will be the main attraction for some, for us that’s put in the shade by the speakers' excellent all-round performance. The 770 have a range of sonic talents that sets them apart from most rivals and earns them a warm recommendation.
They have so much finesse when it comes to delivering extended bass. They sound taut and agile, but also delicate in the way they paint bass textures and resolve low-level information. There's plenty of punch and power, too. The speakers have a slightly forward balance, especially with the clear and expressive midrange, that sounds lively and engaging – but thankfully never too aggressive.
Songs are delivered with wide-ranging dynamics, impressive authority and scale. It’s a musically cohesive presentation that’s controlled and nicely organised. If you have the budget – and space – for these speakers, they're worth an audition.
Read the full Mission 770 review
OW TO CHOOSE THE BEST BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS
Some speakers demand a bit more space in order to perform at their best, so you need to decide what size and set-up you plan to have them in. Make sure you check the manufacturer's recommendations and speaker dimensions before buying, to ensure they will fit in the space you've marked out for them.
Our recommendation is that all of these speakers will benefit from being placed on a dedicated pair of speaker stands.
Budget and size are the biggest considerations. Whether your stereo speakers will be in your living room, home office or bedroom, it's crucial to see what fits your space – and what you can afford. Are you after a small, affordable pair that can go into the corner of your room? Are you after a large pair of speakers, or have an extensive budget for premium standmounters? Whatever the case, remember to also factor in speaker cables and the demands of the rest of your hi-fi system.
As far as audio quality goes, it's definitely important to find a great-sounding pair of speakers, but how your speakers sound is naturally tied to what you're using to drive them. Building a hi-fi setup can quickly become complicated when there are thousands of different products out there, so if that's what you're doing, check out our ultimate guide to building the perfect hi-fi system.
HOW WE TEST
At What Hi-Fi? we have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London and Reading where, as a team of audio experts, we review hundreds of products every year, including one of the most prolific hi-fi products of all – bookshelf speakers.
We judge products on a performance-per-pound basis, so during our testing we always compare products to similarly priced class leaders to help us settle on a star rating for the review and the order for these five-star performers in these buying guides.
We often review bookshelf speakers by using them in at least two systems – our high-end reference system, to reveal the best they can sound when fed the most accurate signals, and a more price-comparable one to see how they perform in real-world scenarios with realistic partnering equipment. Our choice of test music is varied, too, to see how pairs sound when playing a variety of different genres and styles of music.
Whether we're reviewing a set of bookshelf speakers that cost a few hundred pounds or a fair few thousand, our review philosophy doesn't change, and you can be sure that any five-star speakers (and particularly What Hi-Fi? Award-winning ones) will offer up a fantastic performance for the price.
As a rule, no input from PR companies or sales teams is taken into account during reviews, maintaining What Hi-Fi?'s decades-long reputation for delivering honest, unbiased critical feedback.
You can read more about how we test and review products on What Hi-Fi? here.