Welp MagazineBookshelves aren’t just for books. Welcome to the world of the best bookshelf speakers under $1000. These small but mighty shelf-sized speakers can pack a serious punch, and they’re perfect for anyone who loves music, movies or falling asleep to incredibly high-fidelity white noise files. But with so many different models on the market, how do you know which ones are right for you – especially when you’re not a billionaire?! Well, that’s where we come in.
We’ve tested and reviewed dozens of bookshelf speakers, and narrowed it down to only the best of the best bookshelf speakers under $1000. Whether you’re on a really tight budget or you’re looking to splash out slightly (but not unreasonably) more for the ultimate in sound quality, we have something for everyone. So sit back, relax, and let us take you on a journey through the world of bookshelf speakers. We promise your ears won’t be disappointed.
Product Comparison Table: Best Bookshelf Speakers Under $1000
| Title | Price | Rating (Amazon) | Best in class | Buy | |
 | Edifier R1850DB Active Bookshelf Speakers with Bluetooth | $ | 4.6 stars | Best Bluetooth | Amazon |
 | Q Acoustics 3030i Bookshelf Speakers | $$ | 4.7 stars | Best for Classical Music | Amazon |
 | Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-600M II Bookshelf Speakers | $$$ | 4.6 stars | Best Home Theater | Amazon |
 | ELAC Carina Bookshelf Speakers with Jet Tweeter | $$$$ | 4.7 stars | Best for Large Spaces | Amazon |
 | Polk Audio LSi9 Dual-Driver Bookshelf Speakers with Real Cherrywood Finish | $$$$ | 4 stars | Best Luxury | Amazon |
Edifier R1850DB Active Bookshelf Speakers with Bluetooth
Is your home a smart home? The Bluetooth-friendly Edifier R1850DBs boast vibrant bass, crystal clear dialogue, creating a panoramic soundstage in your own little living room. When it comes to the best bookshelf speakers under $1000 that rely on Bluetooth for connectivity, you can’t go wrong with the Edifier R1850DB Active Bookshelf Speakers with Bluetooth.
Yet if the line goes dead, these Edifier bookshelf speakers not only provide Bluetooth V4.0 tech, but also regular analogue cables, and a sub-out jack for more oomph. To save you getting up to change the volume, cycle track, or adjust bass and treble settings, the Edifier R1850DBs also come with a handy compact remote control. Just don’t drop it between the couch cushions.
Pros
- Elegant and great-sounding bookshelf design
- Wireless remote
- Bluetooth connectivity
Cons
- Cable quite short
Verdict
The Edifier R1850DB Active Bookshelf Speakers are our best bookshelf speakers under $1000 for listeners that use Bluetooth to connect their devices. The connectivity these compact bookshelf speakers provide was the strongest in terms of Bluetooth out of any speaker model we tested out. Best of all, if you don’t like them as much as we do, they come with a two year warranty!
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Q Acoustics 3030i Bookshelf Speakers
If you prefer to skip the Top 40 in favor of vibing to Vivaldi, the best bookshelf speakers under $1000 for you are the Q Acoustics 3030i Bookshelf Speakers. The Q Acoustics 3030i speakers offer excellent sound quality, with a wide frequency response that can handle the full expanse and range of the finest classical music, even eloquent in difficult midrange tones. Clear, detailed sound with good imaging and a stunning soundstage make it easy to hear the individual instruments and voices in a piece of music, from the highest piccolo to the bassiest bassoon.
Other features fine-tune the ideal classical experience. Point-to-point (P2P) bracing stiffens the cabinet and reduces unwanted resonance, resulting in clearer sound; the damped tweeter helps to reduce distortion and improve the clarity of high-frequency sounds; and wide dispersion ensures that sound is projected evenly throughout the room, for a more immersive listening experience. It’s almost like the orchestra’s in the room with you.
Pros:
- Excellent sound quality
- Well-built with an attractive finish
- Wide frequency response
Cons:
- None that we could find!
Verdict
Classical music is a complex and nuanced art form that can be enjoyed on many levels, but speakers like the Q Acoustics 3030i Bookshelf Speakers are the only tools that can provide a shortcut to the levels of listening and appreciation usually locked behind the (astronomical) price tags of premium HiFi equipment. Available in a distinguished English Walnut veneer, our best bookshelf speakers under $1000 for classical music give you the maximum experience at a miniature price.
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Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-600M II Bookshelf Speakers
A Linear Travel Suspension (LTS) titanium diaphragm tweeter that minimizes distortion. Trademarked flawless Cerametallic woofers. A huge 90° x 90° horn. All of this technology is in just one of these bookshelf speakers, and you’re getting two. The sought-after unique speaker tech in the Klipsch Reference Premiere series is renowned for its sound, and it’s the reason the Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-600M II Bookshelf Speakers are our best bookshelf speakers under $1000 for use in your home cinema.
Even if “Tractrix geometry” means nothing to you, the sound of these speakers will speak for itself. They sound absolutely brilliant – the best out of any speakers in this price range that we tried. Although they’re at their best when sucking you into the world of a good movie, everybody deserves to project with speakers this good.
Pros
- Incredible sound
- Attractive design
- Unique Klipsch Reference technology
Cons
- Tweeter could be too bright for some people’s tastes
Verdict
Lights, camera, action. Hear a movie through the Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-600M II Bookshelf Speakers and it’s clear why Klipsch places so high not only on our list of the best bookshelf speakers under $1000, but on the home theater speaker market as a brand. The respect is well earned.
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ELAC Carina Bookshelf Speakers with Jet Tweeter
One of the joys of speakers is the ability to spread sound through a large space, and share what you’re watching or listening to with loads of other people. Whether you’re DJ-ing a house party, or just enjoying cool sounds in a cavernous room, not one note of music or word of dialogue will be missed with the ELAC Carina Bookshelf Speakers with Jet Tweeter. No matter how large the room in question is, these are the best bookshelf speakers under $1000 for you.
Don’t let the size fool you. ELAC’s Carina bookshelf speakers feature aluminum cone woofers and JET folded air-motion tweeters, and thanks to the 85dB sensitivity, you can enjoy full bass even at max volume and using a low-power amplifier. Best of all, if you’ve got people sitting on every fathomable surface or big spaces of emptiness, the downward-firing ports give you flexible room placement options and more even distribution of sound.
Pros
- Fills large spaces with sound
- Flexible placement options
- Clear, bassy sound
Cons
- Quite expensive
- Bass-heavy sound is not perfect for everyone
Verdict
Plenty of spaces are really, really big. Halls, classrooms, open-plan apartments, deserted islands, royal palaces, the void… Luckily, this model of our best bookshelf speakers under $1000 is perfect for large spaces and groups. The ELAC Carina Bookshelf Speakers with Jet Tweeter deliver the ‘Power Sound’ they advertise.
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Polk Audio LSi9 Dual-Driver Bookshelf Speakers with Real Cherrywood Finish
What does luxury sound like? Our answer – the Polk Audio LSi9 Dual-Driver Bookshelf Speakers with Real Cherrywood Finish. Our best bookshelf speakers under $1000 with a premium feel elevate every drum beat, breath or swell of strings into an immersive three-dimensional masterpiece, even at lifelike volume levels.
This is down to superior linearity, definition and imaging, as well as bass response that’s rich, deep and satisfying. The LSi Series is tooled for accuracy and musicality, and includes a number of features not usually seen in this price range! We were stunned to hear the Ring Radiator Tweeter’s pinpoint localization, and the way in which the Mylar bypass capacitor in the high pass crossover extends and flattens high frequency response. Acoustically inert non-resonant 1.5inch-thick panels and rigid cast aluminium driver baskets top it all off.
Pros
- Exquisite sound quality
- High-end craftsmanship
- Luxury feel
Cons
- Hefty price tag
Verdict
Some say you hear what you pay for. The price tag on our best bookshelf speakers under $1000 in the luxury-feel stakes – the Polk Audio LSi9 Dual-Driver Bookshelf Speakers – might only just squeak into our price range. However, it’s justified by not only the sound of these speakers but the beautiful materials they’re crafted with. You might not believe a real cherrywood finish could make a difference to the sound of a bookshelf unit. Maybe it’s just in our heads, but trust us, it’s more than just pretty.
