No matter if it is for movies, music or gaming finding the best bookshelf speakers under 1000 can really help add to your entertainment experience. I love to have good sound no matter if I am watching Star Wars, playing some Street Fighter V or even rocking out to a little Guns n Roses. Sound is something that is very important to me. Today I am looking at a few highly regarded bookshelf speakers as well as a couple of hand-picked ones that seem interesting to me.
Who Are Bookshelf Speakers For?
I really cannot give you a straight answer to this as bookshelf speakers actually have a ton of use. For example, in regards to things like video games and movies, bookshelf speakers can be awesome rear speakers as they do not take up a lot of space. Speaking of taking up a lot of space, if you are short on space then you can have a set of bookshelf speakers as your main speakers as they do not take up much room at all.
The Best Bookshelf Speakers Under $1000 Reviews
Over the last month or so I have personally tested out a bunch of great bookshelf speakers. Honestly, there is not a bad one in this bunch. Also included are a couple that I have not had the chance to test (but hopefully I will at some point) but I think look good.
- Klipsch RP-500M Reference Premiere Bookshelf Speakers – Pair
- KEF Q150 Bookshelf Speakers
- SVS Prime Bookshelf Speaker (Pair) – Piano Gloss Black
- Elac Uni-FI UB5 Slim Bookshelf Speaker
- Swan Speakers – M300 – Powered Bookshelf Speakers
- Pioneer SP-BS22-LR Andrew Jones Home Audio Bookshelf Loudspeakers
- Polk Signature Series S15 Bookshelf Speakers
1. Klipsch RP-500M Reference Premiere Bookshelf Speakers – Pair
Pros:
- Come in two cool designs
- They have some real power
- The clarity is fantastic
- Way under our $1000 price limit
Cons:
- Might be a tad larger than some people want
- The old school look is not everyone’s cup of tea
I am a long time fan of Klipsch and their Klipsch RP-500M Reference Premiere Bookshelf Speakers are truly awesome. The set that I was sent to test out is the walnut design and they have a real elegance about them. They are also available in black too so that is cool. The asking price for these as I write this is $479.99 which is a fair price if you want something that is very high quality, but also way under our 1000 bucks price limit. I really like the design and the walnut ones, in particular, have a real old school charm to them which I think is cool.
These, despite their rather modest size, have some real power. They are powered with a 1-inch titanium tweeter and a 5 and a quarter inch woofer. Each of which is made to Klipsch’s high standard. I tried these with music, movies and games and was very happy with the sound quality. The sound is very clear and even when I was watching Terminator 2 with the sound cranked up very loud it was booming, but also very nice and clear. In all, I was not disappointed with this in any way at all.
What Other People Are Saying
I found this really cool YouTube unboxing video that showcases the black version of these speakers really well. You can get a sense for this size and the build quality of them here. Also, check out all of the positive Amazon reviews where people talk about how clear and great the sound is.
I know that we have only just started our quest for the best bookshelf speakers under 1000, but I can tell you right now that these Klipsch and their Klipsch RP-500M Reference Premiere Bookshelf Speakers are going to be a real contender for my favorite. They sound fantastic, look great and I think that the asking price these are going for is more than fair.
2. KEF Q150 Bookshelf Speakers
Pros:
- They have a really “cool” design to them
- Easy to setup
- The sound has real power, but also clarity
- Very well made
Cons:
- They do require some breaking in
- The design might be bulky for some
The Q series of speakers by KEF is highly regarded and this set of KEF Q150 Bookshelf Speakers is the latest version. These come in a couple of colors and the black ones are the ones I have tested. These things just look flat out cool! The black design to me has a real 80s vibe which is something that I actually really do like. They are a nice size and they have a really high-quality feel to them thanks to the high-end wood used. They go for just under 600 bucks which is not a bad price at all.
Sound-wise they sound as good as they look. Appetite For Destruction by Guns n Roses was the album that did the honors and even at louder volumes, this was great. For movies the clarity was awesome and KEF has used an enhanced Uni-Q Driver (which they love to talk about) with this and it is my understanding that this is a huge reason the clarity, even at higher volumes is so good with these speakers. I really do not see anyone being disappointed with these! Just make sure you break them in properly!
What Other People Are Saying
There is a great selection of five star Amazon customer reviews but one that caught my eye had this to say, “This was really really freaky but for some some songs the singer was like floating in front of me and the music was coming off from the sides, it was like amazing. Other songs everything was coming out from the center, I’m guessing this depends on the original mix in the studio”. Which sums them up really well.
The KEF Q150 Bookshelf Speakers really are a great set of speakers and a real step up from the 100 model. The design is very elegant and would look great in a living room, home theatre, game room or wherever. The asking price is great and in all, I am very impressed with these speakers.
3. SVS Prime Bookshelf Speaker (Pair) – Piano Gloss Black
Pros:
- They are very well made
- The sound is great!
- The asking price is more than fair
- Two designs available
Cons:
- Not a huge fan of the glossy finish
- Strange that the price is so different for the two versions
Next up we have this pair of SVS Prime Bookshelf Speakers. There are two styles of this set. The ones I have tested out are the gloss black ones which do look very sleek and cool, but they attract dust and fingerprints like crazy. There is also a black ash set which I think I would actually like better, but of course, that is a personal preference thing. The gloss ones come in at $599 and the others are a full 100 bucks cheaper…. I know which ones I would pick!
The sound quality is pretty solid. As you would expect there is a bit of breaking in to get them up to their best. The bass is especially good with these speakers, I think that is because it is housed in its own area to keep it secure and interference-free. These are really well made all throughout and clearly made by people who take a lot of pride in sound quality. I actually ended up watching the two Jurassic World movies back to back to test these out and was amazed at how clear the dialogue was, but how pumping the music and action scenes were too. Even for music, these have some kick, especially for live music I felt they were impressive.
What Other People Are Saying
Part of why these had to be on my best bookshelf speakers under $1000 list is their reputation. I found a great YouTube Video review of these that share many of the things I like about them in it so be sure to check it out. You can also get a sense of their size and style here too.
I will admit that the gloss design of these is not my favorite kind of design. However, I will say that SVS Prime Bookshelf Speakers have an amazing sound quality no matter if you want them for movies, music or even gaming! The breaking-in period is there and I do not have a problem with that and just see it as more fun to be had with movies and music! Be sure to look at both versions of these to see what one fits your setup best.
4. Elac Uni-FI UB5 Slim Bookshelf Speaker
Pros:
- I love the slim design of these
- The asking price is great and well under 1000 bucks
- They take up very little space
- Overall, they have a solid design
Cons:
- They do have some breaking in to get the best out of them
- Placement is actually important for these speakers
At under 500 bucks, I feel that these Elac Uni-FI UB5 Slim Bookshelf Speakers are great value for money. The design is something that really made me pop when I took these out of the box. These are “bookshelf” speakers, but they are some of the slimmest bookshelf speakers that I have seen! This is great for those of you who are a little snug on space and want a set of speakers that sound great but take up very little space.
Does this slimmer body mean the sound quality suffers? A 4-inch midrange cone along with a 1-inch tweeter work together to make some sweet, sweet music here. I was very impressed with the sound quality here. I was in a metal mood so I first tried these out with some Iron Maiden and was happy with the sound. I am sure with some major breaking in they would sound even better. I watched a couple of movies with the kids using these and they were great for movies too. The bass was not the punchiest I had come across, but it was fine.
What Other People Are Saying
There are some awesome Amazon customer reviews that are well worth checking out. These have a great reputation and it was hard for me to pick just one, but this one here did catch my eye. “In terms of what I can tell you about the sound, I can say that the fawning reviews are not hype or groupthink, but pretty accurate”. People really do like the sound of these, but many do say you have to work to get the best sound.
These Elac Uni-FI UB5 Slim Bookshelf Speakers are really solid. I like the under 500 bucks price range and the slim form factor is great. They do have some breaking in and I feel that you will want to mess around with their placement to get the best out of them. However, there is no denying that these are held in very high esteem for good reason!
5. Swan Speakers – M300 – Powered Bookshelf Speakers
Pros:
- I love the wood panel design
- They feel great and solid
- I loved the sound not just for music, but movies as well
- Not a bad price at all
Cons:
- They do require a fair bit of breaking in
- I know that style is not going to be everyone’s idea of cool
These Swan Speakers – M300 – Powered Bookshelf Speakers are speakers that I actually know a great deal about as I used these for a couple of years in my study! So, I was excited to get the chance to try out a box-fresh pair of these. The design of these is really cool, I am a real sucker for woodgrain which I know is not to everyone’s taste, but I think it looks great with the black.
The 1.1-inch tweeter and 6.5-inch woofer offer a great 1-2 punch combination. I already knew that these were great for music, so I decided to put these through their paces with a Star Wars marathon and also some major Mario Kart time with my son. There is some breaking in here, but even out of the box the sound is rather impressive. These are just really solid speakers that do what they do very, very well and are certainly deserving of a closer look by you. They are made well and at just over 500 bucks they are well under our price limit.
What Other People Are Saying
Ok so this is a bit long, but check out this snippet from one of the many Amazon customer reviews. “The MKIII, as a result, can produce an impressively coherent stereo-image with a wide sweet-spot (for a desktop setup at least) that puts the vocalist right where she belongs: at the center of a wide and passably holographic soundstage”. This is exactly how I feel about these speakers when it comes to music.
I was a fan of these when I actually used them and in getting the chance to check out a brand-new set I still am. I love the design of these and think they are great if you want to show off your setup. The speakers also sound great and I feel that the build quality is solid with these all around.
6. Pioneer SP-BS22-LR Andrew Jones Home Audio Bookshelf Loudspeakers
Pros:
- I love the look of these speakers
- Nice and slim body
- Close to 100 bucks
- Tons of great reviews for these
Cons:
- I have not managed to personally test them
- I have read they have a fair bit of breaking in time
I really wanted to have a set of speakers close to 100 bucks on here so I have picked these Pioneer SP-BS22-LR Andrew Jones Home Audio Bookshelf Loudspeakers. Now I have not actually tested these out, but I thought they were worth a closer look. I like the 114 bucks price tag and the black wood they have used has a really cool and rather classic 80s vibe that I always dig. They also appear to have a very slim profile which is good for those of you looking to cram these into a tighter spot.
Powering these is a 4-inch woofer and 1-inch tweeter and you have to go into these not expecting to be blown away. At the end of the day, these are more “budget-friendly” speakers, but I have never been steered wrong by Pioneer so that I why I have decided these needed to be on our best bookshelf speakers under $1000 list. When you read about these it does say they are designed with the best sound quality in mind possible so I do feel that this could be the real deal.
What Other People Are Saying
I found a very impressive video review on YouTube where the reviewer states that these are even better than some 500-1000 dollar speakers! That is quite the endorsement. However, I do not think it is exaggerated as I really have not read much in the way of bad reviews about these speakers!
If there is a set of speakers, I want to test our right now it is these! I have long been a fan of what Pioneer do and I think that they have managed to create a great set of awesome sounding speakers here, but also manage to keep the price down. The fact that these are so close to 100 bucks is just insane to me!
7. Polk Signature Series S15 Bookshelf Speakers
Pros:
- They are coming in at under $200
- The black wood effect is great
- Nice compact size
- They appear to have that Polk quality throughout
Cons:
- Some of the other designs appear to be hard to come by
- One review did mention they kept cutting out!
Last, but by no means least we have another set of budget-friendly speakers, this time from Polk. Their Polk Signature Series S15 Bookshelf Speakers come in at around 170 to 180 bucks. They have a nice compact size and I really do like the kind of marble/black wood effect that they are rocking too. From a style point of view, I really do like what Polk has done with these speakers.
I have not actually tested these out myself, but in reading what is powering these things they do sound quite impressive. A 5 and a quarter inch driver along with 1-inch tweeter will get the job done great. I was also very impressed to read that despite their low budget price, these have many of the technological wonders that Polk’s more expensive speakers have which leads me to believe that the bass especially will be impressed with these speakers.
What Other People Are Saying
I found a cool video review showcasing the gloss black version of these speakers. You can see their compact size here as well as get an idea of just how good the sound quality is! I must say that these really do sound like an impressive set of speakers, especially giving their low price point.
I have always thought that Polk made great sound equipment and these speakers look to be no different. I really like the style of these and must say that the wood effect they have used would look great with my main setup. If you want a solid set of speakers that are coming in at under 200 bucks, you really need to put this set here on your shortlist.
What Are The Best Bookshelf Speakers Under $1000
I have tested out five fantastic sets of speakers and also taken a closer look at two others. Thankfully none of these are bad at all, but I have to pick one! My favorite of the bunch is the Klipsch RP-500M Reference Premiere Bookshelf Speakers. They are under 500 bucks; they look fantastic and most importantly of all the sound quality is truly great. These are my pick for the best bookshelf speakers under $1000. Those looking to save money, I would suggest you take a closer look at the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR Andrew Jones Home Audio Bookshelf Loudspeakers which are close to 100 bucks!
