bookshelf speakers

Audio equipment

HiFi Bookshelf Speakers

bookshelf speakers

The HiFi Bookshelf or Bookshelf Speakersas their name suggests, are small enough to fit on a bookshelf, a stand, a desk or are simply devices that can be considered a decorative addition to your bookshelf, but with a great potential when it comes to audio playback.

Large speakers are known for offering a more substantial sound, but not everyone has the space, budget, or inclination for a set of stands with floor bases, which these types of devices need. Instead, a small set of speakers can give you a pretty amazing listening experience.

There is a classification of speakers, these can be included in Passive Speakers and Active Speakers. The main differentiation between active and passive speakers is that the active ones have a built-in amplifierwhile passive ones require external amplification.

Passive Speakers

In other words, the passive speakeris responsible for audio reproduction without amplifying or filtering it, so you will need to receive the sound signal previously modified by an independent amplifier, an audio card or a mixing console.

passive speakers

Passive speakers, since they are not powered, obtain their energy from a separate amplifier through a cable. The reproduction scheme can be summarized as follows:
Sound Source -> Preamplifier -> Amplifier -> Crossover -> Speaker

  • sound source: It can be many things, including a music mixer, CD player, Blu-ray player, mobile or PC and even an instrument.
  • Preamplifier– This allows you to choose which source you want the sound to come from and at what volume.
  • Amplifier– Takes the signal from the preamplifier and boosts it so it can power the speaker.
  • Crossover– This splits the signal from the amplifier and sends it to the different ‘drivers’ of the speaker. There can be multiple drivers in one speaker. Each driver is, in fact, a single speaker. Often on a speaker you will find a woofera mid-range and a tweeter, meaning the crossover will split your signal in three ways. If you only have a midrange and a tweeterI would divide it in two.
  • Speaker– The speaker may be a single driver or, as noted above, may contain multiple drivers in one unit.

Pros of passive speakers

• The speaker is directly connected to an amplifier.
• No external power supply required.
• They tend to be lighter, so they are easier to move or mount on the wall.
• They are usually cheaper than their active equivalent.

At the other pole, we find active speakers or also called self-amplified speakers. These are made up of a speaker and an amplifier contained in the same acoustic box, and have the ability to filter and amplify the sound itself and then reproduce it in the speaker.

Active Speakers

Active speaker

A active speaker It has an internal crossover and is powered by an internal amplifier, so it doesn’t need an external power source like a passive speaker. The usual progression is therefore: Power source -> Preamplifier -> Crossover -> Amplifier -> Speaker

Advantages of active bookshelf speakers:

• There is usually less external wiring.
• Since more of the wiring is internal, it reduces interference with sound
• You don’t have to worry about combining components.
• They maintain the digital signal for longer, which helps stop signal degradation.
• The signal passes through the crossover before the amplifier. This means that the crossover does not have to handle highly amplified signals, so it can do its job better, introducing less loss and distortion.
• They generally have better bass compared to similarly sized passive speakers.
• They can be used wirelessly via Bluetooth.

A significant aspect of this type of device is Bluetooth connection technology. This type of wireless connection allows you to share music (or any sound file) from a mobile device or laptop that has Bluetooth technology, this would eliminate the connection through audio cables, making the experience of sharing music more comfortable.

What is a HiFi system?

This is a configuration that includes two speakers and input sources. With a high fidelity (HiFi) system, your primary focus is receiving a near-perfect reproduction of an audio recording. Hi-fi systems only mainly require a 2.0 arrangement in the form of two speakers on opposite sides of each other.

This configuration is also known as a stereo arrangement. A good stereo system will have a great frequency response, meaning it can accurately produce sound from very low to very high frequencies within the range of human hearing.

Bookshelf Speaker Form Factor

The HiFi Bookshelf Speakerscome in a compact form factor, but it is worth noting that these speakers are usually paired designs consisting of a tweeter and a mid-bass driver. They often have limited bass output due to their compact form factor, but nevertheless offer High Definition (HiFi) sound quality.

The most obvious advantage to select Bookshelf Speakersover other types of speakers is its compact sizemaking it easy to place them on a table, mount them on a wall, or, as the name implies, simply place them on a shelf.

Another attractive aspect of this type of speakers is their minimalist designswhich are presented as both a decorative and functional additive in terms of good audio reproduction.

Below are a series of highly recommended Bookshelf speakers.

Wiibo String 15:

Wiibo String 15

  • High quality HIFI speakers
  • Supported power 100W
  • Distortion < 0.5%
  • Impedance 8 ohms
  • Signal to noise ratio > 80Db
  • Frequency response 40Hz – 20 Khz T
  • Price: €99.99

Karino 200:

Audibax Karino 200

  • High quality HIFI speakers
  • Supported power 100W
  • Distortion < 0.5%
  • Signal to noise ratio > 80Db
  • Frequency response 40Hz – 20 Khz
  • Price: €119.01

Audibax Signature S1E:

Audibax Signature S1E

  • High quality HIFI speakers
  • 2 Way Bass Reflex
  • Supported power 100W
  • Distortion < 0.5%
  • Signal to noise ratio > 80Db
  • Price: €121.61

HiFi Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers

Audibax Beta 1BT

Audibax Beta 1BT

  • HiFi Bluetooth Speakers
  • Output power 100W
  • bass reflex
  • RCA Inputs for Turntables with Phono Preamp
  • Optical and Coaxial Inputs for Television
  • Microphone Input with Echo
  • Price: €149.00

Audibax Beta2BT

Audibax Beta 2BT

  • HiFi Bluetooth Speakers
  • Output power 50W RMS (rms) (2 * 25w)
  • bass reflex
  • RCA Inputs for Turntables with Phono Preamp
  • Bass and Treble Controls
  • Price: €99.00

Wiibo Neo 50

Wiibo Neo 50

  • 50W Active Bluetooth HiFi Speakers
  • Bass Reflex Inputs Inputs
  • RCA for Turntables with Phono Preamp
  • Bass and Treble Controls
  • 3.5mm inputs
  • Price: €114.90

Wiibo Neo 100

Wiibo Neo 100

  • 100W Bluetooth HiFi Speakers
  • Bass Reflex Inputs
  • RCA for Turntables with Phono Preamp
  • Optical and Coaxial Inputs for Television Microphone Input with Echo
  • Bass and Treble Controls
  • Price: €199.00
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Simon Müller

Simon Müller is the driving force behind UMusic, embodying a lifelong passion for all things melodious. Born and raised in New York, his love for music took form at an early age and fueled his journey from an avid music enthusiast to the founder of a leading music-centered website. Simon's diverse musical tastes and intrinsic understanding of acoustic elements offer a unique perspective to the UMusic community. Sporting a dedicated commitment to aural enrichment and hearing health, his vision extends beyond just delivering news - he aspires to create a network of informed, appreciative music lovers. Spend a moment in Mueller's company, and you'd find his passion infectious – music isn’t simply his job, it’s his heartbeat.