Top 10 Best Bookshelf Speakers Under $1000 To Buy 2023 Reviews

Once you get to the serious end of the scale price-wise, you are looking for real quality. We are assuming here that your real requirement is to buy great speakers that will give you not loud or fancy sound, but an accurate reproduction of the sound. In which case, we are looking for different parameters in performance.

All speakers will give you some frequencies that may be more prominent than others. That’s how they work, but the trick is to look out for speakers where there is the least variation in frequency response. You could describe it as if you had a graph to show those frequency responses, and it would be quite flat in the picture it gives.

The speakers with the flatter frequency chart have the best quality. Now we can not all compose a graph, but we can hear it?

So, let’s have a look at the best bookshelf speakers under $1000 and find the perfect pair for you…

Top 10 Best Bookshelf Speakers Under $1000 In 2023 Reviews

1 Dynaudio Xeo 2 Wireless Bookshelf Speakers – Pair

There is a lot that goes on in Denmark these days. If you haven’t heard of Dynaudio, you could be forgiven. Established in 1977, they build high-end speakers but only use their own specially designed drivers. They have a separate company Dynaudio Acoustics that produce only monitors and speakers for recording studios.

The first thing you notice with these speakers is that they appear quite small. At 19 by 11 by 18 inches they are, but they weigh nearly nine pounds each. Small, heavy, and very understated in their design. These dogs bite!

Each cabinet houses a 14cm woofer and a 27mm silk soft dome tweeter. The bass port is located at the rear and is downward facing. They have cloth speaker grilles that are magnetic and cover virtually all the front which just a hint of the aluminum baffle underneath. Each speaker has touch controls for volume and power.

The pair of speakers are both active and have their own amplifiers so no need for any connections between them. On the back connections for 3.5mm input and RCA stereo, and optical input. There is also a USB socket.

Further switches control digital sound processing which gives you options for sound change depending on where the speakers are located in the room. They are Bluetooth compatible and have a remote control. They can be used as stand-alone speakers or as part of a setup.

The experienced ear will pick up the nuances of the reproduction that is at a staggering level of reproduction. They will generate a lot of volume, 65 watts per speaker RMS, but are not designed to be pushed too hard. If therefore you are looking to blow the roof off look elsewhere.

These are more sophisticated than that. Do sit down though before you check the price, they don’t come cheap, but will easily be a contender for beat bookshelf speakers under $1000.

2 Audioengine A5+ 150W Wireless Powered Bookshelf Speakers

Audio Engine has been around for a while now. Based in Austin, Texas, they are known for building quality bookshelf speakers.

The A5+ speaker is an upgrade to their A5 model, which has always been well-received. They are built from real wood and are relatively small at 12 by 16 by 22 inches. They have a power rating of 60 watts. A simple yet very smart and efficient design they will suitably fit in any room without dominating.

The five-inch aramid fiber woofers and the ¾” silk dome tweeters give a very accurate sound reproduction. Whilst the sound is accurate and quite powerful, it does lack a bit of bottom end, which is quite noticeable in some genres, especially EDM and hip-hop.

The inclusion of Bluetooth 5 is a big asset to these speakers. And gives you a faster data rate and a more stable connection and up to 100 feet of range. It also includes aptX HD codec and a 24-bit DAC. They have their own amplifier and so need no further connections. They will operate with turntables, phones, laptops, etc. or even the best music streamers.

Inputs are located on the rear and include Line in and put and a 3.5mm input and on the front a status light and volume control.

All quite neat and tidy and solidly built, they produce a decent sound without reaching the heights of some of the competitors. To get a great bass sound, you may need to attach a subwoofer. The mid-range price tag seems about right.

3 KEF Q350 Bookshelf Speakers

Established in 1961 in Maidstone in the UK by Raymond Cooke, KEF has grown steadily into one of the most respected names in speaker production. Their products are now an internationally recognized brand. Cooke’s success was rewarded by being made an OBE by Queen Elizabeth 2.

If there is one thing that stands out in the design of KEF speakers. Apart from the build quality which is usually exceptional, and the attractive black finish, then they can simply be called refined. They are created with classic lines and an understatement that draws your attention.

The design is sleek and has a minimalistic, and is only disturbed by the logo. There are not even any fittings for the front grille as it is magnetic. What appears initially as a single speaker is, in fact, two. The 16.5cm driver, made from aluminum has at its center a 25mm tweeter which is a vented dome design also made from aluminum.

The driver is placed at the center of the cabinet, helping to reduce any standing waves internally and increase the accuracy of the sound. The bass port is at the rear with two speaker terminals for single wiring.

Crisp, articulate highs and clearly defined mids that sit in the mix of sound very prominently without being buried as so often can happen. But the low frequencies are the attention-getter. Not overdone, not too loud they just sit there and permeate everything without being the main feature.

A quite stunning audio experience borne out of great speaker design. The links between the three ranges are seamless and not distinguishable.

There are no tricks or connections to these speakers, they are purely that, and as such must be included in the list of best bookshelf speakers under $1000.

The front grilles aren’t included with the speakers, they are extra? How about that? If you don’t need them, don’t buy them. If you prefer the look with them on, spend a little extra. Apart from that, there’s nothing else we can find to complain about.

4 SVS Ultra Bookshelf Speaker (Pair)

Based in Ohio, SVS makes a range of speakers that challenge the established high-end manufacturers and make a product that likes to be driven hard. They appear interesting with their wedge design, and drivers fitted flush to the surface of the baffle.

This idea is to reduce diffraction. The spread of the sound waves over edges can cause interference, and this idea is designed to eliminate it. They have used FEA simulations to model the inside of the cabinet by adding bracing to reduce unwanted resonance.

The SVS Ultra speakers produce a wide frequency range of 45Hz to 32kHz and produce good quality mids and highs. But the bass is a little bit lacking in our opinion. The 6.5” woofer has a composite glass-fiber cone. To improve its sensitivity, it is made quite stiff. It is mostly aluminum in construction including the basket and the shorting ring.

The tweeter is a one-inch aluminum dome design which gives a good reproduction of the high frequencies, and there is flared 1.7-inch bass port at the rear. The speakers are designed to work with amplifiers with ratings between 20 to 150 watts, but definitely perform better at the higher volumes.

There is a two-way crossover to assist in transmission and integration of the frequencies and a cloth grille, bumper feet, and gold-plated binding posts.

Returning to the internal design, there are some added sound reproduction and efficiency ideas built-in to the cabinet. Each has separate enclosures for the woofer and tweeter to get the best out of both and to avoid any interference. This will have an effect on distortion levels and overall sound performance.

They are are a well-designed speaker with a lot of potential power output but are quite expensive.

5 Audioengine HD6 150W Wireless Powered Bookshelf Speakers

Another offering from Audioengine. These are not what you would call regular speakers, but are an all-inclusive work station of connectivity. And they will interact with most devices via the systems that are built-in. Bluetooth connectivity that includes apt-X HD links up with your personal devices, and there is an RCA analog input, ⅛” input, and optical input. The Bluetooth connection gives you 100 feet of range.

It would appear that most of the development for these speakers has gone into making them connectable and efficient in those connections. The audio codec apt-X HD has been specially designed by Bluetooth to improve sound quality and connectivity. If your phone or device isn’t equipped with it, the speakers can still use SBC and AAC codecs.

The optical input and Bluetooth receiver both use a Digital to Analog converter (DAC) to give a great sound with low external noise processing at 192kHz. A ‘bit-perfect 24-bit DAC’ as they describe it.

If we just talk about the speakers and the sound for a minute in the midst of all the Bluetooth stuff, yes it does have some speakers.

Namely a 5.5” woofer coupled with a 1” tweeter. At peak, they will put out 75 watts with up 50 watts RMS per channel. The tweeters are silk-domed with neodymium magnets. The woofers are a kevlar woven glass design that is protected by rubber surrounds to cut out vibrations and offer a stable base. They are installed in aluminum frames.

All connectivity, here we go again, is hidden away in the left speaker the right being passive and connected by the speaker wire. The cabinets have removable grilles that are magnetic, and there is a remote unit.

There is much more to mention, technically wise about driver design and amplifiers, but no space here to do so. Nor have we mentioned the sound performance which you would be right in thinking is what speakers are all about. But with these evidently not.

The noise is all about connectability rather than what they actually sound like. Silly us, we thought that was what you wanted from a speaker???

6 KEF Q150 Bookshelf Speakers

Since the early 60s, KEF has been manufacturing quality speakers and have developed a world-wide reputation. Founded by a previous employee of the BBC in the UK, they have raised the bar in speaker design and sound reproduction. The Q150 is one of the respected ‘Q’ range of products.

The ‘Q’ range of speakers first arrived on the scene in the early 90s, and the Q150 is the latest incarnation that was first manufactured in 2017. It is a two-way bass reflex speaker that has KEF’s unique Uni-Q driver, which has become something of a driving force in the design of the ‘Q’ range.

The relocation of the speaker format to the middle of the cabinet and the relocation of the bass port to the rear of the cabinet has given an extra clarity. And the damper applied to the tweeter has taken any rough edges of the sound.

The sound is powerful and is driven by 5.25” woofer and 1” aluminum dome tweeter. Crossovers achieve good separation and are set at 2,5kHz and deliver a powerful bass that doesn’t cut across the mids. The mid-range is therefore clean and the highs crisp and articulate.

They weigh twelve pounds each and measure 12 x 7 x 11 inches are can either be stood on bookshelves or mounted on stands.

Well-built and with a simple design they produce a powerful sound, punching out up to 100 watts that is concise and clear. And they are an excellent addition to this range of speakers. They don’t come with a front grille and this magnetic item, as with the earlier KEF’s we reviewed, is an optional extra.

Good value for money though and certainly one to consider as best bookshelf speakers under $1000.

7 Q Acoustics 3020i Bookshelf Speaker Pair

Q Acoustics is another of these British companies intent on developing quality speakers. Located in the Hertfordshire countryside, they have only been manufacturing since 2006. But in that short time, they have made a lot of people sit up and take notice. Real sound quality and a surprisingly low price, these speakers are worth some consideration as the best bookshelf speakers under $1000.

The first aspect that is noticeable about these speakers is their design. Round edges align with the straight lines to form an aesthetically simple but impressive design. Made from MDF and finished with an English Walnut veneer, the cabinet has a strong build. Included on the bottom of the speakers are some little rubber feet.

With the speakers’ grilles off the driver and the tweeter have a luxurious chrome surround that is elegant in its application. The newly designed internal bracing, especially around the rounded corners and the reinforced baffle give extra support to the drivers. The slightly larger cabinet than the previous models providing a classy, warm and powerful sound.

They are a two-way reflex design incorporating a 5-inch driver and ¾” tweeter delivering a powerful 125 watts maximum. The bass is complemented with the port on the rear, and it is a sound that will impress.

The bass, which is rich, clear, and defined, does not overlap into or bury the mids, which are also clear and precise. The highs sit over the top with clarity. Drive them a bit harder, and the frequencies respond evenly with no attenuation in the ranges.

Do they compete in quality with speakers that have bigger price tags? Oh yes, and more. The reproduction is excellent, and if these are known as budget range speakers, they make many of there competitors less than budget.

If there is one thing to consider it is that they are quite deep in size and so placing them on a shelf will have to accommodate their 11 x 6.7 x 11-inch size.

8 Klipsch RP-600M Reference Premiere Bookshelf Speakers

Klipsch always gives us a quality speaker that is very distinctive in its design and functional in its purpose. They are designed to have two purposes in mind, either as a supplement to a home cinema system or as your front line music center speakers. Either way, they are going to give you a powerful sound.

They are designed as a two-way ported speaker with a 1” tweeter made from titanium. The tweeter is vented with a horn. The big driving woofer is a 6.5-inch cerametallic. It has been surrounded by rubber to provide stability, but also as a cushioning effect which will reduce unwanted reverberation. They have a rear facing bass reflex port.

The Tractrix horn is a two-piece affair a thin copper color ring that sits between the horn and the throat of the speaker which reduces resonance at volume. The woofer has its familiar copper finish.

As with all Klipsch speakers, they are sturdy and well made from a medium strength MDF fiberboard and given an attractive ebony finish. The grille has a magnetized fitting so no need for screw holes in the baffle if you choose not to use it.

They are quite large measuring 15.69” by 7.95” and a full 11.85 inches deep which may be a problem if you place them on a bookshelf. They also weigh 16 pounds, so make sure what you place them on is secure. If using them on a shelf, you will also need a little space behind them to accommodate the rear-facing port.

They are competent speakers without setting the world alight in any way. The sounds are good though with clarity across all the frequencies. They will give you 100 watts RMS. At higher volumes, the bass is a little lost and especially for the home theater, you may need a subwoofer.

9 Edifier R2000DB Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers

Edifier has become a recognized manufacturer of quality speakers in a very short time. Set up in 1996 in China they have established themselves in a very short time firstly with their R100DB speaker and now with its successor the R2000DB.

They have a tough-looking exterior that doesn’t immediately strike you as being subtle in any way. And they do get attention though so maybe that was the idea of the design. They are constructed from MDF fiberboard and given a black leather looking textured finish at the front with wood looking sides.

They are a decent size, and their design gives the impression of them being heavy, and they are certainly that at 22 pounds each.

Dripping with technology as some speakers are these days. Bluetooth is included to pair up your computer or devices. An optical input will link up your TV, Blu-ray, DVD and gaming consoles. There are also connections for two Aux inputs on the rear along with controls for bass, treble, and volume. Headphones and a dual RCA output and remote control are included.

They do give a lot of priority to the onboard tech, instead of paying a little bit of attention to what they are supposed to do, which is to play music. They have a 5-inch alloy woofer to push the sound out along with a 25mm silk dome tweeter and a rear-facing bass port.

However…

…the sound is actually quite good with decent separation between the frequencies and the crossovers do their job. The frequency range is 50Hz to 20kHz, which is usual. And they will push out 120 watts of power.

Some will like all the technical additions, some won’t, but at the price, they do represent good value for the sound they produce, which actually is quite good. All in all, this does make them one of the best powered speakers currently available.

10 Klipsch R-51PM Powered Bluetooth Speaker

Another offering from Klipsch, these with some extra connection options built-in. MDF construction which in most cases is fairly standard these days, but with a pleasant vinyl wood grain finish that is scratch-resistant.

Many of the standard Klipsch designs are included, which is good to see. They are a 2-way design with each speaker having a 5.25-inch Injection Moulded Graphite woofer with its familiar copper spun design and excellent performance. The Tractrix horn is included with a one-inch aluminum tweeter. They produce a not too powerful but very adequate 60 watts per channel.

Low-noise amplifiers are built-in meaning you do not need external amplification unless you choose to use it. There is a phono preamp onboard and remote control, giving you access to some of the features.

Bluetooth connectivity is a prominent feature along with optical connections ⅛” inputs and stereo RCA. The RCA can be alternated between line and phono inputs. This way, you can alternate between a turntable and other wired sources easily. Also, there is a USB input to link to your computer.

The sound quality is quite good for the mids and high frequencies but maybe not so prominent with the bass. Therefore, if you like your bass deep and throbbing, you may need to add a subwoofer as it sounds a little weak. This will apply even more if you will be using them for home theater setups.

They are a decent speaker and are at an affordable price.

Cheaper Options

If you’re looking for something a little cheaper than the high-end bookshelf speakers featured in this review, then please check out our reviews of the best bookshelf speakers under 500 dollars. Or for a wide variety of prices, you could take a look at our review of the best bookshelf speakers.

So What Are The Best Bookshelf Speakers Under $1000?

When you are spending a lot of money on speakers, then you really do want to get the choice right. For everyone, that will be different. Some will want a lot of technology on board; however, some will not and will concentrate purely on the sound.

We have decided to forego too much technology and just concentrate on the sound. Therefore, we have chosen the…

Fantastic sounds at an amazing price and our choice for the best bookshelf speakers under $1000.