This page ranks 18 medium size bookshelf speakers. Last updated on 07/22/2025. The medium bookshelf class of speakers have woofers between 4” and 5.75”. Bigger woofers will have deeper bass but the speaker will generally be bigger and heavier. Note these are ranked to my own preferences which is a flat frequency response, good directivity, reasonable dynamics, good imaging and detail. Others may prioritize these traits differently.
Keep in mind that the law of diminishing returns applies and the extremely expensive speakers at the top are really just a little better than the more reasonably priced ones. I would not hesitate to recommend the majority of speakers on this page. Just note the ones that are not recommended.
Consider this page to be a work in progress and more speakers will be added.
Use your browser’s search feature to search for speakers on this page.
#1 Audiofirst Fidelia [Audiofirstdesigns] [Used Listings]: £950 for the flatpack kit (assembly required)
- Positives: The absolute top speaker in this size class
- Negatives: Slight 2dB bump around 5-6khz. Only available in kit form.
- Dimensions: 11.8”H x 7.1”W x 11.7”D
- Weight: 15lbs / 6.8kg each
- Sensitivity: 84dB
- Impedance: 4 ohms
- Bass Extension (-3dB): 53hz
- Bass Extension (-10dB): 38hz
- Tweeter: 1” ceramic-aluminum tweeter
- Woofer: 5” ceramic-aluminum cone woofer
- Reviews and Comparisons
- Links
#2 Ascend Sierra 1 v2 [Ascendacoustics] [Used Listings]: $1000
- Positives: An extremely neutral response
- Negatives: Sensitivity is quite low, not great for loud listening and needs lots of amp power
- Dimensions: 14.25”H x 7.5”W x 10.5”D
- Weight: 12lbs / 5.4kg each
- Sensitivity: 82dB
- Impedance: 8 ohms
- Bass Extension (-3dB): 55hz
- Bass Extension (-10dB): 39hz
- Tweeter: 1” aluminum/magnesium alloy dome
- Woofer: 5.25” long throw mineral-filled polypropylene cone, non-resonant cast aluminum frame, copper shorting rings
- Woofer Cabinet: Ported
- Reviews and Comparisons
- Erin’s Audio Corner: NEW! Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1 V2 Review
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website Ascend Sierra 1 v2
- Audio Science Review Ascend Sierra 1 v2
- Erin’s Audio Corner: 5 AWESOME SPEAKERS Under $1000 You Won’t Regret
- Erin’s Audio Corner: I Tested 250 Speakers So You Don’t Have To!
- Erin’s Audio Corner: My Top Picks of 2023: Must-Haves Under $3000
- Links
#3 KEF LS50 Meta [Amazon] [Used Listings]: $1600
- Positives: Quite a good frequency response, excellent off axis.
- Negatives: 3dB dip at 1.2khz, 2dB dip at 2.4-2.8khz
- Dimensions: 11.9”H x 7.9”W x 11.0”D
- Weight: 17.2lbs / 7.8kg each
- Sensitivity: 85dB
- Impedance: 8 ohms
- Bass Extension (-3dB): 68hz
- Bass Extension (-10dB): 43hz
- Tweeter: 25 mm (1 in.) vented aluminium dome with Metamaterial Absorption
- Woofer: 130 mm (5.25 in.) aluminium cone
- Reviews and Comparisons
- Links
#4 Moondrop M4P MTM [Shenzhenaudio] [Used Listings]: $920 a pair
- Positives: Slight bump in the bass.
- Negatives: Vertical directivity is just okay
- Reviews and Comparisons
- Links
#5 Arendal 1961 Monitor [Arendalsound] [Used Listings]: $$1150 a pair
- Positives: A high pass is built in to keep distortions down at higher volume. Directivity is pretty good.
- Negatives: A 3dB peak and lift from 3k to 10k, lightly sounding bright. Minor resonances around 3k and 5k. Won’t play very low due to the high pass at the bottom and the sealed enclosure
- Dimensions: 16.6”H x 6.4”W x 5.9”D
- Weight: 16lbs / 7.3kg each
- Sensitivity: 86dB
- Impedance: 4 ohms
- Bass Extension (-3dB): 89hz
- Bass Extension (-10dB): 64hz
- Tweeter: 28mm
- Woofer: 2 x 5,5”
- Woofer Cabinet: Sealed
- Reviews and Comparisons
- Links
#6 Zaph Audio ZA5.2 TM [Madisoundspeakerstore] [Used Listings]: $383 a pair
- Positives: Pretty smooth frequency response
- Negatives: Low sensitivity. Not great vertical off axis
- Sensitivity: 82dB
- Impedance: 8 ohms
- Bass Extension (-3dB): 60hz
- Bass Extension (-10dB): 40hz
- Reviews and Comparisons
- Links
#7 Klipsch RP-500M II [Amazon] [Used Listings]: $440 a pair
- Positives: Smoother frequency response than the RP-600M II. Fixed the crossover issue dipped response of the first version
- Negatives: 2-3dB dip from 300-600hz, 3dB peak around 1.7khz, 3-4dB peaks at 11-15khz. A bit narrow in horizontal dispersion. Some pretty big dipped areas in the vertical dispersion.
- Dimensions: 13.5”H x 6.8”W x 10.6”D
- Weight: 13.1bs / 5.9kg each
- Sensitivity: 85dB
- Impedance: 8 ohms
- Bass Extension (-3dB): 67hz
- Bass Extension (-10dB): 53hz
- Tweeter: 1” LTS (Linear Travel Suspension) titanium diaphragm tweeter with Tractrix® horn
- Woofer: 5.25” Cerametallic™ cone woofer
- Woofer Cabinet: Rear Ported
- Reviews and Comparisons
- Links
#8 JBL Studio 530 [Used Listings]
- Positives: Smooth frequency response besides the treble drop off way up high
- Negatives: Some stored energy resonances at a bunch of frequencies
- Reviews and Comparisons
- Links:
#9 Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 [Amazon] [Used Listings]
- Reviews and Comparisons
- Links:
#10 Philharmonic Affordable Accuracy Monitor [Audiokarma] [Used Listings]
- Reviews and Comparisons
- Links:
#11 JBL Stage A130 [Used Listings]
- Reviews and Comparisons
- Links:
#12 ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 [Amazon] [Used Listings]: $483
- Negatives: Dipped 3db from 1.5-3khz. Nasty resonance at 600hz. Not recommended.
- Reviews and Comparisons
- Links:
#13 Verdant Audio Bambusa AL-1 [Used Listings]: $7000 a pair
- Negatives: Overpriced for the performance and not recommended.
- Reviews and Comparisons
#14 ELAC BS U5 [Used Listings]: $856
- Reviews and Comparisons
#15 KEF Q150 [Amazon] [Used Listings]: $350
- Positives: Fantastic off axis due to the coaxial design.
- Negatives: About 3dB boosted above 8khz and can be a little shouty. A good amount of stored energy resonance around 1.4khz
- Dimensions: 11.9”H x 7.1”W x 10.9”D
- Weight: 12.3lbs / 5.6kg each
- Sensitivity: 85dB
- Impedance: 8 ohms
- Bass Extension (-3dB): 51hz
- Bass Extension (-10dB): 44hz
- Tweeter: 1” vented aluminium dome
- Woofer: 5.1” aluminium Uni-Q
- Reviews and Comparisons
- Links
#16 Neumi Silk 4 [Amazon] [Used Listings]: $200
- Negatives: A small resonance around 650hz, not very loud or dynamic due to the low sensitivity. 3dB bump around 1khz
- Dimensions: 8.9”H x 5.5”W x 8.2”D
- Weight: 6.1lbs / 2.8kg each
- Sensitivity: 82.5dB
- Impedance: 6 ohms
- Bass Extension (-3dB): 83hz
- Bass Extension (-10dB): 55hz
- Tweeter: 1” silk dome, dispersion-optimized waveguide, neodymium magnet
- Woofer: 4” treated paper cone, rubber surround, cast aluminum basket, vented pole
- Reviews and Comparisons
- Links
#17 Sony SS-CS5 M2 [Amazon] [Used Listings]: $250
- Negatives: Mellow treble, forward upper midrange
- Dimensions: 13.9”H x 7”W x 8.7”D
- Weight: 9.9lbs / 4.5kg each
- Sensitivity: 82.5dB
- Impedance: 6 ohms
- Bass Extension (-3dB): 80hz
- Bass Extension (-10dB): 54hz
- Supertweeter: 0.75 in
- Tweeter: 0.98 in
- Woofer: 5.12”
- Reviews and Comparisons
- Links
#18 Totem Kin One [Skybygramophone] [Used Listings]: $600
- Positives: A lot of color choices
- Negatives: 4dB peak at 900hz, 3dB peak at 5.7khz. Bad resonance around 1.5khz. Bass response isn’t great. Vertical off axis isn’t great
- Bass Extension (-3dB): 91hz
- Bass Extension (-10dB): 59hz
- Reviews and Comparisons
- Links