This page ranks 14 medium size bookshelf speakers. 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.
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 any of the speakers in the top 80% of this page, just stay away from the ones near the bottom.
Consider this page to be a work in progress and more speakers will be added.
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#1 Audiofirst Fidelia: £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 KEF LS50 Meta: $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
#3 Ascend Sierra 1 v2: $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
- Links
#4 Moondrop M4P MTM: $920 a pair
- Positives: Slight bump in the bass.
- Negatives: Vertical directivity is just okay
- Reviews and Comparisons
- Links
#5 Zaph Audio ZA5.2 TM: $383
- 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
#6 JBL Studio 530
- 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:
#7 Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
- Reviews and Comparisons
- Links:
#8 PHilharmonic Affordable Accuracy Monitor
- Reviews and Comparisons
- Links:
#9 JBL Stage A130
- Reviews and Comparisons
- Links:
#10 ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52: $483
- Negatives: Dipped 3db from 1.5-3khz. Nasty resonance at 600hz. Not recommended.
- Reviews and Comparisons
- Links:
#11 Verdant Audio Bambusa AL-1: $7000 a pair
- Negatives: Overpriced for the performance and not recommended.
- Reviews and Comparisons
#12 ELAC BS U5: $856
- Reviews and Comparisons
#13 KEF Q150: $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
#14 Totem Kin One: $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