Small Audiophile Loudspeakers

Read reviews of the best small or bookshelf audiophile speakers in the world written by professional reviewers. Powered speakers, stand-mount speakers, audiophile bookshelf speakers and beyond.

Small Audiophile Loudspeakers

The The MartinLogan XTB100 speakers with the grills off.

MartinLogan Motion XT B100 Bookshelf Speakers Reviewed

MartinLogan, renowned for its high-end floorstanding speakers (often electrostatic), aims to bring the performance of those speakers to a different market. They’ve done this by completely reimagining their Motion Series catalog of floorstanding and audiophile bookshelf speakers, and putting the speakers through a… Read More »



More Small Audiophile Loudspeakers


The QUAD Revela 1 bookshelf speaker installed nicely.

Quad Revela 1 Bookshelf Speakers Reviewed

Investing in a pair of excellent bookshelf speakers provides a cost-effective and space-efficient means of achieving a transcendent listening experience without physically dominating your living and listening areas. When combined with high-quality components (and arguably, a capable subwoofer in most… Read More »


Acoustique Quality Labrador 39 speakers as a pair

Acoustique Quality Labrador 39 Bookshelf Speakers Reviewed

Although I myself also have fairly extensive knowledge of HiFi manufacturers and brands, I sometimes encounter speakers and components from brands that are new or unfamiliar to me. Case in point – Acoustique Quality, hailing from the Czech Republic, recently sent me… Read More »


RBH 61 SF/R speakers with their AMT tweeter paired up at Eric Forst's house

RBH 61-SF/R Bookshelf Loudspeakers Reviewed

I was first introduced, in-person, to Utah-based RBH Sound in 2023, when I had the opportunity to review their excellent entry-level floorstanding speakers, the RBH 6500-SF (read my review here). During the course of my research for that particular review,… Read More »


The Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3s installed in a slick, music-lovers room.

Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 Bookshelf Speaker Reviewed

For years, the Bowers & Wilkins 600 series has been a favorite among audiophiles looking for a great, detailed bookshelf speaker. Their latest iteration of the series, the Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 (buy at Crutchfield), promises to build on… Read More »


Whatfedale AURA 1 speakers installed

Wharfedale Aura 1 Stand Mounted Loudspeakers Reviewed

If you have been an audiophile, even for a short time, you have come to understand that different regions of the globe have a certain geographically specific sound to their loudspeakers that is hard to miss. One of the more… Read More »


The SVS Ultra Evolution Bookshelf speakers at Eric Forst's audiophile listening room.

SVS Ultra Evolution Bookshelf Speakers Reviewed

The newly-released SVS Ultra Evolution line consists of floorstanding speakers, satellite speakers, height channel speakers, a three-way center channel speaker and bookshelves. I had the opportunity to review the latter. The SVS Ultra Evolution Bookshelf speakers (buy at Crutchfield) are… Read More »


JBL's Classic looking but modern design. L52 loudspeakers.

JBL L52 Classic Bookshelf Loudspeakers Reviewed 

JBL is a name that resonates with anyone who’s had even a fleeting interest in high-quality audio. From their humble beginnings in the 1940s, JBL has been synonymous with pushing the boundaries of high-quality sound reproduction. Enter the JBL L52… Read More »


RBH's 61-SF is their $1,600 per pair audiophile bookshelf speakers

RBH 61-SF Bookshelf Speakers Reviewed

RBH’s latest offering, the 61-SF from their Signature Series of audiophile products, sets a compelling standard in the realm of bookshelf speakers. At a glance, this smaller audiophile speaker boasts an unassuming yet sleek design, but it is what lies… Read More »


The Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 speakers are used at both Abbey Road Studios and Skywalker Ranch on the pro side of things.

Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 Loudspeakers Reviewed

The Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 is the latest version of the British audiophile speaker company’s top-of-the-line stand mounted, two-way, front-ported loudspeaker, priced at $8,500 per pair. Two-way stand mount monitors have an audiophile fanbase since they benefit from diminutive… Read More »


The Edifier S1000W powered speakers can be used in a desktop OR audiophile configuration

Edifier S1000W Powered Speakers Reviewed

In a perfect world, we would all have a workspace that is perfectly positioned in front of our best small audiophile loudspeakers. In the real world, we tend to be tethered to our devices, our laptop or, in my case, a… Read More »


Kanto ORA powered speakers in an audiophile desktop setup

Kanto ORA Desktop Powered Loudspeakers Reviewed 

The Kanto ORA Two-Way Active Wireless Reference Desktop Speakers by Kanto Living offer a refreshing blend of audiophile performance and versatility. Immediately, I was drawn to these speakers and their ability to produce clear and vibrant sound, which seems uniquely… Read More »


Tekton Design Matrix Monitors reviewed

Tekton Design Matrix Monitor Loudspeakers Reviewed

Tekton Design is well known as a disruptive force in the world of audiophile speakers, what with their mix of distinctive design, high value, dramatic dynamics, and even exotic, custom paint jobs. The one thing missing in their very extensive… Read More »


Monoprice Monolith B5 bookshelf speakers reviewed

Monoprice Monolith Audition B5 Loudspeakers Reviewed

Monoprice has become known for their exceptionally high-value products, often sourced from China. But while the affordability has long been the draw for many shoppers, Monoprice also has a higher-performance lined of amplifiers and speakers and headphones and so forth… Read More »


ELAC DBR62 audiophile bookshelf speakers reviewed

ELAC Debut Reference DBR62 Bookshelf Speakers Reviewed

When it comes to audio equipment, the name ELAC has become synonymous with excellence and innovation. With a rich history dating back to 1926, ELAC has consistently pushed the boundaries of audio engineering, delivering top-notch components that captivate audiophiles worldwide.… Read More »


Mobile Fidelity SourePoint8 Audiophile Loudspeakers reviewed

Mobile Fidelity SourcePoint 8  Loudspeaker Review

By now, unless you’ve been in a cave for the past six months, you’ve very likely read about Mobile Fidelity’s SourcePoint 10 loudspeaker ($3,999 buy at Crutchfield). It is, by all accounts, a kick-ass plus-sized-bookshelf loudspeaker. But its size has… Read More »


Orb Audio Mod 2 Audiophile speakers reviewed

Orb Audio Mod2 Speaker Review

For as long as I can remember, the audiophile world has been awash with uninspired, shoebox-like speakers with IKEA-grade finishes, especially for those on a budget. Orb Audio, a self-described affordable luxury speaker brand, set out to change the notion that… Read More »


SVS Prime Wireless Pro speakers

SVS Prime Wireless Pro Powered Speakers Reviewed

The SVS Prime Wireless Pro Powered Speakers (buy at Crutchfield) come packed with as much thoughtful, audiophile-grade technology as you could possibly ask for from a $899/pair of active bookshelf speakers. Dressed in either gloss black or gloss white (my… Read More »


Polk Audio Reserve R200AE Speakers Reviewed

Polk Audio Reserve 200 Anniversary Edition Reviewed 

Circa 1994, I fondly remember hearing Polk Audio loudspeakers in a long-gone Circuit City store as a burgeoning audiophile who dreamt of having the $400 in my pocket needed to actually own a pair. Jump forward to today and Polk… Read More »


PSB Passif 50 audiophile loudspeakers reviewed

PSB Passif 50 Stand Mount Loudspeaker Reviewed

PSB was founded in 1972 by Paul Barton, a designer who believed speakers should sound natural without adding or subtracting anything from the original recording, which the company refers to as the True to Nature design philosophy. Equally important for the… Read More »


Naim Audio Mu-So audiophile speaker system reviewed

Naim Mu-so 2nd Generation Wireless Music System Reviewed

The Naim Audio Mu-so all-in-one speaker/music system (buy from Crutchfield) is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the merger between electronics firm Naim Audio and French speaker juggernaut Focal. The second generation of the Naim Mu-so is a very slick… Read More »


ATC SCM7 v.3 Loudspeakers reviewed

ATC SCM7 v.3 Loudspeakers Reviewed

Most of us have probably listened to music through two-way bookshelf-sized loudspeakers at some point or another. What exactly is a two-way bookshelf loudspeaker? It is a loudspeaker that has two drivers: a small driver called a tweeter that handles… Read More »


Focal Chora 806 speakers reviewed

Focal Chora 806 Loudspeakers Reviewed

It wasn’t long ago that a five-liter V8 engine generated 225 horsepower. Today, technology allows 260 horsepower from a much smaller four-cylinder engine – and the fuel economy is far superior. Well-designed bookshelf loudspeakers from a reputable manufacturer like Focal… Read More »


Orb Audio Booster 1 Reviewed

Orb Audio Booster 1 Speaker System Reviewed

The practice of only listening to music while parked in front of a big stereo system with massive speakers is a bit antiquated these days. Music is often enjoyed via headphones, all sizes and shapes of Bluetooth speakers, laptop speakers,… Read More »


Sound Artist LS 35/A Speakers Reviewed

SoundArtist LS3/5A Loudspeaker Reviewed

The SoundArtist LS3/5A bookshelf audiophile loudspeaker is a modern version of a classic speaker design that has been available in one form or another since 1975, when the BBC developed it and licensed the speaker’s manufacture to several British audio… Read More »


Nakymatone ECHT Invisible Speakers

Nakymatone ECHT Invisible Loudspeakers Reviewed

If I were to invite you to my home to hear my main audio system, you wouldn’t see any audio gear. My electronics are professionally installed in Middle Atlantic equipment racks that are stashed away in a mechanical closet. I’ve… Read More »


Cabasse The Pearl Keshi Speakers Reviewed by Jerry Del Colliano

Cabasse The Pearl Keshi Speaker System Reviewed

Cabasse, a French Audiophile speaker company, is out with a very slick, all-in-one audiophile speaker system called The Pearl Keshi. For $3,000, you get a complete audio system, including two small round speakers that fit nicely on a desktop or… Read More »