Bookshelf Speakers Vs Tower Speakers: Beginner’s Guide

If you’ve been looking for a new speaker system, then you may have come across two options: bookshelf speakers or tower speakers.

When deciding which one to choose, it’s important to consider what both systems offer and their disadvantages. In this blog post, we will compare the two and let you decide which is best!

What Are Bookshelf Speakers?

Bookshelf speakers are the most popular type of speaker in homes today. These speakers typically sit on top or below your TV stand, or as the name suggests, they’re also placed on top of a bookcase.

These speakers are usually two-way or even three-ways designs and consist of a tweeter and mid/bass driver. The drivers have enclosed within a cabinet made up of wood, metal, plastic, etc. This enclosure protects against external noise while allowing the music to pass through.

The size of this box will determine how much bass it can produce. 

This is so common because bookcase speakers look great and fit perfectly into any room decor. Plus, they’re easy to set up and use.

Advantages of Bookshelf Speakers :

• Because they’re on top of or below the TV stand, you can place them in different locations. This means that bookcase speakers are versatile and have a lot of options when it comes to placement.
• Bookshelf speakers are usually more compact than tower speakers, making them an excellent option for those with limited space.
• Bookshelf speakers have a comprehensive frequency response, which means they’re compatible with many music frequencies.
• Bookshelf speakers can play at an impressive volume without sounding distorted or blown out. This will depend on the size of your bookshelf, but overall, bookcase speakers are designed to be louder than tower speakers.

Disadvantages of Bookshelf speakers :

• Bookshelf speakers typically do not have the same sound quality as tower speakers because they are more limited in their placement area.
• Bookshelf speakers usually consist of only a tweeter and a mid-range driver so that they can sound flat.
• Due to the smaller and compact size of a bookshelf speaker, low-end bass output is limited compared to the tower speaker.

How To Set Up Bookshelf Speakers

Bookshelf speaker is easy to install or set up. You’re ready to plug your bookshelf speakers into any amplifier or receiver!

They are small so can be placed anywhere on a table, desk or countertop. Bookshelf speakers usually have flexible mounts that allow you to point the sound as best fits your room.

What Are Tower Speakers?

Tower speakers, also known as floor-standing speakers, are larger types of speakers that can be placed on the floor without the use of speaker stands or bookcases.

They are often multi-driver designs featuring dedicated bass drivers, mid-range and tweeter. Floor standing speakers usually have more bass output but are not proper full-range speakers.

Advantages of Tower Speakers

• Tower speakers will generally give you better bass output because of their design, which is placed
• A tower speaker has more bass response than a bookshelf speaker because they take up more space in the room, so it’s perfect if you want to fill up any empty spaces in your home with music!
• Plus, this type of system usually produces lower distortion levels at higher volumes when compared to smaller systems like computer towers.

Disadvantages of Tower Speakers:

• Floor standing speakers tend to cost more money than other types of speakers such as bookshelves.
• Because these speakers are bigger, they require more power to operate properly. So make sure you get one that matches your needs before buying.

How To Set Up Tower Speakers

As for setting up a tower speaker, you’ll need to connect all the cables from the back to the speaker’s front. Then plug in all your devices, such as DVD players or gaming consoles, using either RCA connectors or 3.5 mm jacks. 

You may also want to put these speakers on top of speaker stands to be positioned at an appropriate height. Ensure that you place your speakers in a well-ventilated area with easy access to the power sockets and cables.

If you’re having trouble setting up your speaker, feel free to check out our other guide on setting up speakers for home theater. 

Which One Is Better For The Money, Bookshelf Or Tower Speakers?

This depends entirely upon what kind of audio experience you’re looking for. If you want something small and portable, then go for bookshelf speakers. But if you want big booming sounds, then choose tower speakers.

What Should I Look For While Choosing Between Bookshelf And Tower Speakers?

When shopping around for speakers, there are several things you’ll want to consider. First, how much space do you have in your living room/bedroom?

Do you plan on using them primarily for listening purposes or watching movies? How loud would you like them to be able to play?

And finally, how many frequencies does your current setup lack? These questions will help determine whether you’re going to benefit from purchasing a bookshelf or tower speaker.

Why Do We Need Both Bookshelf And Tower Speaker?

If you don’t already own a pair of speakers, chances are you probably won’t know why you’d need two sets. However, having multiple speakers allows you to create an immersive surround effect by playing all four channels simultaneously.

You may want to add another pair of speakers later, especially if you start getting into high-fidelity recordings.

Top Bookshelf Speaker Recommendation

1. Edifier R1280T Powered Bookshelf Speakers

The R1280T powered bookshelf speakers blend a vintage aesthetic with a contemporary sense of sound quality. The R1280T bookshelf speakers are your go-to 2.0 speaker system if you’re searching for cheap, flexible bookshelf speakers with uncompromised quality.

This bookshelf speaker system produces powerful, deep bass notes full of presence and depth, thanks to a 4-inch bass driver and a calibrated, flared bass reflex port. The R1280accurate T’s sound reproduction and performance are an audiophile’s dream.

For the finest audio experience, most Edifier customers connect their turntables to our R1280T powered bookshelf speakers. Enjoy your old vinyl records while listening to the latest in audio technologies.

The active bookshelf speaker’s bass, treble, and volume knobs allow you to customize your listening experience.

These bookshelf speakers provide high-quality sound with a crisp booming middle that entices any reviewer. A handy remote control is also small enough to fit in your pocket.

You can control the volume and silence the speakers without having to reach for them; power and perfection are at your fingertips. On the side of the active speaker, the Edifier R1280T has a built-in tone control.

Depending on your preferences, you may change the treble and bass from -6 to +6 dB. The digital volume control is automatically adjusted to a suitable level when the speakers are turned on.

The twin RCA inputs on the R1280 T-powered bookshelf speakers allow you to connect to various audio sources. One can readily identify a passive and active speaker by glancing at the rear panel. Two inputs are placed on the rear of the active speaker.

These inputs are ideal for connecting RCA to RCA or RCA to AUX. Connect them to a computer, a laptop, a tablet, a phone, or a tape recorder. A regular speaker cable connects the speakers. Our customers can listen to music from most devices straight out of the box thanks to the range of cords provided.

Features:

1. For use with any device that has a 3.5 mm headphone jack or twin RCA output. Connect to two devices through AUX at the same time, with no need to plug and switch. (This is the non-Bluetooth version.)
2. A 13 mm silk dome tweeter and a 4-inch full-range unit provide a natural sound.
3. Change the volume from the comfort of your home using its remote control. On the side of the primary speaker are a bass and treble control.
4. A high-quality MDF wood frame coated in wood effect vinyl adds a touch of class to any room.
5. High quality and dependability are guaranteed with two-year parts and labour warranty in the United States and Canada.

2. Klipsch R-41M Powerful Detailed Bookshelf Home Speaker

The R-41M bookshelf speakers provide maximum flexibility in a compact yet beautiful audio system without compromising performance. The R-41M bookshelf speakers are perfect for your home cinema system.

They are designed as primary speakers for a small living area or surround sound to complement a Reference speaker system.

Klipsch’s unique 90x90o Tractrix horn technology directs the speaker’s high-frequency energy toward the listener, reducing false reverb or filtering produced by sound bouncing off walls.

Your movies and music will have more clarity, dynamism, and detail when you utilize our unique, focused technology. Klipsch’s Linear Travel Suspension (LTS) aluminum tweeter reduces distortion for clearer, more detailed sound.

The tweeter suspension is made of Kapton, a light and strong material that offers excellent efficiency and improves resolution and detail. Klipsch speakers are known for their LTS tweeters, making them among the best in the world.

Cones made of Injection Molded Graphite (IMG) are very light while being highly stiff, resulting in excellent low-frequency response with little cone breakup and distortion.

Its speaker efficiency is excellent in its class when coupled with the Tractrix Horn-Loaded LTS Tweeter.

The R-41M bookshelf speakers have a sleek, contemporary look thanks to exposed fasteners, low-profile magnetic grilles, and scratch-resistant, textured wood grain vinyl.

Features:

1. Klipsch speakers are designed to be aesthetically pleasing.
2. The speakers come with a removable magnetic grille for easy installation.
3. You can listen to your favorite music in high-quality sound on these speakers.
4. These bookshelf speakers will make you feel like you’re at the movies every time you use them!

3. Polk Audio T15 100 Watt Home Theater Bookshelf Speakers

This Polk’s product are as flexible as they come, with fantastic home theater sound and superb concert-quality music. And, like all Polk speakers, they look great while not breaking the bank.

We based the Polk Monitor Series speaker design on the DNA from the very successful Monitor Series of loudspeakers and reimagined them for today’s music enthusiast.

Your auditory dreams of brighter highs, a wide-open midrange, and startling bass response are now true using the 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter, a 5.25-inch composite driver, and Polk’s unique Dynamic Balance technology.

MDF cabinet construction minimizes resonance and distortion, allowing you to receive crisp, detailed sounds the way it was intended.

These bookshelf speakers are meant to give you an overall dispersion sound, and setting them up is uncomplicated and straightforward no matter where you put them.

Even for your home audio system, you may utilize them as front or back speakers. Five-way wire hookup posts are included to provide users several choices for safe wire hookups. Additional features include being compatible with home entertainment receivers, stereos, and home theater processors.

While watching TV or listening to music, the T15’s performance has been adjusted to improve the experience. That’s the truth! Ultra-premium sound at a reasonable price has never sounded this impressive.

  Features:

1. IMMERSIVE SURROUND SOUND PROVIDES A SUPERIOR HOME THEATER EXPERIENCE These speakers include a 0.75″ tweeter and a 5.25″ Dynamic Balance Driver to provide a natural, well-balanced sound with tremendous bass even at the lowest frequencies.
2. Use these wall-mountable bookshelf speakers as FRONT, LEFT-RIGHT SETUP, SURROUNDS, OR REAR SPEAKERS to be captivated by detailed music with crystal clear voices sufficient to fill any small to medium-sized space.
3. CREATE A FULL-FLEDGED 5.1 HOME THEATER SETUP using two T50 Tower Speakers, one T30 Center Channel, two T15 Bookshelf Speakers, and a subwoofer from Polk’s T-series speakers.
4. Polk speakers work with most home theater AV receivers, offering you a variety of configuration choices, including single-room or multi-room 2.0, 2.1, 3.1 systems, as well as immersive 5.1, 7.1, or 9.1 setups.
5. POLK’S UNMATCHED QUALITY AT A REASONABLE COST You can now enjoy excellent acoustics, high-quality construction, a simple setup, and an incredible theater experience right at home with these budget-friendly speakers.

Top Tower Speaker Recommendation

1. Sony SSCS3 3-Way Floor-Standing Speaker (Single)

Introducing a speaker series with a soundstage so wide you can feel the intensity and emotion of the original performance, all while remaining in tune with your current living spaces no separate listening area or setup needed.

For deep, steady bass,  speaker system has a newly designed 5.12 in woofer.

Thanks to a foamed mica-cellular diaphragm, it delivers strong bass and the finer detail needed for clear voices and conversation in the mid-range.

For high-quality performance, unwanted noise from the baffle board and cabinet must be eliminated. Edge diffraction is reduced by gently tapered faceplate edges, resulting in a clean and natural soundstage.

High-Resolution Audio can take your digital music collection to the next level.

Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) fibre woofers are robust, maintaining their form even when subjected to extreme pressure and speed.

Super tweeters with broad directionality are included in these speakers. High-frequency notes are accurately reproduced over a large soundstage.

Polyester fibre is used in the 0.98 in soft-dome primary tweeter for a more authentic, realistic sound.

 Features:

1. High-Resolution Audio (HRA) technology delivers a more comprehensive dynamic range than conventional CD formats.
2. The new, larger woofers produce a more resounding bass response and a smoother midrange.
3. The entire speaker cabinet is designed to eliminate unwanted resonances.
4. The speaker’s smooth, rounded edges reduce distortion and improve clarity.
5. The speakers’ wide dispersion pattern provides a spacious soundstage.
6. The included subwoofer has a low-frequency extension of 30 Hz.
7. The enclosure is constructed of wood veneer and MDF.
8. The cabinets are finished in a satin black lacquer.

2. Polk Audio T50 150 Watt Tower Speaker

Some people believe that the greatest things come in tiny packages. ‘They don’t know anything about the T50 home theater and music floor standing tower speakers.

With these bad boys in your setup, your home audio gets an inexpensive boost.

Using their DNA, Polk’s instant-classic Monitor Series loudspeakers were reimagined for today’s audiophiles. Highs soar, mids glide uncolored, and the bass you crave gets a massive boost even at the lowest frequencies.

This is thanks to one 1-inch silk dome tweeter, one 6.25-inch extended throw composite driver, and two performance-tuned front-firing sub-bass radiators, all engineered with Polk’s proprietary Dynamic Balance technology.

The acoustically inert, furniture-grade MDF cabinet structure also minimizes resonance and distortion, giving you rich, nuanced music the way it was intended to be heard without the muffled noise and rattling disturbance that comes with lower-quality, less-than audio gear.

If you’re going to start with a T Series speaker and work your way up, this is the one to go with. With an inbuilt support base, you can stand these audio marvels upright and roll through the remainder of your setup that it’s simple.

It’s also compatible with the majority of home theater receivers, stereos, and processors. The T50 is performance calibrated to astonish, whether you’re viewing your favorite program or movie or just pressed play to relax with music.

The combination of excellent quality and low cost has never sounded so good!

Features:

1. Crisp, spacious stereo sound with a wide dispersion for 3D audio.
2. Detailed high-frequency response with realistic reproduction of vocals and instruments.
3. Create a completely immersive home theater setup by adding Polk CS2 center speakers and Polk Monitor 40 or 30 surround speakers.
4. Enjoy clear, crisp, expansive stereo sound without worrying about distortions from the TV being too close to your monitor speaker.

3. Klipsch Reference R-610F Floor standing Home Speakers

The Klipsch R-610F is an excellent introduction to the dynamic, room-filling sound for which Klipsch towers are known.

As a home theater system’s front left and right channels, a pair of these speakers may help bring movie night to life.

Alternatively, you may use them stereo to bring fresh life to your favorite songs.

Klipsch’s Tractrix® horn-loaded tweeter has grown legendary over the years. This architecture generates high frequencies that are clear and precise.

This tweeter is combined with a 6-1/2″ copper spun woofer in the R-610F to provide natural, full-range sound with a strong bass response. It’s also extremely efficient, so it won’t need a lot of electricity to run.

Features:

1. Exceptionally light while extremely rigid provides a remarkable low-frequency response, with minimal cone breakup and distortion.
2. Tapered Crossover: The Klipsch Reference series floor-standing loudspeaker utilizes a sharp array crossover (1.8kHz) to smooth the transition between the tweeter and woofer, improve midrange definition, and widen dispersion.
3. Rear Tractrix Port: The rear-firing Tractrix port perfectly matches the cabinet and woofer, creating ideal airflow with minimal distortion or turbulence even at the lowest frequencies.
4. MDF cabinet with scratch-resistant, textured wood grain vinyl that seamlessly integrates into almost any room or decor. The enclosure’s reinforced MDF construction reduces cabinet vibration for less audible coloration and improved sonic accuracy.
5. The Klipsch R-610F floor-standing speaker comes with a removable, black cloth grille that is magnetic and acoustically transparent.
6. The Reference series floor-standing speaker is fitted with sturdy binding posts to ensure a secure connection to many types of cables and connectors. The binding-post terminals will accept banana plugs (single only), pin connectors, spade lugs, and bare wire (up to 10AWG).
7. Two plastic caps will need to be removed to use banana plugs.

Conclusion – Bookshelf Speakers Vs Tower Speakers

In summary, bookshelf speakers are great for sitting them on a desk or table in front of you. If you have the room and the money, a better option would be to invest in floor-standing speakers like towers which could offer more space for bigger tweeters and woofers to produce a deeper bass effect.

Of course, this comes with the caveat that you’ll need a bigger room to sit them in. If space is not an issue for you, you can consider investing in tower speakers, which will put a dent in your pocket.

The biggest advantage of bookshelf speakers over tower speakers is fitting them into tighter spaces and still producing good quality sound.

If bookshelf speakers don’t work for you, consider investing in floor-standing speakers like towers that could offer more space for bigger tweeters and woofers to produce a deeper bass effect.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to your personal preference and budget. You should always do some research before making a purchase decision.