Powered bookshelf speakers are your best bet when setting up an audio system for your home or office. Space is a huge factor when designing your space, and powered speakers take very little of this real estate while still giving you the best experience by giving off better quality sound than the average systems. Let us look at the best-powered speakers available in the market that are great sounding and worth trying out.
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Best Powered Speakers
1. KEF LS50 Wireless II
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The KEF LS50 is the ultimate bookshelf powered speaker system that delivers quality sound and has a great frequency response that is mind-blowing for its size and price range. Each of the two speakers has a 280-watt amplifier for mid-range and a 100-watt amplifier tweeter. The powered speakers have an impressive frequency range between 47Hz to 47KHz, with a low frequency of 100 Hz and a high frequency of 280 Hz.
Unlike passive speakers, powered speakers have drivers in them. Drivers tend to be noisy at times. The LS50 has the driver problem taken care of by having metamaterial absorption technology featured in the enclosure of the pair of speakers. The technology features a highly complex maze structure that absorbs any unwanted sounds coming from the driver, giving you a clean sound without any distortion at any volume.
The system can do a lot while staying within your budget. The pair of powered speakers can connect to Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz, QQ music, internet radio, and podcasts. The system has a resolution of up to 384KHz/24Bit, depending on the connection available. The powered speakers can support wireless streaming features including Google Chromecast, Apple Airplay 2, ROON Ready, Bluetooth 4.2, and is UPnP compatible. Inputs in the speakers include HDMI eArc, TOSLINK, Digital Coaxial, Analog 3.5 mm Auxiliary, Wi-Fi, and RJ5. You can control the powered speakers with a phone app that lets you control the sound settings.
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2. Klipsch The Five Powered Speakers
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The Klipsch series of wireless speakers are a combination of the genius of Paul W. Klipsch with modern technology. The powered stereo speakers have a high fidelity sound from the dedicated right and left speakers. The speakers feature various wireless and wired connectivity, integrating smoothly with your systems and devices. The connections in the speakers include RCA inputs, HDMI (ARC), optical cables, a USB port, a service port, and an auxiliary connection. The speakers are beautifully crafted for use as tabletop systems for your movies, television, and music enjoyment.
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3. Kanto TUK Powered speakers
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If you search for high-end, accurate high frequencies, Kanto is your go-to desktop speakers. The powered speakers have a clear, accurate tweeter that delivers a bright sound. The speakers have a wide horizontal dispersion that enhances their stereo capabilities, providing correct imaging and soundstage experience.
The stereo speakers have highly rigid aluminum drivers, compact and light-weight, with a low mass. The drivers operate at optimal efficiency, with significantly reduced distortion at very high volumes. The powered speakers feature a digital signal processing designed to optimize sound quality, providing greater accuracy in sound reproduction. The speakers feature optical and RCA outputs for connecting other devices. The speakers give you an option of connecting your turntable through the independent phono input. Other connectivity options include Bluetooth 4.2 with aptX HD and AAC codecs for faster, high-fidelity streaming. The speakers also have a USB DAC and a dedicated headphone amp.
The powered speakers have an active crossover that filters out frequencies below 80Hz, sending them directly to any connected sub-woofers. Cutting off the low frequencies reduces distortion and significantly increases the sound resolution.
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4. Edifier Audiophile Active Speakers
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Your room design and setup need to be as practical as possible. Edifier gives you the liberty to place each of the speakers wherever you wish because of their wireless connectivity. Your speakers no longer have to be tethered to a point by a cable. The budget speakers have a near-lossless audio quality of up to 328 feet (100 meters). The range puts the speakers ahead of their traditional Bluetooth counterparts.
The active speakers have certified Hi-Res audio and Bluetooth 5.0 support with aptX HD Decoding. You can achieve studio-quality sound with 24-Bit audio and near-lossless sound quality. The high frequencies in the speaker are natural-sounding because of Edifier's planar diaphragm tweeter, which provides clearer and better highs. Audiophiles and industry professionals alike can use the speakers.
The powered speakers have a 6.5-inch aluminum alloy bass-diaphragm unit, which delivers strong low frequencies without distortions. The frequency response of the speakers is unmatched and is great for watching movies and listening to your favorite music. The size of the speakers will comfortably fit your shelves and cabinets taking up very little of your real estate.
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5. Elac Bookshelf Powered Speaker
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Very few speakers have a 3-way design. Elac is a few speakers that feature a 4-inch aluminum midrange and a 1-inch wide roll surround tweeter. The speakers further impress by featuring a five and a quarter inch bass driver that pushes the limits of a bookshelf speaker. Elac has an elegant minimal design which does not at all limit the sound quality of the speakers. Unlike most passive speakers, the system has a 6-ohm nominal impedance which makes compatibility with virtually all amplifiers and receivers possible. The speaker has front-firing ports that make it possible to place the system anywhere in the room.
The pair of speakers features a 5-way binding post connector type. The powered speaker has a large diameter voice coil and a new aluminum cone profile, giving it a good frequency response for its price range. Each of the powered speakers has a neodymium magnet assembly for a low-profile surround audio.
The speakers' enclosure has reinforced MDF boards for reducing cabinet vibration, ensuring clarity of the sound coming off each speaker.
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Factors to Consider Before Buying a Powered Speaker
a) Active or Passive Speakers
An active speaker has its amplifier built into its cabinet, while a passive speaker has none. The active speakers can therefore be wireless as they do not need an external amplifier to function. You can place an active speaker anywhere in the room without any worries.
b) Inputs and Outputs
You will want to connect your speakers to your TV, old turntable, headphones, and even a subwoofer. Be sure to check connectivity before buying a speaker. Know the source where your audio will be coming from and choose the most convenient gear for your space. RCA connectors will come in handy and are just as important as other ports.
c) Frequency Response
What is the frequency range you would like in a speaker? Most speakers will have mid to high frequencies, leaving the very low frequencies to the sub-woofer. However, a system should be able to deliver decent sound without a sub. Look for speakers with frequencies ranging from 40Hz to 47KHz, and you will enjoy a wider experience without necessarily having to buy a sub-woofer to listen to the bass.
d) Streaming Capability
Your powered speaker should be able to connect to your devices via Bluetooth, Google Chromecast, Apple Airplay, Amazon Music, Deezer, and other streaming sites. Technology is meant to make your experience more enjoyable and convenient.
e) Amplifier Class
Not all amps are equal, and an A-class D amplifier will differ in some ways from class a-b amps. Classes categorize amps according to their outputs. Class A to C is classically controlled, while class D to F use pulse width modulation and digital circuits to switch between fully on and fully off signals.
f) Wattage
Speaker power is measured in watts. The higher the number of wattage, the larger the amounts of decibels delivered. For example, 1 watt will give out 87 dB. A whisper is between 15-25 dB, while an aircraft will be between 140-180 dB.
g) Reviews
Before buying anything, especially electronics, check the online reviews and do a lot of research. Sometimes it is the smallest things that will give you the most trouble. For instance, if your speaker does not have RCA connectivity when you needed one, will you have to buy a whole new system? Check for warranties and ensure you read the manual before setting anything up.
