Floorstanding vs. Bookshelf Speakers: Which Are Better?

Shopping for a speaker system is a long-term investment, and the differences between floorstanding and bookshelf speakers do vary in terms of performance and size. The factors you consider when making the purchase may also include storage arrangements as well as your budget.

Below, we’ll take a closer look at floor speakers vs. bookshelf speakers, and discuss various system situations that may influence your purchase decision.

Floorstanding Speakers

Also called tower speakers, floorstanding speakers stand three feet or taller, and depth can differ from nine inches to two feet. These types of speakers can also come as an attached outrigger-type stand.

In general, you should know that speakers are described as two-way, three-way, and so on, referencing the number of drivers that handle various audio frequencies. More drivers can help the speaker designer to contain components dedicated to a smaller range of frequencies, which can result in a more accurate performance. Floorstanding models typically cover a wide range of bands and can produce deep bass tones due to their large design, which also benefits its amplifier power. 

A larger speaker cabinet allows the designer to curate a more efficient speaker that adds dynamics to make the music feel live! With proper placement in a room, floorstanding speakers can afford a three-dimensional sound stage. This makes the instruments each sound larger than life, but you can still pick out the individual instruments, almost like being at a live performance. However, their larger size also makes floorstanding speakers more expensive than bookshelf speakers.

Floorstanding speakers don’t perform well when placed against a wall and should be spaced twelve to eighteen inches from the wall for best performance.

Floorstanding speakers can feel more like staring at a series of standing stones than a charming piece of audio equipment that contributes to the environment’s design. So, they’re not for everyone. Some people resolve this by hiding them behind a wall of acoustic fabric, and some manufacturers are paying more attention to style. 

However, if you’re seeking a full range of sound that makes it feel like you’re at a live concert, then we would recommend floorstanding speakers as your best option.

Bookshelf Speakers

As their name indicates, bookshelf speakers are the perfect size to fit on a bookshelf, but some bookshelf speakers come in larger sizes. Bookshelf speakers are typically a two-way type of speaker with a bass driver and tweeter and are generally not high-efficiency.

However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t get some of the soundstage experiences of a floorstanding speaker with a bookshelf speaker. To make the music stand out in a room, a bookshelf speaker is best placed on a speaker stand in the room away from the wall and off of shelves. When paired with a subwoofer, a bookshelf speaker can come close to the range of a floorstanding speaker. This arrangement gives you more flexibility in where you place the speakers as they aren’t as difficult to move and take up less space.

Bookshelf speakers are especially great for music genres that are typically small in scale, such as a jazz quartet. If you live in a small space, that small scale takes up more space. It also restricts the deep bass from disturbing the neighbors if you live wall-to-wall with them.

Bookshelf speakers can be among the best choices for home theater designs as they can be built into cabinets on either side of the screen. If the bookshelf speakers are placed on stands,  adding Atmos elevation speakers on top can boost the efficiency and performance of the speakers.

If you don’t have the budget or space for floorstanding speakers, a sound system designed with a bookshelf speaker (especially paired with a solid subwoofer) is what we recommend. 

Deciding Between Floorstanding vs. Bookshelf Speakers

Now that you know more about the ins and outs of floorstanding vs. bookshelf speakers, we’ll review the four most important components to keep in mind when shopping for your sound system.

Space

Is the room large enough for the speakers you wish to purchase? It won’t make sense to place floorstanding speakers in a small room or place bookshelf speakers in a large room. The performance will be reduced in either case. For bookshelf speakers, you will want to make sure you have shelving to house the speakers. While a bookshelf speaker on a stand will get you better performance, it can take up as much space as a compact floorstanding speaker.

Range

Tower speakers span the low, middle and high bands of sound, while bookshelf speakers span the mid-range spectrum. When paired with a strong subwoofer, bookshelf speakers create a powerful subwoofer/satellite system (also known as a “sub/sat” system” that can make up for the full range lacking in a general bookshelf speaker on its own.

Listening Volume

When comparing and floorstanding vs. bookshelf speakers, one of the most important considerations is your listening habits. If you prefer loud, full-range music, you’re more likely to look into a floorstanding system or a bookshelf system with a subwoofer. If you prefer listening at a moderate volume or to music with a small range, a set of bookshelf speakers will do well.

Budget

Your goal when shopping is to get the best value out of your purchase, no matter your budget. You can always upgrade later. Differences in quality occur at every price point for both bookshelf speakers and floorstanding speakers. 

If you’re on a limited budget, designing a system around bookshelf speakers may be your best option. However, a high-quality set of bookshelf speakers can cost almost as much as a set of medium-quality floorstanding speakers. A set of high-quality bookshelf speakers with a subwoofer can be a great starting point if you’re looking for refinement but are new to building sound systems. 

Designing a sound system and purchasing quality audio equipment is a long-term investment, especially if you’re an audiophile. It’s perfectly alright to start small and grow your system, especially if you’re traveling or will be looking to relocate in the near future. Let your ears be the judge.