Bookshelf speakers and floor-standing speakers are two different types of speakers. People use bookshelf speakers usually when they are alone, or they have a few friends over for a party. Whereas floor standing speakers are used at parties and home cinemas. Now some people ask can we use bookshelf speakers as main speakers. This depends on the type and quality of the speakers. Some bookshelf speakers are very good sound producers. They can emit loud and clear sounds. Therefore, people can use them as the main speakers, sometimes. However, floor standing speakers have a design that suits their use as main speakers. If people want to use bookshelf speakers as main speakers, they will have to make a few changes to them.
How to use them as main speakers?
By referring to main speakers, people usually mean speakers that they can use in home audio and cinema system. These speakers provide loud and clear sound. However, they do not produce sufficient bass. This is according to their function as well. People place them on the shelves. If they produce powerful bass, it might cause the things to fall off the shelves and break. Whereas the main speakers are placed on the floors. Even if they produce a strong bass, it will hardly affect the things placed on the shelves. So, people need to make the following changes to their bookshelf speakers before they can use them as main speakers.
Connect them to a sub-woofer:
Bookshelf speakers do not produce a powerful bass. If people want to enjoy movies with their friends, the bass is very important. It adds more thrill and excitement to the overall experience. Therefore, the first step would be to connect the speaker with a powerful sub-woofer. This will enable the speaker to produce powerful bass and clear loud sound. Your friends will enjoy the movie experience.
However, always ensure that the quality of the sub-woofer is not substandard. It should be compatible with the speaker. Otherwise, people will not get the desired output from the speakers. The sub-woofers will get disconnected continuously and it will be a bad experience. Finding a compatible sub-woofer is important for producing a powerful bass.
Use multiple speakers:
Even though a single bookshelf speaker is good while you are listening to music during your study time, it might not be sufficient for a home cinema. Therefore, people need to use multiple bookshelf speakers. If both are identical, the sound output will be much better. If people use both speakers from different companies, they might not synchronize with each other. Therefore, they might produce distorted sounds.
Therefore, connecting a sub-woofer with two identical speakers is necessary. It produces sharp, clear, and synchronous sound with good and powerful bass. It enhances the experience of watching a movie or listening to a song manifold. They will be able to listen to dialogues or lyrics.
Positioning the speakers:
If people have made all the necessary arrangements for converting their bookshelf speakers into main speakers, the next hurdle is the arrangement of the speakers. The question of whether can we use bookshelf speakers as main speakers can be answered according to this. If they want to place the speakers on the floor like the other main speakers, it might not be best for their functioning. They need to place them above the ground because this is what these speakers are made for. If you consider their position like the hands of the clock, you should place them at the 12’o clock or 2’o clock position. They will provide the best sound experience in these positions.
Moreover, the tweeter that you have connected should be present at ear level. If it is present at ear level, the sound that it emits will directly enter your ears. There will be minimum distortion in between. Your friends will hear clear sounds and will be able to understand the meaning easily. Even though it is a piece of simple advice, make sure that the speaker’s grills are facing forwards. Some people accidentally place them back and it also reduces the power of output.
Also keep both the speakers at some distance relative to each other. If they are present close to each other, their output sounds will collide and will produce distortion. It will lead to bad sound output.
Best choice under $500:
Bookshelf speakers are expensive compared to main speakers because of new technology and small size. People look for bookshelf speakers for under 500 dollars. Only a few options are present in this price range. It is not advisable to overlook certain flaws and buy the speaker. The speakers should have all the necessary specs before you buy them. The best option in such a case would be Klipsch r26f speakers. These are a bit old as they were released in 2015. But their technology and power are still up to date. Their sound output is very powerful. Moreover, people can use them on shelves as well as on floors. They provide the best sound output in both these places.
Each of the speakers cost around $400 on Amazon. There are numerous other choices. However, it all relies on you that what type of speaker you are looking for. Once if you are done with the research, then you read out their reviews and purchase it from a reliable website. You can also read about their features on the Internet.