Bookshelf speakers are ideal for good sound quality in smaller spaces. They can be placed on a shelf or on speaker stands and many offer excellent performance. Here are my suggestions for bookshelf speakers with links to full reviews.
1. Monitor Audio BR-2 Bronze Reference Bookshelf Speakers
Monitor Audio
Monitor Audio is a British speaker manufacturer known for their exceptional engineering and speaker designs. The BR2 is part of the company's entry-level Bronze Reference Line. The BR-2 a two-way bass reflex bookshelf speaker with a 6.5-inch woofer and a 1-inch tweeter. The BR2 is a fine loudspeaker and an outstanding value. Priced at $399 per pair, they offer excellent performance, construction quality and would make a great speaker for a small to medium sized stereo or home theater system. Good things do come in small packages and the Monitor Audio BR2 would be a smart choice for a stereo system priced below $1,000 when combined with a mid-priced receiver or amplifier. Read my full review of the Monitor Audio BR-2 Speakers.
2. Paradigm Mini Monitor Bookshelf Speakers
Paradigm is a Canadian manufacturer of high-quality floorstanding, in-wall, on-wall and bookshelf speakers. The Paradigm Mini Monitors (v.5) are two-way, bass reflex speakers with a rear port, one 6.5” bass/midrange driver with a Polymer cone and a 1” Titanium dome tweeter. Magnetic shielding for placement close to a TV is an optional feature. I reviewed the Paradigm Mini Monitor speakers and they reproduce extraordinary detail. Sound is a personal judgment, and Paradigm has scored another hit with the Mini Monitors. I own a pair of Paradigm Reference Studio 100 V.2 speakers for my reference system and would highly recommend the Mini Monitors, which sell for $399 per pair.3. Mordaunt-Short Carnival 2 Bookshelf Speakers
With speakers, you never know what you're going to get until you listen. The Mordaunt-Short Carnival 2 speakers reproduce music with an uncommon, delicate finesse and transparency typically found in speakers costing much more, which makes them an exceptional value. In fact, the Carnival 2s may be one of the best-kept secrets in recent memory.