With the advancement in audio technology, there are a variety of options available for music & movie enthusiasts over the years. Speakers are a long-term investment used for clear hearing of the audio. Among numerous options, here we are going to know about bookhelf or tower speakers and which one suits you while setting up an audio system.
In this article, we provide an overview of the benefits and drawbacks of each type of these stereo speakers to help you make an informed buying decision based on your individual needs and preferences.
Let’s get into its details…
Bookshelf Speakers (or) Desktop Speakers
This type of speaker is a small loudspeaker used widely in home audio systems, and it can be used as a 2-way or 3-way type speaker with bass and tweeter driver. As the name implies, these speakers are placed on a table, shelf, or any other flat surface. They are designed with the intent to be used as a part of a consumer sound system. Besides their compact size, these bookshelf speakers deliver exceptional sound quality and provide powerful bass notes if positioned properly in the room.
One unique feature of these speakers is that they can reproduce full-range stereo sound from relatively small enclosures made up of one or more drivers. A driver is an electromechanical device that converts electrical energy into acoustic energy by quickly moving back & forth with an AC signal. Thus, it creates vibrations to cause sound waves in the surrounding air.
There are two types of drivers in bookshelf speakers – woofers (low-frequency sounds), and tweeters (high-frequency sounds), in which both types use cone-shaped diaphragms to move back and forth at different rates based on the frequency of the incoming signal.
Also, these speakers come with a power rating of 15W – 200W per channel which specifies the total power required to produce loudness levels similar to those produced by large floor-standing models. Furthermore, it has internal amplifiers to boost weaker signals before they send out via cone diaphragms. So, they directly connect the speakers to digital music players without any need for extra amplification hardware.
Tower Speakers (or) Floor-Standing Speakers
As the name implies, these tower speakers are a type of loudspeaker that is taller compared to most conventional speakers. Also, it can be either 2-way, 3-way, or 4-way speakers.
They come with two or more drivers in each cabinet and also have extra features in their design like built-in amplifiers or equalizers, separate woofers & tweeters, and subwoofers (to boost low-frequency sound reproduction). Thus, these speakers offer a wider dynamic range, enhanced bass performance, and greater detail retrieval than traditional bookshelf speakers.
The large size of these speakers allows for high power handling capacity and the best acoustic efficiency with more air volume within the cabinets. Thus, there is sufficient room for drivers to move freely within its housing, resulting in generating a fuller sound with low distortion, even at low levels. Additionally, they project sounds a bit far/longer throw distance with clarity and tonal balance to reach distant listeners. So, it is ideal for multi-room audio systems or large home theater setups.
Coming to its installation, it involves a slightly more complex installation process compared to other models. But after proper setup, they offer excellent sonic performance and great flexibility to configure an audio system. Though these speakers cost more than bookshelf models, most users find them a worthwhile investment for extensive setup and to enjoy high-quality music playback from all audio sources.
Type of Drivers in Tower and Bookshelf Speakers
Bookshelf speakers have two or more drivers in the enclosure – a woofer (producing low-frequency sound), a tweeter (high-frequency sound), and a mid-range speaker as a complete audio spectrum. While, on the other hand, the tower speakers also comprise all these similar components, yet are larger in size, which allows for enhanced power handling capacity and great volume levels at low frequencies. Also, these tower speakers include extra tweeters and specialized bass radiators to generate more accurate sounds, even at loud volumes.
The type of material used in the drivers will affect their overall performance. Woofers are made of paper cones, while other drivers use dome materials, like titanium, aluminum, or plastic with different degrees of rigidity and dampening properties based on the purpose. Tweeters are made from a wide range of materials, including cloth textiles to metal alloys. So, they should be selected wisely for an optimal high-frequency response. While mid-range drivers use polypropylene membranes, yet some manufacturers use stiffer ceramic types.
The sound quality produced by tower or bookshelf speakers depends mostly on the combination of drivers and their interaction with one another while playing the music. However, factors like magnet strength, cone size, and impedance will play a key role, and any differences between them will lead to an inconsistent listening experience, irrespective of the setup employed. So, it is essential to know the type of drivers that work best in each scenario to maximize the user investment in terms of sonic performance and cost.
Perfect Locations to Place the Tower and Bookshelf Speakers
The type of music played by the speaker and the room’s size and shape will play an essential role in selecting the location to place either a tower or bookshelf speaker system. This will maximize the overall sound quality in a given setting. Also, both speaker systems offer different benefits, if placed in various locations.
Pros and Cons of Bookshelf Speakers
Bookshelf speakers are the most preferred option for numerous audio enthusiasts. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of bookshelf speakers.
Pros:
- They offer several benefits over tower speakers, including versatility, transport convenience, and portability.
- These are used in any room, making them perfect for those seeking to enjoy music on the go.
- Besides smaller sizes, they fit inside the speaker stand or cabinet (or fit in small areas) that have less resonance, resulting in clear and crisp sound quality.
- If used on the stand, then it supports elevation Atmos speakers
Cons:
- Alternatively, these bookshelf speakers won’t offer sufficient power or volume to make them perfect for large rooms or gatherings.
- It requires more components like receivers and amplifiers to enjoy the full effect produced by tower speakers.
- Being portable, these speakers lack bass response compared to larger speakers that limit the overall performance of certain types of music genres.
Pros and Cons of Tower Speakers
Tower speakers or floor-standing speakers are popular among several audio enthusiasts. These audio gadgets come with a set of advantages and disadvantages over bookshelf speakers. Here are some of the pros and cons of these tower speakers.
Pros:
- They come with larger drivers that let them produce low-frequency sounds more accurately.
- Being larger in size, these speakers can be placed in different locations in the room for an immersive listening experience, especially at high volumes.
- Offer better dynamics and delivers big, full-range best-quality sound.
- Provide a great platform for elevation Atmos speakers.
Cons:
- These speakers take up more space and are not portable compared to their bookshelf counterparts, making it can’t fit in certain living spaces or small rooms.
- Also, they need extra power amplifiers for optimum performance levels due to their large size and enhanced power requirements.
- It has to be positioned ideally to get the maximum sound output.
Even though the tower speakers are available at higher price tags, they are still worthy with several features that make them a value-for-money option, if maintained and powered properly. If you are seeking maximum bass response with remarkable clarity and sound quality, then these tower speakers outdo smaller bookshelf models with deep lows and wide dispersion, even in high volumes. Finally, the users need to consider the desired listening environment and budget before making their buying decision on any new audio equipment.
Bookshelf Vs Tower Speakers – Considerations & Differentiations
As a buyer, you have to consider some other things to differentiate between these two speakers and choose the best one that suits your requirement.
1. Quality & Size Considerations
Bookshelf Speakers consume less power to deliver exceptional sound clarity and good performance, even at higher volumes. Being compact, these speakers are an ideal investment for those having smaller spaces or who don’t invest in an amplifier. Coming to its downside, the lack of subwoofers and their small size makes them unable to produce deep bass tones & less sound coverage.
Tower Speakers produce deeper bass tones with their larger drivers compared to their bookshelf counterparts. Thus, it is an ideal investment for home theatres or those who listen to music genres (EDM or hip-hop), especially for low-end frequencies (larger spaces with great sound coverage). Coming to its downside, their larger size occupies more space (limits their placement in smaller rooms) and is slightly pricier than bookshelf models.
2. Sound Dispersion Characteristics
There are different sound dispersion characteristics for both of these speaker types.
Bookshelf speakers are designed to direct the sound toward its listener, which allows to have a more focused listening experience. Since they offer an intimate sonic quality without occupying much space, these speakers are perfectly suitable for smaller rooms.
While the tower speakers offer great frequency range and broader sound coverage with their built-in larger woofers and tweeters. They need more power input to deliver the maximum performance levels. Also, if they are paired with the perfect amplifier, they produce a powerful bass response and detailed highs, filling even large areas with immersive audio.
3. Cost/Price
The price won’t be overlooked while purchasing any product, including these audio equipment/speakers, as it is one of the deciding factors in the consumer purchase decision. For grabbing the better value for money, you need to compare different brands in terms of max power handling capabilities, frequency response, and number of drivers. Ensure to make a wise decision – spending less results in substandard performance, whereas overspending results in placing an unnecessary hole in the pocket.
Bookshelf Speakers are smaller in size and lighter in weight, making them more affordable than their larger alternatives. The price of these speakers will range from $150 – $1000 (or more for high-end models).
Tower Speakers are much more expensive that range from $500 – $3000 (or more for high-end models) based on the features like multi-room audio compatibility, and wireless capability.
4. Amplification Needs
Both these tower and bookshelf speakers differ in terms of amplification needs.
Bookshelf speakers need a dedicated amplifier or receiver to power their drivers and thereby produce an excellent sound. Yet the amplifier is powerful enough for the speaker’s model that you are using and designed to accommodate the sensitivity rating.
Tower speakers are self-contained units that have built-in amplifiers or receivers and thereby eliminate the need for any extra equipment. Yet some models won’t have built-in amplifiers that still need the extra external amplification to reach their fullest potential.
5. Power Requirements
Considering the power requirements, the bookshelf speakers and tower speakers will significantly differ a lot. Both speaker types use a receiver or amplifier (either built-in or external) for producing excellent sound, which makes variations in the power (watts) requirements to operate and function properly.
Bookshelf speakers require less power compared to their tower speaker counterparts. In general, bookshelf speakers require around 20 – 60 watts per channel, whereas tower speakers often range from 50 – 400 watts per channel based on their particular size and shape.
6. Connectivity Options
Coming to connectivity, both these bookshelf and tower speakers have a variety of options.
Bookshelf speakers offer 1 – 2 inputs like digital (optical) or analog (RCA). Alternatively, tower speakers are connected in either of these ways yet need extra wiring for audio sources. Also, these tower speakers can be connected via wireless Bluetooth which allows its users to stream music from any Bluetooth-enabled devices.
7. Room Size Limitations
The room size limitations are one of the main differentiating features to check when comparing tower speakers and tower speakers.
Bookshelf speakers or desktop speakers are designed to use for smaller rooms. Their slim design and compactness make them placed easily in any corner of a small room (which takes up less space) to deliver outstanding sound quality.
Tower speakers require larger spaces to deliver louder and more powerful sound. They generate more bass due to their separate subwoofers for enhanced performance than bookshelf models. Thus, it is perfect to use in large areas with great audio detail like home theater systems or parties. Also, the active crossovers and built-in amplifiers of these tower models let you adjust levels of woofer and tweeter drivers to customize the listening experience. Yet its drawback is that they consume more floor space than their compact alternatives.
8. Power Output
Despite the power requirements, the overall power output is essential to consider when choosing the tower or bookshelf speaker systems.
Tower or floor-standing speakers are designed with larger drivers that need more wattage (power input) to achieve amazing listening levels with loud, clear, crisp sounds. Thus, it is clear that amplifiers in tower speakers require more power (Watts) and delivers more power output compared to bookshelves. However, the amplifiers in tower speakers offer more current that drives low impedance loads easier compared to amplifiers driving high-efficiency bookshelf models without distortion or clipping.
9. Sound Quality
Sound quality plays a key role in differentiating and evaluating speakers, as it determines which option suits better for them.
The smaller drivers in bookshelves deliver more clear, precise sound due to the proximity to the user’s head level. Whereas the larger drivers in floor-standing speakers offer a better bass response and enhance the overall volume levels, but the clarity is a bit low compared with bookshelves, at high volumes.
Bookshelf Vs Tower Speakers – FAQs
Ans: The way they amplify the sound waves is the key factor that differentiates these active and passive speakers. In general, active speakers use electronic amplification components, including receivers or amplifiers. While on the other hand, passive speakers won’t require any extra electronics – they rely solely on the power of the connected receiver or amplifier to boost the output levels.
Even though the active speakers need a bit more setup work compared to passive speakers, they provide better control over volume or tone, which in turn offers better customization of overall sound quality.
Ans: This is an ongoing debate about which type of speaker is the best option for music listening outdoors. Whether it is a floor-standing or bookshelf speaker, you have to consider two main factors – the power and sound quality to decide which one is the best suitable option for your needs and preferences.
Ans: Apart from technical specifications and performance, there are several other considerations when choosing a sound system for your home entertainment. Environmental factors will play a key role in deciding which type of speaker suits best for your requirement. Both these tower and bookshelf speakers come with unique pros and cons while considering the environmental impact.
Ans: How to determine whether a subwoofer is needed for a tower or bookshelf speaker? One has to evaluate their preferences and available resources. A subwoofer is a smart addition to the overall audio system to experience deep, room-shaking bass. Usually, tower speakers produce good bass, making it won’t require a subwoofer, yet a floor-standing speaker with a subwoofer offer the best performance in the mid & high-range frequencies. While most bookshelf speaker systems are functional without a subwoofer, they perform a bit more in the mid & high-range frequencies.
If you have limited financial means (modest price range) or limited space, then it offers improved sound quality on small loudspeakers lacking extended bass response. Alternatively, having big budgets and rooms for full-range systems that add a dedicated low-frequency driver delivers tangible benefits of sonic performance. However, the final decision will be based on personal preference and practical considerations like overall cost and space.
Conclusion
Both bookshelf and tower speakers offer good sound quality but differ in terms of specifications and design. Bookshelf speakers are not designed with powerful amplifiers or large drivers making them unable to produce less bass output. While tower speakers incorporate multiple drivers and subwoofers to boost low-end response for deep bass notes, making them a perfect option for those who want a serious boom out of the system, even at a high cost.
However, the choice between bookshelves and tower speakers depends on the individual’s budget constraints and requirements. If seeking good performance in a small space at an affordable price range, then go with the bookshelf speakers. While for those seeking max sound pressure levels, prefer to invest in a pair of tower speakers.
So, upon considering the pros & cons along with other key factors of each type, one can make an informed buying guide regarding which speaker type is suitable for their requirement without any dissatisfaction.
We hope this article will help you find the best speaker suitable for your listening experience. Do you have any queries or thoughts to share with us? Then don’t hesitate to share them in the comments section below. We are happy to hear from you and respond promptly to help you in the selection process.
