How low do they go?
Of the 95 here with a figure quoted, most are rated between 35Hz and 70Hz, with a median of 51Hz. 18 of them are quoted at 40Hz or below, which is roughly where a soundtrack's low effects and the bottom of a bass guitar live. Makers measure this differently, so use the figure to rank models rather than as a promise.
What do they cost?
Most sit between $249 and $3,850, with a median of $600 and a full range of $120 to $14,999. These are the current asking prices we hold, not sale prices, and they move - check the retailer before deciding.
Do I need an amplifier as well?
No. That is the point of the class - the amplifier is inside the cabinet, so a source connects straight to the speaker. The built-in amplification is mostly 50 to 300 watts, median 100 watts; 69 of the 82 with the spec recorded accept Bluetooth. Manufacturers quote powered-speaker wattage inconsistently, so read it next to the cabinet size rather than on its own.
How big are they?
Most are 191mm to 376mm tall, median 278mm, and weigh 1.7kg to 12.3kg, median 5.1kg. Every listing gives height, width and depth in both inches and millimetres, so measure the space before you order rather than after.
Do they need stands?
Almost always, yes. A bookshelf speaker is designed with the tweeter at seated ear height and with air around the cabinet. Pushed into a shelf or a cupboard it gains a thick, boomy bass and loses the imaging that made it worth buying. Budget for stands, or for a shelf you can place it on rather than in.