Passive Bookshelf Speakers

Passive bookshelf speakers have no built-in amplifier, so you connect them with speaker cable to a stereo amplifier or AV receiver. They suit a living room or a study and work well with a turntable when you already own an amplifier or want to choose one separately. Almost all models are sold in pairs, with woofers ranging from 3" (Pro-Ject Speaker Box 3 E) to 8" (Swan D8.1MKII, KLH Three, AQ Tango 75). Here you will find the Klipsch Reference and Reference Premiere series, Magnat Monitor S and Signature, Q Acoustics 3000c, Pro-Ject Speaker Box, Heco, Jamo, Swan and more.

How do passive bookshelf speakers differ from active ones?

A passive bookshelf speaker has neither its own power supply nor an amplifier: the amplifier sends it the signal through the speaker terminals. The advantage is freedom, because you can replace or upgrade the speakers and the amplifier separately, and a single amplifier can serve your turntable, CD player and streamer. If you want to plug speakers straight into a computer, TV or phone without any extra device, take a look at active bookshelf speakers with a built-in amplifier.

What amplifier do passive bookshelf speakers need?

An integrated amplifier or AV receiver that can handle the speakers' impedance is all you need. The models in this range are rated at 4, 6 or 8 Ω, and you will find the value in each product's specifications. Sensitivity helps too: a speaker with higher sensitivity plays louder at the same amplifier power. Klipsch models from the R-40M to the RP-600M II reach 91 to 94.5 dB and the Pro-Ject Speaker Box 3 E 85 dB, which is why the Klipsch speakers play loud even with a less powerful amplifier. Most models have inputs for banana plugs.

What size should you choose and where should you place bookshelf speakers?

Small models with a 3" to 4" woofer (Pro-Ject Speaker Box 3 E, Q Acoustics 3010c, Klipsch R-40M) fit on a desk or a shelf. For a living room, bookshelf speakers with a 5" to 6.5" woofer are a better fit, while 8" models deliver deeper bass. Many have a rear bass reflex port, so leave them a few centimetres from the wall; the Q Acoustics 3010c, 3020c and 3030c come with foam bungs for the port, and the AQ Tango has its port at the front. Raise them to ear level on Hi-Fi speaker stands.