We're tracking the best Black Friday deals live for discounts on everything from AirPods to Bose headphones to Ninja kitchen gadgets. But I'm on a serious hi-fi kick at the moment, so I'm searching for some awesome bookshelf speaker savings.
I feel like bookshelf speakers don't get enough attention. You need a good set of speakers if you're a desktop gamer, have a turntable, or love listening to high-resolution music.
My top bookshelf speaker Black Friday deals: Quick links
- Edifier R1280T: was $149 now $113 @ Amazon
- Edifier R1280DB: was $189 now $132 @ Amazon
- Edifier M60: was $199 now $149 @ Amazon
- Audioengine A2+: was $279 now $223 @ Amazon
- Kanto Ora4: was $499 now $299 @ Amazon
- Audioengine S6 subwoofer: was $299 now $239 @ Amazon
- Edifier T5s subwoofer: was $199 now $159 @ Amazon
My top bookshelf speaker Black Friday deals
Best for everyday listening
If you don't like the mesh grill, you can remove it to reveal the woofers and tweeters. I use my speakers without the grill as I prefer the exposed appearance. The does have a function, though: it can soften treble. It's worth holding onto the grill even if you remove them.
Appearance aside, let's get into the meat. The R1280T sound incredible. Considering the MSRP is just $149, you wouldn't expect such rich sound. But, oh boy, it's incredible. Every part of the frequency range sounds phenomenal, with melodic, balanced treble, clear, even mids, and a nice dose of wall-shaking bass to round it all off. The R1280T are also turntable-compatible with the RCA input and the dual aux connection.
The only drawback? There's no Bluetooth, but Edifier has got your back with the R1280DB just below.
You can also get the Edifier T5s subwoofer for just $159 at Amazon right now, perfect for even heavier bass.
Just like the R1280T speakers above, the R1280DB have excellent sound, with clarity across the entire frequency range and surprisingly punchy bass. For just $132, the sonic performance is unlike any other speakers in this price range.
If you need Bluetooth for linking up your phone or laptop, you'll want the R1280DB rather than the R1280T. You still get all the standard analog connections with the R1280DB, though — just the added bonus of wireless connectivity, too!
Best for small spaces
The M60 are perfect for small spaces. They're just 3.9 inches wide and 6.6 inches tall, which is about an inch and a half smaller than the R1280T and R1280DB.
Unlike the R1280T, the M60 have Bluetooth connectivity, USB-C, and aux. The range of inputs makes these speakers ideal if you've got a variety of inputs, like cellphone, mixing decks, or want to link up the speakers with a digital audio converter.
If you choose Bluetooth, you can still get hi-res audio. The M60 are LDAC-compatible, so if you've got a device capable of transmitting LDAC, this is a great way to get hi-fi audio wirelessly.
Although I've not reviewed the M60 speakers yet, they're in my office, ready to be tested, and I'm so excited.
Best premium for small spaces
Our reviewer was really impressed by how the A2+ balanced sounds across the frequency range. Usually, small speakers can suffer from flat bass or muddy treble, but not the A2+. He said, "Despite the small size of each speaker, the A2+ can fill an office space comfortably and get louder than you’ll probably need."
He also said the speakers handled crisp, scratchy snare drums and rich, warm bass notes with equal amounts of skill. No genre he played sounded weak or diluted, which makes these speakers ideal for those with varied music tastes.
You can also get the Audioengine S6 subwoofer for just $239 at Amazon right now for even heavier bass.
Best premium reference speakers
The Kanto ORA4 are the most premium speakers on this list, and the perfect choice for serious mixers, music producers, vinyl enthusiasts, or just your run-of-the-mill audiophile.
As expected with studio speakers, the ORA4 have a delicate, neutral sound signature, so you can really hear everything in your music. Our Audio Editor wrote in the review, "You’re in for a sonic treat. Being reference speakers, the Ora4 are slightly more restrained in the low end than some of the more casual focused options, but the bass that is there is weighty, punchy, and very solid."
She also made the mightily bold claim that "the Ora4 are an excellent pair of speakers, and quite possibly some of the best computer speakers that I’ve ever tested." From someone who tests speakers for a living, this is fantastic praise.
If you consider yourself a music appreciator, you need to check out the Kanto ORA4, and especially at this major discount — save $149 now!
Shop today's best Black Friday deals
- Amazon: 50% off Ring, Ninja, Under Armour and more
- REI: half-off Arc'teryx, Patagonia and more
- Walmart: holiday gifts from $15
- Dell: monitors from $69, laptops from $249
- Nectar: 50% off mattresses + 66% off bundles
- Best Buy: laptops from $149
- Lenovo: doorbuster laptop deals from $319
- Wayfair: up to 80% off home decor
- Nike: apparel/sneakers from $7
- Lululemon: top picks from $9
- Birkenstock: deals from $20 @ Nordstrom
- Saatva: luxury mattresses from $1,099
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