Your home will never look more retro after it’s adorned with the best vintage bookshelf speakers that you can afford.
You’ll know exactly the right vintage bookshelf speakers to choose to make your home look and sound absolutely amazing.
These speakers are durable, have gorgeous aesthetics, and perform admirably.
Read on to determine the perfect pair to meet your needs.
Quick List: Top 6 Vintage Bookshelf Speakers
- Edifier R1280T Classic Bookshelf Speakers – Best Value
- Pyle Retro Wireless Radio Speaker – Best Budget Option
- Q Acoustics 3020i Bookshelf Speakers
- Edifier R1700BT Bookshelf Speakers
- Edifier S1000DB Bookshelf Speakers – Best Overall
- Singing Wood BT25 Bookshelf Speakers
Researching Vintage Bookshelf Speakers
I like to delve deeply into the research before I pick and choose the best vintage looking bookshelf speakers to review.
Why?
You want the best that your money can buy and it’s my goal to only tell you about the highest quality speakers based on a number of different features and options.
As an example, I’ve chosen one particular set of speakers as the best overall.
I really like these speakers a lot because of their performance, their affordable price, their great features, and in particular I like their overall vintage feel.
Guess what?
I chose a completely different set of speakers to review based on their affordability amongst other things. This retro speaker is not only inexpensive being the cheapest one that I’ve recommended today; it also has a built-in radio and other exciting added value features that I truly believe you’ll appreciate.
Before I get to the conclusion, I will discuss a number of very important factors about each of the vintage bookshelf speakers that I’ve recommended today. You’ll know a great deal about each pair of speakers and why I feel they make excellent choices.
Hang around a little longer and continue reading to discover the truth about my favorite vintage bookshelf speaker recommendations.
The Best Vintage Bookshelf Speakers In 2024
1. Edifier R1280T Classic Bookshelf Speakers – Best Value
- 2 x AUX INPUT - Convenient connection to any device that has a 3.5mm headphone output or dual RCA output. Connect to two devices via AUX at the same time, no plugging and switching needed.
The Edifier R1280T Classic Bookshelf Speakers are considered the best overall value because of their convenient connectivity and their studio quality sound.
✔️ What we like: The classic vintage wooden finish
❌ What we don’t like: No longer worked after a few hours
Standout Features
- Remote control
- 2x AUX input
- Two year warranty
One of the first things that I immediately love about these speakers is their overall attractive classic design. The beautiful wood finish reminds me of old-style retro speakers with a vintage flavor. These speakers will look amazing on top of any of your bookshelves, cabinets, countertops, or anywhere else for that matter. You can even rig them up to hang them on your wall and they will look gorgeous with their stunning wood classic exterior.
As far as their construction goes, these speakers were designed with simplicity in mind yet they have an attractive elegance that’s hard to ignore. They make the sides of the speakers with MDF, so it’s a durable and strong speaker that is built to last. You could accidentally knock it over or drop it on occasion and not have to worry about your speaker completely crumbling and falling apart.
From a negative point of view, I recently read a review online about the speakers that wasn’t all that flattering but it had a nice twist at the end. This reviewer opened up the speakers, took them out of the box, and hooked them up to his home stereo system. They worked beautifully for a few hours and the reviewer was really happy with his purchase.
Then suddenly out of nowhere the speakers stopped working in their entirety and he couldn’t get them the turn on again. He was very upset to say the least. After leaving a negative review on a major online retailer, the manufacturer Edifier took the time to comment and reminded this reviewer that the speakers have a two year warranty. They told him to contact them immediately to get a free replacement.
As you can see with the Edifier R1280T Classic Bookshelf Speakers, things get broken in manufacturing and speakers occasionally have their issues. At least Edifier was willing to give their customer a new set of speakers.
2. Pyle Retro Wireless Radio Speaker – Best Budget Option
- CLASSIC RETRO STYLE: Pyle Vintage Radio Sound system combines yesterday's classic style w/ today’s modern technology. Will surely take you back in time to bring you the ultimate music experience....
The Pyle Retro Wireless Radio Speaker is the best budget option because it’s incredibly affordable below $55 and it has a fun retro vintage design that you’ll appreciate.
✔️ What we like: Classic retro style with built-in radio
❌ What we don’t like: Stopped working after about a month
Standout Features
- Built-in stereo speakers
- USB and SD card compatible
- Old-fashioned radio dials
Although this is technically a single device instead of a set of speakers, I decided to add this to the list because of its amazing vintage design. This looks like an old style radio from the early part of the 20th century with twist knobs and dials and the whole 9 yards. It’s such an attractive looking design and it sort of has a used and worn out look to it that makes it appear even more vintage and worthwhile.
Guess what else? It’s Bluetooth compatible! So you can connect it to your iPhone, Android, tablet, PC, computer, laptop, and any other device you’d want to connect it to and use these amazing speakers to play audio from your favorite songs, TV shows, and movies if that’s what you’re looking to accomplish.
Even better, the device has a USB and SD card slot on the back. You can plug in either of these storage devices and play MP3s directly through the radio. This is a great way to create playlists and pick and choose your favorite songs to play on this attractive vintage radio. It’s a whole lot of fun for you and the family. You can even play old-time songs and host a retro theme party.
The one negative is one reviewer bought the vintage radio speakers and started using them regularly and really liked them a lot. But after a month they stopped working. As you can imagine, this reviewer was pretty upset to say the least. If this happens to you, you can contact the manufacturer to let them know about the problem. I can almost guarantee that they’d replace the radio for free.
Overall, I think the Pyle Retro Wireless Radio Speaker is a big hit because of the built-in stereo speakers, the button control center, the USB and SD card inputs, and the classic retro design.
3. Q Acoustics 3020i Bookshelf Speakers
- Powerful Hi-fi Speakers Bookshelf Set: Immerse yourself in music with our 3020i bookshelf speakers. The cabinet is 25% bigger than our previous models for larger scale sound and deeper bass. A 0.9"...
The Q Acoustics 3020i Bookshelf Speakers are a great recommendation because of the new low-profile binding posts, the 125 mm drivers, and the large cabinet design.
✔️ What we like: Award-winning retro cabinet design
❌ What we don’t like: Bass and midrange levels leave a lot to be desired
Standout Features
- Point-to-point bracing
- Increased cabinet size
- High-frequency driver unit
Leaving all of the technical mumbo-jumbo aside for now, I personally think you’re going to like the speakers because they deliver fantastic sound quality, but from a retro perspective these walnut finished speakers have an attractive look and vintage feel that you’ll like to see inside of your home. When you look at your speakers you’ll think you’re looking at speakers that you used to own in the 1980s and 1990s because they have that gorgeous retro finish.
So many people like these speakers because the sound quality is amazing. According to one reviewer, the speakers have a spacious soundscape and they also deliver a very natural and appealing sound. You can hear instruments while listening to these speakers come through clearly and it reproduces the overall sound quality well – in particular when listening to a piano or saxophone through the speakers because they have true tonality which is really nice.
One negative review said that the bass and midrange levels do not meet their overall degree of satisfaction. In fact, the reviewer went on to say that the wide soundstage projected audio really nicely, but the midrange and bass were so low that it was very difficult to hear the audio coming through the speakers when you had the volume turned down on the lower side.
He didn’t seem to have a problem if the volume was turned up halfway or even higher and said that the audio sounded great at these levels. It’s just the lower levels that seemed to have given this reviewer trouble.
In the end, I believe the Q Acoustics 3020i Bookshelf Speakers are a fine choice because of their attractive walnut finish, their great sound, their appealing price point, and their overall vintage style.
4. Edifier R1700BT Bookshelf Speakers
- BLUETOOTH CONNECTION - Pair your phone, tablet or computer for a true wireless experience, perfect for any iOS, Android, MacOS or Windows device.
The Edifier R1700BT Bookshelf Speakers are a big-time favorite because of their remote control, their classic wood finish, and their effective Bluetooth connection.
✔️ What we like: Bluetooth and 3.5 mm headphone connectivity
❌ What we don’t like: Bluetooth auto reconnect doesn’t work right
Standout Features
- Classic remote control
- Attractive wood finish
- Two year warranty
I don’t know about you, but I always love a high quality attractive vintage speaker. But even more important, I like them when they have Bluetooth connectivity because that means I can easily connect them to all of my favorite audio devices. I had no problem wirelessly connecting these speakers to my Mac, Android, iOS, and Windows devices. And although one reviewer had a bit of trouble reconnecting his devices, which I’ll go into later, it’s never been an issue for me so it was likely an isolated incident.
Besides the great Bluetooth connectivity, they also have a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a dual RCA output. So I could connect this device via a wired connection if I ever need to remove the Bluetooth connectivity for any reason. Having the available wired connection is always a great choice because sometimes people just don’t want to use Bluetooth for whatever reason.
Maybe it doesn’t work too effectively or maybe they’ve heard negative things about Bluetooth signals and they prefer to not have them in their home. Either way, you can connect wirelessly or wired to most of your favorite electronic devices without any trouble whatsoever.
As mentioned, one reviewer said that the speakers were a real hassle because of the faulty Bluetooth function. He was able to originally connect his Bluetooth speakers to his electronic devices at first, but then they disconnected and he could never get them the reconnect and stay reconnected.
This would make it difficult to listen to your favorite songs and podcasts from your smart devices since they cannot connect via wires to these Bluetooth speakers. More than likely this individual purchased a faulty set of speakers. He should make the necessary arrangements to send them back to the manufacturer for a replacement pair.
Overall, you’ll appreciate the Edifier R1700BT Bookshelf Speakers because of their vintage design, their Bluetooth connectivity, and their attractive classic wood finish and two year warranty.
5. Edifier S1000DB Bookshelf Speakers – Best Overall
- BLUETOOTH 4.0 aptX connectivity – Stream high quality sound wirelessly with minimal loss
The Edifier S1000DB Bookshelf Speakers are a fan favorite because of the beautiful wood finish, the ability to connect to wireless devices, and the built-in tone control.
✔️ What we like: Push in volume control dial
❌ What we don’t like: Bluetooth connection stopped working after two weeks
Standout Features
- 5.5 inch midrange unit
- 120 W RMS quality sound
- AUX and optical inputs
Every audio aficionado looking for vintage speakers will definitely like this choice. It has a classic wood finish mixed with black front and back panels that truly make these speakers stand out. You will notice them and appreciate how attractive they look in your home. The wood finish itself is really the reason why the speakers have such a gorgeous design.
Do you know what else I like about the speakers? The remote control! It has an amazing remote control that allows you to turn the Bluetooth on and off, turn the speakers on and off, mute and unmute the volume, and you can even switch input sources instantly which makes it easy to switch from your smart phone to your PC to your laptop computer to any other devices that you have connected to these powerful speakers with amazing audio quality.
On the other hand, one reviewer wasn’t very happy because his Bluetooth connection stopped working after two weeks. This is a major annoyance as you can imagine and it was very frustrating for this individual because he wanted to connect his devices via Bluetooth and he couldn’t any longer. The obvious solution is to contact the manufacturer and let them know about the problem.
Most companies actually care about their customers, believe it or not, and if you send them a heartfelt message they’d likely send you a brand-new pair of speakers because of your effort and love for their products.
On the whole, I have great respect for the Edifier S1000DB Bookshelf Speakers because of their two year warranty, their digital sound processing technology, and their handy remote control and Bluetooth 4.0 aptX connectivity.
6. Singing Wood BT25 Bookshelf Speakers
- 【POWERED BLUETOOTH 5.0】 Delivers incredible audio sound from your smartphone, tablet, PCs, TVs, and any Bluetooth device, with perfect hassle-free true wireless connection.
The Singing Wood BT25 Bookshelf Speakers are a favorite recommendation because of their classic wooden speaker case made of beech wood and the very effective Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity.
✔️ What we like: Advanced sound adjustment with remote control
❌ What we don’t like: One speaker failed after 30 days
Standout Features
- 24 month warranty
- Classic wooden enclosure
- Remote control
The Singing Wood bookshelf speakers are a phenomenal choice because they’re based out of California, so you know you’re getting a high quality American product delivered directly to your door when you order over the Internet. They have a 24 month warranty guaranteeing that you’ll get a brand-new set of speakers shipped to you for the first two years if something were to go wrong or if you purchased a faulty device.
This is always nice to know because things get broken from time to time and having a free replacement waiting for you is always a great thing.
Most vintage bookshelf speaker aficionados will like these particularly because of their old-style design, the beech wood finish, and the ability to connect wired or wirelessly to your favorite audio devices. And the cool thing is that when it’s wired you can connect it to up to two devices at the same time. There is a button on the remote control that allows you to switch from one device to another, which is a very handy and exciting feature to have.
One reviewer was upset because his speakers broke after the first 30 days. It happens from time to time and I can understand being upset if it were to happen to me. I also know they have a 24 month warranty so I would never feel the need to hop on the Internet and complain about a faulty set of speakers.
Things happen in life and speakers break and occasionally we’re going to buy broken speakers. Manufacturers are nice enough to replace them when things go wrong so the complaints are unwarranted and unnecessary to say the least.
At the end of the day, you’ll like the Singing Wood BT25 Bookshelf Speakers because of their beautiful vintage finish, the 50w RMS, and the overall lightweight design and Bluetooth connectivity.
A Guide to Choosing Vintage Bookshelf Speakers
Are you now prepared to buy a new set of the best looking vintage bookshelf speakers?
I really hope you found my reviews enlightening and right up your alley. But you may not have preferred or appreciated the products that I’ve recommended. I tried my best to share the top vintage bookshelf speakers with you today and I think I did a good job.
But you may be looking for something different than the products that I chose and that’s perfectly okay.
I still want to help you find the ideal set of vintage bookshelf speakers to meet your needs. So I put together a brief yet effective guide to point you in the right direction. Use this information to discover a great pair of vintage speakers that you can set up in your home and feel proud to show them to all your friends and family.
Vintage Design
In my opinion, if you’re choosing vintage then the speakers need to have an amazing vintage design. You have to fall in love with the way the speakers look because you’ll otherwise feel cheated or left out if they do not live up to your old school expectations.
Spend some time looking around on your favorite online retailers and search for their vintage bookshelf speakers. Look at every option and check out the different designs and styles to see if something really stands out and grabs your attention.
Bluetooth Connectivity
The ability to connect to your favorite Bluetooth devices is also another excellent option that so many people appreciate. Just because the speakers look vintage doesn’t mean they have to act vintage as well. They can have all of the latest technology within the speakers and still give off the old school vibe that you want to portray.
So take a look around on the Internet or even in your favorite brick-and-mortar retailers to see if they have vintage speakers that you personally connect with. If they do, you should pick them up and see how they sound connected to your stereo system.
Stereo Quality Sound
And speaking of stereo quality sound, you should always find vintage speakers that deliver high-quality audio. That’s the whole reason you’re buying them in the first place, right? You need new bookshelf speakers for your home theater or home stereo system. So, the audio quality is of the utmost importance.
Take a moment to learn about any and all of the speakers you’re considering. Make sure they can deliver the high quality audio that you’re looking for in a new pair of speakers like the ones recommended above.
Be Cool With Vintage Bookshelf Speakers
It’s really great that you made it all away to the end of this review. I applaud you and thank you for sticking with me for the duration.
To recap, I recommended the following six best vintage bookshelf speakers to you today. They include:
- Edifier R1280T Classic Bookshelf Speakers – Best Value
- Pyle Retro Wireless Radio Speaker – Best Budget Option
- Q Acoustics 3020i Bookshelf Speakers
- Edifier R1700BT Bookshelf Speakers
- Edifier S1000DB Bookshelf Speakers – Best Overall
- Singing Wood BT25 Bookshelf Speakers
I believe in every one of these recommendations. They are all top-of-the-line and the best that money can buy right now. But if you prefer to strike out on your own, use my vintage bookshelf speaker buying guide above to find an amazing set of speakers for your home or office needs.
Further Reading:
- 7 Best Wearable Speakers (Neckbands, Watches & Clip Ons)
- 9 Best Bike Speakers (Take The Beats On Your Bike)
- 8 Best Motorcycle Speakers (Under $50 to Over $400)
- 8 Best Wireless Speakers For TV (All Budgets)
- 13 Best Outdoor Rock Speakers (Under $50 to Over $400)
Trent is a music lover, musical instrument player and passionate audio afficionado.