Cost: Our price limit for both the passive and powered categories was $600 per pair.Note that you can get better sound from these speakers by placing them on stands (such as the Sanus BF24B or Monoprice 39494) rather than on a shelf reflections off a shelf can alter the sound, a speaker on a shelf is positioned close to the wall (which is likely to make it sound boomy), and the shelf and whatever else is on it may rattle. We looked only at speakers that are small enough to actually fit on a large, sturdy shelf or perhaps on a credenza or table-but also large enough to produce sufficient bass on their own without a subwoofer. If you need something to use with a computer, for gaming or audio production, check out our best computer speakers guide. Size and styling: These speakers are all styled to suit a typical living room or den.