Is this a new trend?

Lazy run of the mill reviewers who can’t be bothered to handle a heavier speaker, i.e., a floorstander. Get em in, get em out as soon as ya can, it’s a business.

Nothing looks more goofy than that cheapman audio grunt sitting around between 2 matchbox speakers the size of his palms, over and over. It’s almost like he’s striking a pose, thinks he’s Fabio or something, as he sits between 2 crap ferns (pukosaurus rex).

To be fair to Guttenberg, he looks like he might just whither away if he moved anything heavier than 10 lbs.

Aside for more affordability, nothing is better on lousy bookshelfs in undersized cabinets.

Better bass performance tech? More bookshelf+subwoofers combos?

@kennyc Wrote:

 

Is this a new trend?

Smaller main speakers with a subwoofer, the trend started in 1975 see here and here.

Mike

Bookshelf speakers have been around for over 60+ years. The invention of the Acoustic Suspension woofer changed the game allowing the use of a small enclosure to produce decent bass.

https://smartcarting.com/the-history-and-evolution-of-bookshelf-speakers/

I would think you may have inadvertently clicked on a bookshelf speaker ad and the search engine then flagged that you looked at bookshelf speaker and then started barraging you with bookshelf speaker adds. If you triggered and interest... then it can pop up all over. Once you notice it, then you start noticing them... like you buy a car you never thought you would buy... and suddenly you see them all over the place.

I haven't noticed any increase in bookshelf speakers being highlighted or more common. They have always been common because because they can be cheap... and of course over the last 20 or 30 years because of PCs. 

Could be a number of reasons.  Internet ads are controlled based on algorithms.  I also think that younger buyers don't have large houses (or houses for that matter) so smaller speakers work better in apts, condos, or small houses.  And, smaller speakers with a woofer are really sounding good.  I listened to a pair of B&W bookshelves with a Rel sub and was impressed at the sound in relation to the system cost and space required.