Bookshelfs - process of elimination...and why?

[twochordcool]

JMlab Chorus 706 S

B&W DM601 S3

B&W DM602 S3

PSB Image B25

Wharfedale Diamond 9.1

Monitor Audio Bronze B2

Castle Richmond 3i

Quad 11L

Paradigm Mini Monitor

Paradigm Monitor 3

I will more than likely end up with 3 pairs of one of these speakers.

Which ones do you think are definitely better than which other ones?

Why?

Paradigms are pretty darn good.

I'm VERY interested in the Image B25, but it bothers me that I can only find one professional review on that speaker. (but it is the one review that makes me very curious!)

Have read mixed reviews on the B&W's, but they have improved with the S3 version?

I have read mixed reviews on the JMlab Chorus 706 S...but I am also very curious!

The British press have very good things to say about the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1's - they look very cool, do they live up to the hype?

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[Privateer]

You forgot totem.

[racquetman]

You can only gain so much from listening to everyone else. Granted you are here to get opinions, but that is all they are, opinions. Speakers are definitely a personal preference. If you have had a chance to listen to all these speakers then you are in the best position to judge which ones are best for you. I certainly wouldn't suggest buying a speaker based on a person's opinion or review without auditioning it first. I'm sure you know this though. Also realize how good a speaker sounds has a lot to do with the room it is in and how it is set up.

All this being said, I can tell you that I have a pair of B&W DM 602 S3 speakers and am very happy with them. If you like a neutral sounding speaker then I can recommend these. Remember, take my opinion with a grain of salt.

Good luck speaker hunting!!

[rikmeister]

but make sure you listen to them. remember deaf people rarely pick the right speakers.

[twochordcool]

B&W DM602 S3's huh?

I have read excellent things, but I have also read they are "neutral" and "laid back".

I guess that can be a good thing?

[twochordcool]

Totem's are 4 ohms - I'd like to keep my options for a receiver open!

[Privateer]

Totem's are 4 ohms - I'd like to keep my options for a receiver open!

Any decent receiver can produce a 4 ohm signal, have you demoed any of these speakers?

[silversurfer]

In that list, I have never heard the Castle or the JM Lab.

But for ME, with that list, I would eliminate the B&W 600 series(700 series and up I think are nice speakers) and the Paradigms Mini and Monitor 3.

I would also suggest adding Ascend Acoustics and Axioms to the list.

These are MY suggestions, with my ears, of what I have heard.

You will not get a consensus of what to buy, you will have to pull a name out of hat.

[korgoth]

Any decent receiver can produce a 4 ohm signal, have you demoed any of these speakers?

maybe for a bookshelf, but its not good for any floorstanding.
not even a denon 3805 can handle 4 ohms safely.

ive only heard a few bookshelves, but im happy with my axiom m22ti's.

[Privateer]

not even a denon 3805 can handle 4 ohms safely.

Then people need to buy a REAL amp.

[miklorsmith]

If there are 20 speaker selections that will work with a wide variety of amplifiers, giving many choices, why would someone pay a bunch of extra money to allow the 21st speaker? As with everything, your solution seems to be "throw more money at it". You dont' need a sledgehammer to pound a thumbtack.

That said, Totems are well regarded.

[Aliixer]

This is a speaker I just had the opportunity to listen to( ZU -Tone). As far as the wow factor goes I was very impressed with this speaker. The bass was very full and tight. The highs danced off the speaker. Those of you that need scientific evidence of a good speaker, test this one. I tried to order a pair but the first production was all spoken for. they are not exactly cheap at 1700 dollars a pair. Anyone seriously considering a pair of bookshelves that perform way beyond what a bookshelve is capable of look no further. The only downside is they are mail order direct only. Or you have to catch them on tour showcasing the speakers.

[miklorsmith]

You heard them already?! Right on. I've got the bigger Druids and they utterly rule. Plus, completely made in the US and the coolest guys in the industry. They manufacture all their own drivers even.

These will replace my VMPS 626's in the living room before too long.

[Aliixer]

I was going to order the druids. But when I heard these, I thought I should get them. Zu says they accept bananas on the druids, is this true or should I get the spades 1/4. I wish I could hear the druids before I order them. I am so close. I have never seen the binding post zu uses up close. Can you by chance take a few detailed photos of your druid. Thank you in advance. alex

[miklorsmith]

They're the coolest binders I've seen. They have a single, oversized knob which tightens a plastic plate with copper contacts. Spades are best, but bananas will work. They're probably the same one they use on the Tone.

Sean Casey from Zu wrote me an e-mail in response to my inquiry about these earlier today:

"The Tones, are a really cool loudspeaker. They are a simple sealed box but we are doing some cool stuff with it. The main driver is a very similar to that in the Druid, same cone, suspension, basket, magnet; we changed the motor a bit and left the phase plug out, to allow it to work a bit better with the enclosure. Super tweeter is mounted on the outside of the fixed grill. Fixing the grill allowed us to also reduce baffle resonance nodes quite a bit and also intigrate upper end presence region diffraction and resulting comb distortions. The sound is very close to the Druid, just doesn't play as low. Still gets down their pretty deep though, deep enough to be satisfying. Very response, just like the Druid."

These guys are freakin' speaker geniouses. But, 101 db will expose system noise and reduce the usable volume range of your pre/amp. 5 watts is plenty of power, you could use more but quality is much more important than quantity with these.

[Privateer]

You should stay away from full range drivers, with crossover technology now days you can achieve the same result. As for the Zu speakers I would not recommend them, but if you have demoed them side by side with other brands and liked the Zu speakers then the more power to you.

[miklorsmith]

It is not the same result. They do not sound like other speakers. I could see a preference for one or the other, but they are not the same. At all.

[Aliixer]

how about a picture of the druids? binding post is what I am most interested in.

[jaxvon]

The Druid:

http://www.zucable.com/media/loudspeakers/780%20images/DruidPoster1.jpg

[Aliixer]

quick to respond. jaxvon...However I have seen the posted ones on the site.
I was curious about the peculiar binding post they use.

[miklorsmith]

http://www.zucable.com/druid/photogallery.html

[jaxvon]

Yeah, that's where I got it from. But I'll post the binding post pic anyway, because I can.

http://www.zucable.com/media/loudspeakers/780%20images/DruidPosts.jpg

[Aliixer]

I am still unable to see how banana's work with that posting. I will try to send zu an email asking for clarification. Unless anyone out there has a picture of the binding post that is fully open.

[miklorsmith]

The bananas get clamped by the giant clamp. I've done it and it works fine, but spades are mo' bettah.