Yet another bookshelf recommendations thread

[dqniel]

I've done a lot of reading up on this forum and the AVS forum but I figured it was finally time to make a thread myself since the recommendations made in other threads don't quite apply to my situation. I'm looking for some decent budget bookshelf speakers. Where the situation changes, however, is that I have an accommodation with Polk Audio that gives me roughly 57% off of their RTi line along with free shipping and no tax. With that in mind, I'm wondering if there are better alternatives to the RTi A3 ($197.78) for around the same price? I've heard good things about the Aperion Intimus 5B, for example, and they're in roughly the same price range.

My preferences:

-I prefer "warm" sound over accuracy if one must be had over the other.
-I absolutely despise sibilance and overly bright sound.
-Bass is not too much of a consideration with these because I already have a (free) Velodyne sub.
-Must be $300 or less for the pair.

Setup info:

-Room is about 14' x 16'
-Will be put on my wooden computer desk with some sort of rubber feet
-Listen to mostly alternative rock and punk with a dash of electronica.
-Source is lossless audio -> Chaintech AV-710 optical -> Denon 3805

[gus6464]

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1231471753&/Quad-Lite-Satellite-Monitor

[dronezero]

You should be able to get a pair of refurbished LSi7s for under $300 off of the Polk ebay store. I just got a pair for $230 after shipping and tax.

[tom67]

For $197 delivered, I would get the A3s....good basic speaker....also one of the few with wood veneer in that price range...and would make good rears or speakers for 2nd den system if you upgrade someday...I have some old Polk RTI35s and my impression is that Polk's best values are in their lower cost units with the caveat to avoid the Box store basic models...

[Cpt.America]

Hard to beat SVS with affordable, quality book shelves:

http://www.svsound.com/products-spks-sbs01.cfm

[dqniel]

I won't order from SVS or AV123 due to some scary user experiences with both companies. Flat-out deceitful advertising/review tactics seem to be used by both companies from what I've seen...

Thanks for the used LSi7 tip. I'll look into that.

[Vaudiofan]

For your case you can have a look at the Polk Audio AM4025A Monitor 40 Bookshelf speaker, they are noramally priced around $200, but if you can find some good price you can get a pair with $300. That speaker is very good.

[Cpt.America]

I won't order from SVS or AV123 due to some scary user experiences with both companies. Flat-out deceitful advertising/review tactics seem to be used by both companies from what I've seen...

Thanks for the used LSi7 tip. I'll look into that.

Why dont you tell us how you REALLY feel? :confused:

[rnatalli]

The X-LS Encore or ELT525M from Av123 and the HTM-200SE or CBM-170SE from Ascend. Both Ascend and Av123 are having some sales right now.

Oops! Just saw your earlier post about AV123. I honestly think you'd love Ascends if you don't mind the ho-hum aesthetics.

[3db]

PSB are having a sale with the B15s going for $199 and the B25s going for $299. Both are very excellent speakers but for the room size you mention, I'd go with the bigger B25s.

http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/Image-Series/Image-B25-Monitor

Depsite being nominally 6 ohms, they are very easy to drive becuase of their relative good sensitivity.

[Midcow2]

I won't order from SVS or AV123 due to some scary user experiences with both companies. Flat-out deceitful advertising/review tactics seem to be used by both companies from what I've seen...

Thanks for the used LSi7 tip. I'll look into that.


I have had great experience with SVS. Just bought a subwoofer from them.

Anyway here is an excellent bookshelf speaker, Cambridge Audio S30 for $219 /pair delivered.
http://spearitsound.amazonwebstore.com/Cambridge-Audio-S30-Speakers-Natural-Oak/M/B00196SJOI.htm?utm_campaign=froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=froogle

[mazersteven]

I won't order from SVS or AV123 due to some scary user experiences with both companies. Flat-out deceitful advertising/review tactics seem to be used by both companies from what I've seen...


SVS-scary user experiences/deceitful???

Show me where you've read this?

[dqniel]

I actually read that about SVS on these forums. I forget which thread it was in, but they mentioned 30+ page threads about AV123 and SVS having some less-than-stellar customer experiences and some of it was related to some fishy forum to forum "reviews" all coming from the same IP address range.

[dqniel]

For your case you can have a look at the Polk Audio AM4025A Monitor 40 Bookshelf speaker, they are noramally priced around $200, but if you can find some good price you can get a pair with $300. That speaker is very good.

Those are online for like $180 per pair and are below the RTi series are they not?

[dqniel]

PSB are having a sale with the B15s going for $199 and the B25s going for $299. Both are very excellent speakers but for the room size you mention, I'd go with the bigger B25s.

Depsite being nominally 6 ohms, they are very easy to drive becuase of their relative good sensitivity.

I don't see the sale. I don't see anything on how to order, actually. I think I'm blind or something.

[bandphan]

Other than the lsi series, imo there are many bookshelves under $500 pr that would fit the sound you want. I understand the price break your getting and for a little more $ imo you can get alot more sound ie usher, svs, av123, b stock,psb, dyna, behringer ect.

[dqniel]

The X-LS Encore or ELT525M from Av123 and the HTM-200SE or CBM-170SE from Ascend. Both Ascend and Av123 are having some sales right now.

Oops! Just saw your earlier post about AV123. I honestly think you'd love Ascends if you don't mind the ho-hum aesthetics.

I don't really care about the aesthetics too much as long as they're available in black, rosewood, or cherry. I read up a little on the 170SE that you mentioned and I've seen a few people describe them as bright in comparison to other similarly priced speakers.

Other than the lsi series, imo there are many bookshelves under $500 pr that would fit the sound you want. I understand the price break your getting and for a little more $ imo you can get alot more sound ie usher, svs, av123, b stock,psb, dyna, behringer ect.

Well, there's a big difference between $197 shipped and $500 before shipping. No offense, but I'm very much so trying to keep this at $300 or under before shipping.


After reading through these posts and looking around a bit more online, I'm still debating between:

Polk RTi A3 ~$197
Aperion Intimus 4B ~$260
Ascend CBM-170SE ~$348?
PSB B25 (If I can find them for $300 like an above poster said)

Keep in mind I will be using these primarily for listening to music, not analyzing it. They will be used for enjoyment, not to master recordings. I don't like bright or harsh highs even if the speakers are more accurate than a less accurate, but smoother speaker.

Thanks for all the input so far guys!

[bandphan]

The behringer 2030p paird with a sub represent a great Value at 140 a pair.

[dqniel]

I just found out I will not have access to the Velodyne sub I originally thought I'd be able to use. So now bass response does matter. It's still not a big deal, but I'm guessing the Behringer 2030p is out of the picture now.

[mazersteven]

I actually read that about SVS on these forums. I forget which thread it was in, but they mentioned 30+ page threads about AV123 and SVS having some less-than-stellar customer experiences and some of it was related to some fishy forum to forum "reviews" all coming from the same IP address range.

Something fishy (furrycute) going on here. :eek:

I'd be checking this IP address.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/member.php?u=6466

[dqniel]

That's actually who I heard it from. I guess he was just spreading rumors then?

[mazersteven]

That's actually who I heard it from. I guess he was just spreading rumors then?

Seems like a coincidence you on your second post sounding just like him. Or is it not a coincidence?

And you claim to have done a lot of reading here, and over at AVS. But with the thousands of excellent posts about SVS you seem to have only put stock in furrycute's posts. :rolleyes:

Don't waste our time.

[dqniel]

Seems like a coincidence you on your second post sounding just like him. Or is it not a coincidence?

And you claim to have done a lot of reading here, and over at AVS. But with the thousands of excellent posts about SVS you seem to have only put stock in furrycute's posts. :rolleyes:

Don't waste our time.

Wow, I feel like I'm the target in some sort of witch hunt. You know it's possible for people to make mistakes? I've seen the threads on the AV123 forums where people have had unanswered complaints and then I came here and saw furry mention the same observation but also added that SVS had similar threads. I guess I put too much stock in what he said about SVS (although I still have the same apprehension in regards to AV123), but when it comes to my money I take complaints against e-tailers to heart. When there's so many good options to pick from, why pick one with which I don't feel comfortable?

/rant

You can take your repeated accusations of me being a ban evader and shove them up your ***. If all you're going to contribute to my thread are accusations of me being somebody, or doing something, that I'm not doing then please stay out of it. If you think I'm ban evading then contact an admin about it and let them handle it. Don't be a child and falsely accuse me of something. Nobody made you come into my thread and provide your "valuable" insight, so don't whine to me about wasting your time. If anything, you're the one wasting my time by ruining a thread where others have offered helpful contributions.

/endrant

Thanks again to everybody else that gave me legitimate advice rather than trolling my thread and throwing it off topic. I've received a lot of valuable suggestions!

Here's one more I have a question about- how does the KEF iQ3 compare to the others mentioned?

Polk RTi A3 ~$197.97 shipped
Aperion Intimus 4B $260 shipped
SVS SB-01 $245.52 shipped
KEF iQ3 $250 shipped
Ascend CBM-170SE ~$348?
PSB B25 ~$300?

Keep in mind I will now be using these alone- no sub anymore. Powered by a Denon AVR-3805

[mazersteven]

/rant

You can take your repeated accusations of me being a ban evader and shove them up your ***. If all you're going to contribute to my thread are accusations of me being somebody, or doing something, that I'm not doing then please stay out of it. If you think I'm ban evading then contact an admin about it and let them handle it. Don't be a child and falsely accuse me of something. Nobody made you come into my thread and provide your "valuable" insight, so don't whine to me about wasting your time. If anything, you're the one wasting my time by ruining a thread where others have offered helpful contributions.

/endrant



See where this gets you, and your thread.

[Seth=L]

Trolls are getting more clever.

http://images.starcraftmazter.net/4chan/for_forums/successful_troll.jpg

Having said that, I do have some thoughts. He should act more ignorant in his posts to pass the innocence test. I give him a D+ because he does try so very hard.:D

[dqniel]

See where this gets you, and your thread.

If it gets you to stop posting in it so I can continue getting actual recommendations from the other posters then I'll be happy.

Please, feel free to not respond and leave my thread unless you have something useful to contribute. Thanks!

[jostenmeat]

PSB are having a sale with the B15s going for $199 and the B25s going for $299. Both are very excellent speakers but for the room size you mention, I'd go with the bigger B25s.

Where's the sale?!

You know it's possible for people to make mistakes?

Yeah guys, give him a break. He didn't "know" any better. Of course, his comment was not going to be very believed, especially at a place like this. The ID companies' reps precede themselves. No need for red chiclet, IMO. Anyways, let's just carry on.

Here's one more I have a question about- how does the KEF iQ3 compare to the others mentioned?

Polk RTi A3 ~$197.97 shipped
Aperion Intimus 4B $260 shipped
SVS SB-01 $245.52 shipped
KEF iQ3 $250 shipped
Ascend CBM-170SE ~$348?
PSB B25 ~$300?

Keep in mind I will now be using these alone- no sub anymore. Powered by a Denon AVR-3805

I've only heard the last two. I own the B25s, and my very close friend bought the Ascends on my rec.

The Ascends have better off-axis, and the B25s can crank to high hell. The B25s win the looks department, but that really isn't saying much at all. They both sound great, and they both are pretty limited in sibilance, really, considering the price point.

I abhor sibilance, as do you. I can't think of anything else I dislike less. It is in fact the very first and most important thing that got me to upgrade from an HTIB.

Your 3805 should be plenty for either choice. Im sorry I cant offer anything on the others.

[dqniel]

Where's the sale?!

Yeah, seriously. I hope he visits this thread again so I can see what he's talking about :(


The Ascends have better off-axis, and the B25s can crank to high hell. The B25s win the looks department, but that really isn't saying much at all. They both sound great, and they both are pretty limited in sibilance, really, considering the price point.

So, I guess you're saying the Ascends and B25s are quite similar and would both fit my tastes? If that's the case, I might remove the Ascends from the list if it's true that the B25s can be had for ~$300 if somebody can shed some light on the sale to which he's referring :)

Thanks for the info. Firsthand reports are always helpful!

I wish I knew of somebody locally where I could audition something other than the big-name brand speakers. Anything around Cincinnati seems to be Bose, Yamaha, Element, Infinity, etc...

[jostenmeat]

So, I guess you're saying the Ascends and B25s are quite similar and would both fit my tastes? If that's the case, I might remove the Ascends from the list if it's true that the B25s can be had for ~$300 if somebody can shed some light on the sale to which he's referring :)

No, not exactly. I guess I meant that they would have "quite similar" chances of pleasing you.

I haven't heard them side by side, and TBH my friend has them positioned with great compromise.

I think, if given proper positioning, that I would prefer the Ascends for the classical music that I enjoy. But, really, its impossible to say right now. There was a time I was a bit disappointed with the PSBs, a little (but I own msrp 11k 2ch speakers), but lately I've been really blown away, recently watching classical blurays like the Pyongyang concert and the Brandenburg concertos, or the dave mattews concert. I think my friend is going to buy the Hendrix and BB king discs to bring over...

but since you listen to a lot of electronica.... I guess I think of loud... and so it might be a push between these two.... sorry that I can't help more

EDIT: the B25s are BIG!! the Ascends almost look squarish.... IIRC....

[dqniel]

Well damn. It seems like the PSB might suit my tastes a bit better. I don't listen to music loud too often but I do like them to be lively when I do. Now hopefully somebody stumbles upon this thread that has tried the KEFs and other choices I've listed. Thanks again!

[jostenmeat]

Well damn. It seems like the PSB might suit my tastes a bit better. I don't listen to music loud too often but I do like them to be lively when I do. Now hopefully somebody stumbles upon this thread that has tried the KEFs and other choices I've listed. Thanks again!

Sure thing, no problem. Ya know... what is really nice about Internet Direct, is that there is less risk.

I do presently have the impression that the PSB is good about sibilance, at its price point. However, that's no guarantee that you won't hate them, without auditioning.

The Ascends you can just send back. I think you might be out $40, at the maximum. Sales come and go with them, and every once in a while they might even offer free shipping.

They are a value leader for sure. As might be PSB I suppose...

[3db]

I saw a flyer in the paper last week and teh sale is good up to Dec 19.

http://www.audiocentre.ca/

This is where I'm buying my Yamaha RXV1800 from as well.

There web page sucks and does not reflect the PSB Image B15, B25 speakers

[dqniel]

After having read this review:

http://stereophile.com/standloudspeakers/908polk/

I've decided that I can't pass up the deal on the Polks. $150 for the RTi A1 pair shipped means that even if I end up hating them, which I doubt I will, I can resell them locally and purchase something else without losing anything. My second choice is the PSB B25, and I've sent an email inquiry to Saturday Audio to see how much they would charge to have them shipped to me. If the Polks don't do it for me, I'll probably go for the more expensive PSBs.

Thanks for the input everybody! I'll make sure to post my satisfaction, or lack thereof, once the new speakers arrive.