Help with choosing bookshelf speakers as mains for music

[chuckles2000]

My family has requested I move my turntable to living room for music listening (we have a separate home theater for movies, etc). It's a fairly large room, but we don't have space there for towers. Also, because of the arrangement and limited space for equipment, I was hoping to get by with a minimally sized amp. I have ordered a Audioengine N22 to try it out. It may prove underpowered, but I'm going to give it a try. We really don't listen at terribly loud volumes. BUT, with the smaller amp I am trying to look at more sensitive speakers. Also, placement is going to be an issue. They will be on stands on the bench in front of our fireplace. So the front of the speaker will be about 15" in front of a brick wall (very rough brick). So if the speaker depth is 8", there will only be 7" behind them. There seems to be mixed opinion on if front vs rear ported speakers handle that better, but I think, in general, folks believe front ported will have fewer issues.

Given all those constraints and my limited budget of $500 I have been looking at:

1) Focal Chorus 705v. $350 - Very attractive.
2) Audioengine P4 - Also great looking (bamboo). Most reviews are for desktop application, but some say they are very good for music at reasonable volumes. The best part is they are designed to work well with the amp I bought.
3) Cambridge Audio Aero 2 - $499 - At the very top of my budget, but they appear to be the most capable. Unsure about how well they will handle the setup constraints.

Others? I'm very open to suggestions.

We listen to everything except classical music. Jazz, rock, vocal heavy, instrumentals.

Thanks for the help.

 

[rojo]

Put these MB Quart Alexxa bookshelfs at the top of your list. Closeout pricing = bargain. Justification.

 

[j_garcia]

At about 15" from the wall, it will still influence the sound a bit with a rear ported speaker IMO, but until you actually try it you won't know what you've got. Since you don't have the speakers yet, I wouldn't worry about that as much, but I would still say sealed or front ported should be a consideration given that situation.

The Aperion 5B are also right at your price point Intimus 5B Bookshelf Speaker Pair - Intimus Family - Speakers By Family - Aperion Audio and they also offer the slightly smaller 4B in your $350 bracket, but the 4B's specs say it is light on bass.

The Ascend CBM170SE would also be a solid speaker in the range.

These would be my serious suggestion though: http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/general-av-discussions/87049-received-my-carnegie-csb1s-today-lot-people-wanted-know-what-i-thought.html

 

[zieglj01]

Put these MB Quart Alexxa bookshelfs at the top of your list. Closeout pricing = bargain. Justification.

+1
http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/speakers/messages/28/286262.html

A good deal at that price

 

[Lulimet]

I had the Focal Chorus 705V for about two months. I agree they are very good looking speakers but they were too bright.

I probably would buy those MB Quarts if I had funds for another 2 channel system. I also recommend you look at the Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 and the Boston Acoustics M25. Wharfedale are $350 and the Bostons are on sale for $400 from accessories4less. The MSRP was $800 when they first came out.

 

[ImcLoud]

CSB1's cant go wrong there, I normally have bookshelf on the stands for a month before I put them away, and them have been there for months and months now, I love them, cheap and they just sound how I like, not sure why..

 

[chuckles2000]

Ok. Cross off the Focal's. Too bright is a dealbreaker for me. I have found that I am very sensitive to sibilance and fatiguing highs.

The MB-Quarts would be intriguing, but there really isn't a ton of information out there on them. Even their web page is pretty anemic for info. It looks like they are relatively insensitive, which would put them lower on my list.

The Carnegie CSB-1's....I simply can't figure out how to buy them. Anyone have a link to where they are sold online. I live in the boondocks so the majority of my shopping is done online.

The Aperion's just didn't appear to be what i was looking for....tendency to bright, not overly sensitive. Basically I had to start cutting my options at some point...

Here is my list. If possible, I'm still looking for comments on my listed speakers.

1) Audioengine P4 - On the list because I know my amp will drive them. Also, if I end up replacing them down the road they will be very easy to repurpose.
2) Cambridge Audio Aero 2 - The descriptions for these in most reviews seem to match what I am looking for: Large Soundstage, not bright. Smooth mids.
3) Cambridge CBD1 - No idea at the moment.
4) HSU HB-1 MK2 - These look promising. I have corresponded with them a bit and they say my placement concerns shouldn't be a problem. They did say my amp may not drive them satisfactorily.

 

[Swerd]

Affordable Audiophile Speakers - CARNEGIE ACOUSTICS
A while back the Carnegie CSB1s were available at about half their standard price, a steal. I hope someone will post info on whether they are still available at that price.

I've heard the Cambridge Audio Aero 2, and I think everyone should avoid them. Their unusual tweeter has significant and highly audible problems.

Is this the amp you mentioned? Amazon.com: Audioengine N22 Black Premium Desktop Audio Amplifier: Electronics At 22 watts per channel it is certainly low powered. To play a turntable through that, you will also need a phono preamp. Does your turntable contain one built-in? Most don't have that, but some newer makes do.

 

[agarwalro]

Cambridge CBD1 - No idea at the moment.

Affordable Audiophile Speakers - CARNEGIE ACOUSTICS

 

[rojo]

I recommend not getting too hung up on sensitivity. Regarding the Alexxa bookshelfs, 85dB is still a pretty annoyingly loud volume, and that's with only 1W of power. If you need more power, then consider replacing that amp with one stronger, or with a stereo or A/V receiver. Better to get excellent speakers and then make your electronics work with them than vice versa. Good fidelity comes from good speakers, and that Audioengine N22 should not be the focal point of your decision. In other words, that amp ought to be fine driving whatever you choose at low to moderate volumes in a modest-sized room; but if not, don't remain married to the amp at the expense of the speakers. Instead, get the best speakers you can get, then sort out the electronics later on the unlikely chance such sorting is needed.

 

[j_garcia]

The Carnegie CSB-1's....I simply can't figure out how to buy them. Anyone have a link to where they are sold online. I live in the boondocks so the majority of my shopping is done online.

If you read through the thread it will tell you how to order them B-stock for about half price instead of the full $899 retail price. Basically, call Danny over at GR and ask him about ordering B-stock CSB-1s: Speaker kits, loudspeaker design services, sub-woofers and amplifiers.

 

[zieglj01]

1) Audioengine P4 - On the list because I know my amp will drive them. Also, if I end up replacing them down the road they will be very easy to repurpose.
2) Cambridge Audio Aero 2 - The descriptions for these in most reviews seem to match what I am looking for: Large Soundstage, not bright. Smooth mids.
3) Cambridge CBD1 - No idea at the moment.
4) HSU HB-1 MK2 - These look promising. I have corresponded with them a bit and they say my placement concerns shouldn't be a problem. They did say my amp may not drive them satisfactorily.

You are talking about some people complaining about brightness with some speakers >> that
would be subjective and is no guarantee to your ears. Interesting you are looking at Audioengine,
because some people complain about them being somewhat harsh and bright.

HSU MK2 was measured by HT Labs to be around 86 db sensitive

Cambridge Audio also tends to be optimistic about their sensitivity specs.

All in all - I would get a more powerful amp.

Speaker choice is up to you - no one has complained about the MB Quart being
hard to drive.

Buy some speakers with a 30 day return policy - also sibilance does not start with
the speakers - and there sure are some poor recordings out there.

 

[alphaiii]

If you don't want bright... avoid the Audioengine P4... they don't have much bass to begin with, and appear to be designed with minimal (if any) baffle step as the tweeter runs several dB hotter than the woofer... 3-5db according to Sound & Vision:
Review: Audioengine P4 | Sound & Vision

I agree with Swerd on the Aero 2... had them and didn't like them. They sounded dull and somewhat boxy to me.

 

[ImcLoud]

Another option is the epos epic 2's They are also half price on musicdirect.com They are also a very nice speaker, I would be between them and the csb1's, to order the csbs just give danny a call and tell him you want to order them, they are well worth the cost of admission, only available in piano black but the fit and finish is flawless...

 

[Swerd]

I've heard the Cambridge Audio Aero 2, and I think everyone should avoid them. Their unusual tweeter has significant and highly audible problems.

I agree with Swerd on the Aero 2... had them and didn't like them. They sounded dull and somewhat boxy to me.

In case the OP wants to know why we say that, here is a frequency response curve of the Aero 2. Below about 7 kHz, they seem to be fine. Above that frequency, the large dip followed by a large peak ruin their sound. If you aren't familiar with interpreting frequency response curves, the ideal is as flat as possible. That dip and peak in the Aero 2 create a dull and lifeless sounding speaker.

Compare the frequency response curve of the Aero 2 to a different speaker, the Philharmonitor. See how flat it is. It, unfortunately, is out of your price range.

 

[Drunder40]

My family has requested I move my turntable to living room for music listening (we have a separate home theater for movies, etc). It's a fairly large room, but we don't have space there for towers. Also, because of the arrangement and limited space for equipment, I was hoping to get by with a minimally sized amp. I have ordered a Audioengine N22 to try it out. It may prove underpowered, but I'm going to give it a try. We really don't listen at terribly loud volumes. BUT, with the smaller amp I am trying to look at more sensitive speakers. Also, placement is going to be an issue. They will be on stands on the bench in front of our fireplace. So the front of the speaker will be about 15" in front of a brick wall (very rough brick). So if the speaker depth is 8", there will only be 7" behind them. There seems to be mixed opinion on if front vs rear ported speakers handle that better, but I think, in general, folks believe front ported will have fewer issues.

Given all those constraints and my limited budget of $500 I have been looking at:

1) Focal Chorus 705v. $350 - Very attractive.
2) Audioengine P4 - Also great looking (bamboo). Most reviews are for desktop application, but some say they are very good for music at reasonable volumes. The best part is they are designed to work well with the amp I bought.
3) Cambridge Audio Aero 2 - $499 - At the very top of my budget, but they appear to be the most capable. Unsure about how well they will handle the setup constraints.

Others? I'm very open to suggestions.

We listen to everything except classical music. Jazz, rock, vocal heavy, instrumentals.

Thanks for the help.

I recently bought a pair of Energy CB-20 Bookshelf speakers. Good price and wow they sound amazing. Totally impressed with them.. Jusy my 2 cents..

 

[Lulimet]

I recently bought a pair of Energy CB-20 Bookshelf speakers. Good price and wow they sound amazing. Totally impressed with them.. Jusy my 2 cents..

This shows that the sound of a speaker is a personal preference. I tried the CB-20 for a week back when they were on sale for half off at Best Buy and I didn't like them at all. Boomy bass and ear piercing highs. The highs were unbearable to me. I returned them after a week.

 

[agarwalro]

I recently bought a pair of Energy CB-20 Bookshelf speakers. Good price and wow they sound amazing. Totally impressed with them..

I tried the CB-20 for a week back when they were on sale for half off at Best Buy and I didn't like them at all. Boomy bass and ear piercing highs. The highs were unbearable to me. I returned them after a week.

This shows that the sound of a speaker is a personal preference.

Or, in-room response? Not saying Dunder's was good and your's was not at the time of demo. Just that it is another variable and therefore, there is no substitute for at home demos when buying a speaker.

 

[zieglj01]

Always check in home if they call out to you at the store, to confirm that you like the flavor.
The little brother of the CB20 - the Energy CB10 - some people seem to like them.

 

[Lulimet]

there is no substitute for at home demos when buying a speaker.

I had them for a week in my room.