Creating a sub-$700 bookshelf audition list

[bjohnson00]

Hi all,

I am just beginning my search for a pair of bookshelves speakers that are going to become the foundation of a music and HT system in a roughly 200 sq ft room. I'd like to spend less than $700 on a pair of speakers. After spending some time reading through this forum and others, I've created a list of speakers to audition (with current prices available to me in parens):

Paradigm Titan Monitors ($350/pr on 6ave.com)
Ascend CBM-170 SE ($350/pr)
Energy RC-10 ($400/pr on audioadvisor.com)
PSB Image B25 ($480/pr)
B&W 685 ($650/pr)
NHT Classic 3 ($650/pr)
Revel M12 ($700/pr)

My local dealer carries Paradigm and Revel (supposedly Dynaudio, too... but the salesman did not recommend any of their products to me as being in my price range). Last time I was there I listened to the Paradigm Mini Monitors and the Studio 20s. I really enjoyed the Studio 20s, so I guess I am shopping for something that can produce a similar sound at a lower price point. I plan to return to the local dealer next month when he has some Revel M12s in to audition.

Do any of the speakers on my list stand out as being uniquely better or worse? Are there other speakers that I should be considering as well? I am a little concerned about the PSB Image B25s since they have a nominal 4 Ohm impedance, and would require a more expensive amplifier to drive. I also expect that the Paradigm Titans will be a little disappointing while I still have the sound of the Studio 20s in my head. The Revel M12s have gotten a good review, but that same review mentions that the $300 less Energy RC-10s sound just as good.

Any advice other than to listen to as many speakers as I can and go with what I like? I am not really sure where I could audition some of these products. I am about to go visit my parents over the holidays, and they have an audio dealer nearby where I can hear the Energies, but I will probably have to go on a field trip to hear the PSBs, B&Ws, or NHTs.

 

[Matt34]

I'd include these in your list if you can find them locally.

They even come in a Ferrari Red finish.

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/usher-audio-s-520-bookshelf-speaker-review

 

[allargon]

I'd include these in your list if you can find them locally.


http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/usher-audio-s-520-bookshelf-speaker-review

Very nice... I rarely read a review that features Tom gushing! Too bad I already went with the Infinity Primus line.

 

[Matt34]

Very nice... I rarely read a review that features Tom gushing! Too bad I already went with the Infinity Primus line.

I'm looking for a used set myself, I've seen them go for $200 in the past.

 

[bjohnson00]

Sadly, I would have to travel out of state to hear some Ushers.

 

[mike c]

Monitor Audio RS1
http://www.monitoraudiousa.com/product.php?range=2&product=3

KEF Q series
http://www2.kef.com/us/Loudspeakers/Q-Series

 

[abboudc]

I'd add:
Mordaunt-Short MS912

They're $270/pr locally.

This is also a killer deal in AH store($489 shipped for 2 pairs of bookshelves and a sub that retail for >$1300)
http://store.audioholics.com/product/1866/17/emp-htp-351-5-1-speaker-system

The sub is anemic, but for the price...

 

[fredk]

I really enjoyed the Studio 20s, so I guess I am shopping for something that can produce a similar sound at a lower price point.

Axiom Audio M22 $470/pair

 

[Davemcc]

I'll add a couple of my favorites to the list. The Era Design 4 and the Epos M5. They are a little out of the mainstream but well worth a listen to if you can find a dealer.

 

[TjMV3]

Jamo C603, that's all you need.

 

[Neijii]

I picked up the Totem Mites and love them to death...thought they were better than the B&W

 

[bjohnson00]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I've already lined up auditions for a few of these, and I'll let you all know what I go for in the end.

 

[annunaki]

I would throw some Pinnacle Black Diamonds in that list also.

 

[dronezero]

era D4 $700 (seconded)
Silverline Minuet $600
Dana 630 $350

 

[jnmfox]

RBH MC-6C
or
RBH 61-SE if you don't mind buying used

 

[bjohnson00]

Managed to listen to a few speakers earlier this week. For those that are curious, here were my thoughts:

KEF iQ30 – Neutral, comfortable sound. Created a very nice stereo sound field, extending a bit beyond the speakers themselves. Very detailed mids. Little to no punch in the bass, so would need to be complemented with a subwoofer. Unfortunately, I had the least optimal conditions for listening to these since the salesperson played these for me in their huge showroom instead of a smaller sized listening room.

Energy RC-10 – How do they get that much bass out of such a small speaker? The trade-off unfortunately is a bit of missing detail in the midrange. I also found these speakers to be a bit fatiguing, perhaps because the treble was very forward. This is curious, since the reviews of this speaker all claim that this speaker is silky smooth in the high range. So, either these speakers were not adequately broken in, or I simply prefer a slight roll-off in the treble to provide a more laid-back sound.

B&W 685 – Full, rich sound. Huge soundstage. The sound is as relaxed as the KEF’s but I would be happy to listen to these without a sub. Doesn’t reveal quite the same amount of detail in the treble as the Studio 20s, but it also costs $400 less.

In short, I am strongly considering picking up a pair of B&W 685s.

 

[jostenmeat]

Thanks for the mini. While I do think one can pick up a lot of things from listening (and so congrats there), the room's effects on things like harsh treble, anemic bass, etc, cannot be overstated. So, just bear that in mind I suppose.

Its over budget (sorry), but I would consider Ascend Sierra1s. They are $848 I believe, but perhaps I'd sit on my hands until some super sale, if the extra money is not allowed. Another model/brand that is not talked about as much, but could be interesting to hear are the HiVi D2.1SE reference class monitor for $599. That's at least a couple hundred less than they were a year ago or so. Finish is supposed to be something else.

The Ushers that Matt offered are one of the most common recs at their price point, if not most common. Though, you can probably afford double that.

 

[phildoc]

I may be off base recommending these. For one they're used, two you may have trouble finding any for sale, and three I'm a little prejudice, but I would say the Intermezzo 2.6. Fantastic speakers, amaizing bass, Stereophile Class A, TAS recommended, and a great bargan on the used market. They should be concidering the MSRP was $2200/pr.

I just picked up two pair. One, I probably paid too much for at $600, but they were dealer demos and I got the full 5 year warranty. The other pair I basically stole at $250 for the pair and they were in better shape then the demos. I litterally went through my entire cd collection. It was like I had new music. They blew away the IL-60 towers I had been using.

If you do decide to think about these. Make sure its not the 2.6p. The 2.6p is the unpowered version. The 2.6 has a 250 watt powered woofer.

 

[NicolasKL]

I may be off base recommending these. For one they're used, two you may have trouble finding any for sale, and three I'm a little prejudice, but I would say the Intermezzo 2.6. Fantastic speakers, amaizing bass, Stereophile Class A, TAS recommended, and a great bargan on the used market. They should be concidering the MSRP was $2200/pr.

I just picked up two pair. One, I probably paid too much for at $600, but they were dealer demos and I got the full 5 year warranty. The other pair I basically stole at $250 for the pair and they were in better shape then the demos. I litterally went through my entire cd collection. It was like I had new music. They blew away the IL-60 towers I had been using.

If you do decide to think about these. Make sure its not the 2.6p. The 2.6p is the unpowered version. The 2.6 has a 250 watt powered woofer.

The 2.6 is an awesome speaker (and is frequently what I recommend looking for 500ish bookshelves that don't mind used) but the 2.6p is no slouch either and is cheaper. The bottom end wont be quite as flat due to being unpowered but other than that they're identical and with a subwoofer you would be EXTREMELY hard pressed to tell the difference between the two.

Plus you don't have to deal with potentially wonky older Infinity electronics, which I've had the displeasure of doing.

 

[Neijii]

Managed to listen to a few speakers earlier this week. For those that are curious, here were my thoughts:

KEF iQ30 – Neutral, comfortable sound. Created a very nice stereo sound field, extending a bit beyond the speakers themselves. Very detailed mids. Little to no punch in the bass, so would need to be complemented with a subwoofer. Unfortunately, I had the least optimal conditions for listening to these since the salesperson played these for me in their huge showroom instead of a smaller sized listening room.

Energy RC-10 – How do they get that much bass out of such a small speaker? The trade-off unfortunately is a bit of missing detail in the midrange. I also found these speakers to be a bit fatiguing, perhaps because the treble was very forward. This is curious, since the reviews of this speaker all claim that this speaker is silky smooth in the high range. So, either these speakers were not adequately broken in, or I simply prefer a slight roll-off in the treble to provide a more laid-back sound.

B&W 685 – Full, rich sound. Huge soundstage. The sound is as relaxed as the KEF’s but I would be happy to listen to these without a sub. Doesn’t reveal quite the same amount of detail in the treble as the Studio 20s, but it also costs $400 less.

In short, I am strongly considering picking up a pair of B&W 685s.

I was 5 seconds away from buying the 685s until the manager of the store in NYC had me listen to the Totem Mite. If you can..audition it.