$1,000 - $1,500 Bookshelf Speakers Recommendations for 2.1 System

[Dennis Murphy]

That's good to know. What's the recommended distance from the wall that the Philharmonitors should be placed?

They're front ported, so they can go fairly close to the rear wall. There aren't any special restrictions on the distance from the side walls.

 

[fuzz092888]

I found a pair of the E41-B new in a box for $300. So I've decided that I'm going to audition the E41-Bs, the Peachtree Design 5 and one of the Philharmonitor or the Song Surround I. If the local KEF dealer has a liberal return policy, I'll likely audition those as well.

My concern with the E41s is that they may be too small for my 1500 cubic ft office. I think I'm going to try each of them without a subwoofer first, but in the end I'm pretty sure that I'll get a sealed sub from SVS.

You'll definitely need a sub with the E-41Bs for that large I a space, but they are awesome speakers. With a sub and a cross of about 80-120 Hz they should easily fill that space. I have a pair and love them. They're in a similarly sized space being driven by a 65watt amp and they get plenty loud for me.

 

[VicTorious1]

You'll definitely need a sub with the E-41Bs for that large I a space, but they are awesome speakers. With a sub and a cross of about 80-120 Hz they should easily fill that space. I have a pair and love them. They're in a similarly sized space being driven by a 65watt amp and they get plenty loud for me.

Do you use your E-41Bs as desktop speakers or are they stand mounted? Also, does your receiver have crossover control or do you just control the crossover with your subwoofer?

 

[fuzz092888]

Do you use your E-41Bs as desktop speakers or are they stand mounted? Also, does your receiver have crossover control or do you just control the crossover with your subwoofer?

They're both, but on a desk in my living room so they pull double duty as near field monitors when I'm working on the computer and far field when I'm in the kitchen. They're hooked up to a receiver which takes care of the cross over. An Outlaw 970, got it used for only $220, which I think it was an absolute steal. Plus it gives me a nice way to control volume from afar.

 

[VicTorious1]

I'm debating buying one of the below integrated amps to run whichever speakers I end up keeping, but I'll have to confirm whether they have crossover controls.

Cambridge Audio Azur 351A Integrated Amplifier

Azur 651A stereo amplifer

A-S500 - Amplifiers - Hi-Fi Components - Audio & Visual - Products - Yamaha United States

 

[macddmac]

The e41b's are amazing speakers. I use them in my 1100 cubic ft office on stands as near- field when I'm at my desk and I rotate them when I'm chillin in my comfy chair. I use a 10" sealed Emotiva sub which fills in the bottom end nicely in that room. IMO , you can't do better for the price and would be hard pressed to at 3-4 times that.
Cheers, Mac

 

[VicTorious1]

So I've narrowed my search down to the EMP E41 and the LS50. I've been able to audition the E41 and it sounds great, but I'm thinking of getting the LS50 for $1100. Anybody have a chance to hear both of these? If so, is the $800 price difference (in your opinion of course) worth it for the LS50s?

 

[canelli]

Kef has direct sales that will ship you select speakers to audition in your home. It might worth taking the time to audition both the R100 and R300 before your purchase. I am sure they could suggest which one would be sonically closest to the LS50. Knowing it won't be exactly the same, it would give you a flavor of the uni-driver. They made it a very simple process and I highly recommend calling and test driving their speakers. (I apologize if this was suggested before. I am on a tight schedule and didn't read ever post).

 

[VicTorious1]

I might try that. I wonder if they'd allow me to demo the LS50s even with their high demand.

 

[canelli]

Kef did not offer in home demos of the LS50 when I tried, but that was some time ago. I use the R300s for mostly watching tv and netflix. I ended up with them due to the bass response in a small game room. I didn't feel like they needed a dedicated sub.

 

[macddmac]

I've heard both the e41b (owned) and the LS50 in similar sized rooms. You'll likely benefit more from a sub with the E41b's as the LS 50's seemed better from a bass perspective on their own. Could be a wash considering how much you spend on a sub..
cheers, Mac

 

[VicTorious1]

Other than better bass, would you say the LS50 were noticeably better? I'm cautious buying blind and the E41s sound good.

 

[bitterwaste]

Hey Vic, I've had a chance to listen to them as well and I would give the edge this time to the LS50 speakers, just clean sounding but I'd love to hear the Phils as well. Either way I'm sure you will find some thing amazing and I can't wait to hear what you have picked!

 

[macddmac]

Other than better bass, would you say the LS50 were noticeably better? I'm cautious buying blind and the E41s sound good.

It would be close, but I think the LS 50's would prevail. You're also talking twice the cash even after figuring in a sub for the 41's vs. no sub for the 50's
Another issue is placement, do you have a couple feet on outsides and back to spare? If so go for it, especially at the price you mentioned.
im sticking with my 41's and sub at least until they change the color of that coax or come up with a grill for it
Cheers,Mac

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The TADs look nice, but might be pushing the budget. How did you get them with such a discount?

No package deals for me. I just called them up and offered them $1700 delivered. The sales guy did some number crunching and came up with $1691 delivered. Even better.

These are by far the lowest priced TAD ever. The next one up is $30,000.

For 2.1 movies and a lot of times even music, I often listen to the TAD + Funk. Their absolute clarity and soundstage is awesome IMO. They are extremely unforgiving and relentless on bad recordings, but the great recordings make it all up. I just end up getting rid of all the bad recordings. Their efficiency is about the same as my 802D2, which is 90dB/2.83V/m, although TAD lists the 2201 as 86dB/w/m.

 

[jcunwired]

Hi Vic,

I'm curious what you finally decided on.

Sorry to bring up an older conversation, I've been going through bookshelf threads trying to find ideas for my large living room, and I've decided I'm totally screwed. But that hasn't stopped the fun.

Cheers.

 

[VicTorious1]

I ended up going with the LS50s for my work office, the EMPTeks (which were for my home office are now in my theater as rear surrounds), and the M-Lores for my home office. When in doubt, get them all.

 

[jcunwired]

^^ Thanks for the update! Great choices all around. Shame to see those EMP and that beautiful midrange relegated to surround duty, but hey, it beats not owning them at all!