***** Best book shelf for under a grand

[ematthews]

Best as we have defined it is subjective... I am looking for a very clean, very defined book shelf speaker to use with a sub in a 2.1 set up. Just a touch of back ground. I really like the Polk LSi-15 mids and highs. I am looking to do better with stand mount book shelf speakers. I see so many good reviews on just about everything out there. Can you help narrow it down to one or two Exceptional speakers under the grand price tag. Thanks

 

[psbfan9]

Nate's Audio

The Bagby's are just over budget at $1200.00

Continuum home

Bamberg Audio $895.00

Bamberg Audio :: Speakers for Life

 

[ematthews]

Thanks. Also can someone take a look at this length and tell me about speaker placement. If the formula is RWX.276 then my 11foot wide room should havve a placement of 3.3 feet away.. Am I correct?
Room Setup: Rectangular Room

 

[ImcLoud]

Ascend sierra, Carnegie CSB1's, Maggie MMG {are them considered books?}, philharmonitors {haven't heard them yet, but hear good things}, Wharfdale Dentons, there are tons... I would probably opt for these for $100 over budget on demo, they sound sweet.. EPOS ELAN 15 SPEAKERS (CHERRY) **DEMO** at Music Direct but for under budget my pick would be csb1's from gr for $400 on sale.... I love mine they sound really good...

 

[zieglj01]

So, have you now decided to stop looking at towers - and you are now seeking bookshelf speakers?

The best will be, what is best for you - for the towers you were looking at Monitor Audio Silver, and
KEF speakers.

Do you have a way to audition speakers? However, due to the subjective nature of the Audio World
and different human personalities, maybe there is a small chance of a narrow list.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The RBH SX-661 has an MRSP of $1800, but a nice dealer might be able to sell for $1K.

The Ascend CMT-340SE for about $600 per pair is also a good choice.

 

[ematthews]

The RBH SX-661 has an MRSP of $1800, but a nice dealer might be able to sell for $1K.

The CMT-340SE for about $600 per pair is also a good choice.

What are the Make name of these? I never know the model numbers. Thanks

 

[ematthews]

So, have you now decided to stop looking at towers - and you are now seeking bookshelf speakers?

The best will be, what is best for you - for the towers you were looking at Monitor Audio Silver, and
KEF speakers.

Do you have a way to audition speakers? However, due to the subjective nature of the Audio World
and different human personalities, maybe there is a small chance of a narrow list.

Correct. Since my room is small I want to get a very detailed book shelf and use a small sub to handle the low end.. The Polk LSi-15 will move to another room.. Or sold if I can.
In any case the Polk's have a very nice smooth top end. Not bad. Looking for better..

Guess I should add that I like a very warm sounding detailed speaker.. I can not take the harsh highs of my RF82's for music...They are in the HT set up.

 

[Pyrrho]

... Maggie MMG {are them considered books?},

No, obviously they are not bookshelf speakers. But they are an excellent idea at their price point. If I were looking at speakers at about that price, and if they would fit where I wanted them, I would very likely get them.

My brother has a pair, and he is very happy with them. I like them very much, too, and have not heard any other speaker at its price point that I prefer.

philharmonitors {haven't heard them yet, but hear good things}, ...

I am curious about those, and would like to go audition them (if they allow that), but I am not in the market for speakers at this time and do not want to waste their time. (A trip to the DC area is a good vacation spot anyway, with all the museums and monuments and such.) They look like they might be really nice. I wish they came in a natural finish, though as I am not in the market for speakers, it does not really matter for me.

For my home theater, I use bookshelf speakers with ribbon tweeters and conventional woofers, and for my main two channel system, I use full range "ribbon" speakers, so both of these resemble my actual choices.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

What are the Make name of these? I never know the model numbers. Thanks

RBH Sound & Ascend Acoustics

 

[Steve81]

I am curious about those, and would like to go audition them (if they allow that), but I am not in the market for speakers at this time and do not want to waste their time. (A trip to the DC area is a good vacation spot anyway, with all the museums and monuments and such.)

As far as I'm aware Dennis does auditions for interested parties, and given that he's more of an audio enthusiast than a salesman, I doubt he'd view it as a waste of time. Of course you could also check with him and see if he'll be on the audio show circuit this year. Some of us got to see him at Capital Audiofest this past year.

 

[zieglj01]

This is my wild-card and I really do like them - Boston E60 >> use to sale
for $600 each. >> They do measure with-in a +/- 1.25 db listening window
from 200 hz to 10 khz, and throw a big spacious soundstage.
Still 4 available
Amazon.com: Boston Acoustics E60 High Performance Bookshelf Speaker (Ebony Walnut): Electronics

http://i.seimg.net/images/309923/big/combo-pair-e60-black_efl.jpg

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_14_3/images/boston-acoustics-e-series-speakers-e-60-rear.jpg

 

[Swerd]

As far as I'm aware Dennis does auditions for interested parties, and given that he's more of an audio enthusiast than a salesman, I doubt he'd view it as a waste of time. Of course you could also check with him and see if he'll be on the audio show circuit this year. Some of us got to see him at Capital Audiofest this past year.

+1^

Dennis always welcomes visitors for auditions as well as visitors who are "just curious". A visit to Dennis's house is a must for any speaker junkie .

There probably have been more than a few who arrived as "just curious" but left as an owner-to-be. I speak from personal experience .

To give my answer to the OP's question, consider these 3 speakers:

Philharmonitor
Salk SongSurround I
Ascend Sierra-1

 

[ematthews]

Lot's of variety here. Keep the suggestions going...Thanks
The Mags have always been in the back of my mind. I am just not sure my small space would be right for them. Would be a job in itself trying to place them right.

 

[ematthews]

As far as the Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1, what is the NRT upgrade?

 

[ematthews]

Are the Axiom brand bookshelves any good? They are very low price and I haven't seen a lot about them. Just curious.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Are the Axiom brand bookshelves any good? They are very low price and I haven't seen a lot about them. Just curious.

they are "just as good"

I am surprised they still haven't gone belly up

NrT Upgrade will give you a better tweeter - see reviews here:
Sierra-1 NrT Upgrade Review
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/loudspeakers/70207-ascend-sierra-1-nrt-upgrade.html

 

[ematthews]

Sweet. Thanks. Those look really tempting with the upgrade.

 

[jinjuku]

Jeff Bagby Kairos:

Kairos (Pair)

Just need to get cabinets built. You could maybe get them done for $300-400 by a cabinet maker. Stellar from all reports I have read.

 

[exlabdriver]

I have 3 sets of Axiom bookshelfs (all v3s) - M2s, M3s & M22s that all sound wonderful to me as well as many other satisfied customers. In my audio only Tube Amp SACD System I use the M2s each with its own EP-400 sub that produces superlative sound. My other audio only SS Receiver system with the M3s are great as stand alone speakers as they don't really need subs as they reach surprisingly low for most music. The M22s are used in my HT each with its own 10" Velodyne sub that can rattle the house with robust, articulate sound for movies.

They are certainly competitive in their class & price point with good warranty & excellent customer service. Check out their 'B Stock' section for some savings - that's the way that I bought all of mine.

BTW, as a longstanding, honest & ethical company, they seem to be doing just fine as they have for over 30 years...

TAM