Best Bookshelfs for Under $300

[Big_I]

I am on a lowly student budget but I still splurge now and then. So I'm looking to pair my old Marantz 2230 with some halfway-decent bookshelf speakers for under $300. I know this is a home theater oriented forum but I really just listen to music.

These will need to go in my office which is a very small room (7'x11'). I don't want to mess with a sub (my receiver is so oldschool I'm not even sure that would work), so hopefully they could have some decent bass output.

Any input on this one?

 

[mazersteven]

Wow is that old. Nice

 

[j_garcia]

I'd take a look at the Onix X-LS Encore. Right at your $300 price point, but they should be plenty. I reviewed the original X-LS here and they have pretty good bass for a bookshelf.

http://www.av123.com/products_category_brand.php?section=speakers&brand=55

That guy looks like my Pioneer

 

[gene]

So I'm looking to pair my old Marantz 2230 with some halfway-decent bookshelf speakers for under $300.

In that price range, the Axiom M3s or the Infinity Beta 20s would likely be your best bets.

 

[mazersteven]

j_garcia made a nice recommendation

Also look at

Ascend Acoustics
CBM-170 SE
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cbm170/cbm170.html

 

[Davemcc]

Then there's the Aperion 632. 30 day in-home trial and free shipping both ways if you don't like it. There's nothing to lose there.
http://www.aperionaudio.com/product/Intimus-632-LR-Bookshelf-Speaker,17,20,31.aspx

 

[j_garcia]

The CBM170SEs are a great choice also, though their bass is not quite as pronounced. They are very accurate and clean.

Accessories For Less has a Mordaunt Short sale going on now. The 902i are $350 with an additional 10% off: http://www.accessories4less.com/cgi-bin/item/MORDAV902ICLV Mordaunt Short is a sister company to Marantz. These are what I used to use (902) with my PM7200 and they are a solid performer.

AV123 has the no cost to you 30 day trial as well.


Epos ELS-3 would be worth a look as well, though they are 4 Ohm speakers. The Marantz should be able to handle them, but it is something to consider:

http://hcmaudio.com/comp.asp?compID=522 $296 Shipped.

 

[John Bailey]

Last I looked Saturday Audio had PSB B25's for $299 and Monitor Audio B2's for $279.

John

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Mirage Omni 150s are still available a Ultimate for $280/pr. They are absolutely stunning. In spite of being small for bookshelves, their bass output easily rivals that of my floorstanding Polk Monitor 50s. The omnipolar design provides a huge soundstage that will make your room seem much larger. To my ears, they could easily be worth $3000. Too bad you missed the half price sale.

 

[3db]

I concur whole heartedly with Joe Bailey's recommendations. They are proably the best ones out of the ones recommended so far

 

[mazersteven]

They are proably the best ones out of the ones recommended so far

In who's opinion?

 

[avaserfi]

Ascend Acoustics
CBM-170 SE
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cbm170/cbm170.html

This is the most linear speaker I have seen posted. With a quality, well integrated, sub you will most likely have a very realistic reproduction of music given the price point. It also has high quality drivers and crossovers .

 

[Big_I]

Re: Best BS<$300

Info overload!!!

So many of these speakers look great but I have to say that the Onix x-ls and the CBM-170 SE really catch my eye.

Thinking out loud here:
---If the Onix x-ls's sacrifice some linearity and gain some bass over the CBM-170, that might be an acceptable tradeoff for me (since I won't buy a sub).
---The x-ls's have paper cones... is that an issue?
---Some of these suggestions are sale priced speakers... that could translate to better quality (or not). Do these more expensive speakers (MS Avant 902i, PSB B25, MA B2) outperform the x-ls or cbm-170?

 

[Seth=L]

The X-LS have paper cones?

 

[mazersteven]

Just because a speaker cost more does not in any way mean it sounds better.

And there is no issue with paper speakers.

 

[Big_I]

Re:BS<$300: paper cones on x-ls encore

The X-LS have paper cones?

From av123.com: "Peerless India 6.5" curvilinear shaped treated paper cone woofer""tweeter is a Peerless India 1" treated fabric dome"

 

[mazersteven]

The X-LS have paper cones?

Peerless India 6.5" curvilinear shaped treated paper cone woofer with polymer chassis

 

[Sheep]

The X-LS have paper cones?

# Drivers: 1" Peerless India fabric dome and custom Peerless India 6.5" curvilinear shaped treated paper cone woofer with polymer chassis

You know with about 4 seconds of effort you could have answered that question.

SheepStar

 

[mazersteven]

You know with about 4 seconds of effort you could have answered that question.

SheepStar

And if he did that you wouldn't have been able to throw out a wise crack, and add to your post count.

 

[Big_I]

Re:BS<$300

Just because a speaker cost more does not in any way mean it sounds better. And there is no issue with paper speakers.

1. I agree
2. I have alot to learn but just thought I'd throw that out there. I've been rockin paper cones my whole life.

I'd love to hear more about the tradeoff between the x-ls encore and the CBM-170 SE from people who have listened to both.