Bookshelf speakers for under $500 pair?

[wineserver]

I have been looking at polk rti a3. What else should I consider? Mostly 60s, 70s rock, r & b. & disco, along with moves. Have a 4k ultra tv & need a 3.1 system plus reciever with total cost of under $1200.

 

[everettT]

Philharmonic Audio
http://philharmonicaudio.com/aa.html

http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-2mk5.html

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/pionvsx90/pioneer-elite-vsx-90-7.2-ch-x-100-watts-networking-a/v-receiver/1.html

 

[rojo]

By the way, last I heard Dennis Murphy (proprietor of Philharmonic Audio) also offers an Affordable Accuracy center channel for $125. It's not on his website, but you should still email him for ordering info. Edit: Yep, Dennis added it back to his website now.

Also, for speaker stands, speaker wires, subwoofer cable, surge protector, etc, Monoprice is having a Friday / Valentine's Day-ish sale. $5 off $25+, or $20 off $100+. Those links I posted there should successfully pad your order over $100 for the $20 off coupon (assuming you get 3x speaker wires).

 

[j_garcia]

By the way, last I heard Dennis Murphy (proprietor of Philharmonic Audio) also offers an Affordable Accuracy center channel for $120. It's not on his website, but you should still email him for ordering info.

Yes he does. It is from the previous line of AJ speakers with the same tweeter as in the New AA and a tweaked x-over.

 

[everettT]

By the way, last I heard Dennis Murphy (proprietor of Philharmonic Audio) also offers an Affordable Accuracy center channel for $120. It's not on his website, but you should still email him for ordering info.

Also, for speaker stands, speaker wire, subwoofer cable, surge protector, etc, Monoprice is having a Friday / Valentine's Day-ish sale. $5 off $25+, or $20 off $100+. Those links I posted there should successfully pad your order over $100 for the $20 off coupon (assuming you get 3x speaker wires).

IIRC Dennis has the center back on the website

 

[vsound5150]

IIRC Dennis has the center back on the website

Just curious why the Philharmonic Audio bookshelves are usually recommended here, is it from people's experience? They come with paper cone woofers and a lacking 84dB sensitivity. I'm considering getting a pair of bookshelves, do they handle high volume levels well?

 

[everettT]

Just curious why the Philharmonic Audio bookshelves are usually recommended here, is it from people's experience? They come with paper cone woofers and a lacking 84dB sensitivity. I'm considering getting a pair of bookshelves, do they handle high volume levels well?

The woofer plays low, and Dennis' reworked crossover is very good from 200hz an up so the value and a relatively flat FR combined with a sub makes it an easy go to.

 

[j_garcia]

Just curious why the Philharmonic Audio bookshelves are usually recommended here, is it from people's experience? They come with paper cone woofers and a lacking 84dB sensitivity. I'm considering getting a pair of bookshelves, do they handle high volume levels well?

Low sensitivity is a minor issue with these, but they really do sound great. Pretty much they get recommended a lot because at ~$230 they compete with speakers costing considerably more.

My other speakers from Dennis that were originally ~$1k have paper woofers too

 

[Pogre]

Low sensitivity is a minor issue with these, but they really do sound great. Pretty much they get recommended a lot because at ~$230 they compete with speakers costing considerably more.

My other speakers from Dennis that were originally ~$1k have paper woofers too

My Ultras have paper cones as well. They call it composite glass fiber, but it's a composite of paper and glass fiber.

 

[j_garcia]

My Ultras have paper cones as well. They call it composite glass fiber, but it's a composite of paper and glass fiber.

"paper" isn't exactly what most paper drivers are made of like some old drivers from back in the day. They're all either formed and treated with something or they are made of a mixture of paper and some other compound to make them stiffer, like glass fiber. Paper is light and generally produces a smooth sound, so it is still most definitely still appropriate for speaker designs today.

 

[PENG]

For $500 THIS looks interesting too. I have not listen to them but I trust SVS knows what they are doing.

 

[Pogre]

"paper" isn't exactly what most paper drivers are made of like some old drivers from back in the day. They're all either formed and treated with something or they are made of a mixture of paper and some other compound to make them stiffer, like glass fiber. Paper is light and generally produces a smooth sound, so it is still most definitely still appropriate for speaker designs today.

Yeah, I noticed the AA's look to be treated as well. I've stumbled across a few articles describing how paper is actually very good to use for drivers. A lot of companies use a composite of paper and something else.

 

[vsound5150]

Thanks makes sense now I forgot to consider price comparison for the performance you get. I agree the paper cones put out some very nice sound, I have (I think we all have) cracked many paper cone woofers but most in car audio. I guess the environment and temperature differences and these days paper is not truly paper as before.