Bookshelf speakers that don't need a sub?

[willcox]

I wonder if anyone has any thoughts on what speakers/receiver I should think about for the following:

50% of use will be listening to music -- mainly classical
25% of use will be run of the mill TV
25% of use will be movies -- but more likely independent or narrative movies than asteroids-thumping-into-the-earth sorts of things.

The room is approx. 15 ft x 16 ft, with a 20 inch deep credenza on which I plan to put the speakers. The speakers could be up to 28 inches high. The room is wired at the back with binding posts on the wall for rear satellites for surround sound. There is no really good place to put a sub, and I was interested at looking at options that wouldn't involve one, given what I will be listening to.

Would really appreciate any suggestions, especially on the speaker front as many bookshelf speakers I have seen seem to be designed for smaller rooms or for use with a sub.

Thank you!

 

[Matt34]

Ascend Acoustic Sierra-1 have really good bass response for a bookshelf speaker.

 

[chris357]

krell resolution 3

 

[Matt34]

krell resolution 3

On that note, what is your budget?

 

[highfigh]

I wonder if anyone has any thoughts on what speakers/receiver I should think about for the following:

50% of use will be listening to music -- mainly classical
25% of use will be run of the mill TV
25% of use will be movies -- but more likely independent or narrative movies than asteroids-thumping-into-the-earth sorts of things.

The room is approx. 15 ft x 16 ft, with a 20 inch deep credenza on which I plan to put the speakers. The speakers could be up to 28 inches high. The room is wired at the back with binding posts on the wall for rear satellites for surround sound. There is no really good place to put a sub, and I was interested at looking at options that wouldn't involve one, given what I will be listening to.

Would really appreciate any suggestions, especially on the speaker front as many bookshelf speakers I have seen seem to be designed for smaller rooms or for use with a sub.

Thank you!

If they'll be on a shelf instead of in one, can you build your own or buy a kit? I used Wayne Harris' Term Pro software to design a pair of 6-1/2" two-ways close to 15 years ago and used Peerless drivers. They do a really nice job on the low end and it's not like listening to dinky little speakers that can't really keep up with the power. I play them at all volumes on a regular basis, including relatively high levels with no problems. My drivers have polypropylene cones with butyl rubber surround, Peerless textile dome and a simple crossover. They're smaller than 28" (more like 9"x12"x20") and are ported. WinIsd is free speaker design software and it works. Bass Box is more full-featured but they both do box and crossover design. If you don't have woodworking interest, skills or equipment, you can buy pre-made boxes from Parts Express and Madisound. They're great looking, too and actually very reasonable. Also, both companies have technical staff who can help with parts selection.

 

[walter duque]

These are #1 on my bookshelf list. When I am ready I'll downsize to these. I have the powertower version of these speakers. (1 )tweeter (1) 8" midbass and (2) 8" Subs. Even with the sub amps off when running only (1) tweeter and (1) 8" midbass these things sound awesome.
http://www.hometheatermag.com/floorloudspeakers/108cine/

 

[croseiv]

Why no sub? Subs need love too... They are lots of fun to play with. With bookshelf speakers (and really even many floorstanders), you can get buy without a sub, but having a sub in the mix can really help. Oh I see you have no space for one, but I would try to find some..You could put it on your lap..j/k

 

[walter duque]

Why no sub? Subs need love too... They are lots

of fun to play with. With bookshelf speakers (and really even many floorstanders), you can get buy without a sub, but having a sub in the mix can really help. Oh I see you have no space for one, but I would try to find some..You could put it on your lap..j/k

I have to agree with you. The sub is like the canvas of painting, just opens everything up. No matter what floorstanders or bookshelfs you get there is nothing like having a good sub or two or four to put it all together. Kind of fills everything in. That's where the body of the sound comes from. I am running 4 subs and there is one more coming tomorrow. And all that in a small apartment.

 

[croseiv]

Actually, my RT7s can stand alone quite well with music, and I ran them for about 5 years strictly in a 2 ch set up. But boy, once I added a sub (PSW-650 about five years ago) I realized what I was missing.

 

[willcox]

On that note, what is your budget?

I'm hoping to get speakers (inc. center and rear satellites) and receiver for $3k. Is that realistic. I already have a cyrus cd8 and would ideally have everything else of a similar quality.

thank you

 

[fredk]

What about something like the Paradigm Studio 40? I believe they reach reasonably low for a bookshelf.

The Axiom M22 sounds very good paired with a sub and is a sufficiently neutral detailed speaker to do classical music justice.

 

[willcox]

If they'll be on a shelf instead of in one, can you build your own or buy a kit? I used Wayne Harris' Term Pro software to design a pair of 6-1/2" two-ways close to 15 years ago and used Peerless drivers. They do a really nice job on the low end and it's not like listening to dinky little speakers that can't really keep up with the power. I play them at all volumes on a regular basis, including relatively high levels with no problems. My drivers have polypropylene cones with butyl rubber surround, Peerless textile dome and a simple crossover. They're smaller than 28" (more like 9"x12"x20") and are ported. WinIsd is free speaker design software and it works. Bass Box is more full-featured but they both do box and crossover design. If you don't have woodworking interest, skills or equipment, you can buy pre-made boxes from Parts Express and Madisound. They're great looking, too and actually very reasonable. Also, both companies have technical staff who can help with parts selection.

Thank you! though building even from a kit is probably more involved than I would be up for.

cheers

 

[walter duque]

Without a Sub it's like having a system with a missing link. The sub is the key to put all together.

 

[croseiv]

What will you be powering the speakers with? Is it 4 ohm stable?

 

[willcox]

I don't honestly know, but I was thinking of an
Arcam AVR350 or an Onkyo TX-SR806

 

[the grunt]

These sounded great especially with classical music when I demoed them. I ended up choosing another brand’s towers instead but only because I wanted 2 channel with a little more bass for certain types of music like goa trance. Otherwise these would have been my pick. Keep in mind that some people consider Focals to be a little detailed or bright.

http://www.dedicatedaudio.com/inc/sdetail/13211

 

[just listening]

Ascend Sierra 1's are a fine speaker.

Another value/quality choice would be the Swan 2.1SE (stunning high gloss veneer finishes) at $599pr. You could create a 5.1 using 5 of these speakers for $1500. That would leave you plenty for a quality HT receiver and sub. The bass output on them is powerful for their size.

Aperion Audio has a couple of different ways to go, say 6b fronts & center, 4b rears, and their Bravus sub. Customer service is 1st rate with free shipping both ways.

ACI Emerald XL's are stunning mini-monitors, and are tonally damn near perfect, but a bit pricier at $800 a pair, as is their subs. But say start with a 3.1 system with sub for around $2K.

 

[NicolasKL]

Two bookshelves that I've used that can do pretty well without a sub are the B&W 602 S3 and the Infinity Intermezzo 2.6. The 602 is ported with a 7" driver and a large cabinet, so it's generally going to have a little more oomph than your standard 6.5. The Infinity has a 6.5" but has an internal 250 watt amp which also gives them more low end ability than your average bookshelf.

Both are no longer in production, so you'd have to go used, but that'd really help out your budget in terms of performance per dollar anyway. The B&Ws are probably at or under 1000 for 5 speakers (602s in the front, LCR60 center, 601s in the back). From what I've seen the Infinity's run 400-600 per pair and about the same for the matching center (which is also powered). For surround duty they make a passive version called the 2.6p if you don't want to hassle with the extra power cords.

Stereophile did a review of the 2.6 that resulted in an in-room bass response of 30-100 Hz, +4/-1 dB. Pretty impressive for a bookshelf, and a small bookshelf at that.

 

[highfigh]

Thank you! though building even from a kit is probably more involved than I would be up for.

cheers

If you buy the cabinets, all it would take is to mount the crossovers inside, wire them to the speakers and screw the speakers in. The grills use magnets to stay in place (if you use the Parts Express boxes).

 

[fredk]

These sounded great especially with classical music when I demoed them. I ended up choosing another brand’s towers instead but only because I wanted 2 channel with a little more bass for certain types of music like goa trance. Otherwise these would have been my pick. Keep in mind that some people consider Focals to be a little detailed or bright.

http://www.dedicatedaudio.com/inc/sdetail/13211

Dean. The focal spec shows a range of 50Hz - 28kHz, but dosn't give a +-. Did they reach noticably lower than something like the Axiom M22?