Bookshelfs! - One Last Time!

[twochordcool]

OK, if it were your birthday and you knew that someone was going to buy you a pair of bookshelf speakers, costing between $300 and $450 a pair, but weren't sure what they would be, name the 3 specific speakers that you would wish for!

Or in other words, if you just could not decide on just one, name 3 that you would love, OR could easily live with, if you had to flip a 3 sided coin for..or pull randomly out of a large hat!

Again, eventually would be 3 pairs of these PLUS a subwoofer for a 6.1 setup!

Name 3 can't-go-wrong-with-no-brainers!

 

[Rob Babcock]

Monitor Audio Bronze B2's for me. They sound fantastic, were rated an "Editor's Choice Best Buy" by The Absolute Sound magazine, and retail for $399. Street price is often around $300 or a little more. They're very attractive visually, and go fairly low into the bass for a bookshelf. At the price they sell for they have no weaknesses. I've never heard their equal for the price.

Again, I'm a MA "fanboy," so take it for what it's worth. And read the review in TAS. Six of them and a nice Hsu or Adire sub would make a tremendous rig for MC music and HT, although they do make specific surround and center channels.

 

[dloweman]

Check out the Paradigm Mini-monitors, they are a great little speaker for the price.

 

[agarwalro]

Axiom audio

Take a look at Axiom Audio, the website is www.axiomaudio.com

I have the floorstanding ones, and if these are anything to go by, all their speakers should rock. Great price point too.

Cheers.

 

[korgoth]

axiom m22ti's are 400-450 bucks..

excellent reviews here on AH, and elsewhere. check out the speaker faceoffs

 

[korgoth]

oops triple post

 

[korgoth]

http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/loudspeakers/faceoff3_h.php

 

[nm2285]

My two favs are NHT SB2 and Energy C3. Looks like you're just building the same list again with this thread!

 

[3db]

Thats easy.. PSB Image B25s

Voted by Stereophile Magazine as the best sub $500 bookshelf out there. I've heard them myself and I would have to concur with Stereophile, one awesome neutral speaker!! Take a read below

http://www.stereophile.com/budgetcomponents/1204psb/index.html

 

[warpdrive]

Energy C-3's

 

[Tex-amp]

Ascend Acoustics 170s.

 

[trw005]

Axiom M22's

I did a shootout with Axiom M3's, then PSB25's, then M22's. I chose M22's. They are awesome if you like uncolored sound. 25's were better in the soundstage image then 22's though. Bottom line is 22's have 3 drivers and can physically push more sound then others, IMHO. I know that sounds juvenile but thats the effect I get compared to others. They sound like small towers on the 15" stands I have. (Sorry, Ascend 170's were here but didnt even listen to them. They would be more along M3 competition I figured.)
Then you will feel no choice , like I did, to get a small sub which is essential to fill in the missing sub 120Hz sounds. I bought a Yamaha 100watt SW-215 for $100 new. Perfect fit.
So now I have to get a center and 2 backs and I'll be set. (Then M60s and sub upgrade and new receiver for 7.1 total.) Pretty set on Axiom VP-150 and QS-8's. My new Onkyo TX-SR503 is hooked to my PC by Fiber Optic to new Turtle Beach DDL 24bit/96Hkz sound card and broadband. Not a spec of hiss or hum. And YES I'm an official audio/technoholic. Bottom line PSB25's or M22's you will be happy. Just preference. Have fun, I did/am. TY all.

 

[brian32672]

I have to honestly say, that I have not heard a lot of bookshelves.
And the ones I heard (for the size are large bookshelves)

I have heard the Klipsch RB-35, and to me they sounded great. They are between your price range.

Personally I hope Santa drops off a decent pair of bipole or dipole speakers.

 

[El Toro]

I have come accross a few pairs of speakers that I would want the first three are from experience and the last is just because of fit and finish mostly, as I have not demoed them yet. first I would have to suggest Klipsch RB-25's or a pair of RSX-5. Both are in the $400.00 price range and are outstanding, particularly the RSX-5. I own Klipsch speacker for my system and am also a dealer for them. That said I was really impressed with the RSX-5 because they completely exceeded any preconvieved notion that they were going to be like the Quintet series of their Synergy line. The next is a speaker from Reel Acustics, the RB-6. For $250.00 a pair it is hard not to like them, besides that they sounded great and looked great. Even though the name looks like a Klipsch name the speakers are from a Canadian manufacturer not affiliated. The last pair would be KEF Q1's at $450.0 a pair. That is about all of the suggestions I have to offer other than you might be able to get a pair of PSB's or MK's in that price range.

 

[silversurfer]

The CBM-170 and M22 are very comparable. I think both outclass the M3. At lower listening levels, I think the M22 might have a slight edge over the CBM-170. But as volumes increase from average to high, IMO, the 170 shows more poise and control, especially in the highs.