Looking for bookshelf speakers for music and HT

[MikefromNC]

I need some assistance please.

I am considering purchasing a pair of bookshelf speakers - one center - and 2 subs for a music / HT setup.

I have heard good things about MB Quart, Def Tech, AV123 and SVSound.

Can anyone suggest any others?

I plan to spend $1500 - $2000 on the speakers and then another $1500 on subs.

I plan to use bookshelf speakers to please the wife - by not taking up too much space.

My room size is approximately 20 X 30.

 

[mazersteven]

Never received a response from this thread.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45395

 

[3db]

PSB Synchronicity should be put on your auidtion list

http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/Synchrony/Synchrony-Two-B

 

[tbewick]

I can't recommend them from personal experience, but the Harman range of speakers are probably worth looking at. Speakers made by Mirage, Infinity, JBL, and Revel benefit from the subjective research of Floyd Toole and others*.

At the moment I'm using some second-hand B&W's. If you're willing to buy second-hand speakers/subwoofer, you could have a look at their 800 range of speakers. The 700 range is also meant to be quite good too.

* http://svconline.com/mag/avinstall_listening_evaluation/
Sound and Vision Online, 'Listening Evaluation', Nov 1, 2005, By Rick Kamlet

 

[Paradise]

You can also check out some Monitor Audio RS1's with a RS LCR or an era setup consisting of a pair of D5's and a D5 LCR. Either of those with a pair of REL T-3's or T-2's will put you in your ballpark budget with some very nice equipment.

You can tie in the REL's to your fronts and center channel speaker as well as the LFE signal from your receiver. That would be a very nice setup!

 

[fredk]

Axiom M22 bookshelf and QS series surround speakers.

Plusses: The M22 plays flat across the spectrum and provides a very detailed soundstage. The QS series surrounds are among the best in the industry regardless of price.

Negatives: While good material sounds great, crappy recordings sound just that, crappy. Some find these speakers a little bright for their liking.

 

[WmAx]

I plan to spend $1500 - $2000 on the speakers and then another $1500 on subs.

I'm not going to make the usual type of recommendation: my recommendation is based on my significant level of perceptual research and how it relates to human auditory perception vs. measured/verified 3rd party analysis. As such, I can assure you that my recommendation will be among the best possible for the money involved, unless you have hearing damage or defects, in which case the auditory research is not reliable for these unusual cases.
Please look up my posting history: my recommendations/advice in regards to speaker systems is very carefully made.

For the speakers, buy a discounted set of 5 Paradigm S1 v2 speakers. These use a rigid, relatively non resonant solid cast aluminum cabinet with dense molded in bracing(far better resonance behavior than most speakers - a critical feature for transparency). These speakers also extraordinary flat off axis response, which is also critical for sound quality as demonstrated by the credible perceptual research. None of the other speakers usually recommended here can compare.

For the subs, get two matching subs, with verified high performance by 3rd party analysis, such as any SVS subwoofer model(this company repeatedly proved to be of extraordinary performance for the dollars spent when measured/analyzed by credible 3rd parties). Place the subs, one in left side of room, one in right side, crossed at 80-85 Hz(assuming your crossover is 4th order, which it will be if it is a modern Yamaha unit, as example), with each sub located within a 6' radius from each Left and Right channel speaker, respectively. This will insure ideal seamless integration. At least two subs is very important for seamless integration. Also, the more subs you use, the more even your overall room LF response will be if you place them in ideal positions.

-Chris

 

[MikefromNC]

Thanks - tell me more please

Tell me more about these paradigm s1 v2 speakers.

I assume v2 is version 2 - are they still selling version 1?

Are these comparable to higher priced bookshelf speakers from paradigm?

 

[MikefromNC]

more questions

DId you recommend 5 s1 speakers?

Why not the matching center and surround speakers?

 

[jliedeka]

I'm pretty sure there wasn't a v1 of the S1. I believe that the S1 is a new model in version 2 of the Paradigm Signature line. I'd like to own a set of those myself. They have the flattest measured response of anything I've seen plus impressively low distortion.

At a lower price point, I've been really impressed with the NHT Classic 3 monitors. They are ~$800/pr, not sure of the price on the center. I've been debating whether or not to buy a set of these or build my own.

The Era D5 and D4 series are also very impressive speakers.

You might also check out the offerings from SVS. They have some pretty good speakers for really good prices. They have both a sealed and ported monitor plus a sealed MTM that gets great reviews.

Finally, if you are okay with rear-ported monitors, Ascend Acoustics makes some really decent speakers. Axiom's M3's would be in this category as well.

Jim

 

[Stormwulf]

I need some assistance please.

I am considering purchasing a pair of bookshelf speakers - one center - and 2 subs for a music / HT setup.

I have heard good things about MB Quart, Def Tech, AV123 and SVSound.

Can anyone suggest any others?

I plan to spend $1500 - $2000 on the speakers and then another $1500 on subs.

I plan to use bookshelf speakers to please the wife - by not taking up too much space.

My room size is approximately 20 X 30.

Mike,
Not sure if you have thought about this or not, but going with "Bookshelf" speakers will require stands in order to get the potenial of sound you will be spending the money for. Stands require floorspace, and is very hard to hide wiring, also stands inqur additional cost. The floorspace for stands is roughly equal to that of the floorspace of floorstanders. Just a thought.

As your user name suggests, if you are in N.C., and are near the Raleigh area, there are many places to audition speakers.

 

[MikefromNC]

Thanks Mr Wulf

I hadn't really thought of that.

I was leaning towards bookshelf speakers on a stand as a compromise with the wife - she didn't want speakers taking over the room.

The bookshelf speakers on a stand will take up the same space.

I will need to figure that one out.

I am about 100 miles from Raleigh.

 

[Spkr_Bldr]

The bookshelf speakers on a stand will take up the same space.

Well, not really. Speaking in generalizations, floorstanders need more space away from a wall - althoug with anything you want them as far away from the back wall as possible for the best soundstage depth. But monitors on stands can be blended into a room much easier, and are less visually intrusive.

Personally I've never cared about that and I have a wife that lets me put whatever I want in the living room = lucky But for those who do have to WAF to consider, stand speakers typically do make the wife happier.

 

[3db]

Well, not really. Speaking in generalizations, floorstanders need more space away from a wall - althoug with anything you want them as far away from the back wall as possible for the best soundstage depth. But monitors on stands can be blended into a room much easier, and are less visually intrusive.

Personally I've never cared about that and I have a wife that lets me put whatever I want in the living room = lucky But for those who do have to WAF to consider, stand speakers typically do make the wife happier.

Less visually intrusive yes but take the same floor space. Vacumming the room will show this to be true.

 

[jliedeka]

OTOH, you can get more for your money with monitors. At your budget, even factoring in some decent stands, you can get awesome monitors for less than $2000/pair. For $2000/pair floorstanders, you can expect something decent but not as good.

Since you want your system for HT, you're going to need a sub or two anyway. Why pay for a bigger box with more less expensive drivers?

Jim

 

[Tex-amp]

Ascend Acoustics is another speaker company that has well regarded speakers in that price range.