Need super sounding bookshelf speakers help!!

[gus6464]

Sail...I auditioned both the B&W CM1 and the 685. I much preferred the 685s. I am fortunate to have a high end store locally and could listen to them before hand. The 685s run around $650/pair which seems to be close to your $500/pair target. I definitely think they are worthy of consideration. They are quite lovely as well with the yellow kevlar cone and in the rich cherry finish. FYI, they are quite deep for a bookshelf.

Rob

What was powering the CM1? Tons of power and placement is key to making the CM1's reach full potential.

 

[sailfish]

SR71 Kit – Complete with cabinets = $583.58

The ZA-SR71 kit includes everything you need for one pair of speakers, included assembled crossovers. A soldering iron/pen and screwdriver/drill are the only tools needed for assembly. As always, kit price as shown is the sum of the parts price with a 10% discount applied.

http://www.madisound.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=35_40_402_408&products_id=8306

http://www.zaphaudio.com/SR71.html

You can get these in black ash, cherry or maple. Do not be worry about assembly they are very simple you just screw parts on and hook up the wires. It is just that simple. You can do it on your kitchen table in an hour! Whose heard these puppies?

Nothing in the commercial market in the sub $1,000 range is gonna come close to these in performance!! These are the brand of speakers that are used in the ultra high end boutique style equipment with outrageous price tags!

If you are not familiar with Seas speakers here is a link. They are top of the line! They are made in Norway and imported by only a few companies in the US. http://www.seas.no/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

very good Idea...I usually am up for anything like this. But for the first system in a long time , I think I'll just buy it, and sit back with a cold one and enjoy it! thanks, I will check it out though.

 

[sailfish]

Sail...I auditioned both the B&W CM1 and the 685. I much preferred the 685s. I am fortunate to have a high end store locally and could listen to them before hand. The 685s run around $650/pair which seems to be close to your $500/pair target. I definitely think they are worthy of consideration. They are quite lovely as well with the yellow kevlar cone and in the rich cherry finish. FYI, they are quite deep for a bookshelf.

Rob

Thanks rob.....after all this study trying to catch up on my audio education(me being an analog guy in a digital world) Ive decided to open up the bank vault and let the coins flow. At the moment I'm looking hard at sierra 1 speakers. Trying to find some sweet power to pair with them. I would like to stay 2 channel for a while. I'm trying to figure my options if I decide to go surround later......what I need to buy now versus later. Also if my tv programing will sound as good in stereo.

 

[mazersteven]

Close as in 23.1% ($150.00) higher than his budget, or part of his monthly electric bill, or two or three water bills higher, or two weeks of groceries??? 23.1% above his budget is a big deviation from it. Let's say you want to buy a 2008 Audi A4 1.8T, and it is $35,000.00, well if you upped your budget 23.1% you could buy a $45,513.00 2008 Audi A6. Only $10,513.00 more, what a bargain!!!

Why is it so difficult to give advise within the OP's budget? There are great alternatives for $500.00 or less.

The guy has a right to give his opinion.

 

[gus6464]

The guy has a right to give his opinion.

Lol!

 

[Davemcc]

The guy has a right to give his opinion.

There's been so many people that realize they just can't get what they want for their initial budget. A broad array of choices can help a new buyer determine what he wants out of the system. Maybe the budget trumps other factors, maybe not. Up to the shopper to decide.

 

[mazersteven]

Up to the shopper to decide.

Exactly Right.

And thank you for your thoughts and opinions vausa99

 

[sailfish]

There's been so many people that realize they just can't get what they want for their initial budget. A broad array of choices can help a new buyer determine what he wants out of the system. Maybe the budget trumps other factors, maybe not. Up to the shopper to decide.

Broad array?????.....did you say "Broad array"? Ive been researching this for a couple of weeks now and I'm amazed and astounded by the choices there are. The last time I bought audio gear, 25 years ago, there were just a few brands that a recent collage graduate could afford. Back then you could walk into your local audio store and listen and buy. That's much harder to do now and if you have a good local audio place you are lucky. Thanks everyone. If I had something to listen to this wouldn't be so agonizing. has anyone had any experience with the high efficiency speakers like the Omegas? I have a pln down the road that might include an off grid home. In this scenario every amp of power is important. I know there are some aficionados that are running their systems with 5 watt amps.

 

[Guangui]

The guy has a right to give his opinion.

No one questions that...Anyone can give an opinion, but let's be real, the OP wanted advice, not opinions, and advice on his price range. It's not the same to say I heard or have X speaker, and it is $525.00, only $25.00 difference, and acceptable, but 23% higher, as in $150.00 more, that is not sound advise.

Mazer, don't know why you get mad, people comment about stuff we say all the time, and they have as much right to refute or comment on what we say, as viceversa. It is just a matter of how thick is your skin, but if you give advice or comment in a forum, be ready to have someone think differently and defend their position as why.

 

[Guangui]

There's been so many people that realize they just can't get what they want for their initial budget. A broad array of choices can help a new buyer determine what he wants out of the system. Maybe the budget trumps other factors, maybe not. Up to the shopper to decide.

Dave, actually 95% of the people here have that happen. But, why not offer him possibilities in his range prior to move him higher? Anyways, you are basically correct.

 

[mazersteven]

No one questions that...Anyone can give an opinion, but let's be real, the OP wanted advice, not opinions, and advice on his price range. It's not the same to say I heard or have X speaker, and it is $525.00, only $25.00 difference, and acceptable, but 23% higher, as in $150.00 more, that is not sound advise.

Forget 23% It's $150 bucks. IMO if you can't afford $150 over budget you don't need to be shopping for speakers. You need to save your cash for more important things like bills.

My point is the guy gave advise for speakers that he auditioned, and was trying to help, and be a part of this community. And you come down on him. IMO he was giving a positive contribution to the forum.

 

[Guangui]

Forget 23% It's $150 bucks. IMO if you can't afford $150 over budget you don't need to be shopping for speakers. You need to save your cash for more important things like bills.

My point is the guy gave advise for speakers that he auditioned, and was trying to help, and be a part of this community. And you come down on him. IMO he was giving a positive contribution to the forum.

I fully agree with you on the budget part, speakers are a luxury.

Positive contribution to the forum indeed, not to the OP... Anyways, everyone is entitled to an opinion, he gave his, I gave mine, you gave yours, that makes us family. And families many times disagree, but that doesn't mean they do not respect each other.

 

[sailfish]

hey I appreciate the advice from each and every one of you. And my budget has grown quite a bit!!!!!

 

[MUDSHARK]

This board will do that to a budget. Before mazer corrupted me I was just looking to buy some JBL's at Best Buy.

 

[Guangui]

hey I appreciate the advice from each and every one of you. And my budget has grown quite a bit!!!!!

I don't know why I always try so hard to give advise within the posted budget. This always happens!!! We have managed, once again, to steer someone into the right track to bankruptcy...

 

[Davemcc]

This board will do that to a budget. Before mazer corrupted me I was just looking to buy some JBL's at Best Buy.

No kidding. I started looking in the $600 range for a set of mains, but nothing "popped" for me. I ended up dropping $1,100 just for the mains. Like many others that break their budget for something special, I couldn't be happier.

 

[Reorx]

sailfish,
You mentioned that you were tight on space...
Have you looked into In-wall speakers, or partial in-walls? Audioholic's has reviewed a few of these speakers. It'd require some dry wall work, but you would keep your floor space.

If you get bookshelf speakers, in-walls, or floor standing, most of them below the $1000/pr price range will require a sub for the low frequencies. There are a few where you can get by with music without a sub, but for movies, you'll want one.

I read all the posts, and did not see you mention room size...ex: 20'x15'x8'? Or see a picture?

Reorx

 

[sailfish]

tyk.....eveyone

If you get bookshelf speakers, in-walls, or floor standing, most of them below the $1000/pr price range will require a sub for the low frequencies. There are a few where you can get by with music without a sub, but for movies, you'll want one.

I read all the posts, and did not see you mention room size...ex: 20'x15'x8'? Or see a picture?
movies are not an issue with me right now. I'm foermost interested in music.......so.......anyone here hear the proac tablette signature speakers???oh yeah,,,,,,,,,,well it says i have to lengthen it,mmmmm

Reorx[/QUOTE]

 

[Reorx]

Movies are not an issue with me right now. I'm foermost interested in music.......so.......anyone here hear the proac tablette signature speakers???oh yeah,,,,,,,,,,well it says i have to lengthen it,mmmmm

Proac review1
Proac review2

What is your budget again?
From what I've seen, those Proac speakers seem to start out at around $1800/pair.

What country do you live in?
Some people here live in Canada, or Europe. Shipping and tariff costs, often changes peoples recommendations.

We all can recommend speakers until we're blue in the face. Until we get more specifics from you, we can't really narrow anything down. That is why people ask about room size, and a picture. To you, a 10k sqr foot room, may be considered small. We know that you have a smallish room, what kind of music you like to listen to, and that your budget used to be $500/pair.

For example:
-No in-wall speakers - I don't want to mess with my drywall.
-No subs - I have limited floor space.
-Speakers will go into a bookcase, or speakers can sit on the floor, or on stands. My bookcase is x inches deep...(this tells us that the bookshelf may need to be sealed or front ported).
-I currently have receiver X. - Some speakers may require external amps to power them.

I once was on a quest to find wife approved bookshelf speakers that sounded the most realistic, for under $1000. Of which were comparable to my 2001/2002 $2400/pair floor standing speakers. After 6+ months, I narrowed it down to Ascend, and RBH. The 2007 bookshelf review definitely helped. As well as listening to 50+ speakers.

 

[sailfish]

Reorx.....I've turned into a sound crazed irrational lunatic!!! At the beginning of this thread i was looking at $500 speakers. Your idea is right in line with mine. i have been looking at the Proac Tablette 50s. I am also looking at the Acoustic Zen Adagio. (i know....don't tell me, I am crazy). My room is accually about 24 ft long 15ft 4in wide and 9ft 3in tall for about 3400 cu ft. Where I will sit will put my back about 12 ft from the wall where the system will go. The rest of the room is dinning Do you think that is enough room for the adagios. iIve been looking in Audiogon at a lot of set up that people have and many of them seem to have very large setups in small spaces. The wife is excited about redecorating so i moving things around to accommodate the new sounds. I like acoustic music, jazz, blues, and rock at low volumes. I'm excited about classical music too. I love live classical, but i dont know that much about it. I spent a large part of my life playing acoustical guitar. I might even get the old reel to reel out! Thanks for your advise. I live in the US.