NOOB Recommendations: Bookshelfs >$400.00

[Bartman619]

Good evening ladies and gentlemen.

I am pretty much new to this so let me say that I've been lurking these forums for the last day or so and enjoyed what I read. My wife and I live in a 1400 sqft condo with a small living room. I need some recommendations on some bookshelf speakers >$400.00. I will be using a NAD L73 or NAD L54 cd/dvd/receiver combo as a 2 channel set up with a woofer coming later. So please feel free to fire away because I am all ears.

 

[majorloser]

Some of the nicest bookshelves I've heard lately were the Usher S-520's:

http://www.usheraudiousa.com/products/loudspeakers/usher-series/s-520-shielded

$400.00 per pair

 

[mazersteven]

I would guess you don't have one of those Nad's yet? Why that receiver?

 

[mazersteven]

Some of the nicest bookshelves I've heard lately were the Usher S-520's:

Would those receivers handle the Ushers?

http://nadelectronics.com/products/av-receivers/L73-DVD-A/V-Receiver

http://nadelectronics.com/products/dvd-players/L54-DVD-Receiver

 

[boboi]

Good evening ladies and gentlemen.

I am pretty much new to this so let me say that I've been lurking these forums for the last day or so and enjoyed what I read. My wife and I live in a 1400 sqft condo with a small living room. I need some recommendations on some bookshelf speakers >$400.00. I will be using a NAD L73 or NAD L54 cd/dvd/receiver combo as a 2 channel set up with a woofer coming later. So please feel free to fire away because I am all ears.

Here are some JBL's you might want to consider:

L810
http://www.amazon.com/JBL-L810-5-25-Inch-Wall-Mountable-
Loudspeaker/dp/B000FK5Y74

L820
http://www.amazon.com/JBL-L820-Wall-Mountable-Bookshelf-Loudspeaker/dp/B000FYZ9XO

L830
http://www.amazon.com/JBL-L830-6-Inch-Bookshelf-Loudspeaker/dp/B000FYZARY

I have not auditioned these myself, but these are from the Studio L Series, JBL's higher end speaker line. I do however own a pair of JBL E20's (2-Way 5- Inch bookshelf speakers)from their now discontinued Northridge E Series which I still find very pleasant, aesthetically and audibly. The E20's have an overall very balanced sound, beautiful mid-range and tight, defined bass. With the higher end Studio L Series, I'm sure these speakers will have these characteristics at a much higher fidelity. Then again, having not heard these myself, I can only speak of what I have heard from my E20's. I reccomend listening to these bookshelves if they suit your fancy.

 

[Bartman619]

Get the NAD L73/L54 so my wife can use it too. She didn't want to fiddle to several pieces fo equipment and the NAD's were our compromise.

 

[majorloser]

Would those receivers handle the Ushers?

http://nadelectronics.com/products/av-receivers/L73-DVD-A/V-Receiver

http://nadelectronics.com/products/dvd-players/L54-DVD-Receiver

2x60w or 2x50w
Looks fine to me

 

[MUDSHARK]

Hard to go wrong with NAD. The Usher is indeed a great value. Ascend Acoustics also has some good speakers in your range if there are no Usher dealers nearby.

 

[Bartman619]

I was thinking maybe using PSB Image B15's or Epos ELS3's...does anyone think they're any good with my setup?

 

[rnatalli]

Saturday Audio has the Monitor Audio Silvers for $399. Another worthy contestant to add to the list. They also have the PSB Image line for great prices at the moment.

 

[gus6464]

Saturday Audio has the Monitor Audio Silvers for $399. Another worthy contestant to add to the list. They also have the PSB Image line for great prices at the moment.

OP: MA Silvers are probably your best bet for the price they are selling them.

 

[rnatalli]

Oops! Does the post say greater than $400? If so, I misunderstood that $400 was the cap. My bad. MA Silvers are still great speakers I think Saturday Audio might have the Golds as well.

 

[majorloser]

Oops! Does the post say greater than $400?

Well, if that's the case, I can think of many speakers to recommend OVER $400

I'll let Mazer take it from here.

 

[mazersteven]

Are those Nad receiver/DVD combo's rated 4 ohms stable?

 

[Bartman619]

Oops....sorry ladies and gents..Meant speakers less than $400.00

 

[Bartman619]

I went to the site and the Nad dvd/receiver combo power output in stereo was rated 8ohms within rated distortion 2x60W....IHF dynamic power rated at 8ohms 2x82W.

 

[Davemcc]

I've heard the Epos. It is a nice sounding speaker, but given the choice I would take the Era Design 4 at that price every time. At least I think the D4 can be had for ~$400 in the USA. The Usher is also reported to be a very nice sounding speaker, but for the duration of time that you run it without a sub, you will have to be careful not to play it loud lest you bottom out the woofer, as evidenced in the Audioholics review.

 

[3db]

Are those Nad receiver/DVD combo's rated 4 ohms stable?

let me put it this way. If Onkyo, Yamaha, and Denon had the amp sections of a NAD, then there would be no need for seperate pre/power amps. NAD more than deliver's its rated power. They are 4 ohm stable better than Onkyo. Denon, and Yamaha.

 

[3db]

Welcome aboard and run like hell before this hobby consumes you.
Put PSB Image B25s on your audition list. The synergy between NAD and PSB is simply amazing having heard it many times myself. The B25s are a very musical speaker with good bass response, lifle like mids, and detailed treble. If soundstage and imaging is important, the B25 deliverrs it in spades.

 

[rnatalli]

Oops....sorry ladies and gents..Meant speakers less than $400.00

Ah good. $400 will get you some good bookshelf speakers. Checkout PSB, Axiom, Paradigm, Ascend, and Monitor Audio to name just a few of the great brands out there. The MA Silvers are great speakers for what Saturday Audio is selling them for as are the PSB Images.