Small Bookshelf Speaker for Music

[farscaper]

I'm started to make a list of some small speakers for my office. So 100% music. I will likely buy a few of them because I'm a sucker for multi-channel sound. I have a sound proofed - basement home office (15'x15'). Mostly background during the day and I do play it loud after hours.

I would like it small, around 10" tall, no more the 8" wide. (give or take).
- Do not like the so-called "satellites" you see with HTIB (I would rather go without).
- About $200/pair.
- The reciever will likely be a Marantz SR4600. So 80 w/ch.
- I will be using a small powered sub. Likely a 8".

Any ideas or recommendations?
So far I only list the Energy C-50.

Cheers,

 

[Sheep]

Thats a good one. Not many that size that are full range. I have heard those C50s and they do sound nice. Decent bass output for their size.

SheepStar

 

[BMO]

I'm started to make a list of some small speakers for my office. So 100% music. I will likely buy a few of them because I'm a sucker for multi-channel sound. I have a sound proofed - basement home office (15'x15'). Mostly background during the day and I do play it loud after hours.

I would like it small, around 10" tall, no more the 8" wide. (give or take).
- Do not like the so-called "satellites" you see with HTIB (I would rather go without).
- About $200/pair.
- The reciever will likely be a Marantz SR4600. So 80 w/ch.
- I will be using a small powered sub. Likely a 8".

Any ideas or recommendations?
So far I only list the Energy C-50.

Cheers,

Monitor Audio Radius 90's are close to what your describing.Still a sub would be needed with anything that small IMO.
Each cube is 7 1/2" H X 5" W X 5 1/2 " D.

 

[Bevan]

Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 ($350/pair) with the Paradigm Atom ($189/pair), the Infinity Primus 150 ($198/pair), and the Epos ELS-3 ($350/pair).

just came upon brief decriptions of the above, plus full review of the warfedales here:

http://stereophile.com/standloudspeakers/1105wharfedale/


also, these look interesting, if a bit outside your specs

http://www.us.alegriaaudio.com/LingSingle.htm

good reviews of them on ecoustics.com

b.

 

[Nick250]

I second the Paradigm Atoms. Terrific little speakers IMO.

Nick

 

[farscaper]

Thats a good one. Not many that size that are full range. I have heard those C50s and they do sound nice. Decent bass output for their size.

SheepStar

Yaa, I'm not asking for much, just a full range speaker less then 12" tall.
This is my upgrade from 2.1 set of computer speakers. Hopefully something with a frequency responds around 60 - 22 kHz.
I work a lot of overtime. Music and podcasts prevent me from going nuts.

Farscaper

 

[warpdrive]

You're in luck, I was recently shopping for speakers in that category as speakers for our secondary system.

Here's the ones that I liked
- Boston Acoustics CR67
- PSB Alpha B

Out of those two: I'd pick the Boston which is very close to being around 10" high. The Alpha is a bit bigger too, which may be too big for you.

Both list for around $250 USD but after negotiation but you should be able to get either around $225 I'd imagine

I did NOT like the Paradigm Atoms. Very disappointed in those when I heard them. They sounded constrained and congested.

If you can stretch to the $300, the Epos ELS-3 is one of the best speakers in this price range and meets your size requirements. The other one is the Monitor Audio Bronze 1. As much as I like to recommend Energy speakers as a long time Energy fan, the Epos was a superior sounding speaker to any of Energy's offerings in this price range, maybe even better than the C-3 that I own. I just find the treble to be more detailed and airy without sounding harsh. The speaker has really nice mids that do vocals right.

I bought the Epos

http://www.epos-acoustics.com/mainsite.asp?logging=1

review: http://www.stereophile.com/loudspeakerreviews/104epos/

 

[rumonkey2]

x-ls from AV123

Even though I have yet to hear these speakers, they come highly recommended @ $199. Just read the review here @ audioholics.

 

[warpdrive]

Oh I just noticed that you are in Canada, so the Epos will be WAY out of your price range. Try going for the Boston. The Epos sells for around $450 in Canada which is double your budget. Well worth it still though if you get extra money from the tax man.

 

[soundhound]

i have the boston acoustics cr67. they're exactly 10" high, and a little less than 6 1/2" wide. they're really nice speakers, they give a very "big" sound for their size.

 

[bitpoh]

How about Athena AS-B1.2 or AS-B2.2?

 

[3db]

PSB Image B15a

I'm started to make a list of some small speakers for my office. So 100% music. I will likely buy a few of them because I'm a sucker for multi-channel sound. I have a sound proofed - basement home office (15'x15'). Mostly background during the day and I do play it loud after hours.

I would like it small, around 10" tall, no more the 8" wide. (give or take).
- Do not like the so-called "satellites" you see with HTIB (I would rather go without).
- About $200/pair.
- The reciever will likely be a Marantz SR4600. So 80 w/ch.
- I will be using a small powered sub. Likely a 8".

Any ideas or recommendations?
So far I only list the Energy C-50.

Cheers,

The header should read PSB Image B15. A typo.
I used the previous model of these as my main speakers with a sub until my towers came on. Very detailed very good speaker. It may be a lil large; here are the dimensions;

Size (W x H x D) 7 x 13 3/8 x 9 5/8"

 

[jcPanny]

Onix X-LS and X-sub

I second the recommendation for the Onix X-LS from av123.com. They slightly exceed your height requirment, but make up for it in good looks and performance. The matching $200 8" X-sub would work well to fill in the low end. So would the $300 8" STF-1 from HSU.

 

[cyberbri]

They are over the $200 full-range speaker budget, but the Ascend 170SEs are supposed to be very flat and very accurate, and musicians who post here and on AVS have said they use them for their studio monitors. These go for about $350+shipping:
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cbm170/cbm170.html

Of course you would need a sub to make them truly full range. Bookshelf speakers, especially in this price range, don't usually go below 50-60Hz.


Another option would be the Energy C-3s, which I assume are still available at Audioadvisor.com. They are supposed to be very similar to the Ascend 170s in sound (flat, accurate), but they have a front port so the enclosure is a bit tall. They go for about $250 on AA.


The AV123/Onix X-LS speakers are also supposed to be very good performers with decent bass.

 

[farscaper]

All good options.
Thanks to you all.

 

[2upFZ1]

I could suggest the spreadsheet I posted here http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21793

You can't really go by the MSRP though. Example: BIC DV62si lists for $276pr
I paid $99pr. They are awesome, but a bit taller than what you list.

Maybe it'll help you decide which to shop for.

 

[pewternhrata]

what about if i pair the Boston cr67's with my B&W lcr600, or are the Bostons not big enough to fill in the with B&W?...reason i ask is cuz i need to get some bookshelfs for the front and dont have a lot to spend, but im thinking i might run into problems pairing something up with the lcr600

 

[chicomoralessxm]

What about the Polk rti4 or even the rti6 which is under $325

 

[Rob Babcock]

The MA Bronze 1's would be a good choice, and although I haven't hear them the Onix X-LS speakers from AV123.com are getting raves. I think they've won several Budge Speaker of the Year awards.