What are your top 3 choices for shielded bookshelf speakers?

[InTheIndustry]

Era just had a price increase. The D4s are $700 and the D5s are $1000. The centers went up $100 as well.

There is a used pair of D4s on audiogon right now for $350. They have cosmetic flaws though.

These price increases are happening all over the place. One of the speaker lines we do just raised their MSRP 20% to 40% (depending on model) across the board. They're European and their reasoning is that they've held the line for 3 years without an increase despite rising manufacturing costs and the dollar is getting KILLED against the Euro. So, when the North American distributor's price goes up, my price goes up, and then the consumer’s price goes up.

While I understand the above reasoning, I disagree whole heartedly with the percentages. That's very disproportionate (10% to 15% would be a fair increase). I feel like they're basically saying, "Your clients are rich, so they won't mind." which is an incredibly obnoxious way to treat people. My counter point to their whole Euro vs. Dollar argument is that prices won’t drop when things even back out or if the Dollar starts gaining over the Euro. With that reasoning, the pendulum should swing both ways, but it won’t.

Look for price increases more and more through 2008 and into 2009 throughout not just the A/V industry, but our daily lives as well. The other day I was just thinking that these days I look at $1000 the same way I looked at $100 a few years ago. It was an awkward and revealing thought.

 

[furrycute]

Audioadvisor now has the Energy RC series on sale. The RC line is VERY favorably reviewed.

The RC-10 bookshelf is $300 a pair.

The RC-30 small floor stander is $600 a pair.

If you get the RC-30, you don't even have to buy speaker stands.

 

[Jinen14]

Audioadvisor now has the Energy RC series on sale. The RC line is VERY favorably reviewed.

The RC-10 bookshelf is $300 a pair.

The RC-30 small floor stander is $600 a pair.

If you get the RC-30, you don't even have to buy speaker stands.

I just checked Audioadvisor's website and it shows $349.95 for the RC-10's.

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ENRC10

Since I will be putting the front speakers in the entertainment center, I won't need speaker stands for them. However, for the rear speakers, I will need to get some stands for them.

 

[Jinen14]

WHOAH there! Wait a sec. I thought your budget was $500 per PAIR. The pairs you listed are twice that. You listed the Energy C200 which are only $300 per pair retail (you've got them down at $950). I see a center is listed with some of these? Maybe the sub is factored in?

Rather than guess, I'll stick to the $500ish per pair guideline. If I go a little over, I'm figuring in you being able to catch a little bit of a deal. Also, in a bedroom, with a good bookshelf I’m not sure you'd really need a sub. Depending on your listening habits and room size a sub could end up being underutilized or unpleasant. If you could do $1Kish including a sub you might want to consider putting that $ into a really special bookshelf that can play lower. Just a thought.

$500ish....

Canton GLE 402/403 (MSRP $500pair/$600pair)

I cannot say enough about the fit and finish of Canton speakers. Incredibly well built (if not overbuilt) and gorgeous to look at. The sound out of the GLE (their entry level line) is fabulous. The GLE 402 has a 6" woofer and the $100 more expensive 403 has a 7" and can play lower while remaining quite clean. The pictures on Canton's website don't do their speakers justice. They're not an incredibly well known brand. I consider them Main Land Europe's B&W, but (my opinion) better.

http://www.canton.de/en-produktdetail-gleserie-gle403.htm

Energy RC-10/Mini (MSRP $550pair/$400pair)

Another high quality piece. I really like the Energy RC line and it's really the only thing we "cherry pick" from the brand. Like Canton above, the RC's fit and finish is fabulous. The RC 10 performs very well for it's price point and is one of my favorite speakers we carry. If music's important, but surround sound a potential goal, I usually steer our clients towards this Energy line over Canton (which is really a music centric line). They both have good things about them and it's really a matter of taste.

A few reasons I listed the Mini for you to consider:

1. It comes in gloss piano black finish which would look great next to your plasma.

2. Build quality & drivers are identical to the larger RC speakers

3. We do this speaker all the time for small/medium sized family room theatres and music systems as well as bedrooms. If you're really intent on adding the sub then I would go with the MINI, hands down! Blended well with a good sub the 4" driver in the Mini will perform great. Filling in the midrange, the Mini's 4" woofer is a very quick driver that won't "bloat" because it won't have to carry the bottom. That's what the sub is for.

http://www.energy-speakers.com/v2/products/product-page.php?id=269


Two more....

PSB Image B25 (MSRP $480pair)

The PSB Image line is another good option. Lower in cost than the other two, but along the same lines of fit and finish. This is a laid back speaker that blends into rooms well. It's a very well designed piece.

Klipsch RB-61 (MSRP $448pair)

Not the most graceful thing ever designed, but the Klipsch Reference line offers a unique sound. Some people have an extreme dislike towards the horn sound, finding it "fatiguing" to their ears. I'm not in that camp. Do I find the horn sound different? Yes, of course, and depending on your listening habits I think a Horn can offer some advantages. In your budget, I would give these a try if not for any other reason than to eliminate them, or love them enough to buy. Auditioning tip: Listen to Horns for an extended amount of time. Part of the reason people buy Horns is because of the immediate "clarity" they provide in a short demo. As mentioned above, some people find them harsh and become sensitive to this over time to the point of discomfort. I liken it to watching a TV in the dark without turning down the brightness. Again, I like the sound for some things, but not for others. Do NOT confuse their general speaker lines with the THX Ultra2 speakers. The Ultra2 system is an EXCELENT setup for a dedicated system, but it was designed with different acoustical properties (for movies) than the Klipsch bookshelf & tower speaker lines.

All of the speakers I listed present their sound in stark contrast to one another. This is just a starting point, so don't be shy about getting out there & listening!

Dave,

Thanks for your suggestions and now you got me even more confused hahaha...

Well, here are my thoughts about the speakers that you suggested:
1) Canton GLE's - well you mentioned that they were primarily for music but I'll be watching a good amount of movies as well....so I doubt that this option would be good
2) Energy RC-Mini - this looks REALLY nice!! Now, I plan on getting either a 10" or a 12" subwoofer...my living room size is about 13' x 22'...the front bookshelves will be in an entertainment center and I'm not sure what I'll do with the rears...either put them on a stand, mount them on a wall, or try to cut a hole in the wall and put the speaker inside the wall (would this work with this speaker??)...I really like the glossy finish of the RC-Minis...if the RC-10's are better, then I don't mind paying the extra money for them....what are your thoughts about this, knowing that I'll be getting a 10" or a 12" subwoofer....
3) PSB 25's - umm...I'm just not feeling it...I really like the RC-Mini's...
4) Klipsch RB-61 - my wife will not like the orange look so this is a no-go...

As far as the price is concerned, my overall budget for 5 speakers (2 fronts, 1 center and 2 rears) and a subwoofer is less than $1,500...I want to get good quality speakers and they have to be black in color...

Also, when I was looking at the RC-10's, I realized that in the back of the speakers, there were 4 inputs for speaker wires...one was high and the other was low...what's that about? how would that get connected to a receiver?

Thanks, in advance for your help!

 

[Guangui]

Dave,

Thanks for your suggestions and now you got me even more confused hahaha...

Well, here are my thoughts about the speakers that you suggested:
1) Canton GLE's - well you mentioned that they were primarily for music but I'll be watching a good amount of movies as well....so I doubt that this option would be good
2) Energy RC-Mini - this looks REALLY nice!! Now, I plan on getting either a 10" or a 12" subwoofer...my living room size is about 13' x 22'...the front bookshelves will be in an entertainment center and I'm not sure what I'll do with the rears...either put them on a stand, mount them on a wall, or try to cut a hole in the wall and put the speaker inside the wall (would this work with this speaker??)...I really like the glossy finish of the RC-Minis...if the RC-10's are better, then I don't mind paying the extra money for them....what are your thoughts about this, knowing that I'll be getting a 10" or a 12" subwoofer....
3) PSB 25's - umm...I'm just not feeling it...I really like the RC-Mini's...
4) Klipsch RB-61 - my wife will not like the orange look so this is a no-go...

As far as the price is concerned, my overall budget for 5 speakers (2 fronts, 1 center and 2 rears) and a subwoofer is less than $1,500...I want to get good quality speakers and they have to be black in color...

Also, when I was looking at the RC-10's, I realized that in the back of the speakers, there were 4 inputs for speaker wires...one was high and the other was low...what's that about? how would that get connected to a receiver?

Thanks, in advance for your help!

Not a Klipsh fan, so I won't talk about Klipsch...The Energy and PSB are very good, and excel in movies. I recommend you audition both, see what you like best. The PSB B25 looks like another speaker, but don't be fooled it is a great speaker with excellent imaging, plays music well, detailed, and very dynamic for movies. The Energy RC10 has the same characteristics, but maybe not as forward as the B25.

Don't discount Canton, not many people know Canton, but it is an excellent speaker company with good reputation, especially their high end stuff. The fact that they are "musical" shouldn't confuse you. A good "musical" speaker plays movies very well, as these days speakers in our price range are built with that dual purpose in mind, the fact that can play good music is a plus, as when you get new good speakers you tend to hear more music than what you used to. It happened to me when I got my PSB T45 and B25, my listening preferences went from 95% movies/5% music to about 60% movies/40% music. Consider Canton. BTW, you find good Canton pricing with www.accessories4less.com. They also carry Mourdant Short, but I will not confuse you any further with MS, another great affordable speaker manufacturer.

 

[3db]

Dave,

Thanks for your suggestions and now you got me even more confused hahaha...

Well, here are my thoughts about the speakers that you suggested:
1) Canton GLE's - well you mentioned that they were primarily for music but I'll be watching a good amount of movies as well....so I doubt that this option would be good
2) Energy RC-Mini - this looks REALLY nice!! Now, I plan on getting either a 10" or a 12" subwoofer...my living room size is about 13' x 22'...the front bookshelves will be in an entertainment center and I'm not sure what I'll do with the rears...either put them on a stand, mount them on a wall, or try to cut a hole in the wall and put the speaker inside the wall (would this work with this speaker??)...I really like the glossy finish of the RC-Minis...if the RC-10's are better, then I don't mind paying the extra money for them....what are your thoughts about this, knowing that I'll be getting a 10" or a 12" subwoofer....
3) PSB 25's - umm...I'm just not feeling it...I really like the RC-Mini's...
4) Klipsch RB-61 - my wife will not like the orange look so this is a no-go...

As far as the price is concerned, my overall budget for 5 speakers (2 fronts, 1 center and 2 rears) and a subwoofer is less than $1,500...I want to get good quality speakers and they have to be black in color...

Also, when I was looking at the RC-10's, I realized that in the back of the speakers, there were 4 inputs for speaker wires...one was high and the other was low...what's that about? how would that get connected to a receiver?

Thanks, in advance for your help!

You auditioned all of these speakers mentioned above or are you just going here on looks alone? Don't make the mistake of buying speakers on looks without hearing them. Thats a BIG mistake.

 

[Jinen14]

You auditioned all of these speakers mentioned above or are you just going here on looks alone? Don't make the mistake of buying speakers on looks without hearing them. Thats a BIG mistake.

I agree with you that these speakers need to be auditioned and as of now, I haven't auditioned all of the speakers...I am in the process of finding out which stores near me have those speakers so then I can make an appointment and go check them out...However, the looks are important as well...so for some speakers, I had to eliminate them completely because they wouldn't go well with the room's decor...even though they may be good speakers....

 

[Joe Schmoe]

You auditioned all of these speakers mentioned above or are you just going here on looks alone? Don't make the mistake of buying speakers on looks without hearing them. Thats a BIG mistake.

Good advice, but nearly impossible to follow. Opportunities to audition have become rare these days. For the majority of brands/models it has become necessary to follow the ID model (buy/try/return) if you want to hear them.