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Post by Cogito on Feb 6, 2015 17:15:15 GMT -5
Well, I've decided to sell my beloved Magnepan MG-1.7. My living room is a bit cramped and I'm tired of having to reposition them every time I want to do some serious listening (And the wife is not fond of having two big black monoliths in the middle of the room). As such, I think a decent pair of bookshelf speakers would suite my needs until I buy a bigger place.
So far, some of the systems I am considering are:
Monitor Audio GX-100 (I have a pair coming into the local dealer for me to audition)
Wharfedale Jade 3 (This one is getting rave reviews)
Canton Ergo 620
KEF R300 (Same dealer is a KEF dealer too)
Jamo C103
Legacy Audio Studio HD
Polk Audio LSi M 703
I am unable to audition everything but the Monitor Audio and KEFs, so I guess I'm asking if anyone has some insight and/or opinions with any of these systems or possibly have some other suggestions? My budget is up to $2000.
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Post by brubacca on Feb 6, 2015 17:22:52 GMT -5
$2000 is a big budget for bookshelf speakers....
I love my Sonus Faber Venere 1.5 @ $1,200, there is also the 2.0@ $1,700
I have always liked a Dynaudio speakers
Ditto Totem Acoustic
ProAc Tablette
Go find a dealer, listen, have fun...
If you didn't notice my taste is generally not metal dome tweeters.
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Post by lionear on Feb 6, 2015 18:07:45 GMT -5
The $2000 bookshelf speakers will need to be put on stands. The stand will need to be heavy (sand filled?) to be effective, and they'll probably need to be spiked, which makes moving them quite difficult. Then you're going to find that they'll need to be moved off the front wall, too, to get the best sound, so they're going to take a fair bit of space anyway. I'd like to suggest that you live with the Maggies, because "bookshelf" speakers end up taking as much room as a floor-standing speaker. Their only advantage is that they can work well in a small room.
Good luck.
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Post by knucklehead on Feb 6, 2015 18:39:03 GMT -5
Get a pair of subwoofers and use them to set the bookshelf speakers on. Thats what I did. I have isolation pads so the subs don't shake the crap out of the speakers.
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Post by teaman on Feb 6, 2015 18:43:45 GMT -5
Get a pair of subwoofers and use them to set the bookshelf speakers on. Thats what I did. I have isolation pads so the subs don't shake the crap out of the speakers. I second this idea. |
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Post by unsound on Feb 6, 2015 19:45:42 GMT -5
Get a pair of subwoofers and use them to set the bookshelf speakers on. Thats what I did. I have isolation pads so the subs don't shake the crap out of the speakers. I have a setup like that. Works very well for me. I'd also consider the Ascend Sierra 2 and the Revel M106. |
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Post by Cogito on Feb 6, 2015 21:03:37 GMT -5
The $2000 bookshelf speakers will need to be put on stands. The stand will need to be heavy (sand filled?) to be effective, and they'll probably need to be spiked, which makes moving them quite difficult. Then you're going to find that they'll need to be moved off the front wall, too, to get the best sound, so they're going to take a fair bit of space anyway. I'd like to suggest that you live with the Maggies, because "bookshelf" speakers end up taking as much room as a floor-standing speaker. Their only advantage is that they can work well in a small room. Good luck. Yes, they do tend to take up the same space, but that's only the case when compared with most "typical" floorstanders. The Maggies are 65" tall and 19" wide. This is much bigger than all but the biggest floorstanders and then there's the fact that they need to be at least three feet away from the rear wall. I think a good pair bookshelves would be much less imposing and a bit more flexible placement wise. |
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Post by Cogito on Feb 6, 2015 21:04:49 GMT -5
Get a pair of subwoofers and use them to set the bookshelf speakers on. Thats what I did. I have isolation pads so the subs don't shake the crap out of the speakers. LOL ANOTHER subwoofer is not in the budget. |
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Post by amatuerholic on Feb 6, 2015 21:14:19 GMT -5
Dynaudio Focus 260 (used) takes up the same space as a small bookshelf and stand. From personal experience, Dyn's Focus line is really nice for the cost. If you're trying to minimize other stuff, you could always go for the XEO 3 or 4.
Harbeth 30.1 Compacts are also really nice. Vocals are amazing on those speakers, as well as most anything else, buy my goodness those mids!
KEF LS50 from reviews seems to be a good option.
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Post by Cogito on Feb 6, 2015 21:19:47 GMT -5
These are what I'm really eager to hear (Wharfedale Jade 3), but the closest dealer is 2 1/2 hours away (Same dealer where I bought my Maggies). What a pain. Maine is pretty lacking in dealer choices.  |
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Post by unsound on Feb 6, 2015 21:45:37 GMT -5
These are what I'm really eager to hear (Wharfedale Jade 3), but the closest dealer is 2 1/2 hours away (Same dealer where I bought my Maggies). What a pain. Maine is pretty lacking in dealer choices. Wharfedale makes pretty good speakers. I had the Evo2-8s for a few years and really enjoyed them. Excellent build quality too. Musicdirect has a very nice return policy so you might try getting the Jades from them. That's where I got my Evo2-8s from. www.musicdirect.com/p-53406-wharfedale-jade-3-bookshelf-speakers-pr.aspx?source=igodigital& |
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Post by audiobill on Feb 6, 2015 22:31:38 GMT -5
Be suer to check out the Dynaudios or KEF LS-50
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Post by MusicHead on Feb 8, 2015 12:29:55 GMT -5
Paradigm Reference Studio 10 or 20, if you do not mind (front) ported speakers?
I am looking for a pair of bookshelf speakers too, but I have a 12" depth constraint and <$1,000 budget. That means sealed or front ported at best. Plus, I'd like around 90dB sensitivity.
The Cambridge Audio Aero 2 is intriguing, with its BMR mid/high driver and low crossover point (250Hz)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2015 12:49:39 GMT -5
Paradigm Reference Studio 10 or 20, if you do not mind (front) ported speakers? I am looking for a pair of bookshelf speakers too, but I have a 12" depth constraint and <$1,000 budget. That means sealed or front ported at best. Plus, I'd like around 90dB sensitivity. The Cambridge Audio Aero 2 is intriguing, with its BMR mid/high driver and low crossover point (250Hz) NHT classic 3 are not the newest under the sun, but fantastic and sealed. Prices 900/pair sometimes better. |
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reaper60
Sensei
Music Makes Me Happy!
Posts: 505
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Post by reaper60 on Feb 8, 2015 13:04:43 GMT -5
Where in Maine are you? I'm in north east MA and there are a few dealers in this area. I have a few more questions for your needs,... Is size important? Bookshelf speakers really run a range from tiny little guys to things like the aerial acoustics LR5 that is quite massive in size!
My suggestion is to try everything possible before spending the $$$. My personal tastes lend more towards having a meaty bass/mid and a laid back tweeter. (English sound) I also have found the folded ribbons to be very detailed and pleasing to my ear. I would start narrowing down your search by first deciding what features are most important and then decide what best suits those needs before auditioning. If you audition 15 sets you may find yourself getting confused as to which was which and why you liked/disliked!
I have not personally heard the wharfdales that you mentioned, but if you like the laid back English sound that may be just the ticket. My personal favorite of the speakers mentioned is the Paradigm Studios. The mids on them are tops!
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Post by jmasterj on Feb 8, 2015 13:46:48 GMT -5
First let me say that I have MMG's, M-Lores, and JBL-ES30 bookshelf speakers. What I've discovered is that bookshelf speakers can be very satisfying they may fit the space better but they won't be the equal of those 1.7's. They just can't move the volume of air the Maggie's move. So I'd like to make a suggestion.
If storage space is not an issue maybe you might consider getting two, or three different pair of bookshelf speakers with that budget. Maybe get a lesser pair of Wharfedale's like the Jade 1. That would leave enough to maybe try some horn loaded Klipsch RB-81 II's at 97db sensitivity, or some HSU HB1 MK2's, or some Axiom M22v4's. Maybe have a pair of Polks, maybe a small floor stander, or try some JBL's like I did.
If you have a place to put the speakers when they aren't in use like a closet shelf. Every so often you can change them out and hear a different sound from your equipment. You'll spend the same money and have a variety of speakers to enjoy. Just another option to consider. Good Luck with your choice. j.
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Post by Cogito on Feb 8, 2015 14:09:56 GMT -5
Where in Maine are you? I'm in north east MA and there are a few dealers in this area. I have a few more questions for your needs,... Is size important? Bookshelf speakers really run a range from tiny little guys to things like the aerial acoustics LR5 that is quite massive in size! My suggestion is to try everything possible before spending the $$$. My personal tastes lend more towards having a meaty bass/mid and a laid back tweeter. (English sound) I also have found the folded ribbons to be very detailed and pleasing to my ear. I would start narrowing down your search by first deciding what features are most important and then decide what best suits those needs before auditioning. If you audition 15 sets you may find yourself getting confused as to which was which and why you liked/disliked! I have not personally heard the wharfdales that you mentioned, but if you like the laid back English sound that may be just the ticket. My personal favorite of the speakers mentioned is the Paradigm Studios. The mids on them are tops! I'm here in Portland. Basically, we have New England Hi-Fi (Who I've boycotted for the past 23 years), Tucker & Tucker Associates (Local KEF, Monitor Audio and B&W dealer) and Custom Home Theater (Golden Ear, Magico, Totem and PSB dealer). Currently, I'm waiting for a pair of Monitor Audio GX-100s to come in from Tucker & Tucker for me to audition (They only stock the bronze and silver lines). According to them, Monitor Audio has just recently upgraded the mid-bass driver, so there's a temporary delay in availability. I did give the RX-2s (Silver series) and listen and was impressed. The Gold series are supposed to be a considerable upgrade with the ribbon tweeters. I'll give them a listen before I decide on anything. |
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Post by vcautokid on Feb 8, 2015 14:11:25 GMT -5
Yep I too have the love for the Hsu speakers.
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reaper60
Sensei
Music Makes Me Happy!
Posts: 505
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Post by reaper60 on Feb 9, 2015 2:51:45 GMT -5
My whole theater is monitor audio gold,... No need to convince me of their downright awesomeness!
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