Compact Bookshelf Speakers "Challenge"

[MusicHead]

Not sure this is the right place for this post. If not, my apologies to our most excellent moderators, feel free to move it to where it belongs:

Here is the challenge:

I am in the process or redoing from ground up my L/R Main speaker system. Currently I have an old Cambridge Soundworks New Ensemble II system. It has two small "satellites" and a separate bass module (not a sub), in a band-pass configuration. Decent speakers for the money in their times, but behind the curve today.

One of the reason I went for these speakers is the very limited options I have for placement. My music and HT system is in the family room, powered by an Emotiva Fusion 8100, currently in a 5.0 configuration. The Fusion is capable of very solid 5x80W or 2x110W. The L/R mains can only be placed on bookshelves, in a space in the shape of a cube, open only on the front.

Hence, my challenge: finding a pair of bookshelf speakers good for music (HT to me is secondary), sealed or front ported, no more than 12" tall and 12" or so deep .

I am going to get a sub to go with them, most likely a SVS SB-2000 or a Rhytmik L12 (or F12/F12G at the most, not much room for a sub either...), so bass extension is not a big issue. I have been looking at NHT Absolute Zero (sealed) and Focal Chorus 705 (front ported).

Other speakers that are slightly taller than I'd like (but could  accommodate moving the lower shelf) are the NHT Classic Three (sealed and probably the best of the lot) and Cambridge Audio SX-60 (front ported). The Paradigm Studio 10 looks interesting too, but I think it is no longer in production?

I am willing to spend up to $1,000 for the pair. That much should be well balanced against what I spent for the Fusion and will spend for the sub.

Are there other options I should consider? I am not asking for a suggestion on what to buy, as with speakers listening to them in the actual room is of course key, but rather for  recommendations on what speakers to consider in light of my constraints in size and enclosure (sealed or front ported only).

Thanks in advance for sharing your collective wisdom!!!!

[stiehl11]

Phase Technologies PC-1.5 may fit your bill. They're rear ported but other than that, I think you would like them.

[thorcorps]

I have not heard them, but the Usher S-520 always got good reviews, is front-ported, and would fit your space.

[goodfellas27]

Deftech StudioMonitor 55
Best sound for the money that I had heard
If you could fit their big brother, go with 65.

I hope it helps

[MusicHead]

Thanks for the replies so far. The Phase Tech and Def Tech looks interesting, however the rear port makes them not a good choice for my situation. As I mentioned, the shelf is horrible from an acoustic standpoint, as it is a close cube, open only in the front. Any rear ported speaker would have a skewed response, as the space behind and on the side of the speaker would created a "L" shaped duct that who knows what it would do.

The Usher is more appealing, lowish in sensitivity but you can't have it all :-)

[garbulky]

Good news most larger speakers of a decent price will out perform the cambridge. As for the Deftech's I've heard them. They aren't bad but I've heard better for the money. For instance I felt the airmotiv 4's did a bit better. So your issue is that you've got specific restraints. There's only so much you can do for these restraints. I would see what I could do about changing these restraints.

[frisco]

Aug 26, 2015 15:07:16 GMT -5 stiehl11 said:

Phase Technologies PC-1.5 may fit your bill. They're rear ported but other than that, I think you would like them.

[br

I have spent the last week with a pair of phase tech pc60ca, moving my 1.5s to ht duty only. They are sealed and music orientated, but 1200 to 1400. And yes, right now I give then an edge in music sound over the 1.5 or the 0.5.

[mshump]

I have focal 714's, they have great imaging and SQ, I think the 705's would be great.

[pop]

The Martin logan motion 15 sound excellent. They are my favorite pair of bookshelves we have at work. $800 for the pair.

I have the motion 40 towers at my dads house hooked up to a fusion and they sing beautifully.

If I were to go passive they would be my first choice. I demo them crossed over with a svs sb2000 and the results are stunning

[unsound]

If you don't mind used, I have a pair of TAD monitors for sale. Unfortunately, there's not a lot of reviews on them, but they do carry the TAD moniker so there's not much to be concerned about with that. Personally, I found them to be thoroughly enjoyable. Their imaging is excellent and they have nice soundstage, especially since they don't need to be toed-in given their dispersion characteristics. They are very neutral sounding and the only thing they lack is bass extension and I would recommend a subwoofer for anything bigger than a 10'x10' room or >6' listening distance. The bass that they do produce, however, is very clean.

app.audiogon.com/listings/monitors-tad-tsm-2201-lr-monitor-pair-matte-black-2015-08-13-speakers-98105-seattle-wa

Edit: They are actually over 13" tall so that might not work for you unless you're willing to place them sideways. They are designed to function sideways as well and come with accessories that will support them in that orientation as shown in the image in this link:

tad-labs.com/en/professional/tsm_2201_lr/technology.html

That will, of course, make them over 13" wide.

[Loop 7]

Way below your price threshold but I spent a few hours listening to the new ELAC Debut B5 speakers at the California Audio Show a few weeks back. Others and myself were all completely floored by the sonics and, as a plus, Andrew Jones himself was managing the room and taking questions.

$229 a pair and I already entered my name into the pre-order queue. They are that good.

elac.us/debutproducts

[unsound]

Andrew Jones, BTW, was the man behind TAD until recently when he moved to ELAC. He also designed some of the Pioneer speakers. Given his track record, I'm pretty sure those ELACs will be very good speakers.

[Boomzilla]

KEF LS50 speakers - Award winning point-source sound, but they're $1,500 per pair new. If you shop hard, you should catch a used eBay pair for closer to $1K.

Dimensions (with terminals) = 11.9" high x 7.9" wide x 10.9" deep (leaving you an inch for wire connections).

[novisnick]

Aug 26, 2015 18:47:56 GMT -5 Boomzilla said:

KEF LS50 speakers - Award winning point-source sound, but they're $1,500 per pair new. If you shop hard, you should catch a used eBay pair for closer to $1K.

Dimensions (with terminals) = 11.9" high x 7.9" wide x 10.9" deep (leaving you an inch for wire connections).

But you got a pair for $10.00 at a garage sale! Right!,,,,he,,,,he,,,,he,,,,,,,

[Boomzilla]

Aug 26, 2015 18:56:13 GMT -5 novisnick said:

But you got a pair for $10.00 at a garage sale! Right!,,,,he,,,,he,,,,he,,,,,,

Just give me time...

[MusicHead]

Thanks to all others who have chimed in. Let me specify once more that I am looking for sealed or front ported speakers. I had looked at the Martin Logan and KEF, but they are both rear ported, as some of the others that had been recommended. Unfortunately I have and enclosed shelf, it is even worse that just not having enough space behind to let the speaker "breathe".

[unsound]

The TAD monitors are sealed and the KEF LS50 (which are also a great choice) come with port plugs so they will, likely, be fine in your usage. The thing to watch out for with the KEFs is that they don't have grills, so you'll need to make sure they are placed out of reach of prying hands and paws.

[Boomzilla]

Oops - Thanks for the reminder - I thought about space for the wires, but not space for the port...

Good small-speaker manufacturers (don't know about the ports):

Paul S Barton (PSB)
Polk (don't ignore them - they sound WAY above their price)
Bowers & Wilkins (B&W)
Paradigm
Martin Logan
Golden Ear
Infinity (like the Polks, these can be amazing for their price)
Dynaudio

And many, many more that I've forgotten or am not familiar with.

One other option you might consider is "pro" passive monitor speakers. They're often designed for congested placement and have exceptionally flat frequency response. They might work better in your shelves than would a "consumer" speaker intended to be on stands. Yamaha & JBL make some fine ones inexpensively.

Boomzilla

[rickhawk]

I have been using the NHT Classic Threes for a few years now and have not even thought about trying anything else. I'm surprised I don't see them mentioned very often in the Emotiva Lounge because they have fantastic performance for the money. I worry that they are a secret too well kept and maybe I should buy a couple more pair in case the company should cease to exist. They are very neutral and the sealed design makes them integrate well with a subwoofer. They start to roll off at approx. 60hz but as long as you plan on adding a sub I think you should give them an audition.

[sparky14]

Well, I haven't heard Dennis Murphy's latest bargain bookshelves, but if he thinks it is better than his Pioneer mods, I'd have to consider them. May be a bit tall for you (14") though. In fact, I am considering them even though I love my Cambridge Aero2's.

www.philharmonicaudio.com/aa.html

edit: oops, rear ported - sorry! Use a port plug?