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Bookshelf Speaker Suggestions

Yamaki

Yamaki

Living In A Firepit
Subscriber
I have a nice Yamaha CR-620 AM/FM receiver that I use as a shop/garage unit. Right now I have it powering a pair of JBL 2500 bookshelf speakers.

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It's "not bad" but the JBL's are not the best of the bunch when it comes to a nice bookshelf speaker. In fact, they sound kind of low end to me.

I am on the hunt for a Yamaha CA-810 or larger amplifier to go with the receiver and I expect I'll be putting out around 65W @ 8 ohms or 80W @ 4 ohms, both channels driven.

My request here is for your recommendation(s) on a good vintage bookshelf speaker.

My thanks in advance for your suggestions!
 
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hmmm...a subwoofer, eh? Still, going from 40 to 70 seems like nice increase.

It's more about the quality of what I am hearing. It sounds muddled, very little in the way of mids, the highs are there for sure but not clear. Maybe I am expecting too much from the Yamaha.
 
McFool said:
hmmm...a subwoofer, eh? Still, going from 40 to 70 seems like nice increase.

It's more about the quality of what I am hearing. It sounds muddled, very little in the way of mids, the highs are there for sure but not clear. Maybe I am expecting too much from the Yamaha.
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40 to 70 is not even one step in volume as it needs double the power to increase detectable volume so that's not any improvement unless there is quality difference like high current watts or unless you run your 40 wpc receiver at max volume all the time.

If sound is not good, definitely try few others mentioned in those threads.
I have CR-800 and it drives my Mission 700's to party levels.
 
Looking at the amount of space you have available there; I would look at a pair of Bose 301's (series III are nice); should fit there nicely.
IMHO a powered sub will make any small BS system sound a lot better.
That is a very handsome Yamaha you have there..
 
I'll second the NHT Super One suggestion. I have a pair of Super Twos, which are Super Ones with a built in passive sub. Terrific speakers.

Also, the newest version of Super Zeros are on sale right now for $99 each shipped brand new.

A few months back I bought a pair of Definitive Technology Studio Monitor 350s for $150 shipped from Newegg. The SM350s are a discontinued model and go on sale every so often. They include gadgets for wall mounting too.
 
1970-72 Sansui AS-100 bookshelf speakers. Nice!!
 

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McFool said:
It's more about the quality of what I am hearing. It sounds muddled, very little in the way of mids, the highs are there for sure but not clear. Maybe I am expecting too much from the Yamaha.
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What kind of music will you be listening to on said speakers? That should help narrow it down a bit. I could throw some ideas at you, but I'm really a warm, musical speaker kind of guy, and the stuff I like really won't go well with that receiver.

How about Bozak LS-200a's? Nice, smooth, musical, balanced, accurate-sounding (in a Bozak sort of way) speaker.

If I myself were looking for bookshelf speakers, I'd probably go for a pair of first-generation W40's, but that Yamaha won't cut it (Too-much power and not a warm-enough receiver... These speakers need tube or tube-like power in order to shine). Who knows. Maybe you have a low-powered early solid-stater kicking around (probably no more than 30wpc). Anyway, you can look and decide for yourself. I like the way they look... (They're the walnut cabs in the middle... First-generation version of the W40 model... Alnico drivers... Early '60's... They sound best up high and on their sides, unlike in this picture... In that position, you get a wider soundstage and a more-cohesive woofer/tweeter response):
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You could also look for W30's and Super Lintons.
 
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Not at all familiar with those JBLs, but I wonder if they're functioning at 100%. Could they need a recap? Are all drivers working right?

I like the smaller Paradigms as bookshelf speakers. I have some Atoms (v.1) and they're pretty nice. I'm sure the suggested NHTs are excellent too.
 
The AR-18 family are indeed nice sounding small inexpensive loudspeakers.
That said...

Vintage Yamahas and vintage Polk Audio complement each other awfully nicely. For small, consider early (if you can find a pair) Polk Audio Monitor 4 (with Peerless tweeters) or (if they're not too large for you) Monitor 5 or the later 5jr.
 
I have the AR Rock Partners and I'm amazed by their sound. I'm looking for another pair so I can stack them. They're certainly not much to look at, though!
 
mhardy6647 said:
The AR-18 family are indeed nice sounding small inexpensive loudspeakers.
That said...

Vintage Yamahas and vintage Polk Audio complement each other awfully nicely. For small, consider early (if you can find a pair) Polk Audio Monitor 4 (with Peerless tweeters) or (if they're not too large for you) Monitor 5 or the later 5jr.
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polk S series (S4 or S6) are nice, too
 
Mystery said:
My best bookshelf is Monitor Audio MA301 followed by Linn Index I.
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My best bookshelf speaker is probably too-big for his bookshelf (too-big for MY bookshelf). It is indeed a bookshelf speaker though, according to the brochure. Large-bookshelf, actually, according to the old literature, but you really can't hide a 12" woofer in a little box, not if you want it to sound any good (I still don't know how Dynaco did it with a 10" and got such great sound, which is why I'd probably take a pair of A35's over some A25's, although I haven't gotten an opportunity to compare the two).

What about the AR6? Too-big for the OP?
 
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I only have one set of bookshelf, but my early Polk 4's with the peerless tweeters are great. I had them hooked to my CR-1020 for a spell. Your reciever sure is a looker!
 
daviddeep said:
Not at all familiar with those JBLs, but I wonder if they're functioning at 100%. Could they need a recap? Are all drivers working right?

I like the smaller Paradigms as bookshelf speakers. I have some Atoms (v.1) and they're pretty nice. I'm sure the suggested NHTs are excellent too.
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I know these well. Have the 2500 and the 2600 and they ALL have DEAD TWEETERS. In fact, according to my tech, the very design of these tweeters is begging to "fail".

I recently replaced my old tweeters (2600) with these soft domes from partsexpress.

Now on extreme sale for less than $10 a pop.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=264-1028

The difference! They actually sound MUCH better now! Surprisingly 'good', in fact!

cnh2
 
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