Budget Bookshelf Speakers Ideas

[parkcitygolf]

Are the going to be high up like on top of the cabinets or lower on the countertops?

I think that would affect my suggestion as I think I'd personally go for something a bit brighter than my usual if putting them on top of cabinets and something possibly darker than my normal if putting them at waist height.

I know I suggest them all the time, but original NHT Super Zeros are outstanding if you don't need those bottom two octaves: great overall sound, placement flexibility, very small. Super Ones are great as well and has more bottom end for sure, but it's getting close to the size of a real speaker.

They are going up high next to the ceiling mounted on the wall. The cabinets only have 10 inches clearance and not many speakers will fit up there. We have ten foot ceilings. Does that make a difference in sound?

 

[zachhatcher]

Monitor Audio Bx2's are sweet

 

[frommerstop]

Wharfedale Diamond 10.1

:thmbsp: Wharfedale Diamonds were the first speakers that came to my mind as well.

 

[cratz2]

Honestly, I think you could do a whole lot worse than the 10.1s.

Having said that, having the speakers that high up, plus the fact that there won't be any critical listening going on with such a placement, I don't know that I'd ante up much for that use.

I asked about positioning because, as I said, I think with the speakers that high up and that far off axis, pretty much anything will sound a bit less bright compared to the same speakers positioned at ear level so I might look for something a bit brighter than I would usually gravitate towards. Or said another way, I think I'd avoid many speakers that are darker than I'd usually go for. My NHT suggestions stands but man... at the $500 price point, there are just scads of options if you are considering new and used. I doubt I'd pay over $300 and I'd probably go for something recent-ish with poly cones and rubber surrounds vs paper/foam/dope etc...

And just to throw out there, you could always lay a speaker on its side rather than standing them upright. That would bring on even more possibilities, namely full-ish sized bookshelf speakers with 6.5" mid-basses, many of which wouldn't be a consideration if you are 100% set on standing them upright.

 

[davidro]

if u need sharp sounding speakers there's Usher S-520

 

[Harvey/ Ga]

How is the sound on those? Looks like a cool project.

Check Craig's List or E-bay for Infinity RS-2001 or Celestion 15's. Both have excellent freq. response (have both).

If too large, ADS 300's are nice.

 

[PR Audio]

Under $500 will have plethora of choices in used market.
Too many to suggest.

I have to agree with Mystery. The list is long, without mentioning specific models for some brands, all this are good speakers:

+ PSB Image Series
+ Monitor Audio Silver Series
+ Paradigm Mini Monitor (don't know if the Studio are in that price)
+ PE's Overnight Sensation Kit
+ Klipsh RB Series
+ Swan D2.1se
+ ARX A1B
+ Dana 630i
+ Energy RC10
+ Usher S-520
+ Canton GLE
+ KEF Q Series
+ SEAS Loki MKII Coaxial Kit (Madisound)
+ Triangle
+ Dayton Audio Usher Kits (PE)
+ Polk RTi Series
+ Mission MX-1
+ Mourdant Short Aviano Series
+ Wharfedale Diamond Series
+ Focal Chorus 700 Series
+ Epos ELS-3 and Epic 1
+ Pioneer BS (auditioned them at BB, they are power hungry, but great sound for $100.00/pr.)

Are you handy working with wood? Because full range drivers by Fostex, Tang Band, Fountek, and others open a whole new can of worms, when used in a properly designed enclosure.

So, unless you don't have any audio stores nearby, my recommendation is go and audition speakers, then come back and tells us what you really liked, and we can suggest speakers that have similar sound and/or characteristics. Also, knowing which source equipment you have helps. For example, IMO, Onkyo and Klipsch don't have good synergy. PSB and NAD is the other way around. Tube amps and Klipsch, good synergy. Or, tube amps and single driver full range speakers, great sound. And, these are just examples. I'm sure guys here have another boatload of suggestions for used speakers.

And, please, please, don't say your budget is $1K, because that will triplicate the list.

 

[PR Audio]

They are going up high next to the ceiling mounted on the wall. The cabinets only have 10 inches clearance and not many speakers will fit up there. We have ten foot ceilings. Does that make a difference in sound?

Probably not the best location, but if that's what you have, then so be it. Look for speakers with front facing ports, or sealed. Though there are some speakers that have rear ports that were originally designed to be mounted in a bookshelf cabinet close to the wall, an example is PSB Alpha.

 

[onwardjames]

I really like my Insignias with crossover mod.

Fun lil' speaker, and under 100, although crossover mod requires about another 35 bucks, if I remember correctly.

 

[goldleaf]

Pioneer SP-BS22-LR. $129.

Wayner

+1

Have these in the home office. They are very inefficient though, you need at least 50 watts, better 100wpc to make them sing.

 

[stovens]

I've always been a huge fan of the Optimus(realistic) Minimus 7's Amazing little speakers, cheap and abundant on the used market.Came in metal cases and wood.
http://images.productwiki.com/upload/images/realistic_minimus_7.jpg

 

[ultumax]

Who ever bought up realistic??
Or did they go Bankrupt??:tears:
mach 1,2 were legendary speakers I hear

 

[atarione]

it is like this post was made with my birthday gift in mind

because come aug I believe I shall ask my wife to collaborate possibly with my other family to get me some $500~ speakers.


I have (seem to be replaced now by the Monitor 35B) Polk Audio Monitor 30 bookshelf speakers which cost the princely sum of $69.99 on a daily deal @ newegg. I am very found of the sound of these speakers I own in addition to the Monitor 30s I have a Pair of Polk RTi4 speakers and I can say without hesitation that I'd rather have the monitor 30s for my music set up than the RTi4s (I got the polks with the intention of using them for music with my vintage amp or receiver ... It is a shame newegg doesn't (or anyone perhaps) have the monitor 30s anymore as I hate the grills on the newer monitor 35b and they cost more they have been sitting at $150~ for awhile on newegg.

But it might be worth to keep an eye out for sales as the 35b's went down to $120~ or so a bit ago...still a much less stellar deal than my 30s for $70 however...I wish I had bought another pair when they where on sale for the $69.99 oh well.


Newegg has also in the past had the Pioneers someone suggest on sale for $70 or so... however they don't seem to be listing the pioneers at all ATM...but they may get them back newegg frequently removes out of stock items all together (making people sad that they stopped carrying it) only to have it magically reappear at a later date when they get more in stock.


anyone have any thoughts on any of these ??? cause i can't find them to check out and am considering them come my b-day


so first the Arx A1b (i have been seeing glowing reports on this one on various computer forums for awhile)

http://www.theaudioinsider.com/product_info.php?p=arx-a1b-monitor-loudspeaker&products_id=65&


also this Swan D2.1se+

http://www.theaudioinsider.com/product_info.php?p=swan-d2-1se+-stand-monitor&products_id=69&

 

[atarione]

I am sort of intrigued by those Overnight Sensation kits also..

but I am sort on woodworking experience and am afraid if i try building them they will come out looking like butt

but still I guess it isn't that expensive I am tempted to have a go at some point here.

 

[llanger]

Paradigm Mini Monitors can be had on feeBay for $150.00 or less. I've never heard them, but I'm a fan of Paradigm speakers.
Either the Infinity Alpha 10 or Beta 10 would be a good choice as well. I've owned the Alpha 10 and believe they are a very good little speaker.
A dark horse candidate would be the Pinnacle Classic Gold Mini Monitor. I think they are an often overlooked pretty nice little speaker. I think I still have a pair in a closet. I might search for them and give a listen.

 

[michiganpat]

They are going up high next to the ceiling mounted on the wall. The cabinets only have 10 inches clearance and not many speakers will fit up there. We have ten foot ceilings. Does that make a difference in sound?

used, and can probably get for about $100-150, AR 7, 18, 18S (on their sides) or Rock Partners will fit up there and sound great. I have a similar setup in our living room-- vaulted ceiling, with a flat shelf above a closet, with AR18's up there, close to the ceiling on one side. sound great, sub not really needed

 

[michiganpat]

I am sort of intrigued by those Overnight Sensation kits also..

but I am sort on woodworking experience and am afraid if i try building them they will come out looking like butt

but still I guess it isn't that expensive I am tempted to have a go at some point here.

the CNC DIY soundgroup kits are very nice, not really any woodworking involved beyond gluing it together and finishing....if you can paint or stain, they should end up pretty good.

 

[cratz2]

Just read back over the thread and there are even more good suggestions. I suspect the OP would be happy with almost any of them. I will throw out that that, in my bedroom office rig, I alternate between a pair a Polk Monitor 30s and Paradigm Atom v5s. Both are rear ported and can sound fantastic in that small (13x15) room, but the Polks don't deal quite as well with bring very close to room boundaries as the Paradigms do. In fact, I put a wadded up sock in the port of the left Polk to help balance thing out or else it gets a hump in response between 70 and about 180 Hz.

Having said that, the Polk is a bigger and more mature sounding speaker that I prefer most of the time, esp well recorded acoustic music.

The Pioneers mentioned (as well as their larger brother if you can find them) are pretty spectacular deals though I've not heard them in my home. They certainly are very refined for that kind of money and the Ushers are pretty outstanding as well but I tend to think they are overkill for such a use. Having said that, I'm planning on getting a pair sometime this year for my bedroom office system.

 

[PR Audio]

I am sort of intrigued by those Overnight Sensation kits also..

but I am sort on woodworking experience and am afraid if i try building them they will come out looking like butt

but still I guess it isn't that expensive I am tempted to have a go at some point here.

If you buy the kit that includes the unassembled cabinet you will be happy. It is made for the inexperienced woodworker. If you have mounted a Revel snap-on model car, or have mounted Ikea or some other manufacturers furniture, and if you can read instructions, then you will have no problem with the OS kit.

 

[Battra92]

Who ever bought up realistic??
Or did they go Bankrupt??:tears:
mach 1,2 were legendary speakers I hear

Realistic always was part of Radio Shack. In the late 90s, Shack started selling RCA stuff and phased out the Realistic name.