Budget Bookshelf Speakers Ideas

[Mystery]

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

I won't suggest them at this budget at all.
They are okay if their small size is required but anything slightly bigger from good brand stomps them like c#@p.
When people talk about Minimus 7's they always have their size in the context, otherwise meh...
I had 3 pairs and not for me.

 

[Mystery]

One suggestion from my side is this:
Polk RT55i.
I think they'll compare against much expensive ones.

 

[parkcitygolf]

Ive got my work cut out for me digging through all these awesome ideas. Id like more than one pair now Some beautiful stuff out there.

 

[dolphyisgod]

+1

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

+1 more on the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR. They are great, esp. with a 50+ watt amp. I liked them so much I bought the SP-FS52 floorstanders for a 5.1 system, which are also totally awesome.

The only thing with BS22 is that they are not readily mountable to the wall. I am still looking around for some kind of clamp so that they can be mounted as rears in the system. FWIW.

 

[atarione]

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.

ok kewl thanx... I stained a few things over the last year... each of the few projects coming out slightly better than the last

most recent effort wasn't perfect but was an embarrassment either the first attempt was a disaster that was best used for firewood.. but the last thing came out pretty well.


hmmm... I think i may have to give this kit a go at some point soon here.

 

[indyhawg]

Paradigm Mini Monitors.

 

[nissan guy]

Haha...
Each pair of my speakers and each receiver/amplifier including huge Polk SDA SRS-3.1TL's and JBL L166's are under $500 so what to suggest? :headscrat

If the question was bookshelf under $50, then it'd be tricky and challenging. :scratch2:
Unless there is a specific brand in question, it's too open.

Well he did say bookshelf speakers and 15" high or under so i don't think he is gonna mount a set of jbl 166's above cabinets in a 15" space high up in a kitchen but i could be wrong. LOL Its 15" high and under 500 as stated in the first post.

Depending on depth the op may not want to use rear ported speakers as they may end up being placed too close to the wall behind them and may end up sounding much boomier than they ought to be. As stated there are many options and i would go out and have a listen to speakers that fit your criteria if possible. Or go the diy route and build a set that fits your requirements.

 

[musichal]

Paradigm Mini-Monitors were mentioned a few times in this thread, with one person stating he'd never heard them.

I have had a pair of MM v3 since I bought them new a few years ago. There is nothing 'mini' about the sound - the bass is surprisingly deep, and the mids and HF are very good. I've used them with an 8wpc tube amp, and with a 200wpc Adcom MOSFET, and sounded great either way. Reasonably efficient. Wear very well over time. You can do a lot worse for the $, but not a lot better, imo - unless you run across a killer deal on something outstanding, of course.

 

[baco99]

Newegg has these 2 closeout Definitive Technology speakers at a decent price with free shipping. If I were considering new speakers, these would definitively be among them. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to link or give prices in this forum.

Definitive Technology StudioMonitor 350 Bookshelf/Stand Mount Speaker (Black) Pair.

Definitive Technology StudioMonitor 450 Bookshelf Speaker (Black) Pair.

hold da phone.

that's insane.

how do they fit a 10" radiator in those cabs?

 

[baco99]

Paradigm Titan

Boston HD7

Polk S4

JBL 2600

KEF C30

hundreds of other possibilities. For $500 you could probably find all of the above list on the used market.

 

[scarede46er]

Boston Micro80X. They sound wonderful due to some reason, despite being pint sized

 

[michiganpat]

Well he did say bookshelf speakers and 15" high or under so i don't think he is gonna mount a set of jbl 166's above cabinets in a 15" space high up in a kitchen but i could be wrong. LOL Its 15" high and under 500 as stated in the first post.

actually, if placing on their sides is acceptible, it opens up a lot of options....an AR2, 2a,2ax,2x, AR5, AR6, KLH5/6/17/20/23, smaller advent, NLA, and I think even an AR3/3a are less than 15" wide....

 

[nissan guy]

Yeah very true. Most of which are good options due to acoustic suspension cabinets and reasonable depth.

 

[GD70]

I won't suggest them at this budget at all.
They are okay if their small size is required but anything slightly bigger from good brand stomps them like c#@p.
When people talk about Minimus 7's they always have their size in the context, otherwise meh...
I had 3 pairs and not for me.

The minimus 7's sound good but really sound great with a sub.

 

[cratz2]

hold da phone.

that's insane.

how do they fit a 10" radiator in those cabs?

I've never heard the 350 or 450s but I've heard their similar models that have irregularly-shaped radiators on top and they were very impressive.

To be honest, I think any of those four models (350/450 and the 45/55) would be excellent for that use. I generally find modern Definitives to be a little bit bright but like I said, I think that would be about ideal for high mounting use. I've thought about seeking out a pair of the 45s myself.

 

[baco99]

cratz2
thanks for the visuals. those Def Tech's are a BARGAIN and a 1/2

 

[finnbow]

One has to wonder about cabinet resonance/stiffness of the Def Tech with one whole side cut open for the PR. It would be interesting to see what their internal bracing looks like.

 

[Batch68]

For a tick over 500 you can get a brand new pair of Dana 630i's, which are very nice little speakers.

B

 

[atarione]

For a tick over 500 you can get a brand new pair of Dana 630i's, which are very nice little speakers.

B

oh heck i just was looking at these ... because of my interest in finding some new little bookshelf speakers for my computer setup...I think they are too wide sadly for my purposes..


BUT ... they have a promo code over at the audioinsider on these dana's for 25% off due to model year closeout sale.

hopefully the link is kosher and all ... apologies in advance if not but

http://www.theaudioinsider.com/product_info.php?p=dana-630i-compact-stand-monitor&products_id=165&

 

[theebadone]

JBL Pro lll