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Need help selecting new bookshelf speakers

jwest1197

jwest1197

New Member
I'm looking for a pair of bookshelf speakers to compliment my Realistic Nova 7B's. The reason I'm using this forums is because I'm looking for purposefully colored speakers. What I need is something with an 8 ohm resistance, moderately low power handling (Not much more than 100 WPC max), and they need to have very little bass and exaggerated upper mid-range detail. This is to compensate for what my current set offers already. I'd appreciate any assistance.
 
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Hi,

Of all the speakers I've heard JBL Control 1's fit the bill nicely.

Hideous IMO. No real bass and rip your ears off midrange / treble.

(I like good deep bass and high quality well balanced mid/treble.
Take that into account in judging my descriptions accuracy.)

Bizarrely some people like them, I've some idea why.
For what they are they go loud, but not my cup of tea.

rgds, sreten.
 
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wmgwizard said:
Sounds like you're looking for Yamaha NS10m's.
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Good suggestion,truth is many passive studio monitors would fit this description.

Catch is many of those are < 8ohms...

Only catch with the NS10m might be the prices they typically go for these days.

FWIW

Bret P.
 
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I should mention that I'm open to modern speakers since I have mini fortune in store credit at a certain electronic store.
 
Why not take that "mini fortune" and buy whatever sounds best to you at that store instead of trying to compensate for poor speakers?
 
JoeESP9 said:
Why not take that "mini fortune" and buy whatever sounds best to you at that store instead of trying to compensate for poor speakers?
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It's not that my speakers are badly preforming, they offer offer a very warm sound which can be great in some instances. It also seems more cost effective. The rason I brought up my mini fortune is that, I'd rather use my store credit, than spend actual money.
 
Bunch of store credit to burn 'eh,hmmm,well just for kicks maybe look into auditioning some JBL Arena 120/130 -or- Studio 220/230.

Not that they're necessarily lacking in low end,but they do tend to err just to the side of being a smidge bright,plus they're also all 8ohm speakers.
Lotta trickle down tech from the LSR series of powered studio monitors there too.

Food for thought...

Bret P.
 
Never listened too many realistic speakers myself, but I have enjoyed the Realistic Minimus 7 for over 20 years now. They have a forward, and bright sound with a present but manageable base on the old pioneer receivers I've always powered them with over the years. Imaging has always been good for me, and they can really be placed easily as surrounds. I believe you can get them in wood grain if you look hard enough, and you can also get their big brother, the Realistic minimus 77. Even on Ebay they are small and cheap enough to make a gamble on getting a tonal match but they are common enough that you should be able to find a good deal locally.

Then you could use your store credit to buy a high $$$ set up that gives you a different experience in a different room, or maybe improve your EQ management in the same room. Even if its "free money" or whatever, it doesn't make sense to be chasing older sound with new speakers when you can just buy something used with a reputation for reliability. If they do tank, there is still support for them, and supposedly some pretty good crossover kits that are probably cheaper then a Big Box Store warranty they'll try to sell you.

That's just my way of looking at things of course. I enjoy buying and reselling myself if the sound isn't my style. I guess new vs used decision should probably depend on how far in the future you see your new speakers satisfying you.
 
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xero-D-hero said:
Bunch of store credit to burn 'eh,hmmm,well just for kicks maybe look into auditioning some JBL Arena 120/130 -or- Studio 220/230.

Not that they're necessarily lacking in low end,but they do tend to err just to the side of being a smidge bright,plus they're also all 8ohm speakers.
Lotta trickle down tech from the LSR series of powered studio monitors there too.

Food for thought...

Bret P.
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Interestingly enough I was considering those. I was also considering the JBL Arena B15's. As far as I could find online, they're supposed to be nearly identical to the Arena 120's. Sadly they didn't have them in store where I was considering checking them out.
 
Some people say that Polk Audio speakers have a certain "sound." I don't know if they mean that Polk "colors" the sound or not.

Anyways, since your credit is at a store with modern speakers, maybe try some of Polk's bookshelf speakers... and there's lots of choices.
 
I have a set of 8b's now as part of the herd and years ago had 7b's. I recently recapped the 8b's and the mid's and tweets kicked into high gear! Perhaps recapping the 7b's might accomplish all you need. The 7b's I had back in the late 70's were some of the best sounding speakers that I auditioned at RS and audio stores regardless of price point. Also make sure the tweets are working. Over driving the tweets in the 7's and 8's are their weakness.
 
gbroot said:
I have a set of 8b's now as part of the herd and years ago had 7b's. I recently recapped the 8b's and the mid's and tweets kicked into high gear! Perhaps recapping the 7b's might accomplish all you need. The 7b's I had back in the late 70's were some of the best sounding speakers that I auditioned at RS and audio stores regardless of price point. Also make sure the tweets are working. Over driving the tweets in the 7's and 8's are their weakness.
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Thanks, but I know that's not the issue. The place I bought them from always inspects and repairs it's used gear. They sound good, but it's not quite how I want it to sound.
 
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