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Recommend me some budget small-ish bookshelf speakers

N

ngtoastet

New Member
Hey guys,
I have some old JBL J2050 bookshelf speakers I’m looking to move away from for something better, and preferably of a similar size. They will be paired with an Adcom GFA 535II amp and a Velodyne CHT-8 sub. For around ~$140, I’ve seen the Polk xt15, which seem to be the best bet on the new market. I suck with speakers, but the used ones I’ve come across that look nice are Paradigm Atom V2 ($110) and Canton LE120 ($150 - beautiful wood!) Which would you recommend, and which should I look out for? Thanks
 
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Please list preferences
- new
- used
- style of music you like

I don't have all the answers, but asking the right questions will help :)
 
Thanks for replying, I don’t really have a preference for new vs used, I’m fine without a warranty, chances are I can sell or repair. I listen to a lot of electronic, mainly artists like Amon Tobin and Luke Vibert. I’d prefer these speakers to be very flat, but a subtle emphasis on treble or bass is fine.
 
I bought a set of Triangle Borea B03's this year. I'm not quite sure what your target budget is from your post, but at $350 new I feel like they're an absolute steal. I listen to a wide variety of music and they perform beautifully on everything I've thrown at them. It's hard to believe the sound is coming from a speaker this size. The bass seems to be bottomless. They're front ported which is ideal for my small listening space. It may be helpful to include some details about your listening space as well.
 
I’m listening in a small room, maybe 14x11ft? Those speakers are pretty expensive, not looking to spend more than $160, I’m not gonna use them nearly as often as my headphones. (Shared space)
 
I'd recommend (original, made in USA) NHT Super One's (I own a pair), or even the Super Zero's (with a sub). Both are very good sounding speakers which can be found on eaby, within your budget. Although, shipping costs would add to that.
 
Hmmm... here is what I'd look for on ebay or reverb music:

- Boston Acoustics CR6
- Paradigm Mini Monitor
- Mission MS-50

My two cents is worth what you paid for it, but I am convinced that you can't go wrong, with any of these three... Have personally heard the Bostons and Missions, love their sound.
 
I’ve seen those BA speakers, and asked a buddy if he knew of them, I was told they lack clarity. I’ve heard great things about them online, and now you’re recommendation is swaying me towards them :) He recommended the polks, and that’s why they’re the only new speakers on my list. The other two speakers also look nice so I’ll ask around about them, thanks for the recommendations!
 
I have Boston Acoustic A40 speakers in my garage and I like their sound. May be a bit bigger than you want though. I think NHT Super One's were mentioned here. Had them as well. Good speaker but I wouldn't run them without a sub.
 
Boston A40 or A60 are good suggestions, as are the NHT Super Zero or One.
Monitor Audio B1 should also be in your price range, although they may be a bit harder to find, and shipping speakers gets pricey fast.
I personally have a soft spot for the B&W DM302; they were a relatively low-end offering from B&W, but they were quite well reviewed by Stereophile and sound quite good for the price. One nice thing about them is that they're front ported so you can push them a bit closer to the wall.
 
drabina said:
I have Boston Acoustic A40 speakers in my garage and I like their sound. May be a bit bigger than you want though. I think NHT Super One's were mentioned here. Had them as well. Good speaker but I wouldn't run them without a sub.
Click to expand...
Have the Boston A40 in my garage as well, 'corner loaded' for low end. They sound excellent.... in fact, some of my audio friends state that my garage system sounds better than most people's home systems. No joke. The chink in the armor is that they will likely need a re-foam of the woofer suspension. I re-foamed mine, a tedious task, but glad I did it. A gem of small speakers....
 
I'm not sure if you mentioned a budget but I recently bought a pair of Wharfedale 10.1 speakers after search too long for a pair of 10.2 in my area. A VERY impressive little speaker. Paired with a small sub in my small office. Just WOW.
 
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