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Sub $500 (Pair) bookshelf Speakers for Music

M

marjen

New Member
Hey guys.

I am setting up a small audio system in the family room. Currently have the following:

U-Turn Orbit turntable
Pioneer VSX-1018ah receiver
squeezebox
Onix X-LS speakers

I am not really happy with the speakers. They seem to distort pretty easily and feel very muddy. I mostly listen to rock, punk, alt rock, acoustic stuff. I am looking for a new pair of speakers. Do to the room and space I would like bookshelf speakers. What are some good suggestions for clean sounding speakers that will perform well for a music only setup? Looking to keep it under $500 for the pair.
 
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Morbius: I was just eavesdropping on this thread... thanks for suggestions... can you comment on these different speakers and their relative merits? Or just all "thumbs up"? Thanks and thanks to O.P.
 
Hmmm might look into the wardedale or focals. Any thoughts on how these would compare to the Pioneer Andrew Jones bookshelves? Been reading a lot about them and wondering if they would fit the bill. Just thinking a pair of $100 speakers are probably not that great but intrigued.
 
marjen said:
Hmmm might look into the wardedale or focals. Any thoughts on how these would compare to the Pioneer Andrew Jones bookshelves? Been reading a lot about them and wondering if they would fit the bill. Just thinking a pair of $100 speakers are probably not that great but intrigued.
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I highly recommend the modified SP-BS22-LR Affordable Accuracy Monitors from Philharmonic Audio (Dennis Murphy). At $165/pair they are still well within your budget:

http://philharmonicaudio.com/folio-m...ages/AALS.html

Andrew Jones did an amazing job within the budget constraints he was given. The cabinet and little 4" woofer are excellent for any price point. The tweeter and crossover were where he had to make compromises to keep the cost down.

Dennis replaces the stock tweeter with a nicer Vifa tweeter and uses a 7-element crossover to smooth out the transition between midrange and treble.

With Dennis' guidance, I have modified a pair of my Pioneers and they sound even better than the stock units (which are quite excellent in their unmodified state). I have over $50 in materials and several hours of my time in completing the modifications. So, since you don't already have the speakers, I recommend just buying the modified speakers from Dennis. It will save you a lot of time, and since Dennis tests every speaker he modifies, you know it will be done right. You're basically getting a superb set of speakers for $165.00 with Dennis' time and expertise thrown in for free.
 
MCM-FAN - I just took a look at that site and it is interesting. I just picked up a piar of the SP-C22 from best buy and I am going to give those a go in a vertical MTM setup.
Then i need to decide if these will do or if I want to maybe pluck done some more cash for something like the Focal 706V, SVS monitors or maybe the golden Ear Aon-2. All are over my current budget but maybe just do this once and be done.
 
I wouldn't consider the BS-22s in the same league as Monitor Audio. Haven't heard the Focals.

Yes - the Golden Ear Aon-2's look very interesting. Another speaker at your price point you may like (since you mentioned rock) are the JBL Studio 530s. They are different, and good.
 
operaman said:
Morbius: I was just eavesdropping on this thread... thanks for suggestions... can you comment on these different speakers and their relative merits? Or just all "thumbs up"? Thanks and thanks to O.P.
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Sure. I own the Focal 706V, Def Tech SM 450 and Def Tech SM 350. The Warfedales I suggested based on the many positive reviews. The PSBs I suggested because they are on sale and everyone likes a bargain.

In my opinion, the Focal 706Vs excel at high quality jazz and classical recordings. If you like more visceral music with a good beat the Def Tech SM 450s do a fine job. The SM 350s are alright, but they aren't as good as the SM 450s.

Again, just my opinion.
 
lico said:
I wouldn't consider the BS-22s in the same league as Monitor Audio.
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Have you done an A/B comparison between the two? Have you heard the Dennis Murphy modified Affordable Accuracy Monitors (SP-BS22-LR with a better tweeter and improved crossover)?

I haven't heard the Monitor Audio Bronze BX2, but I have a pair of Monitor Audio Bronze B1 (the predecessor to the BX2's little brother the BX1). I have done a direct A/B comparison between the unmodified Pioneers and the Monitor Audio Bronze B1 speakers and preferred the Pioneers, but it was very, very close. In fact, for a while I was running a 5.1 system with the Pioneers as the front mains and the Monitor Audios as the rears. They integrated very well together.

Of course, I have no doubt that the bigger more expensive Monitor Audio Bronze BX2, would sound better than the smaller prior generation Bronze B1 model, but I'd be surprised if the Murphy modified Pioneers couldn't at least hang with the BX2 model, and wouldn't be at all surprised if they bested them.

And at only $165/pair, the modified Pioneers are a lot less expensive that the Monitor Audios at $489/pair. That leaves a lot left over to spend on a subwoofer (if desired) or other system improvements.

That said, the Monitor Audios are a much better looking speaker (both the cabinet and the drivers) than the Pioneers. I gave my set of Monitor Audio Bronze B1 speakers to my daughter. She loves them and runs them with the grills off with a vintage Sansui receiver I restored for her. It's a very nice looking, and very nice sounding little system.
 
No I haven't heard the Dennis Murphy modified Affordable Accuracy Monitors. In fact, I can't even follow the link you posted to look at them.

A set of BX2s is already in the the OPs price range, and a sub wasn't mentioned. Perhaps the OP wants to add a sub, not sure.

The BS-22s are only rated down to 55Hz, same as the existing Onix X-LS speakers. The BX2s are rated down to 42 Hz and IMO will produce a more enjoyable listening experience if both speakers are left to stand on their own merits (with no help from a sub).

MA CCAM tweets sound great on acoustic music, for rock they can get a little bright though. Hence my JBL recommendation.
 
Ok so as an update. I do have a pair of the Pioneer SP-C22 and have been giving them a listen. Not bad but not blowing me away. They might be a little better than the x-ls, but still a little veiled. I think i am going to place an order for the def tech SM 450s from Amazon for $350. I figure I will give them a try, if I do not like them I can always return them. Fingers crossed.
 
Well I have had a couple of says to play with the def techs. Right now they are part of the following system:

u-turn audio orbit turntable
emotiva lmc-1 pre/pro
icon desktop amp
squeezebox

I trie a couple different setups with the speakers and so far this one is the best sounding. I do have a pretty powerful pioneer receiver but it does not really perform well for 2 channel.

So far these are a step above the onix x-ls I was using before and the pioneers I tried as well. Not sure about them long term as they seem to be a little TOO bright. I wanted something with more clarity in the upper mids and highs and these have that, but with some recordings they are a little to abrasive. Maybe they will calm down a little as they break in (of that phenomenon is real). I got them from amazon so probably have at least 30 days to give them a swing and see how i feel then.

I am also considering mating them with a yamaha A-S500 integrated amp. The emotiva does not have a headphone jack and I like to use headphones sometimes so that is a bit of a problem. I hear great things about it and I believe yamaha strays a little more on the warm side so they might get along great.
 
LSA-1 in black

Currently 499 plus shipping.

They are rear ported so you need a foot from the wall.

I heard them recently and loved them. I will be buying a pair myself.
 
marjen said:
... I wanted something with more clarity in the upper mids and highs and these have that, but with some recordings they are a little to abrasive.
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That could be due to the recordings. Revealing speakers will tell the tale of a flawed recording.
 
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