AudioCircle
Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Enclosures => Topic started by: Doublej on 30 Dec 2017, 08:42 pm
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I am looking to get some new speakers, fairly small and around $300. I am looking for something that leans towards the lush side to mate with a Yamaha AVR.
The front runners are KEF Q100 (currently $229), Q Acoustics 3020 ($249) and Elac B5 ($180).
Thoughts on the above, others to consider?
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Will you be using a sub? Are you constricted to a certain physical size?
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I am looking to get some new speakers, fairly small and around $300. I am looking for something that leans towards the lush side to mate with a Yamaha AVR.
The front runners are KEF Q100 (currently $229), Q Acoustics 3020 ($249) and Elac B5 ($180).
Thoughts on the above, others to consider?
Here is a pair of Axiom M2's (Rosewood). Remarkable bookshelves for the price. I own all of their bookshelf models. Severely underrated. I will switch my M2's out with my Omega Super 5's and they compete. Way more similaraties than differences. Same tweeter as the Bryston line.
http://www.axiomaudio.com/deals/refurb-store/1368
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+1 on the Axiom M2's. I have heard them and recommend for sure. :thumb:
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+1 on the Axiom M2's. I have heard them and recommend for sure. :thumb:
Yo. Milford 3>>>>> Less than $400 for Rosewood Axiom... Damn!!!
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Let it be known that Bryston speakers uses Axiom drivers. A good thing.
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What is the house sound of the Axiom Speaker? Are they forward or laid back? I have always been intrigued with their bookshelves but have never had the chance to listen to them.
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I have these. Excellent speakers.
http://www.axiomaudio.com/m22-bookshelf-speakers
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What is the house sound of the Axiom Speaker? Are they forward or laid back? I have always been intrigued with their bookshelves but have never had the chance to listen to them.
They are forward this side of neutral. May to some clinical sounding...but revealing. Their M22's with a good sub for the price are damn right astounding.
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I have these. Excellent speakers.
http://www.axiomaudio.com/m22-bookshelf-speakers
Very transparent.
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These sounded amazing for the money. (Hi-Fi speaker of the Year). Actually just pretty amazing period for a small box..... Filled my listening room which is pretty good size easily.
https://www.whathifi.com/dynaudio/emit-m20/review
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These sounded amazing for the money. (Hi-Fi speaker of the Year). Actually just pretty amazing period for a small box..... Filled my listening room which is pretty good size easily.
https://www.whathifi.com/dynaudio/emit-m20/review (https://www.whathifi.com/dynaudio/emit-m20/review)
Dynaudio Emit 20 are $999/pair
I am looking to get some new speakers, fairly small and around $300.
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Saw that -Thanks. Just thought I might add that for a couple hundred more (used) or 700 new, he could have a magnitude improvement in performance. IMO...
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After 15 years still loving my Ascend Acoustics CBM-170's. Very musical with magical imaging without being colored. Highly praised when introduced. Compared to modern monitors not quite as articulate but far less bass/mid-bass constipation (without bloat) and not fatiguing. The soundstage is realistically portrayed (large/deep, not forward or recessed). IME 'natural' detail (clarity) comes from great imaging without the surgical level of detail that many speakers produce, which is also more forgiving of most poor recordings. Currently the newer CBM-170SE's are on holiday sale for $298/pair. The 170's put the money into the drivers/crossover, certainly not the finish (cheap vinyl wrap in the originals). Nearly the polar opposite of the thin/cheap sounding Elac B5, I'd say less detail but better imaging than the UB5.
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Before my Sierra 1's i owned the ascend 170's and fully agree with your comments. They are a fine sounding speaker, however I could not get over the aesthetics, the are oddly shaped square with the cheap vinyl wrap. Even with their 6.5" driver I felt like they did not handle low end well and need a sub.
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Will you be using a sub? Are you constricted to a certain physical size?
I will be adding a sub at some point in the future. Maximum height is 13". No limits on width or depth, based on typical width and depth dimensions for a 13" tall speaker.
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Before my Sierra 1's i owned the ascend 170's and fully agree with your comments. They are a fine sounding speaker, however I could not get over the aesthetics, the are oddly shaped square with the cheap vinyl wrap. Even with their 6.5" driver I felt like they did not handle low end well and need a sub.
All true. I unlike their squattish shape and cheap vinyl wrap too, but many monitors lack low end. Would much prefer honest performance versus trying to do what the laws of physics dictate can't be done. And if you've read Floyd Toole's "Sound Reproduction" you know that multiple subs is a far better solution than passive floor standers.
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For about $240 with shipping ($210 list) these -
http://philharmonicaudio.com/aa.html
Everyone who owns one, raves.
See post #6197 to start.
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/showthread2.php?p=55153036#post55153036
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Over in avs it seems like users or both the kef and q acoustics go back and fourth on what they prefer. I have never heard the Jed's but the q acoustics is a good speaker for the money. It tends to play all generes of music well. It has a punchy midrange with a nice overall balanced sound.
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Anyone like the Wharfedales? They were all the rage when I was in school. The Diamonds are right around the OP's price point.
http://www.wharfedale.co.uk/product-list.php?cid=15
The new Quad S1 is getting raves but is close to $1000. http://www.quad-hifi.co.uk/product-detail.php?pid=22
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For about $240 with shipping ($210 list) these -
http://philharmonicaudio.com/aa.html
Everyone who owns one, raves.
See post #6197 to start.
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/showthread2.php?p=55153036#post55153036
I too have heard nothing but good about those. Although I haven't 'heard' them myself.
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I've heard the little Philharmonics briefly (on my own system that over matched them) and wasn't impressed. Did nothing well, maybe just too cheap for my taste, but the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170's IME were vastly superior for passives. The JBL LSR305 also beat them handily but in different ways sonically. Even the ELAC B6 soundly beat them (and I'm not a particular fan). Perhaps on par with the Pioneers (heard them a couple of year ago) that everyone raved about a couple of years ago (which again I couldn't warm up to).
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I will be adding a sub at some point in the future. Maximum height is 13". No limits on width or depth, based on typical width and depth dimensions for a 13" tall speaker.
I bought these https://www.elac.com/product/ub5/?r=us last year and really like them. Set them on a solid platform, give them plenty of space around them and they will reward you. Bass is very good for their size and they can take a lot of clean power without breaking up as long as your amp is stable at 4 ohms.
This year I am going to add dual https://www.svsound.com/products/sb-1000
Good luck
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I've heard them briefly (on my own system that over matched them) and wasn't impressed. Did nothing well, maybe just too cheap for my taste, but the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170's IME were vastly superior for passives.
Was it the modified Pioneers or the newer modified Parts Express speaker that you listened to?
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I bought these https://www.elac.com/product/ub5/?r=us last year and really like them. Set them on a solid platform, give them plenty of space around them and they will reward you. Bass is very good for their size and they can take a lot of clean power without breaking up as long as your amp is staple at 4 ohms.
This year I am going to add dual https://www.svsound.com/products/sb-1000
Good luck
I had the modified Phil Pioneers, gave them to my brother-in-law. Replaced them with the Elac UB5 which were more to my liking. So was the Von Schweikert designed LSA .5s which I had and really liked. Gave them to a friend but I now wish I hadn’t. Underwood Wally sells them as below:
LSA .5 excellent small monitor spkr in rosewood or black $999/pr Factory Direct price $399/pr in black $449/pr in Rosewood
LSA-1 monitor speakers w/excellent reviews - Retail $1,300/pr Factory Direct price $599/Pr in Rosewood
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Was it the modified Pioneers or the newer modified Parts Express speaker that you listened to?
The newer modified Parts Express speaker.
Check Underwood HiFi for prices on the LSA speakers.
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Hi
not sure of your local but I have a pair of the Phillharmonic AA the latest ones,they were a cheap local stand in while waiting for other speakers.PLEANTY of positive reviews and MY opinion is they BETTER the elacs (the b5 and b6)for frequency response and good response across the spectrum. Its all personel taste.The price is always a factor for entry level gear,I could probably get them to you shipped for 150 ish WELL packed.They are in good shape but grills gone.Shared room with Dyn focus 160s and Tyler Taylos and price factored in they were very good for fraction of price.
Oh and used in a 2.1 set up with the ARS-500 sub I took to JLM for his movie room,that was a great little CHEAP 2.1 but shipping as a package would have killed the value of set-up
You can PM me if interested,
Happy Hunting and happy New Year :thumb:
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You may also wish to consider the best pair of Wharfdale speakers you can afford within your size restrictions as well. I use a pair for TV/video/music and their sound, while not "lush", is very natural and non-fatiguing. They are of high value for your dollar IMO.
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Would you be open to DIY from a kit and a 15" tall cabinet? If so, I'd look at the Parts-Express Classix II https://www.parts-express.com/classix-ii-mt-bookshelf-speaker-kit-with-knock-down-cabinet--300-7112
It's designed to sound forgiving over clinical and you could even pick better crossover parts plus choose the veneer you want!
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Another choice for a bookshelf speaker is Aperion audio. I have their C5 center speaker which is outstanding.
https://www.aperionaudio.com/speakers/stealth-black/intimus-5b-bookshelf-speaker-stealth-black
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Warm and lush sounds like Elac B series or Wharfedale.
Wild card option DIY but should be easy to put together are these Hi-vi's. You get a 3-way <$300. They also have a 2way $200.
I'm not aware of any 3way of that quality for so little. Good quality woofers and tweeters too.
https://www.amazon.com/HiVi-Bookshelf-Speakers-Near-Field-Speaker/dp/B0721ZQXDG/ (https://www.amazon.com/HiVi-Bookshelf-Speakers-Near-Field-Speaker/dp/B0721ZQXDG/)
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Forgive me if this has already been mentioned but there was a HUGE bookshelf shootout on AVS in 2015.
Hope this helps. Anyone hear those Energys?
Cheers,
Lester
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/89-speakers/2233954-2-0-bookshelf-compared-wharfedale-philharmonic-chane-musichall-elac-energy-kef.html
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Delete, duplicate post :oops: