[Magnus_CA]

Hello all,

I'm looking for a bookshelf in a Maple Veneer.  Ideally it should be around $1000 per pair.

Thanks in advance for your replies!

More info as requested...

I'd like a 2-way or 3-way with a 5 1/2" to 7" driver.  Even though I plan to buy a sub for LFE I'd like the mains to have sufficient bass extension so they don't need a sub to sound good.  14" tall would probably be as tall as I'd like the cabinet to be.  A matching center channel would be a plus, or I might opt to go with three monitors across the front.  I listen to all genre's of music, sans classical and country.  I'm at about 50-50 music to HT, so the speakers would have to be capable of 5.1 theater use as well.  My room dimensions are 15'Dx20'Wx8'H (main listening along 20' wall) with openings to a small dining room and adjoining kitchen.

[JLM]

Why a front port?  If you're so close to the back wall to effect port performance (less than 6 inches) you'd have no imaging anyway.  This is a myth that I'm glad to bust:

Pressure = force divided by area

Typical standmounts would have a port about 1.5 inch diameter, so area = 1.77 in^ (Pi x radius^)

Once the air leaves the port and enters free space, the pressure wave would assume a semi-spherical shape.

At 6 inch away the surface area of the sphere would be 452 in^ (4 x Pi x radius ^)

So the relative pressure would be less than 1% of the port.


The advantage of rear-port is not hearing some of the mid/high (directional) frequencies in the back wave.

[gitarretyp]

You should check out selahaudio.com. The ssr would proably be a good choice. Also, if you're going to be placing near a wall, rick could take out the baffle-step compensation, which would help it sound better.

[JLM]

When we were shopping for maple flooring we found a wider variety of colors than we'd imagined, from very blond to almost reddish.  Take care.

So we went with bamboo to compliment our cherry furniture/cabinets.  Looks very cool.

[Magnus_CA]

Why a front port?  If you're so close to the back wall to effect port performance (less than 6 inches) you'd have no imaging anyway.  This is a myth that I'm glad to bust:

Pressure = force divided by area

Typical standmounts would have a port about 1.5 inch diameter, so area = 1.77 in^ (Pi x radius^)

Once the air leaves the port and enters free space, the pressure wave would assume a semi-spherical shape.

At 6 inch away the surface area of the sphere would be 452 in^ (4 x Pi x radius ^)

So the relative pressure would be less than 1% of the port.


The advantage of rear-port is not hearing some of the mid/high (directional) frequencies in the back wave.

So in laymens terms...I shouldn't be concerned with front or rear porting?  They will probably be positioned no closer than 12" from the wall.

[Magnus_CA]

When we were shopping for maple flooring we found a wider variety of colors than we'd imagined, from very blond to almost reddish.  Take care.

So we went with bamboo to compliment our cherry furniture/cabinets.  Looks very cool.

Bingo, trying to match Maple flooring that's already picked out.  I'd call it on the blonder side.  I figured the safest bet was to go with maple veneer.

[Magnus_CA]

You should check out selahaudio.com. The ssr would proably be a good choice. Also, if you're going to be placing near a wall, rick could take out the baffle-step compensation, which would help it sound better.

SSR's look BIG!  And, they're a little over budget, assembled.  The only other problem is I will ultimately need a matching center channel, and the Sardonyx is not a perfect match driver-wise.

[Magnus_CA]

Why a front port?  If you're so close to the back wall to effect port performance (less than 6 inches) you'd have no imaging anyway.  This is a myth that I'm glad to bust...

The advantage of rear-port is not hearing some of the mid/high (directional) frequencies in the back wave.

I've seen the light.  Post modified.

[gitarretyp]

You should check out selahaudio.com. The ssr would proably be a good choice. Also, if you're going to be placing near a wall, rick could take out the baffle-step compensation, which would help it sound better.

SSR's look BIG!  And, they're a little over budget, assembled.  The only other problem is I will ultimately need a matching center channel, and the Sardonyx is not a perfect match driver-wise.

Rick has many designs, most of which aren't listed. Take a look at the gallery page to get an idea. I'm sure he has designs in your price range, with matching center channels.

[AJinFLA]

http://www.madisound.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=35_40_275&products_id=1688

Perfect match L,R & C, unlike MT, MTM, etc.
Yes, requires screwdriver (electric if you have one). But that's why it's not $1000 retail.
My 2c only.

cheers,

AJ

[Docutech]

What about these:
http://www.axiomaudio.com/gallery_disp.html?image=M22MapleGrilleOff2.jpg&title=M22

I own a pair of these and Love them!

[Magnus_CA]

What about these:
http://www.axiomaudio.com/gallery_disp.html?image=M22MapleGrilleOff2.jpg&title=M22

I own a pair of these and Love them!

Nice looking but I have yet to find a metal tweeter that I like.

[JLM]

MagnusCA,

Yeah, unless you put the speakers in bookshelves, the rear port should never be a problem.

If you have maple, try cherry to complement.  (Go to Lowes and put flooring side by side, I love it.)  Another option is black against maple, very stunning.

I use the orginal Ascend Acoustics in my HT and love'm.  The cheap vinyl finish is the pits, but the sound and content value is superb.  Very musical, image like champs, and can keep up with HT spls.  The new $800/pair Sierra-1 (and matching center channel) aught to be killer.  Hand matched drivers with printouts provided, 7 year warrantee, and made in the USA.  Available in black and bamboo.  ascendacoustics.com

[Cacophonix]

There are several that you can choose from. If you decide to buy used, you can get an even better deal.

You can work with Rick of Selah Audio to get a quality monitor in your budget.
Danny of GR Research has the AV/1 or AV/2 which make for great LCR. Just find a reasonable wood worker and you'll end up with a great speaker which , without doubt, will outperform the ones from big name brand companies.

If you absolutely insist on finished speakers, just scout audiogon, and you'll see a whole bunch of speakers that will fit your need. Tyler Acoustics keeps showing up. Or you can try ascend acoustics, AV123, Paradigm, PSB, NHT ... the list is endless. You've got to be more specific in terms of what you want.

[Magnus_CA]

You've got to be more specific in terms of what you want.

Well, I'd like a 2-way or 3-way with a 5 1/2" to 7" driver.  Even though I plan to buy a sub for LFE I'd like the mains to have sufficient bass extension so they don't need a sub to sound good.  14" tall would probably be as tall as I'd like the cabinet to be.  A matching center channel would be a plus, or I might opt to go with three monitors across the front.  I listen to all genre's of music, sans classical and country.  I'm at about 50-50 music to HT, so the speakers would have to be capable of 5.1 theater use as well.  My room dimensions are 15'Dx20'Wx8'H (main listening along 20' wall) with openings to a small dining room and adjoining kitchen.

[tvyankee]

Hello

Used pair of vr1's from vsa,they come in maple.You can get them for around $500.00 or $600.00 sometimes less.

They really do sound good.They also have b-stock sometimes just call them.

http://www.vonschweikert.com/zvr1.htm

Good luck

[WEEZ]

Another option to think about would be to have Jim Salk build you a pair of MBOW1 or CAOW1 (www.salksound.com/mbow1.shtml). Jim might match your flooring if you could provide a sample......

WEEZ

[Magnus_CA]

Hello

Used pair of vr1's from vsa,they come in maple.You can get them for around $500.00 or $600.00 sometimes less.

They really do sound good.They also have b-stock sometimes just call them.

http://www.vonschweikert.com/zvr1.htm

Good luck

Thanks.  I've heard of VS, but wrote them off since they discontinued the VR1's.  I'll give them a call about B-stock models but I'm not confident that I'll find an affordable center channel to match them.

[Magnus_CA]

Another option to think about would be to have Jim Salk build you a pair of MBOW1 or CAOW1 (www.salksound.com/mbow1.shtml). Jim might match your flooring if you could provide a sample......

WEEZ

Jim is on my short list.  I've heard great things about Salk Sound and Selah.

[jrebman]

I'm with Cacophonix -- try the smaller GR Reaserch models and have Denny, (daygloworange) build them for you and you will have some very nice speakers that look and sound great.

-- Jim