Your favorite bookshelf speakers are????

geowak · « **on:** 24 Oct 2008, 03:38 pm »

Most of us have had a pair of bookshelf speakers we have really liked. Regardless of price and era, list the speakers you owned, how much they cost and why you liked them- ie (warm, open, great soundstage, well made, etc.)

I have some soemwhat inexpensive Monitor Audio BR2's that I think sound great ($329). Also had some older Altec Lansing speakers that were nice, can't remember the model number though ($250-1983).

Wayner · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 Oct 2008, 04:20 pm »

I had a pair of AR-2ax's, AR-5's, JBL-L100's and now own 2 pairs of Dynaco A25XL's, Paradigm 40v.3 studio monitors, Paradigm Atoms, Madisound Cygnet II's. Out of the lot I which I had the AR-5's again and the L100's where fun too.

I was always curious about the early KLH, EPI and Advent speakers, but never had the pleasure of owning them. I did have a pair of Wharfedales, but they went away real quick (they SUCK) IMHO.

I have my eyes on a pair of Dynaudio's and still considering a pair from Salk (CAO1W) if I go that route.

Wayner

JimJ · « **Reply #2 on:** 24 Oct 2008, 07:38 pm »

I've never owned a pair, but most of the bookshelves that I've heard that use Seas Excels I've really liked.

The Zaph Audio ZDT5's seem like a cool project as well...I'm a huge fan of SS Revelators as well...

batmanslc2 · « **Reply #3 on:** 24 Oct 2008, 08:34 pm »

Quad 12L and ACI sapphire III, now using 12L active>> they do a lot of things right, soundstage, balance,dissappering act all for a stupid good price of around $800 with biamp power on board

geowak · « **Reply #4 on:** 24 Oct 2008, 09:03 pm »

A side note- The BEST bookshelf speakers I have heard, but do not own, were of pair of Wilson Duettes
with an external crossxover. (On loan from a friend) Very nice sound. Well balanced, low bass, great imaging and tremendous dynamic range. Also, Duettes are very musical.

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/wilson_duette.htm
http://blog.stereophile.com/ces2006/010506wilson/

sbrtoy · « **Reply #5 on:** 24 Oct 2008, 09:29 pm »

Those Duettes are monitors taken to the limit, and while quite expensive they do sound very nice.

Of course for more a more affordable option I would look at my own Rapide monitors at $2399/pr (shameless plug!)

KS · « **Reply #6 on:** 24 Oct 2008, 10:45 pm »

I've built two sets of the new GR-Research NEO-2X, and like them very much.
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=54382.0

Here's a review of this speaker's ported brother, the NEO-1X:
http://www.affordableaudio.org/aa2008-10.pdf
"These speakers have outstanding performance in the midrange and treble region. The imaging characteristics are as good as most monitor class speakers that reside in the two or three thousand price bracket. The bass response is quite respectable, especially in light of the modest size of the bass driver and speaker cabinet.3 I thoroughly enjoy my listening sessions with these speakers, and often leave them in for extended periods of time. The NEO-1X has become my personal gold standard for evaluating the value of monitor class speakers. The top to bottom performance of this speaker is remarkably consistent, and the associated price tag is makes them a veritable steal. Over the years I have heard several small speakers with hefty price tags, and while many of these speakers are enchanting, it is hard to justify the asking price of these pieces. The NEO-1X speakers perform at the same level as the kilo-buck monitors do, and is a refreshing alternative to the two thousand dollar monitors offered by mainstream speaker manufacturers."

ASi_TEK · « **Reply #7 on:** 24 Oct 2008, 10:53 pm »

Silverline Audio Minuets ($600 new, biampable!) are probably the best bookshelf speakers I have ever heard. They filled an entire room nicely at the venetion at CES 2008.

Marbles · « **Reply #8 on:** 24 Oct 2008, 11:08 pm »

nOrh custom mini 9.0 built out of marble in a column shape. Scanspeak Revelator woofor and tweeter, XO modified by Dennis Murphy.

The pink on top is a reflection off the front doors

SwedeSound · « **Reply #9 on:** 24 Oct 2008, 11:25 pm »

The OP mentioned Monitor Audios -- and that's exactly how I got into this crazy hobby when I found these ...

Monitor Audio Studio 6's for $10 at a yard sale a block from home. They were $2,500 new... and you can find them for $600-$900 on the used market depending on the finish and condition. I will never part with them. They're that good. They have a great frequency response (40hz-30khz), excellent imaging and they easily handle 95 percent of all music I listen to. I especially like how they disappear in the room. Music just washes over me.

-Jason

bunky · « **Reply #10 on:** 25 Oct 2008, 02:46 pm »

I swapped a Rega Apollo for a pair of GMA Europa's and i really thought they were nice little speakers

fsimms · « **Reply #11 on:** 25 Oct 2008, 06:57 pm »

When I was at the RMAF this month the bookshelf speakers that impressed me were the Sonist Concerto 2's. I thought they were very good. They were very clean and balanced. I wouldn't swap my Salk HT1's for them but I thought the were outstanding.

kbuzz3 · « **Reply #12 on:** 25 Oct 2008, 08:57 pm »

Real LS35A's are my favorite. Id always wanted to hear some classic epi and ADS models....

TONEPUB · « **Reply #13 on:** 25 Oct 2008, 11:28 pm »

Im really happy with my Stirling LS3/5a's...

TerryO · « **Reply #14 on:** 26 Oct 2008, 12:07 am »

My favorite Bookshelf speakers are, in order:

Exodus Audio's "Kepler"
Rosgaard DR-1 minimonitors

The Keplers are superb, having world-class tonal and octave to octave balance. Great bass impact and extention for a 6.5 inch midwoofer with low distortion at any sane (even insane) volume level without break-up or any audible abnormalities. The XBL 2 midwoofer is decidedly SOTA and the crossover certainly contributes to an amazing presentation. These are the best that I've heard, both price-wise and in absolute terms.

The DR-1 is a small monitor that has been superceded by the DR-2 with a slightly better tweeter. The sound of these is all out of proportion to their size and the 2nd order Series crossover may have a lot to do with it. I've had these at contests and several meets where they've always gotten a lot of praise for their sound.

Best Regards,
TerryO

Bill Baker · « **Reply #15 on:** 26 Oct 2008, 01:03 am »

Without getting into current models, I would have to say my favorite all time bookshelf is the Polk Audio Monitor 4 (mid 80's era). They were amazing little speakers that I wish I still had around. Above them would be the Polk 10B but I hardly consider them a "bookshelf".

I had sveral pair of Dynaco A25's and were a beatuful speaker for a vintage system. Most recently, they were paired with a mint McIntosh 1500 tube receiver that I picked up for $100. Musica Bella! (beautiful music)

bunky · « **Reply #16 on:** 26 Oct 2008, 01:51 am »

I owned a pair of Polk monitor 4's paired with Harmon Kardon reciever and a Technics turtable back in the day and the little monitor 4's did sound really nice

wje · « **Reply #17 on:** 26 Oct 2008, 02:03 am »

I'm loving the Usher S-520s. After many, many bookshelf/monitor speakers, these are my favorite - and are used often in my bedroom for late night listening.

bacobits1 · « **Reply #18 on:** 26 Oct 2008, 02:08 am »

The ones that stick in my mind on how they imaged were Scientific Fidelity Tesla's, pyramid shaped ( from the late 80's?) as I remember and oh how they imaged. I think at the time they were like $1300.
I have never heard a speaker like these since.

D

timind · « **Reply #19 on:** 26 Oct 2008, 02:11 am »

My dad bought a pair of Polk Audio Monitor 4s at a garage sale for $5. They are still in excellent shape and do sound very good.
The best stand mount speakers I've owned are the Revel M-20s. The M-20s are amazing and a good bargain at used prices.