[chgolatin2]

Hello, I need something in the 90+ db efficiency rating, whats good and cheerful out there these days?  I have a pair of PSB B25 good speaker but a little on the bright site due to its metal dome type tweeter.  Wondering if I should replace or modified it  ?  Anyway, any suggestions would be looked into.

Lastly, I'm running a Jolida FX10 integrated amp. Thanks

[jtwrace]

What's your idea of Cheap and Cheerful? 

[JimJ]

Also, what's your idea of "bookshelf"

Something single driver would definitely fall into this category...high efficiency, and low cost due to no crossover. But bass extension might be harder to achieve with a smaller cabinet size; can't beat Hoffman's Iron Law.

[JLM]

Ascend Acoustics CBM-170SE is pretty close to what you may want:  89 dB/w/m @ 8 ohms, 58-20,000 Hz anechoic, 12" x 9" x 10", 1" dome/6.5" polygel woofer, $368/pair shipped.  I have a pair of the original CBM-170 and still love them.  Not much to look at, but the content value is very high with the money going into the guts.

http://ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cbm170/cbm170.html


For a single driver design, it's hard to beat the prices from Tekton Design.  I'd suggest the Model 6.5: 94 dB/w/m at 8 ohms, 50 - 20,000 Hz, 6.5" Fostex driver, 19" x 9" x 12", $350/pair.  For $300/pair you could trade some bass depth/fullness and efficiency for speed and look at the Model 4.5.

http://www.tektondesign.com/model65.htm

[JimJ]

DIY...DIY...

http://planet10-hifi.com/boxes-fostex.html#fonken

[chrisby]

DIY...DIY...

http://planet10-hifi.com/boxes-fostex.html#fonken

yas,  very nice, particularly in bamboo

[chgolatin2]

My idea of cheap and cheerful is below the $600 price range    the Tekton speakers rated at 94 db look promising 

[TheChairGuy]

Tuff finding a lot of highly efficient speakers that are bookshelves, Robert...without going to single driver units (with or without additional supertweeters)

Small drivers are less efficient, generally speaking

If you don't like single drivers (I've yet to hear a pair that I wanted to own, but that's me), then find a pair of bookshelves with minimal crossover network.  They'll be a lot less lost on the way to your ears with minimal crossovers.

Have you considered active speakers?  It's a good way to go and there are some very fairly priced units on the market these days.

I owned the passive Quad 11L's and thought they were terrific value.....the 11's and 12's now come active and occasionally sell for your price range used.  Here's one, brand new, for more than you want to spend:

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1270345379&/Quad-12L-Active-monitors-New-b

Independent 60watt amps and individual volume controls.  It's a great way to enjoy elevated SPL's with very little compression in sonics. In other words, they are bookshelves without sounding like them.

There are others, too (Paradigm comes to mind) that may prove suitable, too 

John

[Phil A]

On sale and cheap - http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/store/category.cgi?category=spk_bookshelf&item=53CW0115AA000

[acresm22]

Are Klipsch Heresies too big?

[chgolatin2]

At that price point of $800+ to me generally speaking is not very cheap and cheerful    but I get your point John... Thanks

Tuff finding a lot of highly efficient speakers that are bookshelves, Robert...without going to single driver units (with or without additional supertweeters)

Small drivers are less efficient, generally speaking

If you don't like single drivers (I've yet to hear a pair that I wanted to own, but that's me), then find a pair of bookshelves with minimal crossover network.  They'll be a lot less lost on the way to your ears with minimal crossovers.

Have you considered active speakers?  It's a good way to go and there are some very fairly priced units on the market these days.

I owned the passive Quad 11L's and thought they were terrific value.....the 11's and 12's now come active and occasionally sell for your price range used.  Here's one, brand new, for more than you want to spend:

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1270345379&/Quad-12L-Active-monitors-New-b

Independent 60watt amps and individual volume controls.  It's a great way to enjoy elevated SPL's with very little compression in sonics. In other words, they are bookshelves without sounding like them.

There are others, too (Paradigm comes to mind) that may prove suitable, too 

John

[TheChairGuy]

Robert,

If you type in Quad in the search box at Audiogon and scurry thru to the speaker selection there, you'll see that a (active) Quad 12L just sold for $575 from a very reputable dealer in Portland, EchoHiFi.com (nee, Echo Audio)

So, they're in your price range used (<$600), but not new.

You can find venerable Mackie 824 actives around for $600 used sometimes.

Right now on Audiogon there are Quad 9's, which only have 4" woofers so even active they may sound a bit tepid if you're room is at least average sized, for $539.00 

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1269024442&/Quad-9L-active-near-new-and-ni

btw, the finish on these Quads are simply masterful....on finish alone you'd swear they would cost far more than they do.

As the speakers also incorporate the amplification stage, adding them is simplicity itself (and merits inclusion in Cheap & Cheerful Circle because of it )

Here's another way to go (92db efficient) that I have been thinking about myself for a second system paired to old 10 watt mono tube integrated amps I have...from HSU Research and well under your budget: http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/hb-1.html

Regards, John

[2gumby2]

I recommend taking a look at the 1 Pi from Pi Speakers. I built their 2 Pi Towers and they are very nice speakers. Link here:
http://www.pispeakers.com

[JLM]

I've heard the 2Pi bookshelfs and liked them, but are overpriced if you can't DIY.  I've also heard the 2Pi towers (that Wayne brought to an audiofest) and they had terrible boomy bass.

Yes, active speakers are a really great way to go.  The Audioengine offerings are hot (and really cheap).  Just look for a used Oppo 970/971 with long interconnects and you'd be all set.

[chgolatin2]

John, thanks for your advise.  I've been looking at HSU speakers for a bit they ONLY reservation that I have is that tweeter design.  Metal dome tweeters to my ears sound to damn bright.  Yes they do offer a return policy but it would be just a hassle to order them, try them and pay for shipping both ways  I will look further into your selection advise.  This is for a second room setup to be honest and I am running a 10 wpc amp as well 

Robert,

If you type in Quad in the search box at Audiogon and scurry thru to the speaker selection there, you'll see that a (active) Quad 12L just sold for $575 from a very reputable dealer in Portland, EchoHiFi.com (nee, Echo Audio)

So, they're in your price range used (<$600), but not new.

You can find venerable Mackie 824 actives around for $600 used sometimes.

Right now on Audiogon there are Quad 9's, which only have 4" woofers so even active they may sound a bit tepid if you're room is at least average sized, for $539.00 

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1269024442&/Quad-9L-active-near-new-and-ni

btw, the finish on these Quads are simply masterful....on finish alone you'd swear they would cost far more than they do.

As the speakers also incorporate the amplification stage, adding them is simplicity itself (and merits inclusion in Cheap & Cheerful Circle because of it )

Here's another way to go (92db efficient) that I have been thinking about myself for a second system paired to old 10 watt mono tube integrated amps I have...from HSU Research and well under your budget: http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/hb-1.html

Regards, John

[chgolatin2]

John, have you heard about the M Audio brand? 

[Mortsnets]

Focal Chorus 705V 89dB $500
Focal Chorus 706v 90dB $600
Rega R1 90dB $500
Audio Note AX-2

[TheChairGuy]

John, thanks for your advise.  I've been looking at HSU speakers for a bit they ONLY reservation that I have is that tweeter design.  Metal dome tweeters to my ears sound to damn bright.  Yes they do offer a return policy but it would be just a hassle to order them, try them and pay for shipping both ways  I will look further into your selection advise.  This is for a second room setup to be honest and I am running a 10 wpc amp as well 

Robert,

Yeah - I do know EXACTLY what you mean with metal dome tweeters....my last here were Vandersteen 2c's about 5 years ago and they hurt my ears (and I swore off them since).  I've had soft domes or ribbons since - much softer on the ears.

I've heard of M-Audio...but not heard them offhand.

JLM's recommendation of AudioEngine might be right up your alley...5" kevlar woofers and silk dome tweeters (and it's well within your price range - brand new)

http://www.audioengineusa.com/a5_home.php

John

[srb]

I thought the whole idea of this thread was to find more efficient, non-metal domed tweetered passive speakers that would be used with the existing Jolida FX10 tube integrated?
 
Steve

[Bemopti123]

Here is an idea of an used unit from a very very reputable builder.  It is too bad that it is not ship but anyway...

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1271536211&/Brines-Acousticss-fb20--lexing

The same unit in its original page from the Builder itself...

http://brinesacoustics.com/Pages/FB-20/Main.html

The flats are a really good value, if you are into building. 

As a disclosure, I have the same model but custom made by Bob to be paired with a FH-96, the cheapest Fostex alnico magnet tweeter.  Mine has two pots in the back, one to adjust the BSC and another for tweeter attenuation.  I have had them since this past Summer and they keep getting better and better, as Fostex paper cones can take about 500 hours of more to cook.  His speakers are an amazing value.