from your list, with your criteria i like the canton, which have a giant bass for a small speaker--a buddy of mine got a pair on accessories4less for $499 and is very happy. I wasn't awed by the wharfedale and haven't heard the dali. in approximately the same range, fr a bassy speaker you might look at the svs ultra.
Best bookshelf speakers
Hi all,
I'm looking to buy a pair of good bookshelf speakers and since a lot of you here seems to know about speakers much more then me, I figured I'd ask for advice.
Here are the parameters I'm working with / looking for:
- The room is about 1200 cu/ft
- Looking for great performance at low volume
- Rich timbre
- Rich, warm bass
- Natural highs (not metallic-sounding)
- Low frequency range in around 40Hz (preferably 30Hz, but I know, there are hardly any in this range at my price point)
- $500 - $700, new or used
So far I am considering the following options (in no particular order):
- KEF Q350
- Dali Zensor 3
- Canton Chrono 503.2
- Wharfedale Diamond 225
So my questions are:
1) From my list of 4, which would be your choice?
2) What other bookshelf speaker would you add to the list that fir my parameters?
Any thoughts are appreciated
I'm looking to buy a pair of good bookshelf speakers and since a lot of you here seems to know about speakers much more then me, I figured I'd ask for advice.
Here are the parameters I'm working with / looking for:
- The room is about 1200 cu/ft
- Looking for great performance at low volume
- Rich timbre
- Rich, warm bass
- Natural highs (not metallic-sounding)
- Low frequency range in around 40Hz (preferably 30Hz, but I know, there are hardly any in this range at my price point)
- $500 - $700, new or used
So far I am considering the following options (in no particular order):
- KEF Q350
- Dali Zensor 3
- Canton Chrono 503.2
- Wharfedale Diamond 225
So my questions are:
1) From my list of 4, which would be your choice?
2) What other bookshelf speaker would you add to the list that fir my parameters?
Any thoughts are appreciated
44 responses Add your response
@bache Don't give up man, she's out there ;-) @rocray I have a Denon AVR730H @loomisjohnson thanks for the confirmations on Cantons. I've read only good things about them. My heart's been set on them and thanks for the accessories4less recco. @jl35 You are right. I can only hope to come as close as possible ... @jeffersondavis Thanks for the reminder about Sierra 1's. I forgot about them! @glennewdick Good point about Proacs. I will research them tonight. So many good responses, thanks all :-) |
The LSA 1 is a beautifully sounded, warm speaker with many accolades. Look it up on the forums here for corroboration. +1 on the Ascend. There’s also a pair of Silverlines here that will match your needs, though they may be too small for your room: https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis954ab-silverline-audio-minuet-supreme-plus-superb-piano-black-m... And the Elac Debut B6 2.0 is worthy of just about every good word written about it. If only it came in other finishes. |
I have been down this road more than once. Opinions from others are all over the place. Their recommendations may be well founded but there is a very important factor to consider..............Some speakers sound fantastic connected to some electronics and horrible when connected to others. If there is any chance for you to audition speakers connected to your, or similar, electronics then do it.I have had speakers that sounded great connected to one system and another...not good.My 2cents. |
I agree with @Bache, you are asking for the "sky is the limit" in terms of features but "low ceiling budget." Something has to give.. However, since i am popping off about your situation no one yet has mentioned Elac Debut 6.2 (which i am listening to as i type) or the Elac Uni-Fi-Ub5. I can tell you the Debut are worth every bit of the $250.00 asking price.. I recently connected PS Stellar M700’s amps and the speakers are responding pretty damn well. However, I have a pair of Burchart S400’s coming though so these will be stored or sold in the next few weeks, (maybe). |
I would recommend the KEFs. You'll be hard-pressed to find bookshelf speakers in that price range that image better and they provide fantastic detail. However, as decent as the KEFs are with regard to bass output and extension, there are better options in that regard. You can find RBH 41-SE or better yet 61-SE speakers on the used market in your price range. They are just about as detailed as KEFs with slightly less "edge" vs. the KEFs. And their aluminum woofers output way more bass than drivers that size should. But if your primary focus is bass output and extension, I've never heard speakers that can best Hsu Research CCB-8s unless you opt for something much larger (be it a monitor or a tower.) Those also have a coaxial driver, so like the KEFs, you should get superior imaging if you set them up properly. (The Hsu's are at or beyond your declared budget new, but you have 30 days to try and return them if you end up not liking them.) |
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I think the Wharfdales have a wonderful sound, better to me than Elac Uní 5 in a side by side comparison. But really, If you have any way of auditioning any of your options in person, do it, even if it means spending a day driving and listening. Or go with An online dealer with a 30-day return period. Speakers are so personal that your preference is what matters. |
I have both Elac B6 and Wharfedale Denton 80th Anniversary and like them both for small room systems. If I had to choose only one of the two, it would be the Wharfedales. The imaging and overall balance from top to bottom is smoother in my opinion. Powered by NAD electronics in both cases. I have also wanted to try the SVS Prime Bookshelf speakers; they look good on paper and offer a money back trial. Good luck. I am sure you’ll find a pair that suits your needs and musical tastes. |
May get censored as these are from another site.. https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649437723-dynaudio-emit-m10/ https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649468627-dali-ikon-1-bookshelf-mkii-speakers-in-light-walnut/ These little Silverlines were well received back in the day. |
Don`t forget Whaferdale Dentons, I believe Music Direct still sells them for 399.00 with free shipping. They were originaly 1000. They have a warm midrage, never bright, pretty good bass for there size, you can listen to these for hours with no listening fitigue. Just a great speaker for its price range. Good Luck |
Not sure why you would not consider a pair of used B&W 686S1? Great dynamics, warm mind and better than most bars with articulate highs from tweeter. Used pair can be had for $500 easily. I have used KEF LS50, great detail but to much timbre sounding, almost edgy, likewise for ELAC doesn't have have any depth or speciality ...IMO. |
Your criteria is pretty exacting for a $500-$700 pair of speakers, but the speakers that come closest in my experience are either of the stand-mounted speakers from the GoldenEar Aon series, either the Aon 2 or Aon 3. Features include:
Here's a Stereophile review of the Aon 2. |
+1 lak. The Focal Chorus 706 are now sold new for $550. I have a pair in a secondary system. They fit your room size well. Have a very articulate midrange and treble, doesn't go as low as you are looking for ( at your budget this is expecting too much), however very satisfactory bass for a small room. Image and soundstage well. |
are you handy and can you assemble something fairly easy? then maybe a kit speakers is for you. i was thinking about entry level speakers and one thought is to build your own out of a kit. I'm talking a kit with precut cabinets so a little glue and a screwdriver and your covered. then its up to you on how you finish them. there are quite a few quality kits available in your price range and you could get much more bang for your buck that way if your mildly handy. partsconextion is a good place to start then I'd search these forms as there has been a few good threads on the topic here. for $500-700 you should be able to get an equivalent sounding $1500-3000 speaker. just will be unfinished so painted is the easiest and you can get good results for less money then a veneer. |
Not sure you can save an all lot DIY these days because of the many speaker companies opening or using factories in low cost Asia. But this is how I treated my ears to good sound in the 90s 2000s... Seas, Dynaudio, focal kits that were just unbeatable from a cost perspective, but requiring work with MDF, glue, screws and veneer. |
If you're still looking consider trying to find a pair of Peachtree D5 speakers. I think there was a pair on the bay for $400. Designed by the Aerial Acoustics speaker designer for Peachtree. Also might be called Era D5, but the same speaker. These retailed for about $1k and have great bass and a warm sound. |
Used Pradigm Prestige, used Legacy Studio HD. Best to go used for the budget. 2k is like an inflection point for good used speakers, you are looking at 1k bargain so will take some time. Keep in mind to get efficient speakers else you will have to spend big $s just to make the tiny speakers sing. This eliminates speakers like Dynaudio and Elac. Used Tekton is another option if are ok with WAF issues. |