Bookshelf speakers on a bookshelf (Sad)

@mduffy18d The speakers you list are all very good, but in your case, implementation is everything. Sticking anything with a rear port or side firing direct on a bookshelf is always going to result in muffled imaging and will sound congested as they typically need a few feet of free space around them in all directions. You should opt either for a front ported design or sealed design, and most if not all sealed designs will be limited in bass delivery given the small size of the cabinet.

If you’ve really got money to spend, consider the Raidho XT1.

if you want 85% of the performance for 70% of the cost, check out the Scansonic MB-1B. 

Both speakers are incredibly musical and highly resolving, and they play enormously huge for their size. They are also both front ported, which make them an ideal choice for a bookshelf speaker.

In full transparency, I am in the process of becoming an official Scansonic dealer, but this is because I have owned a pair of Scansonic MB-6B and was very impressed with them for the price. In my application, the $10K Scansonic unseated a $25K Wilson Yvette.

Should you want to discuss more, I’m happy to chat. 

Juan Charvet

blisshifi.com

Also, in addition to being IN the shelf, from my experience Wilson and McIntosh will generally produce a very warm, less than resolving sound. Wilson benefits from "whitish" sounding electronics like Simaudio or Audio Research to sound its best.