Bookshelf speakers on a bookshelf (Sad)

@gw_smith how sad and lonely, Do the children in the neighborhood run away when they see you on the street?

I’m sure it’s not the end of the world. Ignore the drama queens. Post the photos so we can better assess the damage incurred with what is probably a lovely new house and perhaps make some better informed suggestions. 😉

NO wife. Have audio systems in a few rooms. How many here in this camp ?

Be sure to kiss your gear good night and tell it how much you love it and all the things you do together, and how much more meaning to your life it brings...

Why oh why is it always the wives that act like the squelch on a radio scanner?!? Goodness, I hear this so often in more audio forums!, and just some of the comments I poked at in this thread, found similar remarks.

I am 70, have a beautiful home inside and out, neat, clean nicely furnished and retired, NO wife. Have audio systems in a few rooms. How many here in this camp ?

Well, good luck there ’duffy’, enjoy what you can get away with 😉 ! (it is all about the major choices we make in life.)

Aerial 5T are designed for bookshelves and sound/look gorgeous.

Look into Aerial 5T bookshelf speakers.  These speakers were designed to be placed close to a back wall.  Read the reviews.  The look and finish are beautiful.  Cost is around 4K depending on finish.  Good luck with your search?

@mduffy18d  Congrats and I hope you really enjoy the MB1s (the better short term decision, I agree).    I had the 2.5s for a year and a half and loved them immensely.     A decent small sub helped (I had an REL). I only traded them (and other stuff) and was able to move to used Raidho D2s which are kind of an end-game speaker for me.    I think a good small sub will enhance your nice speakers. The tweeter is superb. Have fun.

Good price I guess and if I don’t like no damage done 

OK went w Scansonic MB-1 and if I like em im going to order the Raidho XT-1s.  If not I’ll dump and find new idea.  Got em 1700 used.  

Guess 3 of those have rear port and will be an issue

Scanning ebay for online used stuff, i see a few eh options to tide me over??

Paradigm Persona B 3700

Kef Ref 1 4250

Alta Audio Celesta FRM-2 9,000

Focal Diablo Utopia Colour Evo 12,500

Im keeping the mac MA352 integrated, the MT5 turntable and an Aurender A10,  the rest is up for grabs.   

We never buy a home with fewer bedrooms than we have beds. So, if you have three beds, you buy a four bedroom home...

OP, what in your system is staying and what are you willing to part with to achieve excellent sound? I've mentioned the Audio Note K's are tailor made for your application, however, your Mac amplification would be a poor match. You may not believe they could be that good but I've heard a $50k plus system built around the K's and the musical presentation was exceptional. Of course, if your Mac amp is staying then we can all focus on something in that regard. I no longer own K's but it's because the system that was relegated to a built in wall unit like you will have was reconfigured for another room.

Best wishes but again, a home demo in your room placed like they will be placed will save you a great deal of heartache. Too many of us have assembled a hypothetically good system destined for an unsuitable application. You can either learn from our mistakes or repeat them...we will all be here to help either way. Good luck!

I think that I was way too hard on the OP. as well as presumptive. Nothing is black and white, and marriages are give and take as I know well.

ozzy, you are very lucky as I am to have an understanding spouse concerning audio, but I think that it's the exception.

but I think that the biggest single enemy of the High End is women.

Not in my home.

When my wife and I were first married and house shopping, the number one criteria was the music room. Not the neighborhood, not the school system, not the property taxes, not the kitchen design. The music room.

That's when I knew I had made the right choice. 😁

As for the get a pair stuff, LOL you guys are funny.  If you only knew.  All good just need some dope speakers.   

 Eh, stereo guys can be trusted. Back to the speakers, Raidho is out, 3-4 months and i gotta pay upfront.   Seems a bad option as 3-4 months can be 6-8 quickly in this world.   Thoughts now, maybe something used I can flip out of later?   

Sounds like someone should get some pants.

@mduffy18d You’ve certainly entrusted us with a lot of personal information.

What happens in the forum, STAYS in the forum.

Very sad story. I don’t understand how she can sell something that belongs to you. No bookshelf speaker will give taste of B&W 802. You need a sub if you get bookshelf speaker. Sub will occupy also a lot of space and usually hated by wife. Try Wilson Sabrina. They occupy as much space as bookshelf on a stand. 

this could work, you could carry it with you and hide it in case wife tries to sell it. 

@mduffy18d 

Focal makes some wall mount speakers that sounded fantastic at Axpona. Maybe they could work for you. Good luck !

Interesting comments here. I ran into the same problem when my wife hired a designer to advise us on our ongoing renovation project. Her first thoughts were to get rid of my hifi system!!!! Then said we didn’t need the 65” tv, next was the dogs crates, she said they could be locked up in the bedroom or outside. Then she went on to the furniture. Our recently purchased stressless sofa and chairs had to go. I was flabbergasted. Then she left and came back with her builder to give us a quote for the construction work. The contractor couldn’t speak much English told us 25k and 3 weeks to do it all. With cash payment “up front”. 
  Needless to say fired right away. The designer had the gall to send us a substantial bill, which we did not pay…

  I understand the op problems. My recommendation is to get into the house. Find something the wife agrees to live with. Not expensive, then look for a solution to the audio needs/wants. The Kef speakers are a great initial idea. 
  One final thought, if you now live on a golf course. Make sure you have protection for your windows. My father in law had hurricane shutters installed over his windows after getting hit a bazillion times. Sliding glass doors are a pain to have fixed. Enjoy your new house, welcome to Florida. It’s a great state to live in.

@ozzy62 

+1

@mduffy18d 

I think it's good that you have a sense of humor about all this and are able to keep your chin up. Very admirable.

What?!!  Bookshelf speakers not good on bookshelves?

There was a study that concluded duct tape was not good for ducts.

It”s all coming into focus now. 

I hae a pair of ProAc D2R's in my book case built in and they sound great.  I use a moon integrated w/ DAC and node for streaming.  

Clearthinker, you couldn’t be more dead on.   The one we hired we got introduced to randomly, she had great style, but cost us an arm and a leg. Basically ended up firing her after I said I was going to sue her, and we went our separate ways. But the damage was done.

House renovation.

Rule no.1            Don't hire a designer.

Rule no.2            Don't even think about it.

Many years ago I broke rule no.1 in an office furnishing project.  The designer couldn't measure.  She ordered furnishings that didn't fit in the spaces.  Yes, it was 'she' but the rules apply to designers whatever their orientations.

Ha, we’re all good.  I’m going with the Raidho XT-1s for better or worse.  I’ll let you know how it goes and I’ll post some pics when I got em.   Thanks for all the help.    

I didn’t ask for a critique of my post, either. 

@uncledemp 

Contrary to popular belief, the people in your life are more important than your stereo.
 

Everyone here values their families more than their stereo system. When my grandchildren are around, I put everything on hold to enjoy them. Life doesn’t have to be always binary. Doesn’t have to be a choice between your wife and your system. You can have both and still live in harmony. 
The OP didn’t ask for advice about his marital life, and no one would advise him to choose his system over his wife, just to clarify things. 

+1 for the Raidho XT-1

Be your own man and value your wife’s input. Don’t set up an audio room that turns into an anti-social behavior zone. Contrary to popular belief, the people in your life are more important than your stereo.

How about KEF Ref 1 in the cabinets. They can go horizontally without impaired imaging. The MA352 has equalization to manage the effects of shelf placement. 
This solution will satisfy your conflicting requirements and should offer a quality listening experience without risking a domestic insurrection.

Boys, there was one room where I tried it.   She claimed it was going to be a guest room (for her mother) and we settled on it being neither and it’s a bathroom/office for my wife who doesn’t work.  Just putting the above comments in context.  

Isn’t Devore Fidelity coming out with a true bookshelf speaker? You might want to call John at Devore and ask for advice. 

Instead of asking us, I think you should ask your wife. Obviously the safer route in your household.

I will second the Vandersteens. The VLR's are made for bookshelf positioning and if you add a Sub 3 or two, you will own a very capable system- especially if they are driven by the Mac's.

Don't let the diminutive size fool you, these little guys can Rock when you put the juice to them.

If you are near a dealer, I recommend scheduling an audition.

Bob

I would have recommended Harbeth, I have them on a bookshelf, but they are not a good match with McIntosh (no hate there, I had that setup and it was not a good match). And if you liked the sound of your B&W's, you probably won't like the Harbeth sound. The Raidho and Kef are good suggestions as I have heard them, and they were also recommended to me as bookshelf's when I was looking. I heard the Wilson's, but was not impressed for the price, but they would work if you can hear them first. Other suggestions here seem good too, but are ones I haven't personally heard.

Enjoy the new home. Jealous of the golf course!

@ghasley is absolutely right. No one build a new house and worry about where to put his gears later. Unless he doesn’t really like audio. That’s a lifetime opportunity. The poor wife might even have nothing to do with the ordeal. She might just be a scapegoat. Anyway, none of my business. Sorry I even commented on it. My bad.

@roxy54 

I'm not so sure, there are a couple of data points in the OP's dialogue that deserve mention.

(1) His wife obviously has exceptional hearing if she expelled from her home and summarily banished a pair of B&W's and,

(2) She agreed to jointly build a home on a golf course.

There is a special place in heaven for all of our significant others (if there happens to be a place in the cloud for us at all). The problem here may rest with whether we deserve our good fortune or not. A footnote to this story as well...since they were building, the OP could have specified a purpose built listening room and he did not. Therefore, if splitting hairs, this is a self inflicted challenge the OP must overcome LOL. Best to all.

There's so much discussion about the state of High End audio and the problems that plague it, from the state of the economy to changes in lifestyle, but I think that the biggest single enemy of the High End is women.

Hahahahahah!

thank you guys for all the help I need it.  I’ll be honest, it basically comes down to a free pass to drink and play golf every Friday-Sunday and she gets to design the house.  It’s not as bad as you thin. (We live on a golf course).  So I’m not a total P&%sy.

Then he would need something to cover the gaping void...

DeKay

I would get rid of the cabinet and tell her it was stolen. My wife knew long before we were married that the stereo is my baby only. 

Try something good/inexpensive to get you started.

The Sonus Faber speakers (linked) were designed with bookshelf placement in mind, plus they are nice looking and well received/reviewed.

They could always be used elsewhere once you are settled in and have a grip on the new room's sonics.

DeKay

@blisshifi Indeed...you give/gave wise advice.

I had a similar situation for a room and tried almost everything. I ended up with the Audio Note K SPX (the OP should probably consider the SPE for cost) driven by SHindo electronics. The K is so versatile, its shallow and its a sealed design. Without seeing his intsallation if he bought a Leben 300, an OTO SE Signature or even a Sugden/Luxman class A, somthing like that I predict excellent results. I had the K's installed on their sides on some Isoacoustics Aperta stands for adjustability and the sound was superb. Very little compromise other than at higher volumes the sound didn't "scale" evenly. At lower volumes it was a little like having a loudness button engaged. Had a wireless subwoofer setup that I only used maybe 25% of the time.

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.