Bookshelf speakers on a budget

I own and enjoy Silverline Minuets, they are $350 or so used probably. Mine are in a modest system and sound great.

I'd like to hear the Elac as well. They were selling some for $100 off due to a discolored cone defect but I'm not sure if there are amy left at that price.

The Peachtree are well thought of, too, and may be a great speaker.

I think you'll be able to get a nice pair of standmounts in your budget.

Good luck!

Yes, several of them are good values in my opinion. If you take the time to read up on a few of them, both in that article and out, you will start getting a sense of the features and benefits of different models and what is available.

For example, the small T amps sound pretty good, but may not have a remote or enough inputs for your needs. Reading through reviews will help you get a clearer picture of your options.

Some of the models in the article will show up for sale on here. So once you read up a little just keep your eye out and grab one.

Consider the speakers you may end up with as you read, etc.

Hope this helps

gary

18" from the front of the speaker or the back? Proximity to the wall generally impacts bass response. Some speakers are more sensitive to placement than others. Some speakers are designed for near wall placement, and others benefit from being further in the room. 

(I prefer the smaller speakers I own farther from the wall on stands.)

A couple of things you may want to consider:

Box speakers come in ported and sealed designs. Some may fit your needs better than others regarding your placement options. There are articles/posts online that explain the difference, etc.

The other issue is power. Different speaker designs require different amounts of power to get the most from them. For example, if you know you are buying a 10wpc amplifier, I'd buy speakers with that in mind. Some 'bookshelf' speakers are not efficient enough to be driven well by 10wpc. On the other hand, you won't need a ton of power for efficient speakers. You can sometimes meet the minimum power requirement listed for speakers, and although they sound good you will not get the best of them.

It's not good vs bad- just different. The thing that matters most is that you're happy with your gear/music.

Hope this helps

I agree with Paraneer. It's not about loudness. A lot of speakers will operate with 10 watts and thrive- others will sound okay but not as good as they would with some headroom- in my opinion. Sounds like the Dali's are a good match for small tube amps- the Elacs may not be as an example.

Big picture, I think 10wpc will limit your speaker choices somewhat. 

I have small tube monoblocks that are 8-10 wpc. If they were my primary power, it would limit my personal speaker choices to speakers that would thrive on that power. I have an Anthem Inegrated that is 225 wpc. I don't think I 'need' that much power, but it does keep my Ushers on their toes, and does great with Silverline Minuets.

I once ran B&W 801's with a 40 wpc Luxman. It was okay but the bass responded well with 200 wpc - and some use much more with those speakers.

gary

What budget do you have for an amp? Speakers?

Is $500 total budget or just speakers?

The discounted (discolored driver) Elacs are on Amazon in your budget, fwiw- I saw them today. Not sure if returns are accepted, etc.

I don't know how they will work with your gear in your room- that's the true test. 

The Elac reviews are generally positive, but I didn't pay attention to setup or amplifier details. 

You bet. Have fun learning, but in the end it's not difficult to put together a nice little system. My girlfriend's system:

2 Mission standmounts w/stands (used on Craigslist)

lepai 2020 t amp (Amazon)

bluetooth receiver (Amazon)

Cost was less $125 for everything.

Plugged the amp and Bluetooth receiver in behind a chair with volume at 50% and hooked up the speakers a few feet apart.

She's never seen the amp, etc. She plays Pandora and controls volume via Bluetooth from her phone- has it playing everyday.

Learn as you go and buy wisely. This hobby is as simple as her system or as complex and costly as a dedicated listening room with high dollar gear. It's up to you.

Hope you enjoy your new system,

gary

FYI, Amazon has several used pairs of the B6 for $237.00.

Probably so, the Elac is well thought of in general. It may be just what you need. I think I could use them and be pretty happy, personally. I have seen the Elac for sale used on here- unless you want the ability to return them.

However, they are not a 'ringer' for your tube amp, as Paraneer pointed out. (They may be fine.) I'd listen to them with a higher powered amp (50wpc or more) before committing to the tube amp purchase.

If you are in a good Craigslist area, look to see if there is anything locally for sale used. A nice seller may be willing to let you bring your speakers over for a demo. From time to time I see solid, older receivers for sale for $50-$100. Some have a phono input and remote.

May not be cutting edge, but you would be listening to music for around $300 or so.

Once you get things up and going you will start to develop some preferences and know better what you want and need. 

gary