MA Bronze 2 vs. Klipsch RP-160M vs. Polk S20

Clipdat
Clipdat Posts: 12,557
Looking for the best bookshelf speaker in the ~$500 area. Currently have Polk TSi100s and I've been completely satisfied with them, but I can't help but think I'm missing out on something - a better listening experience - is it possible?

Have done research on the above listed, just hoping to hear some opinions from others on the matter. Room is a 13'x10' bedroom, associated equipment is in my signature.

I've also looked at the PSB Imagine XB, and the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5.

Comments

  • rpf65
    rpf65 Posts: 2,127
    Of the three listed, I would probably go with the MA's.

    Don't like the Klipsch sound, and don't care for the Signature series looks.
  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,557
    One vote for the MA Bronze, thanks! These have been highly regarded and there is a shop near me that offered to let me audition them against the B&W 685 S2, but unfortunately they don't carry Klipsch or Polk.

    One thing worth noting regarding my inclusion of Klipsch, I've been using an original set of their ProMedia computer speakers since 1999 and I've become very accustomed to the Klipsch sound. I generally like that "treble forward" or "bright" sound signature, as I enjoy hearing every detail in my music.

    However, their Reference Series line is supposed to have tamed down any of that unpleasant "harshness" that people normally associate with Klipsch.

    Sounds like you have some strong feelings about the looks of the Signature series, but what about their sound?
    rpf65 wrote: »
    Of the three listed, I would probably go with the MA's.

    Don't like the Klipsch sound, and don't care for the Signature series looks.

    Yeah, unfortunately I just don't have any room for towers, and if I tried to force them to fit, the placement would be less than ideal anyway.

    I've pretty much accepted the fact that I won't be able to get a nice set of towers set up in a dedicated listening room until I own my own house.
    DSkip wrote: »
    You should be able to get the S55 in that price range if towers were an option.

  • rpf65
    rpf65 Posts: 2,127
    The signature series sound pretty good.

    No where near as forward as the Klipsh, but that is what I dislike about the Klipsch sound. Just seems the upper Hz seems to over power everything else. Some people like that sound, just not my thing.

    If you can listen to those AJ series speakers, think it may be worth the time. Probably the best sounding speakers in your price range. Although this bronze series speakers are no slackers either. Probably the best sounding series in the MA one up.
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,704
    I'd take the Polk S20 over the Elac.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

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    President of Club Polk

  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,557
    edited October 2017
    Yes, I completely see what you mean - they do definitely have their own style of high frequency reproduction.

    Yeah those AJ designed speakers seem to carry a lot of pedigree don't they? I've never even heard of ELAC before I started doing this research, but people seem to like them.
    rpf65 wrote: »
    Just seems the upper Hz seems to over power everything else. Some people like that sound, just not my thing.

    If you can listen to those AJ series speakers, think it may be worth the time. Probably the best sounding speakers in your price range.

    Nice, a vote for the S20. Thoughts on any of the other potential choices? Anything absolutely worth breaking my budget to 600-700 for that is dramatically better?
    F1nut wrote: »
    I'd take the Polk S20 over the Elac.

    Wildcard?! CAMBRIDGE AUDIO Aeromax 2? Anyone got any thoughts about these?

    They're only $350 on A4L and $600 elsewhere.

  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,640
    Of the ones mentioned so far, my 2 votes would be (in order) MAs then the Elacs.

    I am one of those who just hasn't been impressed by what I have heard from the Signatures. They aren't bad IMHO, but the Elacs and the MAs do better at the price point...again IMHO.

    If it were me, I would take the Elac B6s because my buddy's shop sells them and I have the most time with them so they are a definitively known commodity.
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,557
    edited October 2017
    Thanks for your thoughts. Good to know that Elac is a well respected speaker manufacturer. The B6 looks to be lower in their range than the UB5, but perhaps the 6.5" woofer is a selling point.
    ZLTFUL wrote: »
    Of the ones mentioned so far, my 2 votes would be (in order) MAs then the Elacs.

    I am one of those who just hasn't been impressed by what I have heard from the Signatures. They aren't bad IMHO, but the Elacs and the MAs do better at the price point...again IMHO.

    If it were me, I would take the Elac B6s because my buddy's shop sells them and I have the most time with them so they are a definitively known commodity.

    Considered the 703s but shopping around the cheapest I could really find them for was on eBay from people presumably reselling their Adorama open boxes for around $800-900 a pair which is a bit more than what I was looking to spend.

    Also in another thread I posted, Jesse mentioned that my NAD would not be the best fit for them, from an amplification/wattage perspective.
    DSkip wrote: »
    The LSiM 703 isn't far out of reach when on sale.

  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 9,969
    I agree with Skip, I'd just get the LSiM 703's when on sale. Adorama has sales periodically, and Polk also sells refurbed ones periodically that are a real bargain. No need to pay anywhere near $800-900 if patient. Polk will be due for a friends and family half off sale pretty soon if nothing else. All those include free shipping. The 703's will smoke those ELACs
  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 9,969
    If you're anywhere near Atlanta look at the 703's in the Clubhouse thread under miscellaneous audio deals of the day. $399
  • Viking64
    Viking64 Posts: 6,646
    DSkip wrote: »
    Nope. Forgot the NAD. Not a good fit.
    What would be a "good fit" for a pair of modded 2.3TL's power amp-wise? Let's say in the $1000-2000 range? New or used.
  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,557
    Half off puts them at $750/pair and still doesn't address the issue that supposedly my NAD would not be able to drive them properly/adequately.
    dromunds wrote: »
    I agree with Skip, I'd just get the LSiM 703's when on sale. Adorama has sales periodically, and Polk also sells refurbed ones periodically that are a real bargain. No need to pay anywhere near $800-900 if patient. Polk will be due for a friends and family half off sale pretty soon if nothing else. All those include free shipping. The 703's will smoke those ELACs

  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,640
    Viking64 wrote: »
    DSkip wrote: »
    Nope. Forgot the NAD. Not a good fit.
    What would be a "good fit" for a pair of modded 2.3TL's power amp-wise? Let's say in the $1000-2000 range? New or used.

    Probably best to start your own thread so that your question doesn't compete with the OP's questions for "bandwidth".
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,557
    I've been told I should also look into the Dali Zensor 3. That 7" woofer is intriguing.

    https://www.dali-speakers.com/loudspeakers/zensor/zensor-3/
  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,557
    That was also on my short list, due to positive reviews. Just hesitant to go with smaller than a 6" woofer.
    deronb1 wrote: »
    B&W 686 S2

  • rpf65
    rpf65 Posts: 2,127
    Think you need to listen to different brands of speakers. Just getting the feeling you have no idea what you're looking for, sound wise that is.
  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,557
    Thanks.
    rpf65 wrote: »
    Just getting the feeling you have no idea what you're looking for, sound wise that is.

  • Upstatemax
    Upstatemax Posts: 2,623
    https://www.musicdirect.com/speakers/focal-chorus-705-bookshelf-speakers-pr-afocalch705blk

    I own the S20’s and very similar focal speakers. The Focal speakers are light years ahead of the S20’s when it comes to imaging and balance of soundstage.
  • no one has mentioned the wharfedale Diamond 10.1 or 10.2 I have the larger 2's & love them for both 2chnl & 7.1 mains. A slightly warm speaker with real bass for a large bookshelf. Had the rtia 1's,paradigm monitor7's,pioneer AJ med bookshelfs, & like them the best of all.
    Lsi 7's, Snell E.5's, velodyne & polk subs, Trancendant pre , Musical concepts & Musical design Amps, Cal Audio CD player
  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,557
    Yeah! I saw those on A4L and thought it looked intriguing but then my "it's too good to be true" alarm kept going off, like there must be a catch to that extremely low price.
    Upstatemax wrote: »

    Thanks for the tip about Whalfdale. I know another Polkie mentioned that they love theirs as well.
    AVnut57 wrote: »
    no one has mentioned the wharfedale Diamond 10.1 or 10.2 I have the larger 2's & love them for both 2chnl & 7.1 mains. A slightly warm speaker with real bass for a large bookshelf. Had the rtia 1's,paradigm monitor7's,pioneer AJ med bookshelfs, & like them the best of all.

  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,557
    Damn, Audio Advisor just put the Bronze 2 on special for $378 instead of $500.

    Urge to buy rising...
  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,557
    Update: Ordered the MA Bronze 2. Couldn't pass up that price. Will definitely post up some listening impressions in a new thread when they arrive and I get my ears on them.

    Thanks everyone who suggested various speakers for me to look into!
  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    Clipdat wrote: »
    Update: Ordered the MA Bronze 2. Couldn't pass up that price. Will definitely post up some listening impressions in a new thread when they arrive and I get my ears on them.

    Thanks everyone who suggested various speakers for me to look into!

    Very B) Drew!

    Give yourself some time alone with them, say 2-weeks, before you compare them to your current speakers.

    Congrats!
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,557
    Just in case anyone searching comes across this and gets the wrong idea...

    I ended up sending the Monitor Audio Bronze 2 back after auditioning them for several weeks. Despite the majority of reviews online for them being overwhelmingly positive, I did not care for their sound.

    It was almost as if they were designed for people who don't have the greatest hearing, in regards to how they reproduced high frequencies. The tweeter was sharp, shrill, and harsh with overly accented highs. On the other end, the bass and low end was incredibly absent. What little bass was being produced was super anemic and hollow.

    The overall musicality of the speaker was very low and it was not pleasant in any way to listen to for any length of time. It was probably one of the worst sounding speakers I've ever heard.

    When I sent them back, the retailer said that the reason they sounded like this is because I hadn't broken them in for 100 hours.

    Anyway, I ended up doing what I should have done 5 years ago and purchased a pair of Polk LSiM 703s which sounded amazing right out of the box with zero hours on them. Warm midrange, clean highs, and great bass performance. An excellent speaker and I couldn't be happier with them.
  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 9,969
    Just wait until you get 100 hours on those 703’s. They get better. Lol