Good Bookshelf Speakers - Which ones?

CCNJ

Need help selecting a good quality bookshelf speaker for two channel listening. I am looking for something with a small footprint that is not so picky about room placement. I will not be using a subwoofer. I already have LSI9s so I am looking for a different type of speaker. One that is more detailed and that I can enjoy at lower listening volumes. About $2000 budget.

Anyone with any experience with these:
• Spendor Sa1
• Totem Rainmaker
• Totem Model1 Signature
• Dynaudio Excite12

dorokusai

Out of those choices, Spendor. I'm familiar with all but the Dynaudio.

None of them are room placement picky per se aside from it being a bookshelf....which you need to know already? 2K budget? I can't think of a worse question to ask as the bracket is thick with excellent loudspeakers far less than 2K. You don't sound like you know what you're looking for to begin with.

How about define what you don't like or do like about the Polk Audio LSi9 you own currently.

CCNJ

Thanks Doro, Is there something else that I should be looking at?

Ricardo

With that budget I would get a Dynaudio Contour 1.3 MK II or even better a 1.3 SE. You'll have about $500ish left. If I ever get a bookshelf for 2 channel again it will be one of these. Excellent all around speakers.

bopicasso

+1 for Dynaudio

Tony M

Not on your list but the Paradigm studio 20 v3 was a great bookself for me.

KEF's are great also.

Polks' newest line is about to come out or is, with those ring tweeters again....

RuSsMaN

Sonus Faber Concerto, Opera Mezza, Thiel PCS, Merlin VSM, there are a ton of good choices at that pricepoint.

pearsall001

I just let a superb pair of AAD 2001 monitors go. They would most definetely fit the bill nicely. A used pair can be had for under 2k...if you can find them. The others you mentioned aren't too shabby either. Good luck on your quest!

jmwest1970

dorokusai wrote: »

Out of those choices, Spendor. I'm familiar with all but the Dynaudio.

Doro, what is it that you like in the Spendor that isn't there for the Totems?

I'm a huge Totem fan. I find the Rainmakers transparent and they have excellent imaging. There's no fatigue and they sound like a much larger speaker. With the differing opinions I'd recommend that you get your ears on as many of the contenders as possible. What you hear may be different that what others hear. Good luck in your search.

dorokusai

jmwest1970 wrote: »

Doro, what is it that you like in the Spendor that isn't there for the Totems?

I'm also a big Totem fan but one thing that stands out for me is the cabinet construction. I believe that Spendor has better bracing and an overall dead resonance advantage. That's not to say that Totem doesn't build a solid loudspeaker just something I've noticed and heard owning multiple models of each. I've been lucky enough to own them at the same time so that helped. My memory banks are sometimes unreliable if not just plain crappy at times, so I usually have to take notes.

I wouldn't say either loudspeaker could fatigue the listener in any way....both are very pleasing and effortless to spend some time with, seriously just fall asleep to....know what I mean? They both have a similar tonality....smooth midrange and vocals have real....presence.

Anyways, before I turn this into a douchey, adjective filled paragraph....I'm a fan of both loudspeakers for sure.

mantis

The Totem rainmakers are a impressive speaker. For the money they are probably the best overall speaker. They have a way of imaging better then anything I have heard anywhere near their price point. We have them on display and I have listened to them many times. I'm planning on picking up a pair for myself.

The Dynaudio Excite series are incredible speakers. The level of detail and clarity is off the charts. You can lose yourself in them. You can buy them and never need anything else for the rest of your life except higher end better Dynaudio speakers. Totem is almost as good , they are right their but lack the very last word.

Honestly these would be my only 2 choices in your price range for a serious 2 channel system. Bass both these speakers can stand alone but I still think you should have a Rel Sub to go with them or a Dynaudio sub. Even Martin Logan makes wonderful musical subs , if you go with the rain makers , they are about 1200.00 new depending on finish so you would have some extra money to put towards a good sub.

The Totem model 1 sig's are out of your price range new , used you could score. They are about the same as the Dynaudio speakers in just about every way. Funny when you listen to them you almost think Dynaudio . They are better then the Rainmakers but cost twice as much. I wouldn't say they are twice as good. I have them side by side in my shop and as switching between them with our high end switcher , you can hear the difference between the 2. The Rainmakers are about 85% of the Model 1's. I would go Rainmakers due to price. You wouldn't miss the Model 1's when you look at what you spent.

Problem with all these speakers is the fact that they require good electronics to drive them or sound as good as they can they will not.

Last note if you do a search , I did a side by side Totem , Paradigm and Lsi9 review , one forum member came to my shop and he had his Lsi9's with him. Sad to say they fell way short of everything in my store.
Before you buy anything , you are welcome to come to my store and bring your Lsi9's with you so you can hear for yourself. We are right in Fairless Hills , Pa right outside of Trenton NJ. I can get you a good deal on some Rainmakers or any Totem speaker you like , they all sound amazing.

CCNJ

mantis wrote: »

The Totem rainmakers are a impressive speaker. For the money they are probably the best overall speaker. They have a way of imaging better then anything I have heard anywhere near their price point. We have them on display and I have listened to them many times. I'm planning on picking up a pair for myself.

The Dynaudio Excite series are incredible speakers. The level of detail and clarity is off the charts. You can lose yourself in them. You can buy them and never need anything else for the rest of your life except higher end better Dynaudio speakers. Totem is almost as good , they are right their but lack the very last word.

Honestly these would be my only 2 choices in your price range for a serious 2 channel system. Bass both these speakers can stand alone but I still think you should have a Rel Sub to go with them or a Dynaudio sub. Even Martin Logan makes wonderful musical subs , if you go with the rain makers , they are about 1200.00 new depending on finish so you would have some extra money to put towards a good sub.

The Totem model 1 sig's are out of your price range new , used you could score. They are about the same as the Dynaudio speakers in just about every way. Funny when you listen to them you almost think Dynaudio . They are better then the Rainmakers but cost twice as much. I wouldn't say they are twice as good. I have them side by side in my shop and as switching between them with our high end switcher , you can hear the difference between the 2. The Rainmakers are about 85% of the Model 1's. I would go Rainmakers due to price. You wouldn't miss the Model 1's when you look at what you spent.

Problem with all these speakers is the fact that they require good electronics to drive them or sound as good as they can they will not.

Last note if you do a search , I did a side by side Totem , Paradigm and Lsi9 review , one forum member came to my shop and he had his Lsi9's with him. Sad to say they fell way short of everything in my store.
Before you buy anything , you are welcome to come to my store and bring your Lsi9's with you so you can hear for yourself. We are right in Fairless Hills , Pa right outside of Trenton NJ. I can get you a good deal on some Rainmakers or any Totem speaker you like , they all sound amazing.

Thanks Dan for the detailed response. When I get some time I do need to audition these speakers in person. Would you say that a NAD C355Bee would drive these speakers adequately? That's what I currently own.

mdaudioguy

CCNJ wrote: »

Thanks Dan for the detailed response. When I get some time I do need to audition these speakers in person. Would you say that a NAD C355Bee would drive these speakers adequately? That's what I currently own.

I've heard the Totems with an NAD C315BEE... very, very nice, IMHO. The added power of the 355 could only be better.

CCNJ

mdaudioguy wrote: »

I've heard the Totems with an NAD C315BEE... very, very nice, IMHO. The added power of the 355 could only be better.

Thanks Mdaudio. I like the NAD355. Glad to hear you thought they sounded good with the Totem speakers.

cnh

mantis wrote: »

The Totem rainmakers are a impressive speaker. For the money they are probably the best overall speaker. They have a way of imaging better then anything I have heard anywhere near their price point. We have them on display and I have listened to them many times. I'm planning on picking up a pair for myself.

The Dynaudio Excite series are incredible speakers. The level of detail and clarity is off the charts. You can lose yourself in them. You can buy them and never need anything else for the rest of your life except higher end better Dynaudio speakers. Totem is almost as good , they are right their but lack the very last word.

Honestly these would be my only 2 choices in your price range for a serious 2 channel system. Bass both these speakers can stand alone but I still think you should have a Rel Sub to go with them or a Dynaudio sub. Even Martin Logan makes wonderful musical subs , if you go with the rain makers , they are about 1200.00 new depending on finish so you would have some extra money to put towards a good sub.

The Totem model 1 sig's are out of your price range new , used you could score. They are about the same as the Dynaudio speakers in just about every way. Funny when you listen to them you almost think Dynaudio . They are better then the Rainmakers but cost twice as much. I wouldn't say they are twice as good. I have them side by side in my shop and as switching between them with our high end switcher , you can hear the difference between the 2. The Rainmakers are about 85% of the Model 1's. I would go Rainmakers due to price. You wouldn't miss the Model 1's when you look at what you spent.

Problem with all these speakers is the fact that they require good electronics to drive them or sound as good as they can they will not.

Last note if you do a search , I did a side by side Totem , Paradigm and Lsi9 review , one forum member came to my shop and he had his Lsi9's with him. Sad to say they fell way short of everything in my store.
Before you buy anything , you are welcome to come to my store and bring your Lsi9's with you so you can hear for yourself. We are right in Fairless Hills , Pa right outside of Trenton NJ. I can get you a good deal on some Rainmakers or any Totem speaker you like , they all sound amazing.

I haven't heard any Totems yet...But the Dynaudios are a very fine speaker.

Dan, have you had a chance to demo LSI-7s with modified crossovers against any of those others? Or heard the LSI-9s that Matt Polk runs on his own system? I'm just curious.

cnh

dorokusai

cnh wrote: »

I haven't heard any Totems yet...But the Dynaudios are a very fine speaker.

Dan, have you had a chance to demo LSI-7s with modified crossovers against any of those others? Or heard the LSI-9s that Matt Polk runs on his own system? I'm just curious.

cnh

I've heard Matt's loudspeakers a few times and they are un-modified, kinda. His upstairs 2CH setup is straightforward but the downstairs toy is DSP based and...well, you should have been at the last Polkfest at HQ.

As far as a mod vs non? Naturally it sounds better but depending on how much you expect will vary that effect. Now that the LSiM is coming, I wouldn't worry about any LSi modification but that's just me.

Dynaudio is a forgetable loudspeaker for me.