What in your opinion is the best bookshelf speaker new or used in the 700-1200 range

JimBRICK
JimBRICK Posts: 1,543
edited October 2011 in Speakers
I'm looking for some input on a set of bookies that I'm going to be running with a onix sp3 and a turntable. Let me know what you've heard.

I'm looking at the Von skells Vr-1 or Totem signature 1's so far
2 CHANNEL
Speaker - Klipsch Heresy II
Under construction
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited October 2011
    I think you should give LSiM 703's a serious consideration. A little out of budget at $1499 retail, but give them a listen.
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • mole'
    mole' Posts: 3,160
    edited October 2011
    LSi9........
    mole'
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  • JimBRICK
    JimBRICK Posts: 1,543
    edited October 2011
    I used to run heresy 111 but they are too big in the area I use now. My lsi9's didnt mess well with the tube amp, the tweeters were a little too harsh for me
    2 CHANNEL
    Speaker - Klipsch Heresy II
    Under construction
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited October 2011
    JimBRICK wrote: »
    I the tweeters were a little too harsh for me

    Huh? Must be some other issue as the LSi's have about the smoothest tweeter going. If those were harsh to you, good luck because you probably won't find too many speakers that are smoother, and completely non-fatiguing nor harsh in your budget. Not to say your other choices like the Totem or the Von's will be harsh, but the LSi tweeter is like butter.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • decal
    decal Posts: 3,205
    edited October 2011
    "Best" is in the eye/ear of the beholder. There is no definitive "best" anything, it's all subjective. When you ask a question like this, the answers will always be what folks think is "best" to them in their system.Their suggestions may or may not be "best" for you.
    If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited October 2011
    something fromTyler or Fritz maybe
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • coolsax
    coolsax Posts: 1,824
    edited October 2011
    Ascend acoustics Sierra 1s are nice as are Dynaudio Excite models.
    Main 2ch -
    BlueSound Node->Ethereal optical cable->Peachtree Audio Nova 150->GoldenEar Triton 2+
    TT - Pro-ject Classic SB with Sumiko Bluepoint.

    TV 3.1 system -
    Denon 3500 -> Dynaudio Excite 32/22
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  • JimBRICK
    JimBRICK Posts: 1,543
    edited October 2011
    decal wrote: »
    "Best" is in the eye/ear of the beholder. There is no definitive "best" anything, it's all subjective. When you ask a question like this, the answers will always be what folks think is "best" to them in their system.Their suggestions may or may not be "best" for you.

    I'm more looking at stuff people enjoyed, speakers that stood alone without needed a sub. I'm open to anything cause theres alot out there. Tylers look nice too. This Sp3 seems to be able to handle a 4 ohm load no problem
    2 CHANNEL
    Speaker - Klipsch Heresy II
    Under construction
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited October 2011
    Monitor Audio RX2. TRUST ME. Do your research on these bad boys.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited October 2011
    Out of the two you spoke specifically about, Totem.

    Monitor Audio? No thanks.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited October 2011
    dorokusai wrote: »
    Monitor Audio? No thanks.

    That's my thought too!

    How about those AAD Monitors Phil had at the last PolkFest. They sounded really good. I forget the model number and I'm not sure of the used price. No sub needed with those.

    746_51_big.jpg?rand=793120801

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • JimBRICK
    JimBRICK Posts: 1,543
    edited October 2011
    http://www.iaadaudio.com/muso_spec.htm

    was it these?
    2 CHANNEL
    Speaker - Klipsch Heresy II
    Under construction
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited October 2011
    What!? Seriously, what do you guys not like about Monitor Audio? Have you heard the Silver line?

    Honestly curious :biggrin:
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited October 2011
    Fritz Carbon 7's need no subwoofer, and are laid back in the treble. They've been the best investment I've made in 25 years. Added bonus is that they will ROCK a big room, provided you've got the power. Ask Wes and Bizill about the "Enter Sandman" Demo...LOL I think Bill was in a trance.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • punk-roc
    punk-roc Posts: 1,150
    edited October 2011
    steveinaz wrote: »
    Fritz Carbon 7's need no subwoofer, and are laid back in the treble. They've been the best investment I've made in 25 years. Added bonus is that they will ROCK a big room, provided you've got the power. Ask Wes and Bizill about the "Enter Sandman" Demo...LOL I think Bill was in a trance.

    Fritz's are 1 and 2 on my list of need to demo speakers before my next speaker purchase.. although the LSiMs and Totems round out my list

    Jason
    2-Channel - So far...
    Pre: Dodd ELP
    DAC: W4S-Dac2
    Source(s): Computer and Denon 2910
    Amp: Parasound HCA-1200II
    Speakers: LSi9s - Vr3 Fortress Mod
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited October 2011
    Contact Fritz. This is a speaker you need to listen to for a couple days to truly appreciate. It doesn't jump out at you, it sucks you in slowly. Not a 5 minute demo speaker at all. Listen to them, I won't need to explain anything further.

    This was one gamble that definitely paid BIG dividends.

    Totem, Dynaudio, and ACI Sapphires were my other choices, Sean (Zero) had heard all of those and told me to get an ear on the Carbon 7. Glad I took that advice.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    edited October 2011
    heiney9 wrote: »
    I think you should give LSiM 703's a serious consideration. A little out of budget at $1499 retail, but give them a listen.

    +1 on this. The LSiM 703s are the best all aorund bookshelf I've heard to date.
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,337
    edited October 2011
    My vote is Totem !!!
    Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎

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  • Evrythngmatters
    Evrythngmatters Posts: 187
    edited October 2011
    Been listening to bookshelves alot lately and my favorite is the B&W PM1 by far. Not the typical B&W house sound you are use to. These are in a different class imo. Makes the 800 series sound like crap. As far as a sub goes any bookshelf imo needs a sub to complete the listening experience. You will miss so much low end without one. These are outside your price range but worth a listen/demo for sure.

    I did a a/b back and forth between the Paradigm signature bookshelves and the new PM1 smoked them. Not even in the same class imo.
    Everything matters. That is all.
    Money cannot buy happiness, but it sure can buy a bad **** boat to pull up along side it though.
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  • NotaSuv
    NotaSuv Posts: 3,863
    edited October 2011
    Fritz Carbon 7's... listened to a pair about a week ago and was very impressed.........I will own a pair of these in the next few months
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited October 2011
    audiocr381ve wrote: »
    What!? Seriously, what do you guys not like about Monitor Audio? Have you heard the Silver line?

    Honestly curious :biggrin:

    I have not heard the Silvers, but I've heard the Gold Line and Platinum line, both in towers and bookshelves.

    The Platinums had an excellent fit and finish, plus they sounded awesome, but for that amount of money (4500) I would go many different ways...

    I liked the Polk LsiM-703's better than the Gold series bookshelves, and the Polks are cheaper.:biggrin:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited October 2011
    audiocr381ve wrote: »
    What!? Seriously, what do you guys not like about Monitor Audio? Have you heard the Silver line?

    Honestly curious :biggrin:

    Not a great buy at some of the prices they get. It's a personal thing, nothing really negative to say other than there are alot of speakers in the price range.
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited October 2011
    Totems are OK. But I would definitely give the new Polk LSI-Ms a listen as well. Haven't heard the Fritz but Steve has written a lot about them and I'd consider those. I like Dynaudio better than the Totem Rainmakers I've heard....I think I may be in the minority there, or maybe the Rainmakers got too much hype before I got to hear them. They're good, but I was not blown away by them. In fact, I liked my LSI-7s more for their less forward Vifa!

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited October 2011
    Dynaudio Focus.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited October 2011
    Blech.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited October 2011
    falconcry72 wrote: »
    I have not heard the Silvers, but I've heard the Gold Line and Platinum line, both in towers and bookshelves.

    The Platinums had an excellent fit and finish, plus they sounded awesome, but for that amount of money (4500) I would go many different ways...

    I liked the Polk LsiM-703's better than the Gold series bookshelves, and the Polks are cheaper.:biggrin:

    Falcon, is that right? I've been wanting to get me ears on the Gold series for awhile now. Could you elaborate a little on your experience with both? I'd love to get more bang for my buck.

    H9, that's totally fair. I respect that.
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited October 2011
    I could listen to my Vienna Acoustics Haydn Grands all day... and sometimes I do!
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,904
    edited October 2011
    while not bookshelves these are hard to beat and counting bookshelves and stands about the same footprint. you will not be lacking bass.
    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1322712177&/Usher-CP-6311-White-Finish
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
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    Puritan PSM156
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited October 2011
    Love Usher Audio.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,060
    edited October 2011
    look who resurrected from the dead........been a long time Jim
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