Looking for some bookshelf speakers

audiocr381ve

Have an open spot for bookshelf speakers in the office system. I want to go vintage and thought hard about some Polk 7's or 10's but have already had a taste of these and want to try something different. I've also owned the SDA-CRS+ and I just didn't have the space to set them up properly. Medium to Large bookshelf is fine because I need me some bass. I don't want a pair to finicky about placement, they're just going to be sitting on top of my tv stand like the attached picture.

This is a PC system with the source being my iMac to my Keces DAC to my Pass DIY DCB1 buffer to my Parasound HCA-750a. Budget is around $200. I've heard good things about EPI 100's and older infinity's with Emit tweeters. I'm looking for non-fatiguing, warm, musical speakers with good bass output that I can listen to all day. Any help is much appreciated.

Mystery

NLA, ADS L620, 700, Ohm L etc... all are very good sounding speakers with good bass.

lanchile

Bookshelf speakers? Get the small tanks...The Polk RTi A1. you can not find better bookshelf at that price. just read reviews of them.

heiney9

I have a pair of mint RTi-38's. Original box and packing. Nice bookie that would fit well with your system. Less than $200 and I have some Clarity Caps I was going to upgrade the x-overs with that I will throw in. With the proper gear, these are very nice sounding speakers.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?133821-Minty-pair-RTi38-s-w-original-box

H9

lanchile

wow. those RTi-38's are excellent candidate for him. I had those speakers before and they sounded really good. RTi line is on the list of my best bookshelf speakers.

audiocr381ve

Thanks for the offer Brock but I'm really interested in trying some of the old legends. There is a pair of Large Advents that are local that I might take a look at. Would love more suggestions

kcoc321

how much room do you have? I could not tell in the "Attached photo"... lol

bigaltx24

I've been through a lot of bookshelfs over the past few years, a few that really stuck out were.

Infinity 4000A - Very early Infinity, very nice sounding 12" three way. these wound up in my Dad's system.
KLH Model 32 - I just can't seem to let these go. Pulling duty in my garage, I like them better than OLAs.
Linn Kann - Linn's version of a BBC monitor, not great on bass, but mids and highs that are incredible.
Heybrook HB1 - Great sounding British speaker from the eighties, always regret letting these go.

Mr. Bubbles

Advents are good especially on the low end. not as detailed and clear through the mids and highs. Cizeks would be a pretty good line for something really in the Vintage era.

Systems

I don't know if you have heard them or not Shane but the NHT's offer alot of bang for buck from the used market.

SB3's come to mind.
M6's if you can find them, and they are in your price range will change your mind forever what a large bookshelf can do.:eek:

Mystery

If you have extra dough, B&W bookshelf speakers have very high rating.

Polkie2009

Have always heard that ADS made some sweet bookcase speakers, might see if you can find some good used ones for sale here at CP.

rooftop59

pepster wrote: »

I don't know if you have heard them or not Shane but the NHT's offer alot of bang for buck from the used market.

SB3's come to mind.
M6's if you can find them, and they are in your price range will change your mind forever what a large bookshelf can do.:eek:

Dude pepster if you ever find a pair of NHT M6s for 200 bucks PLEASE let me know. Most nice pairs I have seen go for significantly more than that...

Systems

rooftop59 wrote: »

Dude pepster if you ever find a pair of NHT M6s for 200 bucks PLEASE let me know. Most nice pairs I have seen go for significantly more than that...

I gave $300 for 3 a few years ago locally, excellent condition.
One of the few speakers I have kept that long.:cheesygrin:

Timothy Smith

I suggest trying some some A/D/S, Snells, EPI/Epicures.

I also just bought some small QUAD 11L's that really blow me away.

If you are patient you can find some great stuff in the $100-$200 range.

audiocr381ve

Great suggestions guys! I'm entering everything y'all suggested into the craigslist search box to see what's local. Not a whole lot unfortunately but I know good stuff pops up ALL the time in my area. I emailed a guy about some Large Advents. Saw some Dahlquist DQ-10's but they were far out of my range.

About space, I have a lot of room on my TV Stand. It's long. I could easily fit some Monitor 10's on them. Sorry about no attached pic lol, I couldn't find it.

I'm gonna keep an eye out for stuff today. Any opinions on Ultra Linear speakers? I see a pair for $50 but I'm guessing their is a reason for that @_@

heiney9

I will say some of the speakers are closer to floor standing speakers and shouldn't be on a TV stand, like Monitor 10's or DQ10's. Get something that fits properly in the space, not just to try to something different that is set-up poorly.

H9

audiocr381ve

heiney9 wrote: »

I will say some of the speakers are closer to floor standing speakers and shouldn't be on a TV stand, like Monitor 10's or DQ10's. Get something that fits properly in the space, not just to try to something different that is set-up poorly.

H9

The monitor 10's would be fine on the TV stand. The DQ-10's definitely wouldn't. Just trying to work with what I got. I have the 2B's set up in here right now and they're just dominating this small room making it feel cluttered so they're going to the closet until I can figure out what to do with them.

leroyjr1

Timothy Smith wrote: »

I suggest trying some some A/D/S, Snells, EPI/Epicures.

I also just bought some small QUAD 11L's that really blow me away.

If you are patient you can find some great stuff in the $100-$200 range.

I second some ADS's. Great speaker for the price.

cnh

Got to agree with Tim and Leroy above. ADS, Snell, EPI. All classics, good sound, generally warm and detailed which is not an easy thing to accomplish. I've heard them all and own ADS L520s and EPI 100Vs.

But there are certainly a lot of others that will do the job as well!

Good Luck!

cnh

audiocr381ve

Thanks dudes! Currently in talks for some ADS 810's which are twice my budget but hopefully I can work something out.

pitdogg2

JBL HLS 610 or 810's very nice bookie all the way through

TNHNDYMAN

Audiocr381ve- I have several large bookshelf type speakers that might work for you if you'd be interested in talking about any of them pm me and or leave contact # and I'll call you--

EPI 100V
Paradigm 3se
B & W dm110's

shipping would be high from TN to CA but it is doable if you can't find anything local.

Travis

Systems

^^^Those 3se's are great speakers.
Polk RT 7's might be another consideration, especially if you put some money in the crossovers.

rromeo923

I have a pair of ADS L420's that may fit the bill. Pm sent

audiocr381ve

PM's responded to. What do you guys think about the Dahlquist DQ-10's? They might be worth moving the TV stand out and getting a rack.

What would you pay for a pair in good condition?

heiney9

DQ 10's are very room dependent and if they haven't been upgraded then honestly forget it. They are not a speaker that can perform well anywhere, they have a specific sweet-spot and outside of that they aren't that great. Even upgraded and mirror imaged you need to be in the sweet spot, they can get a little grainy and fatiguing on some material. They don't put out much bass.

All that said, I have a friend that owned 3 pairs all with different level of mod's and stands and I enjoyed them a lot. With the right gear and right material they can sound very good, but they are NOT a great everyday speaker and in the end I personally couldn't have lived with them everyday.

Un-referbed models really can sound poor. Woofers need to be replaced if the foam is rotted and you can still get them from Ragnar. IIRC the other drivers are not available so if they are blown might be hard to replace. They can't handle a lot of power.

A nice pair with refreshed x-voers are about $400-$600. Anything less than $250 is most likely going to need some work.

For what you are doing and the rig you want them for, I'd personally stay away.

H9

audiocr381ve

heiney9 wrote: »

DQ 10's are very room dependent and if they haven't been upgraded then honestly forget it. They are not a speaker that can perform well anywhere, they have a specific sweet-spot and outside of that they aren't that great. Even upgraded and mirror imaged you need to be in the sweet spot, they can get a little grainy and fatiguing on some material. They don't put out much bass.

All that said, I have a friend that owned 3 pairs all with different level of mod's and stands and I enjoyed them a lot. With the right gear and right material they can sound very good, but they are NOT a great everyday speaker and in the end I personally couldn't have lived with them everyday.

Un-referbed models really can sound poor. Woofers need to be replaced if the foam is rotted and you can still get them from Ragnar. IIRC the other drivers are not available so if they are blown might be hard to replace. They can't handle a lot of power.

A nice pair with refreshed x-voers are about $400-$600. Anything less than $250 is most likely going to need some work.

For what you are doing and the rig you want them for, I'd personally stay away.

H9

Just read your thread on them from 06'! Good advice, I'll stay away.

MHAMBONE

L420's $75
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/ele/3126251200.html

L780 MKII $230
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/ele/3127179173.html

L570/2 $135
http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/ele/3034732550.html

L9E $150
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/ele/3121405455.html

rromeo923

I would jump on those 420's. Great deal at $75

audiocr381ve

Guys I found some Large Advent A4's that I'm going to check out tomorrow morning. Can anybody give me any info on them or any thoughts? Thanks gents