Best bookshelf speakers

comfortablycurt

Hey everyone. It's been a while! I'm digging the new (to me) forum format here.

Some of you may recall that I'm currently in college. I've been attending a community college for the last three years, and in the fall I'm transferring to the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign to continue studying physics and math. I recently signed a lease on a new apartment in Urbana. It's on the smaller side, but it's about a 5 minute walk from the physics department, so it's very convenient for me.

However, this leads me to a problem. The small living room in this apartment is not going to agree with my SDA 2As. The living room is about 9.5'x10.5'. Like I said, it's small. So, I need a pair of nice bookshelf speakers or smaller floor standing speakers for my 2 channel rig. I'm currently using the rig listed in my sig. I'm planning to upgrade my preamp at roughly the same time. I'm still looking at those too, but I'm most likely getting a Parasound New Classic Model 2100.

I'm trying to stay under $1000 for the speakers...and preferably well under. But for the right speakers, it's fairly flexible. I'm considering Polk LSi9s. I've had several opportunities to listen to them, and I've always enjoyed them. Some others that have caught my interest -

Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1

ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/SRM1/srm1.html

Totem Acoustics Rainmaker

totemacoustic.com/en/hi-fi/compact/rainmaker/

PSB Imagine B

psbspeakers.com/products/imagine/Imagine-B-Bookshelf

Focal Chorus 807V

focal.com/en/chorus-800-v/35-chorus-807-v-3544052691115.html

and...

NHT Classic Three

nhthifi.com/Three#image-2



I've been searching around quite a bit for the last couple of months, and this is what I've narrowed it down to. I keep coming back to the LSi9s, but some of these other ones have really caught my eye. If anyone has any input on any of these, or recommendations for others in a similar price range, I'd love to hear it. I'm not moving into my new apartment until August, so I'm not likely to actually buy any new speakers until mid-summer. I'm going to savor my time with my SDAs until then.

PSOVLSK

Good to have you back and hope you stick around. I always felt you were a benefit to the forum. You do need to know that you are the first person to utter the phrase, "I'm enjoying the new forum format."

I can't comment on any of your options except the LSi9 and I'd look at the LSiM703. I replaced my 9's with the 703 and never looked back...and I was a big fan of the 9's.

comfortablycurt

I think I will be sticking around at least semi-frequently this time. I've been mostly out of the audio hobby for the last few years because I've been so utterly swamped with school work. But over the last 6 months or so I've forced myself to start taking a bit more time to just relax and listen to some good tunes. I received a notification upon logging in that I'd gotten my 6 year anniversary badge. That was a nostalgia moment...lol

The new format is seeming a bit on the confusing side as I'm poking around more. It doesn't seem bad so far though. Perhaps I just haven't spent enough time with it yet though.

I've been looking at the LSiM703. It looks very nice, and the reviews I've read have been very good. I kept thinking they'd be too expensive, but I just looked at the Polk store on eBay, and they have them for $525 each...hmm...That's tempting. Although that's on the high side of my price range.

Ideally I'd like to stay around $600 for the pair, which is about what a used pair of LSi9s can be had for. The 703s are tempting at that price though.

comfortablycurt

That sale would have been great. When's the next one? lol

I was actually looking at the Martin Logan 35XT not too long ago. I've never really been much of a fan of the Martin Logan sound. They're nice speakers, but just not really to my taste.

There are some LSi9s listed in the flea market section for $450 shipped right now. I'm very tempted.

coolsax

I really like my Ascend Sierra-1s and they are gorgeous to boot, but be aware that they are going to likely be more forward than the LSI-9s but still sound amazing and dig a lot deeper than you would think for a speaker their size.

[Deleted User]

+1 for the 703's though out of budget.
If you are going to be moving them back and forth they are a workout as well

comfortablycurt

I'd say that my budget is more realistically in the $600ish range. I don't really have a specific preference for new vs. used, so that adds more possibilities.

I'm getting a lot of recommendations for the 703s, which is making me consider moving to the higher end of this range. I really wish I could get my ears on some of them.

I just checked out the Dali Zensor 3, and it looks really nice. I like the larger woofer that it has. I'll check out the Audio Notes and the Ushers as well. I was looking at some Ushers a while back, and I was liking what I was seeing.

I'm likely going to end up with a very different sound than I have with my SDAs, and I'm okay with that. I love the SDA sound, but there are times that I find them a bit lacking in accuracy, and the sound stage tends to be too wide for a lot of my listening. I think I'll like having something a bit more focused. Since I got into the audio hobby, the only speakers I've really spent any considerable time with are my SDA 2As and my Monitor 7As, and to a lesser extent, the RTiA series speakers. I'm ready to try something different.

Erik Tracy

deronb1 has a nice set of B&W bookshelves on sale on CP - maybe he'd be willing to part out the mains for you.

I have these and they get my thumbs up.

cnh

If you are able to transfer from a CC to U of Ill. main campus you must be hauling AXS, Curt! Ill., one of the best science schools around. Certainly in the top 15-20 nation wide!

CONGRATS! I always knew you had something special! Good to see you back, even if briefly!

As for speakers. I agree with Skip on the new Polks (703s), you can wait for the next sale and they'll be in your budget.

Rainmakers would have to be USED, as their MSRP is well above $1K. A great all around bookshelf that does NOT do anything badly and is so "small"?

NHTs are classics and well worth a listen. Definitely in the top two on your list!

Best of luck to you. My daughter leaves for University this fall as well!

cnh

comfortablycurt

Thanks! Great to see you too.

I've managed to do quite well in school. I was actually accepted into an internship this summer as well, at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, IL working on a particle physics research project. I'm incredibly excited about. I'm excited about UIUC as well. For physics, they're typically in the top 10 in most rankings. Grad school is definitely in my plans after my undergraduate degree, so I'm getting off on the right foot so far.



A lot of the speakers I've looked at are only in my price range based on buying used, which I'm definitely not opposed to. I suppose new is typically preferable, but new vs. used isn't really a big factor for me.

I really like the three-way design of the NHT Three. The LSiM703 has this feature in common. A lot of people keep telling me that the 703s are worth waiting for. How often do they go on sale? How much do they sell for during these sales? I'm tempted to go that route.

vmaxer

The friends and family sales have been 50% off. I just got a pair of the 703's.

Polkie2009

Curt, wanted to say welcome back man! Many of us appreciate all your input here, hope whatever you choose for bookcases will be stellar.

Conradicles

The Focals sound really sweet. They are front ported and would work well in that small room. The tweeter is amazing.

comfortablycurt

If there was another 50% off sale, I'd be unable to say no to the 703s. We'll see. If any good deals come up soon, I might snag some.

I have some minor concerns about my amp being able to drive them efficiently. I have an Adcom GFA-545, which has done very well driving my SDAs. I'm planning on upgrading the amp too, but that may not be until next year depending on what I spend on a new preamp and new speakers.

Nightfall

If you're happy with the Adcom on the SDA's, I'm sure it will be enough current for the LSiMs, no?

voltz

I have some PSB bookies and have heard the 703's and like them a lot better.

have always wanted to hear some focal's and some Wharfedale's.

txcoastal1

Here are is a great pair of bookies that wont break the bank
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/209-audio-gear/1925162-dynaudio-excite-x12-speakers-pair.html

cnh

Isn't Dynaudio an OEM for many Totem drivers? Certainly a contender. I had a chance to listen to about half a dozen Dynaudio speakers in Japan. All of them were good!

Lots of choices. Let me add that I will upgrade my Lsi-7, NAD amp, Nakamichi CA-5 system to LsiM 703s when funds allow. Those friends and family sales are "deadly".

So happy to hear about your "successes", Curt! You're probably right about the rankings. I knew they were in the top 10 in Chemistry but wasn't as sure about Physics! Particle physics and Grad School in the future! Great! (No Bazingas here!)

Oh, an Adcom GFA-545 will drive 703s loud enough to force your roommate to exit the room! Those speakers are far more efficient that Lsi-9s!

Good Luck!

rpf65

http://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649177980-monitor-audio-silver-rx2-2way-speakers/

These may work for you

deronb1

Erik Tracy wrote: »

deronb1 has a nice set of B&W bookshelves on sale on CP - maybe he'd be willing to part out the mains for you.

I have these and they get my thumbs up.

I would definitely sell just the mains, but I think shipping might drive the price too high. Heavy suckers for bookies.

motorhead43026

I am going to check out some Ushers. I have run across a pair of CP-6381's for $1200.00. Not sure if the price is right but it does sound interesting.

PSOVLSK

http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/166481/full-lsi-setup-for-sale-15s-9s-and-lsic-in-cherry-finish#latest

Buy these Curt. Now! If you change your mind at any time in the future you're out nothing.

comfortablycurt

Agghh...Do we still tell people to check their wallet at the door when introducing them to the forums? At $300+shipping, I might not be able to say no to the LSi9s. I could easily resell them and get all of my money back when I decide to upgrade again. I could afford to spend more now if I wanted to, but it would definitely be better not to. I'm not exactly a 'broke' college student, but it's close enough lol

I'm going to look into some of those other Ushers too. I've gotten a lot of recommendations for them.

marvda1

motorhead43026 wrote: »

I am going to check out some Ushers. I have run across a pair of CP-6381's for $1200.00. Not sure if the price is right but it does sound interesting.

i would jump all over that if it were me without even listening. the 6381 retailed for $3400 and they shoot well above that price. can't part with mine even though i've upgraded.
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/usher/6381.html

http://www.innerearmag.com/reviews/speakers/Usher_CP6381.shtml

msg

Hey Curt, are your SDA2's really going to be too big?
I love the 703's and they would definitely kill it in a room that size, but then I'm also really enjoying some Monitor 10's in a smaller space too, which makes me wonder just whether you couldn't make the SDA2's work, because bookshelf speakers on stands aren't going to be that much smaller of a footprint, are they? are you planning to put the bookshelf speakers on separate stands, or on the sides of an entertainment center/cabinet or something like that?

comfortablycurt

The room itself might be big enough to accommodate them, but the SDAs tend to perform much better in somewhat larger rooms. The wall that the speakers will actually go along will be more like 7.5' or something like that because one end of that wall opens into the hallway. If I used my SDAs, one of them would basically be crammed right into the corner, and the other one would be right next to the opening into the hallway. SDAs don't like to be right next to walls, and they need to have a decent amount of separation between them, so I don't think they'd work out too well in there. In their current placement, there's about 1.5' of open space between the back of my SDAs and the wall behind them, which wouldn't really be possible at this apartment. I'm not planning on getting rid of my SDAs though at this point, so I'll still have them. They'll just be in storage with some other stuff at my mom's house for the time being.

I also have some Polk Monitor 7As that would work much better than the SDAs in that room, but part of my reasoning is simply that I want to try something new. I've been using vintage Polk speakers for basically the entire time I've been into the audio hobby. I've loved my vintage Polks, but I'm ready to try some newer speakers.

vmaxer

I think you would like the 703's..

comfortablycurt

Well, I think I've decided on the LSi9s. I wasn't planning on buying anything for a while yet, but the deal for $300+shipping on the 9s is too good to pass up. When I decide to upgrade again, I should be able to sell these with no loss and put the money toward some 703s.

Thanks for the advice everyone!

comfortablycurt

Now I need to start searching for some stands to go with them!

gce

comfortablycurt wrote: »

Now I need to start searching for some stands to go with them!

I got a pair of these http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004T7VCM0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 for my 703's. Should work for your LSi9s as well. Enjoy your new bookies!

PSOVLSK

gce wrote: »

comfortablycurt wrote: »

Now I need to start searching for some stands to go with them!

I got a pair of these http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004T7VCM0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 for my 703's. Should work for your LSi9s as well. Enjoy your new bookies!

I have the same stands, except the 30" version, and I used them with my 9's. I know there are better stands out there, but I've been happy with these. Too bad you're not local or I'd sell you the extra pair I have...cheap.

Good pick up on the 9's. I think it's a no-brainer to get them at that price, enjoy them for as long as you choose, and move them down the road with no loss financially.