Favorite bookshelfs for under $500?

jrlouie
jrlouie Posts: 462
edited January 2005 in Speakers
I'm consindering getting a new pair of bookshelfs for $500 or less. They'll be used in a smaller room, probably a bedroom. It'll probably also be a 2-channel stereo application.
What are your (polk or non-polk) favorites?

Sorry, I should've been more specific. I'd like to hear your favorites for $500 or less for the pair.
Post edited by jrlouie on
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  • okiepolkie
    okiepolkie Posts: 2,258
    edited January 2005
    Why not get another set of LSi7's if you like them?
    Other than that, there are several choices.
    I think Russman still has a set of B&W bookshelves at a good price, unless they have already gone to the bay.
    Tschüss
    Zach
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  • jrlouie
    jrlouie Posts: 462
    edited January 2005
    Yep, I thought about another set of Lsi7's. I do like them. Just kind of still in the initial phase of deciding what I want to do and thought I'd get some opinions.
    Thanks for your suggestion okie.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited January 2005
    Mission MS-50.....a big $60 shipped ages ago from Russman. They are still my favorite.
    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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  • marker
    marker Posts: 1,084
    edited January 2005
    NHT SB3 can be had online for about $350 per pair. Solid bass extension down to below 40 hz in an acoustic suspension design.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2005
    Energy C-3, hands down.
    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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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,775
    edited January 2005
    My favorite for 500 is the bottom of the line Power Monitor from Def Tech, simply great bookshelf (500 used - on a good day)...

    4.5" midbass, 1" tweeter, 8" sub - 1" thick medite construction - great speaker.

    Other one is the RT5 - The LSi line is great.

    I havnt heard many bookshelfs though...

    Ascend seems to get some some good marks -

    www.ascendacoustics.com
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Meeks32
    Meeks32 Posts: 330
    edited January 2005
    I just purchased some Swan speakers today. I got the 2.1's & a c3 center. The 2.1's get some great reviews & are only 299 if you get the black cherry finish. http://www.theaudioinsider.com/cgi-bin/theaudioinsider/SW2.1.html . Ill try to post a review comparing my old rt55's to them.
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited January 2005
    what did you do with the RT55s?
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  • Meeks32
    Meeks32 Posts: 330
    edited January 2005
    Sold them to pay for my new ones. Actually made a little money on it.
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited January 2005
    Originally posted by marker
    NHT SB3 can be had online for about $350 per pair. Solid bass extension down to below 40 hz in an acoustic suspension design.
    I would agree with the NHT SB3 also. I was very impressed when I was able to listen to F1s down at the recent Polkfest. Looks nice too but that gloss piano black finish would be a **** to keep clean.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,775
    edited January 2005
    Thats an understatement... keeping high gloss black clean...

    I bout have to dust daily if I want to keep mine clean....
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • bigsexy1
    bigsexy1 Posts: 557
    edited January 2005
    Originally posted by dorokusai
    Mission MS-50.....a big $60 shipped ages ago from Russman. They are still my favorite.

    Doro, how would you compare the Missions to say Polk RT25is?

    I fourth the NHT SB3s. Another bookshelf I really like a lot for the money is JBL S38IIs. While they aren't quite in the same league as the NHTs, they can be found for cheaper though and will also dig into the 40 hertz range. They are also a very nuetral sounding speaker and will mate well with a wide variety of receivers or amps.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited January 2005
    BigSexy - I really like the Mission brand as a whole. It's a much warmer and inviting speaker then the RTi series. Great midrange, with smooth, tight bass.
    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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  • bigsexy1
    bigsexy1 Posts: 557
    edited January 2005
    Isn't the ones you mentioned what comes with a Denon mini system?
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited January 2005
    You are correct sir.
    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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  • John K.
    John K. Posts: 822
    edited January 2005
    JR, as has already been said, since you like the LSi7s, maybe the most logical choice for your bedroom system would be a second pair of them. Among non-Polk possibilities are the Axiom M22s and the PSB B25 , on sale here .
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  • jrlouie
    jrlouie Posts: 462
    edited January 2005
    Wow, pretty good lineup there. Thanks a million for the suggestions. Here's what I've put together...

    Lsi7 - 'ole faithful
    NHT SB3 (very interested, I've never owned, but I have listened to sealed enclosures, and I like how tight they sound)
    Swan 2.1 (rosewood looks awesome)
    PSB B25
    Energy C-3
    Mission m50
    Ascend Acoustics CBM-170
    JBL S38II
    Axiom M22 (a little large for what I wanted)
    Audio Note AX-TWO (maybe too rare for me to find and not sure it's worth the searching)
    Def Tech Monitor (maybe too hard to find my price them at my price)

    Given availability options, I'd like to see which of all these I can find somewhere to audition. That may narrow my shopping quite a bit as I'd definitely like to try out whatever I get.

    Thanks again for the suggestions!
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited January 2005
    My Mission comment was meant to relay ANYTHING Mission bookshelf related....they are fantastic.
    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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  • jrlouie
    jrlouie Posts: 462
    edited January 2005
    What about Bowers & Wilkens? Any comments/suggestions regarding their products?
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  • bigsexy1
    bigsexy1 Posts: 557
    edited January 2005
    Damn you Doro! Because of what you said, I went and auditioned the Denon mini system with the Missions, and liked what I heard so then I ordered a refurb unit from ubid.com. They are going for $199 for anyone interested.

    What are you driving your Missions with if something besides the Denon mini system?


    jrlouie, the Harman online store had JBL S38IIs recently for $199 a pair, but now they don't show them anymore.

    Besides, if you can get NHT SB3s new in the $300 range, then all bets are off anyway. That's your ticket right there.
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  • bigsexy1
    bigsexy1 Posts: 557
    edited January 2005
    Doro, my mini system with the Missions came in. I've been playing with it, and you sir were correct!

    I already like the Mission MS50s right out of the box better than Polk RT15is as I already did a comparision audition between them.

    I'd be interested in hearing some of Mission's other models.
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  • jrlouie
    jrlouie Posts: 462
    edited January 2005
    Well, I went and auditioned a few. Out of the list, I was easily able to locate a store to try out the following...
    NHT SB3
    Energy C3
    B&W DM601

    Here's what I heard ;)
    NHT SB3
    -beautiful speaker
    -great detail/clarity
    -definitely less efficient
    -fullest bass of the 3 without being bloated at any frequency
    -i think by far the most pleasent to listen to, but the most expensive :(

    Energy C3
    -vary spacious sounding
    -clarity and detail was good
    -vocals sounded realistic
    -not impressed aesthetically
    -least low end response of the 3
    -nothing really jumped out at me with this speaker regarding excelling at any one thing

    DM601
    -another great looking speaker
    -great detail/clarity
    -sounded like lots of bass but if you really listen, I think it's mostly due to a bloated upper bass
    -vocals are much more pronounced, almost too much

    I wish the NHT's were a couple hundred cheaper ;)
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  • pjdami
    pjdami Posts: 1,894
    edited January 2005
    Some nice stuff you have listened to. I would add Spendor S3/5. Recently, a couple of used pair sold on Audiogon for $500 and another pair for $375.

    I quote:

    "Many discerning listeners consider it to be the most transparent and truly musical mini-loudspeaker they have ever heard and the S3/5 has won many awards."

    I own a couple of pair of their bigger brothers and some nice consumer reviews here:

    http://www.audioreview.com/Main%20Speaker/Spendor/PRD_123759_1594crx.aspx
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