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bookshelf speakers for 2 channel music? (1 Viewer)

Sanjiva

Agent
Joined
Jan 22, 2002
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35
I am running Yammy RXV-1200 with Def Tech Pro cinema series for my HT set up.

I am looking at upgrading my main speakers for better 2 channel music. I plan to use the Prosub100 as the subwoofer and am looking at good quality bookshelf speakers.

What would your choice be in the 500-1000 range? I do not mind going used also and hence the following choices come to my mind:

1. Paradigm studio 20, 2. studio40 (used), 3. B&W 602, 4. Dynaudio Audience 42/52 5. SF Concertino (used) 6. Vienna Ac Haydn (used)

What would be the best in my situation and what other speakers should I look at?
 

Mark Austin

Supporting Actor
Joined
Dec 28, 1999
Messages
639
I would recommend the SF Concertino first. Available for around $7-8 hundred brand new via Audiogon, or the VA Haydns's. Quite a difference between those two, and the others you listed.
 

Tim Ranger

Stunt Coordinator
Joined
Oct 22, 2002
Messages
131
ACI Sapphire IIIs used. Should be under $1k. Might even be able to get them as demos from ACI as they are changing to a new model. I had a pair of Sonus Faber Concertos which I liked a lot. Replaced them with the Sapphire III LE. Kept the same smooth, musical presentation but increased dynamics transparency. They image like crazy!
 

James Tg

Stunt Coordinator
Joined
May 20, 2002
Messages
59
The best small speak I have ever used for music is Rogers LS3/5. It outperforms my Paradigm Studio 40 and Thiel CS2.3. However, it is not suitable for HT due to its dynamic limitation. So, I recommend Studio 40.
 

Evan S

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2001
Messages
2,210
Saurav has a pair of GR Research bookshelf speakers for sale for $500 on the Hardware board. If I were you, I would check them out. I would buy them right now if I wasn't saving for a vacation.

It's fallen off the first page so you may have to scroll a little bit or do a search, but they are still there.
 

Khoa Tran

Supporting Actor
Joined
Oct 23, 2002
Messages
569
Neil, you always second me on the psb =) i guess we both have fallen into the psb cult huh =)
 

Paul_Fisher

Screenwriter
Joined
Dec 27, 2001
Messages
1,219
Ascend Acoustics CBM-170's are suppose to sound really good for music. They also have a 30 day money back guarantee if you do not like them. I have a pair of them coming tomorrow.
 

Rob Rodier

Supporting Actor
Joined
Jul 11, 2002
Messages
538
Monitor Audio is worth checking out also. But I second the Sonus Faber recommendation if you are comfortable with doing business on the gon.

-rob
 

Tim Reed

Grip
Joined
Oct 20, 2002
Messages
21
Well - - just got finished building EFE DIY.com bookshelf speakers. (see http://www.audioreview.com/Learncrx.aspx) My neighbor has the Ascend acoustics (with the Hsu VTF2 and Outlaw receiver) - - so I can make a comparison to the Ascends. The Ascends are definitely good speakers. The EFE DIY is a GREAT speaker - - definitely a notch above the Ascends [soundstage, detail, speed, musicality]. My guess, and its mostly a guess (although I have been listening to very good speakers the last 20 years so its at least a knowledgeable guess - - my current other set of speakers are the Paradigm Studio 100 v2's), is that you will not do better than the EFE DIY for 325$ - - you might match it if you search far and wide (but it will probably either a DIY or a direct internet product - -there are some truly great designers of DIYs on the internet) - - or if you spend a little more money and get the GR Research AV1s - - they "might" be better (if so - - its not by much - - and others who have heard both send they are very similar). Both EFE and GR Research speakers (extremely well-designed also) get uniform praise from everyone who have heard them (you certainly wouldn't go wrong with either). With speakers this good, its usually just a matter of preference.

If you decide to build these - - purchase the crossover from Madisound instead of following the directions for building the crossover. Ed Frias has recently improved it (smoothed out a "rough" portion of the response - - rough being relative), and the Madisound crossover incorporates the fix.

In a few weeks, I will be able to tell you whether Ed's T-22's (990 + shipping) are as good as others have indicated (reviews have bordered on the "ranting and raving" end of the spectrum - - and after listening to the DIYs I beginning to think I know why).

Good luck.
 

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