Author Topic: Under $500 bookshelf speakers (Read 11497 times)

plucks · « **on:** April 23, 2009, 10:28:26 PM »

while packing, the movers knocked over one of my speakers! So I get a check back and it's time to get me something other than the Onkyo theater system speakers from 2002.
So, is there anything around the $500 mark that has a nice full frequency range but wont break the bank? I do have a basic woofer already.

thanks!

Brian Skalinder · « **Reply #1 on:** April 23, 2009, 10:32:58 PM »

Still enjoying my VR-1s! Available used within your budget.

Sanjay · « **Reply #2 on:** April 23, 2009, 11:41:25 PM »

Quote from: Brian Skalinder on April 23, 2009, 10:32:58 PM

Still enjoying my VR-1s! Available used within your budget.

what he said!

JasonSobel · « **Reply #3 on:** April 24, 2009, 07:40:15 AM »

Quote from: Sanjay on April 23, 2009, 11:41:25 PM

Quote from: Brian Skalinder on April 23, 2009, 10:32:58 PM
Still enjoying my VR-1s! Available used within your budget.

what he said!

I concur. Keep your eyes open on audiogon.com for a used pair of VR-1's

noahbickart · « **Reply #4 on:** April 24, 2009, 09:01:49 AM »

How about these:
http://store.audioholics.com/product/2564/66340/usher-audio-s-520-bookshelf-speakers--pair-black-

sparkey · « **Reply #5 on:** April 24, 2009, 12:18:03 PM »

B&W 602 S3's sound amazing...the companion LCR 600 center speaker is the money too.

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m37.l1313&satitle=B%26w+602&category0=

Tim · « **Reply #6 on:** April 24, 2009, 02:35:36 PM »

Quote from: sparkey on April 24, 2009, 12:18:03 PM

B&W 602 S3's

fyi Phil - these are the bookshelf version of my speakers, just to give you some reference.

good recommendations in here

plucks · « **Reply #7 on:** April 24, 2009, 03:51:26 PM »

thanks Tim. i think i remember yours well! Always been a fan of the B&Ws.

The VR1s look nice too....any others?

sparkey · « **Reply #8 on:** April 24, 2009, 03:53:15 PM »

They were B&W's largest bookshelf speakers, since discontinued, so they incorporated a lot of the technology of the higher end models (e.g. kevlar cones). If you read the reviews, people claim they just keep sounding better as they upgrade the components behind them. I've got two pairs of them, the the LCR 600 center and the lowest end Velodyne 12" sub and I'm quite happy with my system. At some point I'll replace my Denon with a Rotel and my sub with a DD series Velodyne and I'll be even happier.

Quote from: Tim on April 24, 2009, 02:35:36 PM

Quote from: sparkey on April 24, 2009, 12:18:03 PM
B&W 602 S3's

fyi Phil - these are the bookshelf version of my speakers, just to give you some reference.

good recommendations in here

Kush · « **Reply #9 on:** April 24, 2009, 04:15:33 PM »

I have a pair of B&W 601 DM's, the kevlar woofers with rubber surrounds and titanium tweeters. They sound very nice to my ears. There are also Epos, NHT, and PSB to look at in that price range.

BC · « **Reply #10 on:** April 25, 2009, 02:02:42 AM »

Quote from: Kush on April 24, 2009, 04:15:33 PM

I have a pair of B&W 601 DM's, the kevlar woofers with rubber surrounds and titanium tweeters. They sound very nice to my ears. There are also Epos, NHT, and PSB to look at in that price range.

Second those recs, also infinity makes a nice 2 way (look on stereophile.com for review and measurements: Primus 362??), Paradigm monitor series. Might want to peep the monitor section on Audiogon too. Happy shopping!

perks · « **Reply #11 on:** April 26, 2009, 12:04:24 PM »

Quote from: noahbickart on April 24, 2009, 09:01:49 AM

How about these:
http://store.audioholics.com/product/2564/66340/usher-audio-s-520-bookshelf-speakers--pair-black-

I agree with this recommendation. FWIW I paid $300 in 2008 for mine.

Red Boink · « **Reply #12 on:** April 26, 2009, 05:50:42 PM »

Speaker are like cars, the first buyer takes a big depreciation hit.. I just bought a set of HHB Circle3 active speakers for only $349. They sold for around $1100, and they are good enough to be used as reference monitors.

check ebay for Dynaudio or Tannoy monitors, they should meet your budget, or under..

Good Luck.

Nick's Picks · « **Reply #13 on:** April 27, 2009, 07:19:32 AM »

Over the VR1, depending on the upstream gear...
I like the Epos m12.1. bigger soundstage, better bass response and a more "forward" presentation.

Nick's Picks · « **Reply #14 on:** April 27, 2009, 09:40:58 AM »

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/srch_fs.pl?searchstring=epos&B1=go
!!!!!

su6oxone · « **Reply #15 on:** April 28, 2009, 09:05:46 AM »

I've always liked Polk speakers. I use seven of them in my home theater setup, and couldn't be happier with them. They have a wide range of bookshelf speakers in the sub-$500 range:

http://www.crutchfield.com/g_37900/Bookshelf-Speakers.html?tp=186&nvpair=FFBrand%7cPolk+Audio

crossthreaded · « **Reply #16 on:** April 30, 2009, 01:45:50 AM »

in this economy I would keep an eye on the pawnshops. maybe leave a card and tell them to call if they get anything high end in.

Nick's Picks · « **Reply #17 on:** April 30, 2009, 07:16:36 AM »

damn'd good idea right there.
I've found some real deals on speakers in pawn joints.

Nick's Picks · « **Reply #18 on:** April 30, 2009, 07:19:22 AM »

Plus..., just to sew a seed....
Hydra-Audio is currently developing a line of monitors that will be:
1. absolute furniture grade cabinetry and design (exotic woods and venere finishes)
2. good componants (8" mid bass driver and plannar tweeter)
3. highly efficient (92db @ 1m)
4. custom designed Xover (by me)
5. well under $500 per pair.

give me two months to refine the prototypes, get them to folks to review for me (private reviews / feedback rants..etc), and I should be ready by mid to late summer.

plucks · « **Reply #19 on:** May 01, 2009, 01:20:44 PM »

nick-
add me to your list

i don't have any speakers, so i'll be glad to be one of the reviewers!

Nick's Picks · « **Reply #20 on:** May 01, 2009, 03:08:25 PM »

rjp · « **Reply #21 on:** May 02, 2009, 01:12:07 AM »

I was sitting on the fence about buying a set of monitors, and today I did an A-B-C shootout between the Mackie MR8, Yamaha HS80M, and M-Audio BX8a Deluxe. I found the Mackie too muddy, the Yamaha too bright, and the M-Audio just right. After I brought them home and set them up, properly positioned, I was even more impressed with them - the imaging is out of this world, and I found the treble, midrange, and bass to be very well-balanced. Of course, your ears may vary... but I'm quite happy with these monitors.

They are a bit bigger than "bookshelf" though, unless you have tall bookshelves.

Tim · « **Reply #22 on:** May 02, 2009, 06:47:04 PM »

whatcha driving them with? Congrats on the new speakers

Quote from: sparkey on April 24, 2009, 03:53:15 PM

They were B&W's largest bookshelf speakers, since discontinued, so they incorporated a lot of the technology of the higher end models (e.g. kevlar cones). If you read the reviews, people claim they just keep sounding better as they upgrade the components behind them.

This has been my experience as well. They're certainly not the end all/be all of speakers but as I have upgraded my system over the years I've been pleasantly surprised at how well the speakers have held up. I'd say they are real workhorses, I've had them in a variety of rooms with various gear and sources and they also perform well and at times they sound spectacular. I'm very happy with the room they're currently in, they really shine now that I have them setup just exactly how I like.

som · « **Reply #23 on:** May 03, 2009, 03:33:49 PM »

Ascend Acoustics make some very affordable bookshelf speakers. I have a pair that served as my main speakers for a few years, now they're for home theater only. Very nice, especially for the price.

http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cbm170/cbm170.html

plucks · « **Reply #24 on:** May 05, 2009, 03:07:13 PM »

ok..i've got an awesome lead/deal on the Epos m12i in the works.

What do you all know about "bi-wiring" between the tweeter/sub on speakers?? I am only hooking into a basic sony receiver which i use for my entire setup.

Tim · « **Reply #25 on:** May 05, 2009, 03:34:20 PM »

I bi-wire and I think it has smoothed out my high-end and given me a better defined midrange. I did it a couple of years ago and haven't looked back. Get some good speaker cable

plucks · « **Reply #26 on:** May 05, 2009, 03:39:25 PM »

yeah, i've heard it helps tone down the brightness. But if the speaker has the "4" inputs and my receiver only has "2" per left and right, how does that work?

well if i get the "spade" ends to hook into my receiver i guess they are able to go D.P. into each receiver slot

http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/cables/messages/4953.html

sparkey · « **Reply #27 on:** May 05, 2009, 03:39:55 PM »

Quote from: Tim on May 05, 2009, 03:34:20 PM

I bi-wire and I think it has smoothed out my high-end and given me a better defined midrange.

Glad to hear its working out for you. No one on TS will judge you for your lifestyle.

Tim · « **Reply #28 on:** May 05, 2009, 03:46:30 PM »

Quote from: plucks on May 05, 2009, 03:39:25 PM

yeah, i've heard it helps tone down the brightness. But if the speaker has the "4" inputs and my receiver only has "2" per left and right, how does that work?

bi-wire doesn't require separate speaker posts on the amp end. just run a bi-wireable cable from the amp and split it at the speakers. Now if you want to bi-amp that reequires one amp for the woofer (or midrange in this case) and another for the tweeter.

Quote from: sparkey on May 05, 2009, 03:39:55 PM

Quote from: Tim on May 05, 2009, 03:34:20 PM
I bi-wire and I think it has smoothed out my high-end and given me a better defined midrange.

Glad to hear its working out for you. No one on TS will judge you for your lifestyle.

plucks · « **Reply #29 on:** May 05, 2009, 04:09:24 PM »

Tim i realized i asked a dumb question, i revised my initial...

Tim · « **Reply #30 on:** May 05, 2009, 04:14:05 PM »

give your amp a shocker

plucks · « **Reply #31 on:** May 05, 2009, 04:32:49 PM »

maybe i'll work for an amp/rcvr upgrade from my sony home theater version in the next few months. I think im going to go for the Epos M12i's!

Really like the B&Ws but i don't see too much out there used...ebay #270384557050. I sent an email about how old, here's the response from a guy in CO:

they were purchased at an estate sale I buy a lot of audio equipment that way with the purpose of selling it on ebay the previous owner is deceased so no info from him! they were tested and do sound very good like most all B&W speakers do. sorry I am not much more help thanks, Dave
- peacefrogdave

Tim · « **Reply #32 on:** May 05, 2009, 04:38:58 PM »

we B&W owners hang onto our gear

those are series II, mine are series III so those are at least 6-7 years old. I think there was a pretty big jump in technology (specifically the tweeter) from sII to sIII

congrats on the new speakers, I read very good things about the Epos!

plucks · « **Reply #33 on:** May 05, 2009, 04:43:46 PM »

definitely thanks for everyone's help on this!!
i'd +T you all, but can't.

sparkey · « **Reply #34 on:** May 05, 2009, 04:58:14 PM »

Quote from: plucks on May 05, 2009, 04:32:49 PM

Really like the B&Ws but i don't see too much out there used...

Enjoy the opportunity to shop and consider lots of different gear.....for me that is as much fun as finally getting them. No hurry brother. Have you tried craigshelper.com to search your local craigslist?

Josh

plucks · « **Reply #35 on:** May 06, 2009, 09:34:46 AM »

never heard of craigshelper...i'll take a look!
i'm waiting to find out if the Epos i found are from the infamous first batch that are extremely bright and which the company admitted to screwing up by releasing them, so i would prefer not to go that route.
in the meantime, i found some mint condition 602s2's on ebay for $350.

i've heard the B&w's don't sound as good with a shitty rcvr like the sony I have, but like everyone says, they'll only sound better as the gear is upgraded!

is there really going to be a big difference between s2-s3 602's??

Tim · « **Reply #36 on:** May 06, 2009, 10:06:25 AM »

I had thought that the series III is when they made the jump up to the Nautilus based tweeter but it looks like the series II has that as well and there were some other tweaks done to the III's

http://ultimateavmag.com/speakersystems/903BW/

Given that I wouldn't sweat buying the II's

plucks · « **Reply #37 on:** May 06, 2009, 04:45:14 PM »

crap, the 602s i found are actually series I.

Tim · « **Reply #38 on:** May 06, 2009, 04:48:36 PM »

looks like there might be some 602s2 on audiogon,
http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/srch_fs.pl?WORD=B%26W&FOCUS=EXY&CTGSK=spkrmoni&submit=Search

Nick's Picks · « **Reply #39 on:** May 07, 2009, 07:47:50 AM »

I've heard all of the above, and still like the Epos. the B&W's are a tad smoother sounding..musical perhaps. but the Epos just give me what I want.

sparkey · « **Reply #40 on:** May 07, 2009, 10:19:08 AM »

Quote from: Nick's Picks on May 07, 2009, 07:47:50 AM

but the Epos just give me what I want.

The Epos include a tall blonde and a stack of $20s?

plucks · « **Reply #41 on:** May 07, 2009, 10:28:36 AM »

hahaha!

has anyone here actually listened to the Wharfedale Diamond 9.2's??

Nick's Picks · « **Reply #42 on:** May 07, 2009, 12:34:17 PM »

not here..., but I believe they were recently reviewed in stereophile a few months back.

plucks · « **Reply #43 on:** May 08, 2009, 08:07:21 AM »

going to give the 9.2's a whirl...i'll report back once received and hooked up with those Hydra Cables