Bang for the buck home bookshelf speakers

Cliffnotes-Hillbilly is taking his audio snobbery into the house and needs some badass tonally pleasing bookshelf speakers that don't cost an arm and first born. For those who aren't skimmers keep reading:poke:

Alright folks, I'm getting a seemingly well taken care of Denon 7.1 receiver that's about 9 years old from someone I trust for a deal I can't pass up. He just wanted more modern bells and whistles and it will be a HUGE step up from my current Onkyo 5.1 that cost me $200 back in 08-09 and this Denon I'm getting cost around a $1000 new I think. Has auto eq and a 9 band eq with time alignment. And 120rms per channel at 8 ohms and 160 per channel at 6 ohms. He can peek in and say what the exact model number is. Should be a great unit to build a good 2.1 system around and even go the surround sound thing in the future if desired. Even has preouts I think to add a separate amp for speakers...he mentioned that anyway.

Anyway, right now I have my old 2001 model Cerwin Vega LS12 3-way speakers in use and they aren't bad for pissing off the neighbors and general TV watching but I'm not into pissing off the neighbors anymore and I'm wanting to build a more refined sounding setup. My plan is to use these big 2.75 cube monkey coffins as stands for the bookshelfs and keep them hooked up for nostalgia and if I ever decide to get stupid like I did 15-20 years ago when the neighbors were threatening bodily harm on me for loud music (yes that really happened a couple times!)Luckily I only have one house now that isn't separated by a big field and they don't seem to be easily bothered by people living life around them:)

Here's what is really catching my eye so far. Arkansas is Klipsch country since they're based in Hope, Arkansas. I hear the new ones have addressed the horny sound the old ones had and sound pretty buttoned up. Still has that toed up treble that they're known for. The Elac speakers I'm looking at cost less than half of what the Klipsch I'm looking at cost but have been said to be a more "safe" option. More neutral sounding but not as refined as the Klipsch I'm also linking below. Dude that goes by "Zero Fidelity" on YouTube seems to give really good unbiased reviews and is tight with Steve Guttenberg. I'm fully aware that there will be a lot of great options that I'll have to take a leap of faith on just like with car audio gear. I can audition the Klipsch speakers no problem local but just about everything else worth mentioning would require traveling and quite honestly they're gonna sound different once I get them home anyway. Here's the speakers I'm looking at. Anything else y'all can suggest worth researching I'm all ears. Only reason I'm looking into Klipsch is because of the rave reviews they're getting from "audiophiles" and I'll have actual EQ capability for them. The Elac's seem like they'd fit my tastes better in raw form pre-eq. I'll probably pair whatever I get with a powered subwoofer whether I diy that or get something that looks good right out of the box. Getting where I'd rather pay a little more and just get something already like it needs to be vs messing with diy:(

https://www.klipsch.com/products/rp-...kshelf-speaker
https://www.elac.com/product/b6-2/?r=us

I made my own bookshelf speakers around 10 yrs ago. Turned out Very Nice !

https://www.parts-express.com/b-52-a...000w--299-2335

Plate amp

https://www.parts-express.com/goldwo...binet--260-630

Twelve , ported 1.5 box , just need a sub and Wharfedale 10.7's

This sub would do it in that box!

https://www.caraudiojunkies.com/show...oofer-You-Like

Not sure what your budget might be, but I've got some Goldenear tower speakers which sound fantastic, and punch WAAY above their price (even then, they're still not cheap). They've got some bookshelf options as well: https://www.goldenear.com/products/aon-series

The Wirecutter has a review for bookshelf speakers too: https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/be...helf-speakers/

In all honesty I wouldn’t spend too much on a setup that you’re going to power with an AV receiver. I have a pair of Speaker Art Super Clef’s that were originally powered by the front l/r of my B&K AVR507 (150x2). When I finished gathering my 2ch equipment, Mitsubishi DA series, I used the Clefs in that setup. They were night & day better in the 2ch setup. The B&K is considered to have the best amplifier section of any AV receiver so it’s no slouch. It’s my theory that all av receivers employ processing directed towards HT even when in a 2ch mode as a friends loaner Denon produced the same results.

Maybe just find a decent, affordable, set that’s geared towards HT & not worry about the 2ch sound quality?

My budget is flexible but when I do this I won't be throwing money out willy nilly. To me $500 should be more than doable for a GOOD pair of 6.5" bookshelf speakers. I'm viewing this the same way I view car audio gear where the law of diminishing returns starts to kick in hard above a certain price point. Beyond a certain point you get into fractions of a percent improvement that may or may not be important for the price paid. For me to really pay up I would have to be blown away after hearing them at a dealer. If I can't hear something beforehand I don't want to really sink too much into them. Just doing research and searching for unbiased reviews. My tonal preference is fairly flat sounding because that's how I tune my truck.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rmenergy

In all honesty I wouldn’t spend too much on a setup that you’re going to power with an AV receiver. I have a pair of Speaker Art Super Clef’s that were originally powered by the front l/r of my B&K AVR507 (150x2). When I finished gathering my 2ch equipment, Mitsubishi DA series, I used the Clefs in that setup. They were night & day better in the 2ch setup. The B&K is considered to have the best amplifier section of any AV receiver so it’s no slouch. It’s my theory that all av receivers employ processing directed towards HT even when in a 2ch mode as a friends loaner Denon produced the same results.

Maybe just find a decent, affordable, set that’s geared towards HT & not worry about the 2ch sound quality?

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You are 100% correct. This is why I feel like $500 is a good cap for a good pair. It's what I would be comfortable spending if I had to. And MOST of their play time will be tv watching.

Somewhat random thought...I don't want to be like my rich doctor uncle who powers high end speakers like Klipsch LaScala with a plain receiver. Those pieces of audio furniture deserved better!

The last time I was looking, these were highly recommended. https://www.amazon.com/Wharfedale-12...s%2C174&sr=1-4

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SublimeZ

The last time I was looking, these were highly recommended. https://www.amazon.com/Wharfedale-12...s%2C174&sr=1-4

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Those do look nice. Will have to do some additional research.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hillbilly SQ

You are 100% correct. This is why I feel like $500 is a good cap for a good pair. It's what I would be comfortable spending if I had to. And MOST of their play time will be tv watching.

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I had this same thread on AVS forum and I got some great recommendations... Let me see if I can dig it up...

Check out Q-Acoustics:


https://www.qacoustics.com/3020i-bookshelf-speaker-pair.html

Also, Canton:

https://www.amazon.com/Canton-GLE-42...=fsclp_pl_dp_3

https://www.caraudiojunkies.com/show...ecommendations

and check out some of Wharfedales: https://www.amazon.com/Wharfedale-Di...s%2C243&sr=1-3

When I was setting up my 2ch gear, I replaced the Super Clef’s with a pair of Marantz Imperial 6G’s. I replaced the caps & tweeters & made a new grill for them so they looked good. I actually really liked them whether they were playing music, movies or my sons games. You can find them really cheap these days as well. I know you said no DIY but a really nice set that’s been gone through will likely run you $100-150. They are a bit large for bookshelves though. I have a poor picture of that setup from about 10yrs ago & before I made the grills. I’ll try to find & post so you can see that they are “larger” bookshelves.

Size isn't really a factor as long as they aren't tall floor standing speakers since I'll be using floor standing speakers for the "stands" and as nostalgia pieces to relive my youth from time to time. And I feel you get more for your money when you're not paying for a tall cabinet that may or may not be fully utilized by the woofer.

The receiver is a Denon 990. As we talked if you find the Denon not satisfactory enough for front speakers you could run it for your surrounds, dsp, and audio decoder (it supports up to TrueHD and DTS-MA) then use the front L R preout to a 2 channel amp.

These are on sale for a decent price.
https://www.amazon.com/KEF-Q150-Book...5685177&sr=8-1
These seem to get pretty good reviews.
https://www.amazon.com/JBL-Professio...s%2C273&sr=8-2
These might be worth waiting for
https://www.zzounds.com/item--TANGOLD5

Tannoy Golds for pre-order price !

Nice ca90ss

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hillbilly SQ

Cliffnotes-Hillbilly is taking his audio snobbery into the house and needs some badass tonally pleasing bookshelf speakers that don't cost an arm and first born. For those who aren't skimmers keep reading:poke:

Alright folks, I'm getting a seemingly well taken care of Denon 7.1 receiver that's about 9 years old from someone I trust for a deal I can't pass up. He just wanted more modern bells and whistles and it will be a HUGE step up from my current Onkyo 5.1 that cost me $200 back in 08-09 and this Denon I'm getting cost around a $1000 new I think. Has auto eq and a 9 band eq with time alignment. And 120rms per channel at 8 ohms and 160 per channel at 6 ohms. He can peek in and say what the exact model number is. Should be a great unit to build a good 2.1 system around and even go the surround sound thing in the future if desired. Even has preouts I think to add a separate amp for speakers...he mentioned that anyway.

Anyway, right now I have my old 2001 model Cerwin Vega LS12 3-way speakers in use and they aren't bad for pissing off the neighbors and general TV watching but I'm not into pissing off the neighbors anymore and I'm wanting to build a more refined sounding setup. My plan is to use these big 2.75 cube monkey coffins as stands for the bookshelfs and keep them hooked up for nostalgia and if I ever decide to get stupid like I did 15-20 years ago when the neighbors were threatening bodily harm on me for loud music (yes that really happened a couple times!)Luckily I only have one house now that isn't separated by a big field and they don't seem to be easily bothered by people living life around them:)

Here's what is really catching my eye so far. Arkansas is Klipsch country since they're based in Hope, Arkansas. I hear the new ones have addressed the horny sound the old ones had and sound pretty buttoned up. Still has that toed up treble that they're known for. The Elac speakers I'm looking at cost less than half of what the Klipsch I'm looking at cost but have been said to be a more "safe" option. More neutral sounding but not as refined as the Klipsch I'm also linking below. Dude that goes by "Zero Fidelity" on YouTube seems to give really good unbiased reviews and is tight with Steve Guttenberg. I'm fully aware that there will be a lot of great options that I'll have to take a leap of faith on just like with car audio gear. I can audition the Klipsch speakers no problem local but just about everything else worth mentioning would require traveling and quite honestly they're gonna sound different once I get them home anyway. Here's the speakers I'm looking at. Anything else y'all can suggest worth researching I'm all ears. Only reason I'm looking into Klipsch is because of the rave reviews they're getting from "audiophiles" and I'll have actual EQ capability for them. The Elac's seem like they'd fit my tastes better in raw form pre-eq. I'll probably pair whatever I get with a powered subwoofer whether I diy that or get something that looks good right out of the box. Getting where I'd rather pay a little more and just get something already like it needs to be vs messing with diy:(

https://www.klipsch.com/products/rp-...kshelf-speaker
https://www.elac.com/product/b6-2/?r=us

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I've got a pair of these that are surprising on the low end and amazingly realistic.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/polk-au...?skuId=5507264

Right now it's looking like the Wharfdale's linked above and the Elac's I linked are the two front runners. Also wanting to stick with a 6.5" woofer for better room filling capability. I really want to give the Klipsch rp600m a try but the price just isn't justifiable at this point.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hillbilly SQ

Right now it's looking like the Wharfdale's linked above and the Elac's I linked are the two front runners. Also wanting to stick with a 6.5" woofer for better room filling capability. I really want to give the Klipsch rp600m a try but the price just isn't justifiable at this point.

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I should clarify, I'm a bit of a basshead, so when I say "surprising on the low end", I'm not joking. Those Polk S15 5 1/4's are pretty damn good down to the mid 30 hz area. But, I get it, you gotta buy what tickles your fancy, I'm the same way.

https://smile.amazon.com/BIC-America...bic+boo&sr=8-3

Been using these for years, no complaints. Also have a bic sub and center channel in basement.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ckirocz28

I should clarify, I'm a bit of a basshead, so when I say "surprising on the low end", I'm not joking. Those Polk S15 5 1/4's are pretty damn good down to the mid 30 hz area. But, I get it, you gotta buy what tickles your fancy, I'm the same way.

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I put way more importance on midrange and treble quality than I do bass. But not really being able to hear the speakers I'm considering without driving a LONG way what will ultimately fit my tastes is a crapshoot at best. My ears seem to prefer a fairly flat sound that's ever so slightly on the warm side of neutral these days. 15 years ago I preferred the ultra detailed sound that would split your skull apart. I really like the styling of the Wharfedale's. I'll keep researching over the next few months. I finally learned that jumping in prematurely almost never ends well.

Your preferences seem to indicate a speaker such as a 'studio monitor'.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw...0&_sacat=32852
Wharfedale on ebay ?
How a 4 driver setup divides frequencies , may mean clarity when turned to "11" ?
Wharfedale - Diamond 10.7 (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0079XFTK2..._aB76DbVVA3NJT

OK time to throw a curve ball. I'm glad this thread is chugging along and hopefully a lot of people will benefit from it. Something else has my attention now. I might just put these big coffins back in storage and go the tower route. A 2.5-way design really intrigues me. I wonder how these compare tonally in midrange and treble to the 225's that have a mind blowing number of rave reviews?
https://www.amazon.com/Wharfedale-43.../dp/B00VGY4DB6

The output from 4 mids and 3 tweeters (counting all drivers in all three speakers should be Great off new receiver )

Seller is in Sherwood , Ark. ( 3 hrs of searching , to find a set in Arkansas , Chris )
https://www.ebay.com/itm/PAIR-WHARFE...tion=BESTOFFER
Best Offer makes these bloody well right !
1 center plus 2 bookshelf . Diamond 7.1

Sherwood is on 67 , needed items: gas, cash.
Located just a lil north of Littlerock

https://youtu.be/OlydiO2EpA8
https://youtu.be/Reca9FWYjtg
https://youtu.be/zKrNGqDFbzI
https://youtu.be/ZILO1weRHT4

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hillbilly SQ

I put way more importance on midrange and treble quality than I do bass. But not really being able to hear the speakers I'm considering without driving a LONG way what will ultimately fit my tastes is a crapshoot at best. My ears seem to prefer a fairly flat sound that's ever so slightly on the warm side of neutral these days. 15 years ago I preferred the ultra detailed sound that would split your skull apart. I really like the styling of the Wharfedale's. I'll keep researching over the next few months. I finally learned that jumping in prematurely almost never ends well.

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In my first reply I mentioned "amazingly realistic" along with "surprising low end". There is some eq involved, and I tuned to the AudioFrog house curve, but it didn't require much more than shaping to that curve. I'd say those Polks were within 3 db of flat in-room response down to 40 hz.

I was in the same boat a while back and came across http://philharmonicaudio.com/aa.html on the HT forums. More to the neutral to warmer sound but I love them. I couldnt find anyone say anything bad about them.

I have the polk audio monitor 70 series II from newegg a few years back (2009 IIRC) running off of a yamaha aventage rx-a1000.

For the price, they are really good. Didn't require much tuning to flatten them out. (the yamaha has a 7 band semi-para eq for each channel)

This is the "newer" version but looks identical: They are only 5 1/4" speakers but they dig deep to about 50-60hz if you let them.

https://www.newegg.com/p/0S6-0005-000P0


This is the tower version with 6.5" speakers
https://www.newegg.com/p/0S6-0019-00021

Usually you can find these on sale for like 50% of the current price.

I have definitely heard some better home speakers out there. But I paid $620 for two towers, two bookshelf, and the center channel. The yamaha receiver was also being clearanced out for $450 when I bought it due to new model being released. Sub duty is a dayton 250w plate amp and a polk audio mm1240. For about $1200 I am satisfied with this system.

The only thing I would like to upgrade is to a separate amp and a better DSP that is true parametric.

Note* My surround right I discovered had a loose connection at the wall plate on the back side after measuring. It wasn't lower once that was fixed. I just apparently didn't save those measurements.

These are all pre-eq. I also apparently didn't save any of the post eq stuff....

Attachment 7985

If I was in the market for bookshelves, I'd buy this one:
https://www.chanemusiccinema.com/ind...product_id=240

Although not bookshelves, there's a very good showdown with top performers in this thread:
https://www.hometheatershack.com/thr...results.69421/
Magnepan MG12, Tekton Model Lore, Vandersteen 2Ce, Focal Chorus 716v, HTD Level THREE, MartinLogan Motion 12, Klipsch RF-62 ll, Arx A5...
Arx A5 came out as the top performer :thumbup:

Kelvin

On a forum catering to DIY car audio enthusiasts’, I’m with Queef in the first reply in the thread for building a kit. I have built over a dozen, mostly subwoofers that are easier but also a couple bookshelves, a couple MTM towers and an MTM center.

I would look at Madisound, Parts Express and there are plenty other options.

With all the money manufacturers have to put into cabinets and shipping, kits give you the option to purchase higher quality drivers and pre-made crossovers. You just follow the cabinet plans and your $500 budget could be comparable to a commercial speaker of at least twice, likely many times that. That is bang for the buck.

Here is one at your budget.

https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.co...ts-only/#tab-3

I am a Scan Speak fan and here is one for a bit more.

https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.co...covery-ii-kit/

Here are examples of some I have built

https://www.avsforum.com/forum/155-d...l#post30043625

I got mostly buyout parts (M&K) , then with tweeters/crossovers/boxes , just bought a 5" Jantzen mid and designed an enclosure amount on WINISD ( added needed cu ft or doubled size of boxes !

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Midway

On a forum catering to DIY car audio enthusiasts’, I’m with Queef in the first reply in the thread for building a kit. I have built over a dozen, mostly subwoofers that are easier but also a couple bookshelves, a couple MTM towers and an MTM center.

I would look at Madisound, Parts Express and there are plenty other options.

With all the money manufacturers have to put into cabinets and shipping, kits give you the option to purchase higher quality drivers and pre-made crossovers. You just follow the cabinet plans and your $500 budget could be comparable to a commercial speaker of at least twice, likely many times that. That is bang for the buck.

Here is one at your budget.

https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.co...ts-only/#tab-3

I am a Scan Speak fan and here is one for a bit more.

https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.co...covery-ii-kit/

Here are examples of some I have built

https://www.avsforum.com/forum/155-d...l#post30043625

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My original plans were to go the kit route. My big reasoning for not wanting to now is my finishing skills suck thanks to lack of patience and I know I'll never be happy with how they look. Been down that road in the past. Basically my willingness to diy stuff I have to look at every day has gone out the window. It's no different from people who used to diy their car system now paying a pro to do a far better job than they could have done in a fraction of the time. The big issue is I just don't want to eff with it and know tonally any decent speaker will sound better than what I've worked so hard to pull off in my truck thanks to room acoustics being so much better in the house.

Got my new cable in to use the Fiio in the house. Yup these Cerwin Vega LS12 3-way floor speakers sound just how I remember them for music. And they don't really start to sound "good" until you really crank them up just like I remembered. In case anyone is going "wtf" right now I haven't listened to these speakers for actual music in nearly 15 years because they've been in storage at my dad's house. It's just time for a change to something more refined and the Wharfedale Diamond 230's are at the top of the list right now even though they're a 2.5-way tower and not a bookshelf.

I paid $400 for these big CV speakers back in 01 and they're in mint condition with orange woofer surrounds still soft and supple. They've dodged the Cerwin Vega orange surround curse. Could probably get a quick and easy $150 for them off Craigslist. I'm hesitant to sell them to a stranger because of the type of people they might attract to my property and I'm not going to sell them without proving they work as advertised. Maybe I could rig something up with one of my amps and a preset in the Helix...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hillbilly SQ

It's just time for a change to something more refined and the Wharfedale Diamond 230's are at the top of the list right now even though they're a 2.5-way tower ...

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Pick a sub yet ? There is rack mount 1,000 watt amp @ P.E. , also ?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Queef

Pick a sub yet ? There is rack mount 1,000 watt amp @ P.E. , also ?

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I'll go down that road when I have the money to do it right. Not gonna halfass it just to get something going.

I've built a couple of sets of these over the years. way within your budget and sound damn good
http://techtalk.parts-express.com/fo...-mettle/page71
and if you want a little more than a bookshelf there are a couple of other versions
http://techtalk.parts-express.com/fo...ettle?t=215536

He is going to go ready made .
https://www.ecoustics.com/products/w...spc-10-spc-12/
Powercubes by Wharfedale

To be exact this is what I'm thinking will be best for what I'm wanting. I like the idea of a dedicated midrange doing the bulk of the midrange duty. The Diamond 200 series is said to have a damped and laid back sound which is what I'm looking for in the house. Basically, it's a very "safe" speaker to buy. A pair of Diamond 240's can be had for $600 right now. Hopefully that's still the case when I pull the trigger on them.
https://www.wharfedale.co.uk/diamond-240/

I bought some Klipsch floor standing speakers a long time ago when I lived in Arkansas. I liked that they were made there and to this day after all these years they are my favorite thing in my house. They sound beautiful. I will never get rid of them. I must have read reviews from a thousand people that have Klipsch speakers and pretty much everyone loves their Klipsch's. You should def keep considering the RP600M's. You can find them on sale at times for less than 500.