Best Bookshelf Pair for $800

PSB GB1 is a good option - you get both sound and looks.
http://www.saturdayaudio.com/picture...b_specials.htm

I've got the NHT Classic Threes about a year ago and I'm still in love with them. $375 each on their website: http://www.nhthifi.com/Three?sc=12&category=3772

For $874.00 delivered to your front door I highly recommend the Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1. These will out perform many others costing much more. Here is a link for you:

http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages...isor.mv#bottom

Bamboo cabinets, 30-day in home trial period, superior cross-over design, unheard of performance at this price point, excellent customer service-what's not to love?



Cheers,

Phil

P.S. There is also an update that can be done that will take the performance up several levels. Now that is amazing if you ask me.

Another good one.

Martin Logan Motion 4 has been getting rave reviews and at $200 each.

Jim, how do these compare to the PSB Platinum M2's? I have spent a fair amount of time with them in the past.

I have not listened to the Platinum M2 - however, that Violin player
knows how to design speakers.

On a side note, I got the latest version of the Level Three speaker in,
and they still do good work.

Level Three? The HTD? What other ID speakers have you heard?

Off topic for the thread...so feel free to PM me.

Seconded on the Sierra-1. And the bamboo cabinet is gorgeous.

+1, these are well worth the few extra dollars.

another vote for the sierra-1's...

What is the size/description of the room?

Yet another vote for the Sierra-1.

Bill

If you are looking for speakers that will play really loud, AND you will be using a sub, you might look at CHT's Pro-10 and/or Sho-10. http://www.chasehometheater.com/inde...art&Itemid=110 They are specifically designed for efficiency and for use with a sub.

As good as the Sierra-1s are, I would also suggest the Ascend Acoustics CMT-340SE. A great speaker in its own right, but also costs less.

Also, with all these speakers, since you occasionally like to "crank it", I would suggest a good subwoofer.

This^^^

Like Oldfart said as long as you have a good sub crossed at 80hz your ears will give up before the speaker distorts, no chance of fried tweeter here.(I actually put the theory to the test by mistake)

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1321032

NHT Classic 3 for me

+1 on this suggestion as well. I own both Sierra-1 and CMT-340SEs and both are outstanding at their price points. +1 on the sub as well.

I had Sierra-1s without a sub for two years and was really impressed. I just added an HSU subwoofer and the whole thing blows me away...

agreed on the sub... my sierra's were "nice" without a sub... they got "really good" with one...

curtis, since you've spent a lot of time with both sets... from a purely "academic" standpoint (since i'm not in the market), what would you say the "differences" between the two speakers are? it's my understanding that the cmt is somewhat more efficient?

I'll throw in another vote for the Sierra-1. Simply an outstanding performer.

That said, PSB makes a very good speaker if you need to listen to something at a B&M store, if there is one locally that carries PSB.

+1 for the CMT-340 w/sub as well!

I auditioned a pair of 340's many years ago when I still owned my original 170's. They played louder but still sounded very similar to the 170's. It was not enough of a difference for me, personally, to make the move to them. I still enjoyed the 170's as they were, and still are, an excellent budget speaker. I took a leap of faith switching to the Sierra-1's and have never looked back. I'd say, to me, the difference between the 340's vs. Sierra-1's are:
1. 340's will play louder due to twin woofers.
2. Sierra's play deeper into the bass with excellent low end resolution.
3. Sierra's flesh out more detail in the recording.
4. While the 340 has very good build quality, the Sierra's are a class above.

These are just my opinions based on one listening session with the 340's, and comments from someone who owns 340's and auditioned my Sierra's.

I think I would also add that the CMT-340SE's have a bit more treble than the standard Sierra-1, and that the Sierra-1 images a bit better (even though all Ascends are outstanding in that regard).

I like Paradigm Studio 10s in that price range, although the Sierra is tough to beat from everything I've read.

Edit: Forgot, I also really like the Swan D2.1SE, although it seems they've increased in price a bit since the last time I looked.

@hd and curtis...

thanks guys... i have a pair of 170's (well, a trifecta, actually) that i picked up used for a secondary tv setup a few years back... if the 340's are sonically similar to them, i definitely vote for the sierra's...

while i still was in "sierra mode", dave intro'd the fancy finishes, and i was "sierra-less" for awhile when my naturals sold before my dark cherry's got here.... i used the 170's in my main room for awhile... and every minute that i was listening to music, i DEARLY missed the sierra's.... DEARLY...

for movies/tv, meh, don't really care much... make a reasonable amount of noise, and i'm happy there... for all i know, the cbm's may very well be better for that...

note: i was using a paradigm servo15 v2 sub with all of the above...

granted, there's a significant price difference... but that price difference, as long as it's within budget, is certainly worth it...

I like my Wharfedale Diamond 10.7's and a friend of mine has the 10.2's and likes them as well. Granted the 10.7's are towers. If you can find a North American dealer I would strongly suggest you take a listen to the Diamond's and if they have them the Evo's as well.

The topend of the 340s and 170s are similar...although I think the 340's may still have a bit more treble..I have not compared the two in a while. The 340's definitely have more bass and mid-bass information giving them more body....due to the size of the cabinet and two-woofers.