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Please help me choose my first bookshelf's :)

post #1 of 65
9/7/12 at 10:39am
Thread Starter 
So I'm very to the audio scene so excuse my newbness but I've made a wish list on Amazon of speakers I've read about online and reviewed. The problem is there is sooo many good bookshelf speakers under $200. I've listened to some AudioEngine A5+ in person and really liked them but they are above my price range. You'll see that I have some active and some passive speakers on here, I really don't mind purchasing a separate amp if it means better quality. I'll be using these in a 12x12 room for music most likely without a sub. Let me know which one you'd choose or if you have any better suggestions

Wish list http://amzn.com/w/5Z5ZOHPJT2WO

Also I could buy used off craigslist, I just found these which I've heard are good
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ele/3243476188.html
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post #2 of 65
9/7/12 at 11:11am
if you can up your budget..
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-9yhOvKRuHzK/p_760IMGB4C/PSB-Image-B4-Dark-Cherry.html
pretty good speakers. I have the PSB B5 though...not the b4

With low budgets you will have to compromise somewhere or the other. And with bookshelves dont expect much bass.

if you can up your budget around 400 there are quite a few really good choices. Suggest you save up and buy. Also have a look at NHT. They make some pretty good bookshelves.

Do be aware that the NHT site prices are for one speaker and not for two
http://www.nhthifi.com/
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post #3 of 65
9/7/12 at 11:32am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ShaQBlogs View Post

if you can up your budget..
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-9yhOvKRuHzK/p_760IMGB4C/PSB-Image-B4-Dark-Cherry.html
pretty good speakers. I have the PSB B5 though...not the b4
With low budgets you will have to compromise somewhere or the other. And with bookshelves dont expect much bass.
if you can up your budget around 400 there are quite a few really good choices. Suggest you save up and buy. Also have a look at NHT. They make some pretty good bookshelves.
Do be aware that the NHT site prices are for one speaker and not for two
http://www.nhthifi.com/

Yeah I really don't want to get into the 400s but I did have the NHT SuperZero 2.0s on my list. I've heard they lack the low end though so are better paired with a sub but I've never heard any of these so I don't know for certain.
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post #4 of 65
9/7/12 at 12:18pm
You can get ok bass with bookshelf speakers, just not small ones with dinky 4 or 5 inch woofers. Those PSB speakers will have no bass. Check these out: Behringer 2031p monitors. They are fairly large and heavy, but with 8.75" woofers, they have good bass all the way down to the 50 hz region. A good bookshelf speaker which is smaller and also has decent bass is the Hsu HB-1 mk2. Those don't lose any steam till they get to 60 hz, that is very good for bookshelf speakers with 6.5" woofers. These HTD Threes ought to have decent bass as well, although I have not personally heard those. These Arx A1b should have decent bass as well, with it's high excursion bass driver. I realize all these speakers are a bit over your $200 budget, but the fact is it is hard to get good bass from a smaller speaker. If you are going without a sub, you will want as much bass extension from your speakers as possible.
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post #5 of 65
9/7/12 at 12:37pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by shadyJ View Post

You can get ok bass with bookshelf speakers, just not small ones with dinky 4 or 5 inch woofers. Those PSB speakers will have no bass. Check these out: Behringer 2031p monitors. They are fairly large and heavy, but with 8.75" woofers, they have good bass all the way down to the 50 hz region. A good bookshelf speaker which is smaller and also has decent bass is the Hsu HB-1 mk2. Those don't lose any steam till they get to 60 hz, that is very good for bookshelf speakers with 6.5" woofers. These HTD Threes ought to have decent bass as well, although I have not personally heard those. These Arx A1b should have decent bass as well, with it's high excursion bass driver. I realize all these speakers are a bit over your $200 budget, but the fact is it is hard to get good bass from a smaller speaker. If you are going without a sub, you will want as much bass extension from your speakers as possible.

awesome, thanks man

any amp suggestions that won't break the bank?
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post #6 of 65
9/7/12 at 12:41pm
Thread Starter 
are the previous model Behringer 2030Ps any good? Because for 99$ they would be a good deal

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/B2030P/
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post #7 of 65
9/7/12 at 12:45pm
the Def Tech SM 350/450s have been on and off sale at New Egg. When on sale, they can be had for around 200...but they are passive, so you will need a AVR or amp...those play the low end about as well as any bookshelf in that price range!
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post #8 of 65
9/7/12 at 1:00pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elihawk View Post

the Def Tech SM 350/450s have been on and off sale at New Egg. When on sale, they can be had for around 200...but they are passive, so you will need a AVR or amp...those play the low end about as well as any bookshelf in that price range!

wow haven't heard of those, they seem very enticing. I'm not bass head or anything though just wanted to let you guys know i won't be pairing with a sub. I mostly to alternative, jazz, and classical. So mostly looking for good balance.
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post #9 of 65
9/7/12 at 1:11pm
the def techs are real good speakers for the money.
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post #10 of 65
9/7/12 at 1:55pm
The Audioengine A5+ is a powered speaker.

Most of what has been recommended are passive speakers, which will need some kind of amplification.

Does your budget include some kind of a receiver to power your speakers?
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post #11 of 65
9/7/12 at 1:57pm
Well there is bass heavy and then there are balanced speakers. If you don't have bass, your speaker will not be balanced! The Def Tech are a pretty good choice for music if you aren't going to have a sub!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882325059
229 and 30 dollar off promo code if you orde before 9/12/12
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post #12 of 65
9/7/12 at 2:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elihawk View Post

Well there is bass heavy and then there are balanced speakers. If you don't have bass, your speaker will not be balanced!
How much bass do you need to have to be balanced?
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post #13 of 65
9/7/12 at 2:03pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cschang View Post

The Audioengine A5+ is a powered speaker.
Most of what has been recommended are passive speakers, which will need some kind of amplification.
Does your budget include some kind of a receiver to power your speakers?

Yeah I understand I'll need to purchase a separate amp or receiver. I haven't really picked one out yet but I figured if I want to upgrade speakers down the line it would be easier and more flexible if I went with passive speakers now. The combination and convenience of active speakers is tempting though.
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post #14 of 65
9/7/12 at 2:04pm
I would assume a db level that matches its output at midrange and high freq (ie flat freq reponse).
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post #15 of 65
9/7/12 at 2:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elihawk View Post

I would assume a db level that matches its output at midrange and high freq (ie flat freq reponse).
So what is the bass frequency you want to match to the mids and the highs?
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post #16 of 65
9/7/12 at 2:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hay112 View Post

are the previous model Behringer 2030Ps any good? Because for 99$ they would be a good deal
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/B2030P/

Those 2030p are good bookshelf speakers and that is a good deal, the problem is those do not have great bass at all, they have been measured to start rolling off at 90 hz, so they really need a sub. If you are running without a sub, it is well worth the extra 60 to get the 2031 speakers.

As for amps, what kind of connectivity do you need? If you need digital inputs, then the amp to get is the Harmon/Kardon 3490, which can be had for $300 shipped (do that email thingy at J&R for the 300 offer). If you just need an amp without a DAC or any receiver features, this AudioSource AMP 100 ought to do nicely. If you want the features of a receiver but do not need digital connectivity, this Onkyo 8255 receiver will do fine.
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post #17 of 65
9/7/12 at 2:29pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cschang View Post

So what is the bass frequency you want to match to the mids and the highs?

I'm really not sure, I'm guessing down to 50 hz should be fine
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post #18 of 65
9/7/12 at 3:23pm
That deal isn't so good. It says $99 EACH. That's per speaker. The other Beringer with the big woofers says $259 a Pair.
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post #19 of 65
9/7/12 at 3:46pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave1027 View Post

That deal isn't so good. It says $99 EACH. That's per speaker. The other Beringer with the big woofers says $259 a Pair.

Oh gotchya
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post #20 of 65
9/7/12 at 3:47pm
Thread Starter 
So any good Active speakers you guys would recommend under $300? Just in case I decide to go that route
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post #21 of 65
9/7/12 at 4:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hay112 View Post

I'm really not sure, I'm guessing down to 50 hz should be fine
Gotcha...but I was asking Elihawk.

Basically want to know what balanced meant to him. He says "flat frequency response"....but I was wondering how deep he thinks a speaker needs to play to be balanced.
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post #22 of 65
9/7/12 at 4:15pm
Thread Starter 
I've also added these 3 as possible choices, all active

Swan D1080 IV
M-Audio BX5 D2
KRK RP5G2
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post #23 of 65
9/7/12 at 4:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hay112 View Post

So any good Active speakers you guys would recommend under $300? Just in case I decide to go that route

There are active versions of the Behringer 2031p, which is the 2031a, those aren't under 300 though. You will have a hard time finding some decent active bookshelf speakers with reasonable bass extension for 300 new. There ought to be plenty of those on ebay though. Some other good active monitors with good bass extension would be the KRK Rokit 8 and the JBL LSR 2328P studio monitors. New, they are out of your budget, but you might find some used within your means. They have larger woofers and much better bass, but as a consequence, they are larger and heavier than average bookshelf speakers.
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post #24 of 65
9/7/12 at 11:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hay112 View Post

So any good Active speakers you guys would recommend under $300? Just in case I decide to go that route

There is a newer version of the SWAN D1080 IV for $179 at http://www.theaudioinsider.com/product_info.php?loudspeakers=swan-active-desktop-sound&p=swan-d1080-iv-active-desktop-loudspeaker-system&cPath=21_24&products_id=200&

The next step up is the Swan M200MkII for $279 at http://www.theaudioinsider.com/product_info.php?loudspeakers=swan-active-desktop-sound&p=swan-m200mkii-active-desktop-loudspeaker-system&cPath=21_24&products_id=184&
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post #25 of 65
9/8/12 at 12:00am
Do you have tools? Can you work with wood? With that budget you would get a lot more for your money if you build your own. You can even get the cabinets already built, or you can get someone to do the cutting and ship you a flat pack, or do it completely yourself and cut the wood out and assemble it.
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post #26 of 65
9/9/12 at 10:05pm
Thread Starter 
OK, so after thinking about it a little more I think I'd rather go with active speakers although the Def Tech 350s are still tempting. I've been looking on Craigslist and found some deals on speakers locally too.

What do you guys think between the following?

Used:
KRK V6
JBL LSR 2325P
M-Audio BX5a or BX5 D2
NHT SuperZero

New:
SWAN D1080 IV
Alesis Monitor1 MKII
Def Tech SM 350
Energy RC-10
Tannoy Reveal 501A


AHHHH SO MANY GOOD OPTIONS!
Edited by hay112 - 9/9/12 at 10:30pm
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post #27 of 65
9/10/12 at 7:41am
How deep do you want? how deep can you hear? You would hope that a speaker could play as deep as possible, but for the money you want the speaker that can do the best possible in that price range. For $300/pr, maybe that is asking too much.
I have the Polk m40s and while I know they are advertised to go pretty low (47hz ) I have never really care for the bass from them. The Def Tech SM450 definately hit lower and have more defined bass, and still do the highs and mids pretty well (the def Tech are advertised to go to 24 hz, but I wouldn't know as I cannot hear that:))
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post #28 of 65
9/10/12 at 7:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elihawk View Post

How deep do you want? how deep can you hear? You would hope that a speaker could play as deep as possible, but for the money you want the speaker that can do the best possible in that price range. For $300/pr, maybe that is asking too much.
I have the Polk m40s and while I know they are advertised to go pretty low (47hz ) I have never really care for the bass from them. The Def Tech SM450 definately hit lower and have more defined bass, and still do the highs and mids pretty well (the def Tech are advertised to go to 24 hz, but I wouldn't know as I cannot hear that:))

I told him I have a great set of DefTech Pro Cinema 600 with Sub and wall brackets for $400 and shipping was on me... These are a great set looks like they are going in my sitting or wife's craft room...
I thought that was a great deal???

If you have time to wait BB has great sales on polk speakers.
We use the T15 in Kids room and then I have a set in kitchen and bath hidden in cabinets they sound good.
Edited by Hookedonc4 - 9/10/12 at 8:09am
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post #29 of 65
9/10/12 at 8:26am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hookedonc4 View Post

I told him I have a great set of DefTech Pro Cinema 600 with Sub and wall brackets for $400 and shipping was on me... These are a great set looks like they are going in my sitting or wife's craft room...
I thought that was a great deal???
If you have time to wait BB has great sales on polk speakers.
We use the T15 in Kids room and then I have a set in kitchen and bath hidden in cabinets they sound good.

Sorry bud, they are a great deal I just didn't want to spend $400 and really just wanted a 2 speaker setup.

Thanks for the heads up on the T15s though, very good deal
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post #30 of 65
9/10/12 at 8:29am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elihawk View Post

How deep do you want? how deep can you hear? You would hope that a speaker could play as deep as possible, but for the money you want the speaker that can do the best possible in that price range. For $300/pr, maybe that is asking too much.
I have the Polk m40s and while I know they are advertised to go pretty low (47hz ) I have never really care for the bass from them. The Def Tech SM450 definately hit lower and have more defined bass, and still do the highs and mids pretty well (the def Tech are advertised to go to 24 hz, but I wouldn't know as I cannot hear that:))

I'm really digging the Def Techs
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