Suggestions for bookshelf speakers puhleese!

My new house in Arkansas is going to have a new dedicated music room built but in the meantime my listening is going to be in a much smaller office size space, think 7’ x 8’.
Seating position will probably be about 5’ from the wall where speakers will be but this may reduce depending on how far I have to pull them out.
So … I have not looked at speakers for years and never decent bookshelf size ones.
Any and all suggestions from practical experience is welcome here
Driving power is no problem with plenty of Krell size watts available :grin:.
Thanks people!

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https://us.kef.com/pages/ls50-meta

Never heard them but they would be the first model I would try before listening to anything else.

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Check out the Vivid Audio S12’s
Probably the new reference when it comes to bookshelf speakers.

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Should have mentioned this very important part…budget.
Going to limit myself here to $2000 Max as this will be a temporary situation and likely sold after the music room is built.
More interested in buying used as more bang for the buck.

Thanks!

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Hmmm Vivid’s wont squeeze into that price point unfortunately :expressionless:

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Yes Vivids are more end game price point than my temporary requirements dictate.
Love them but…:sunglasses:

I also will be able to use at least one of my subs in this room so even smallish speakers should work ok .
My thoughts so far had been on items like these
Proac Tablette Anniversary.
Dynaudio Evoke 20.
Monitor Audio Gold 100.

And so on but no experience with any.

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I have a pair of Elac Solano ■■283 which I have been very happy with. Can easily be found under your price point.

I bought these a couple of years ago as (due to WAF) they had to actually be placed on bookshelves (eek) and they are down-ported, meaning that they are quite forgiving of being placed close to the wall. However, they shine more if I pull them into the room.

Here’s a review: ELAC Solano BS283 Bookshelf Speakers Review | StereoNET International

I have drive them with an NAD M10, and run an SVS 3000 micro sub.

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I have a pair of the monitor audio alongside a KEF KC62, they make a nice sound.

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Have owned a bunch of ProAc speakers. Their bookshelves are great and if you can find some Response 1’s in good condition you won’t be disappointed.

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The Bowers & Wilkins 700 series bookshelves with the tweeter tube on top are really nice speakers. I have the 700 series, S2’s and S3’s, tower models in my surround system.

@mitr did a review of these bookshelves in Stereophile last year.

An online search of “B & W 705 S3” brings up a link to the Stereophile review.

While theses are normally listed in the $3000.00 range I did an online search of “B&W 700 series bookshelf speakers” and found a link to A&B TV in Austin Tx where they are listed for $1699.50.

Might be worth checking out at that price.

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ProAc Tablette 10 Signatures. Perfect for small spaces, no ports to chuff designed to be up against wall and work out as well, they have midrange to die for. Love mine. 2nd hand you might be able to pick them up for 2k. I don’t mind my SonusFaber Lumina II Amator either but a different beast entirely and not to everyones tastes.

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Great to hear on the Proac Tablette, high on the WAF according to her who knows best too :sunglasses:

Yeah they passed with flying colours here to.

They do need a good stand though to get best out of them, something with a bit of Mass. Some are better for getting them close to the front wall than others. Mine are out a bit as my room has too much bass load if not.

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Always liked the look of the B&W speakers with the tube or horn on top but never heard them .

Maybe just keep an eye on Craigslist in your locations and see what shows up.

Edit: That’s where I found my Pioneer HPM-60’s.

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I have KEF LS50W and like them. The Meta would be a nice option or the LSX.
I also like ELAC brand mentioned above. Although I have not heard the Solano, so, YMMV.

I went with Audioengine HD3 for my desktop, but they would work great as ‘bookshelf’ speakers.
Especially for the price and for temporary use. Or the one of the more expensive pair HD4, 5, or 6.
HD3 $350 at 60W, HD4 $400 120W, HD5 $550 150W, HD6 $700 150W.
Add a sub and your set for a while IMO.

They also have some passive speakers, but I have not heard them in a very long while.

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You can buy so much. A lot will probably sound quite similar. And there will be plenty of speakers that will differ.

Go to a store/dealer and listen. Ask if, when you find a pair you like, can listen to them at home before you buy them

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I like three-way and concentric so my money would go to a pair of Kali Audio IN-8’s.

PS: Currently owning IN-UNF as PC-speakers and happy with it (the sound, not the USB input which doesn’t work with Linux).

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A bunch of pretty differently sounding sneakers has been recommended so far.

To understand what might fit best for you could you provide additional Information please on

  • how far will speakers be away from rhe wall?
  • how would you describe acoustic propoerties of the room, rather damped or lots of reverb or balanced?
  • which genres of music are most important?
  • which bigger speakers are your favorites?
  • could you describe whats important for you in music reproduction, like relaxed sound, lots of bass, high Resolution, three-dimensional imaging or alike?

A listening distance of 5’ qualifies as nearfield and most of hifi speakers are not made for this. From technical point concentric is a good solution but not all coaxial speakers would meet other demands.

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