Bookshelf stereo speakers recommendation

[admin_exported]

First post in the forum, so hello everybody.

I want to buy a pair of bookshelf speakers to connect to my receiver (cambridge audio azur 540r v2, 100w per channel, 8ohms).

I would like to spend no more than 400€/500US$. I know is not much, but it would be great to spend even less

I like extended, balanced and detailed sound. Maybe a bit on the warm side (I had a too cold speakers before and I didn't like them). Tight and present bass, but not "oversized". Shinny treble is welcome if not too fatiguing, but it's more important to have nice mids to get good voices/guitars.

I mostly listen to rock (Radiohead), indie (Arcade Fire), and new age/piano music (Wim Mertens).

I guess that having a front bass reflex is better, because I will put them against a wall in my living room.

I'm actually considering these options:

• Monitor Audio BR2: Just because of the specs, I can't try them before buying. MA Silver RS1 looks nice, but it has bass port in the back (?)
• Polk Audio: I listened to two entry level bookshelfs and I like them. Don't know what model (impedances are not 8ohms in most of the cases, don't know what this would really mean in practice)

I also listened B&W 686 (rear bass port) and 685 (out of budget this last model) but in a A/B comparison with Polk Audios, I found music with B&W less "alive" and too bassy for my taste (mids seem to be a bit shy in these models, am I wrong?)

Anyway, I would like to have some recomendations, probably another options. I'm quite newbie about these things.

Thanks in advance and best regards

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah I am not a great fan of B&W either but I would say that the BR2's would be brilliant for what your music requirements are although it's a pity you can't demo them before purchase.

 

[Audiofoolius]

For your budget I would give the Dali Lektor 1 a try. If your amp is powerful enough you will be rewarded with an extremly musical sound. Of course you should audition first - maybe with your amp - to know for sure if you're happy with this combo.

 

[Anonymous]

I can see Dali Lektor's are very detailled but also very shy with bass. This is going to be a blind buy, even if I don't like it. Don't know what to do about both models:

• I don't know if I would like Dali's with that thin bass they seem to have... I don't want my music to sound too cold. They cost ~40% more than Monitor Audio BR2
• Maybe MA BR2 are not detailed enough... (¨?)

BTW: I have a 100W per channel receiver (see my first post). Thanks for your comments and recommendations.

 

[Anonymous]

BR2s are quite good but obviously veiled in the midrange when put next to something better. For example the RS1.

Lektors are okay for small speakers, but I think they're too compromised in the bass, especially if you have rock tastes.

AVI Neutrons are excellent and ship all over the world. They aren't the biggest bass monsters for your rock music but will do well and are detailed and clear and will be excellent for your piano.

B&W do some fine stuff that will suit rock but is a little do boom-tizz for more cultured music.

 

[Anonymous]

If you can't listen to the BR2s, then don't buy them. I learnt the hard way that you should never, never buy speakers in particular without listening first - I dropped 250? when I did that.

 

[Anonymous]

Your best bet is definitely the BR2's if you are blindly buying but this isn't recommended of course.

 

[Cypher]

I would buy the Dali Lektor 1 speakers. They sound much better than the B&W's and Monitor Audio IMO.

 

[Anonymous]

Go for the Dali's if you are after lots of detail in the music and go for BR2's if you want a system which has lots of weight, punch and bass and also provides detail albeit not as much as the Lektor's. The advantage of having a front ported bass is that it allows you to position these close to the walls. However I would recommend the BR2's because your hangup with the 685's was they didn't sound too alive and in truth the B&W's need to be driven with more powerful amps to sound at their best. Whereas the BR2's wil really make your music come alive, at the end of the day though, it's up to you.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree go with the Dali Lektor 1's they are superb speakers. They are just so clear, open, detailed and dynamic. The vocals are crystal clear. Remember they are small bookshelf speakers but they just sound so amazing. If you close your eyes and listened without seeing them you would never believe that such a great sound could ever come from such small boxes. Considering their size the bass is punchy, tight and detailed and they do not sound thin or tinny. If you want more bass then just add a subwoofer to the system. If you are on a budget then I would recommend the Mordaunt short 902i's they are great for the price ( £100) with good detail, open sound and plenty of bass as they are much bigger than the Dali's. I have also heard the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 speakers which don't sound up to much. The MA BR2's are ok but the vocals don't sound so great. The B&W 685's are good for bass but lack detail and clarity. The Tannoy F1 Customs are not very good either. If you are an Audiophile then go with the Dali's but if your budget does not stretch that far go with the MS 902i's and you will be happy with both.

 

[Anonymous]

I think as an overall package for what your after the RS1's will be the best in sound terms and they are better built and finished than all the others suggested. I have mine positioned pretty close to the wall and they are fine, great detail and midrange, I would highly recomend them.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi jperez,

You should also consider the Kef IQ30. They match your budget and sound (very) good. Last but not least their design is so "sexy"...

BR

 

[the record spot]

If you can find them and probably on a deal for your budget, the Quadral Pico will fit bookshelf, butdget and performance requirements. Leema Xeros worth considering too and definitely a pair of AVI Neutron's; either the II, IV, or most recent V models.