speakers

[rjgroot]

Hi, i want to get myself a new hifi system (thinking of a Rega or Cyrus setup). The family are fed up with my current standmounters (Dynaudio 52SE) and want bookshelf speakers now. I love the B&W 685 S2 and Kef LS50s but do they really need stands or can you fit them on a shelf too?

thanx, Rutger

 

[Al ears]

Hi, i want to get myself a new hifi system (thinking of a Rega or Cyrus setup). The family are fed up with my current standmounters (Dynaudio 52SE) and want bookshelf speakers now. I love the B&W 685 S2 and Kef LS50s but do they really need stands or can you fit them on a shelf too?

thanx, Rutger

Welcome to the forum.

Don't let the name fool you as bookshelf speakers are normally just small standmounts, very few are actually designed to be close to a wall.

You'll need very big shelves to fit the B&W on as they are quite deep and I wouldn't recommend it anyway even if they are front ported as they need space. The LS50s are rear ported and also need space. There is little point in spending this much money if you're going to compromise them by putting them on a shelf.

Think wall-mounted if you must or something like Neat Iota's, this may be better.

 

[rjgroot]

OK,sounds like the KEFs are out. Pity - my wife loves them (and never underestimate the WAF )

My ears do need a bit more oompf than the Neat Iota's can offer - playing a lot of classical and funky jazz music. The ATM SCM11 would not be a good fit either? Any other recommendations (at least outperforming my current Dynaudio 52SE's...)?

And driving these speakers - I'm quite fond of the Cyrus set up, or would Roksan outperform it big time? I currently have an Arcam amp and Rega CDplayer .

 

[rainsoothe]

Hi, i want to get myself a new hifi system (thinking of a Rega or Cyrus setup). The family are fed up with my current standmounters (Dynaudio 52SE) and want bookshelf speakers now. I love the B&W 685 S2 and Kef LS50s but do they really need stands or can you fit them on a shelf too?

thanx, Rutger

Welcome to the forum.

Don't let the name fool you as bookshelf speakers are normally just small standmounts, very few are actually designed to be close to a wall.

You'll need very big shelves to fit the B&W on as they are quite deep and I wouldn't recommend it anyway even if they are front ported as they need space. The LS50s are rear ported and also need space. There is little point in spending this much money if you're going to compromise them by putting them on a shelf.

Think wall-mounted if you must or something like Neat Iota's, this may be better.

+1. You'd be struggling to better the Dynaudios imo. It would be a sideways move or a very small improvement.

You could just place those on a shelf, but don't stick them up against a wall - give them at least 20cm space.

If you need to put them in a bookshelf and against the wall, then the Neat Iotas are a great suggestion. Or, if you're lucky enough to find a pair of Guru Juniors, get those instead. Others to consider are ATC SCM 7 and maybe 11, but these need a lot of juice. Think Hegel H80, Naim XS2 or used Supernait, and maybe XTZ A100D3 or Roksan K3.

I'm not a fan of Rega, but it might be ok. Care, rega and cyrus are very different, so audition before buying.

 

[rjgroot]

So what setup should i go for considering the bookshelf setup?

- Cyrus CDi - Cyrus 8a - ​KEF LS50 / B&W 685 S2

- Roksan Caspian M2- Roksan K3 CD Di - ATM SCM11

 

[Al ears]

So what setup should i go for considering the bookshelf setup?

- Cyrus CDi - Cyrus 8a - ​KEF LS50 / B&W 685 S2

- Roksan Caspian M2- Roksan K3 CD Di - ATM SCM11

My money would be on Roksan / ATC

 

[grdunn123]

seems there are no KEF LS50 afficionados around here... *cray2*

David@FrankHarvey is your man.....he's usually around every evening.

 

[Leeps]

Please do listen to the above comments about how compromised the speakers you're considering will be by placing them on a shelf. The other contributors above are absolutely right. The shelf will very likely vibrate with your speakers and you'll probably be limited to placing the speakers closer to the wall than they should be, so you'll just get oodles of bloated bass overwhelming the music.

Spending as much money as a Roksan K3 / ATC set-up will cost you seems just a waste. Would you buy a Ferrari and put cheap re-moulded tyres on it? That's pretty much what you're suggesting in audio terms If you really had to re-locate these speakers to a bookshelf, I'd try your Dynaudios first and if it sounds too boomy, then the Neat Iotas are probably the only speaker (still actually made) that I'd consider. Have you actually heard the Iotas? Don't underestimate what they're capable of, and they might just help counteract the issues you'll be causing by bookshelf placement.

If you think the Iotas aren't up to the job, could you find room for a subwoofer to augment them?

 

[rjgroot]

seems there are no KEF LS50 afficionados around here... *cray2*

​Are the ATC SCM11s truly better?

 

[rjgroot]

come in David@frankharvey

 

[Thompsonuxb]

Just curious - is there anything wrong with dynaudio 52's performance in your opinion?

The B&W's are a backward step and the dyno's can take an electronic hardware upgrade for sure.

Try a nice decorative cloth over the stands to give the appearance of a floorstander - sounds crazy I know but will hide that industrial chic that go's for stands and grates with WAFS (what's a WAF?)

The other option of course are wall brackets. In the flesh some of these standmounts are actually pretty big.

Anyhow the 52's imo are a speaker worth holding onto that said PMC make some slim floorstanders as do Spendor and the mid level Dali's too - Monitor Audio too.

 

[Al ears]

come in David@frankharvey

Why? Do you want him to say they'll work perfectly well on a shelf? I think you are going to be disappointed.

 

[rjgroot]

Thanx to all of you, great feedback - guess i'll hang on to my current gear since shelves don't justify any upgrades, unless of course i can convince the Mrs to allow standmounters/floorstanders . In that case I'll go Roksan Caspian amp and CD player and ATC SCM11...

(@Thomson: WAF is Women Acceptancy Factor - the looks of the beast). She might settle for the LINN Series5 but they're a bit too dear for me...