If you want decent bass, but you don't want floor speakers...there is a fundamental physics problem there...lol.

Most "monitor" speakers (bookshelf speakers) simply don't put out deep bass in any quantity because of their driver and enclosure size; they can't. Some may go down to the 40-50 Hz range, but that is about it.

You really have two choices if you want serious bass; big expensive floorstanding speakers with 8 inch or larger drivers or a set of "monitor" speakers with a good subwoofer.

Personally, my recommendation would be the monitor speakers with a good subwoofer; you will get a lot more solid bass sound that way. Most of the ones on your list there are pretty crappy.

I suggest that you go to the KEF Direct website and get a pair of the KEF C3 speakers ($329), and then get an NHT B10D subwoofer, which Audio Advisor sells for $499. That should do the trick.

For an amplifier, I highly recommend the Music Hall A15.2 amplifier, which puts out 75 watts per channel and is very good-sounding. Music Direct is selling it for $499.

IMO the Peachtree is way overpriced and not even all that good.

stierwalt wrote:

hey stereophiles!  i've been a lurker here for a while, but this is my first time posting.

basically, i'm replacing my bedroom Klipsch 2.1 Pro Media system because it's kinda crap. I need to replace it with something that sounds great from whispered bedtime volume, all the way up to late night dance party level. my budget is somewhere in the lower end of $1-1300 range for the whole shebang.  

I love the idea of the Peachtree Nova. plus it has a great headphone amp and i do a lot of headphone listening (ATH-M50 cans)  you can pick up a refurbished one for about $900.  I'm not sure if that's worth it for my needs, first of all.   I'm open to suggestion

secondly, I'm going to be running just two channels.  so i need some monitors with a full bass sound.  my only complaint with everything i have listened to so far is that the lows are lacking.  what would pair nicely with the nova?

a man on my local craigslist is selling a pair of Paradigm Mini Monitor v.3 speakers for $150.

someone is also selling a pair of ADS L400 for $300

maybe a pair of JBL EC25BK for $150

or i could go old school and get

a pair of old Pioneer CS-801 for $200

someone is also selling an old pair of technics sb-g920 for $150, but those are floor speakers

 

i'm a beginner here so any wisdom would be greatly appreciated!

I have no experience with either of those; can't comment.