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June 11, 2009 - 1:55pm
#1
Reasonably priced bookshelf speakers?
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Well...6.5 inch mid/woofers are popular. I suspect you will get a fairly large list depending on what you value as reasonable.
I'll offer the Infinity P162 which can be had for about $200.00 per pair. Ridiculously good bookshelf speaker.
RG
I was looking at those earlier. Port reflex. Looking for acoustic suspension.
Reasonable can be subjective.
Also, this isn't just for me but also for archiving on the forum.
Most of this line's offerings are sealed systems; http://www.nsmaudio.com/brochures/5broc.html
They are also Role's parent company; http://www.tnt-audio.com/casse/rolekayak_e.html
Any of the LS3/5a clones will be acoustic suspension systems.
Gallos and Orb also build small sealed systems.
You could pick up a pair of Minimus 7's for around $20 at a local thrift, SA or yard sale. Of course they would be used. I use a pair in my bedroom system with an old DBX sub woofer driven by an Adcom GFA-535. Frankly the 7's are better than the DBX. The 7's are acoustic suspension and they do sound pretty good. If you don't like them you're only out $20. It's more than likely one of the guys at audiokarma will buy them. So, for $20 bucks or so you really can't lose.
I remember those Minimus. They looked like the Radio Shack Optimus ones reviewed in Stereophile.
Acoustic suspension speakers are getting sort of scarce on the new market. I'm sort of looking at a pair of new Energy RC-10 at half price. I can always stick a sock on the rear port I suppose. What the heck. I can always just take the sock out. I should check on a speaker calculator if the box demensions are in range for both the port and a port with a sock in it...
Does one really need to break in a bookshelf speaker? Energy recommends 100 hours of pink noise.
I got some these guys for my workshop and they are absurdly well-made and good sounding for $85 at Best Buy. I seriously cannot understand at all how they can make these for that retail price. They are not bright, nor bloated with fake mid-bass. You'll be mighty pleased.
Insignia Bookshelf Speakers
WOW! Infinity Beta 20 pairs at less than half price!
I believe the NHT and Yamaha bookshelves are all acoustic suspension designs.
RG
Yes, it does seem to be a good time for shopping for speakers deals...
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/542373846/energy-rc10?s_c=site_search
The Minimus 7's are small metal boxes with perforated aluminum grills. They are not much like the ones SPhile reviewed. They are aurally and visually twins of Braun/ADS compacts that were much more expensive. They really do sound quite good. You can pick them up at yard sales SA's and GW's for no more than $20 a pair. They'll be the best $20 you'll ever spend.
Anyone that wants something small cheap and listenable should check them out. They have no bass!!! You think!
NHT's for sure. They have been sealed as far back as I can recall. And with the company going on some sort of hiatus from manufacturing, the current Classic line (AZ, C2, C3) can be had at decent discounts.
Brian
I agree. NHT has a nice one...
http://store.nhthifi.com/Absolute-Zero-White_2?sc=12&category=1210