Good speakers around $500?

B

Boom

New Member
Hey guys. This will be my first post in this forum - maybe the first of many :)

I've just started getting myself a sweet (yet affordable) turntable setup (running a Pro-Ject RPM Genie 1.3) and am looking to upgrade my current speakers to add a little more gold to the good vibes of my growing vinyl collection.

I own a JVC receiver that pushes 100W to each channel and a fairly basic sub-woofer that does the job for now. I'm wondering...

What would be a good pair of speakers (preferably large bookshelf size - not floor standing) for under or around $500?

So far I've found these... http://www.audiotrends.com.au/Paradigm_Monitor_Atom_Black.html?action=viewProduct&itemId=998
... which seem to get some love from the critics but they seem fairly small physically speaking. Does that matter?

Beck is my all-time favourite artist although I'm partial to the wistful sounds of Bob Dylan and the extravagance of a little Steely Dan. My girlfriend loves to crank some Lauryn Hill/Kanye and escape amongst the dense arrangements of Bon Iver and the like. Clarity, punch, volume (for the G/F) and warmth should be on the menu.

Experts come at me! Help me find something awesome :)

- Ryan.
 
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where are you located?
If West Coast a $50 dollar pair of RSL 3600 Studio monitors would really fit the bill.

that is a great rock and roll speaker

If you really want a nice speaker that is not as rock and roll orientated but has great bass and smooth mids and highs get some Snell Type III series E ...make sure the drivers are good. They cost about $300....

but they are really nice sounding
 
Might I suggest a pair of Focal 706v Chorus bookshelf speakers that can be had at Music Direct for $499. I have a pair and they are simply awesome. Plenty of bass from the 6.5" woofer, and it has an inverted domed tweeter. Everything is made in France. I think MD has free shipping on these, too.

Wayner
 
Size is not critical if you're running a sub because cabinet size is essentially related to bass (how deep it can go and how loud).

You've already gotten suggestions here for used and new. Do you have a preference or are you open to anything?
 
Don't know the market in your area, is there a Craigslist or equivalent?
Possibly the local library might have old issues of What Hi Fi or other British mags, seek out the annual best of issues.
 
Thanks for the advice so far guys! After looking into your suggestions I've discovered that my options are pretty limited here in Australia. There's some second-hand stuff out there in the US for 'vintage' stuff which I'd love but postage is more than the speakers themselves!

Music Direct won't send speakers my way :(

I tell ya, living in Australia is making this hobby pretty expensive! But I'm SURE there's a good range available to me here. I'm planning to head into some HiFi stores, brave the pushy salespeople and audition some stuff tomorrow. I'm all for checking out magazines for my region to see what's good and available (nice suggestion davidb1).

Good point on size toxcrusadr. I'll bear that in mind.

Please do keep the suggestions and advice on what to look for coming guys. I trust forum people far more than salespeople and the press.
 
Some stuff that might be source-able in Oz:

Floor standers:
Pioneer SP-FS52 for $250 a pair. They punch way above their weight class.
Tannoy Mercury V4 for about $700 a pair. These are, IMHO, truly high-end.

Bookshelf:
Tannoy Mercury V1 for about $329 a pair. They don't have the bottom of the floor standers, but they do everything else RIGHT. Nothing overdone, nothing left out.

Regards,
Gordon.
 
Thanks GordonW :)

Research has uncovered the Dynaudio Excite X12s. They sound like the kind of thing I want but double my price range at AU$1,200! Ah, the world of HiFi. It never ends.

Write-ups on the Tannoy Mercury v1 seem favourable. Although the only comment is they lack a little punch and sparkle (still getting 5 stars). These are really affordable speakers for me though. GordonW - convince me further!
 
Boom said:
Thanks GordonW :)

Research has uncovered the Dynaudio Excite X12s. They sound like the kind of thing I want but double my price range at AU$1,200! Ah, the world of HiFi. It never ends.

Write-ups on the Tannoy Mercury v1 seem favourable. Although the only comment is they lack a little punch and sparkle (still getting 5 stars). These are really affordable speakers for me though. GordonW - convince me further!
Click to expand...

The Tannoy Mercury v1 might match up well with your sub woofer. See if they'll let you try them first. :yes:
 
I've alway's had a Great Deal of respect for PSB's Entire line of speakers. I feel that their Entry Level to Mid-Fi Models (Those under $3,000/Pair) are their most competive however.

At $600/Pair I think these http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PBALB1 - B1 Standmounts would be hard to best at this price point. They are a well ballanced speaker that should make any type of music to fairly loud SPL's Sound Really Good IMO in most rooms. Combined with a Decent Sub they may be all the speaker most of us will ever need.
 
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One model that has been suggested to me (and I have my eye out for a pair) is the B&W DM23... Would that receiver be too-much power for that model, or is it doable?
 
OH, I didn't notice you were in Australia. Well, the same principles apply. If you are willing to go for used or vintage speakers, Craigslist is in Australia. Just check your local area. Same for eBay. One of my favorite ways to buy gear is to search the Bay for vintage equipment using the Item Location search functions and then put in whatever distance you are willing to travel.

If you're only interested in new, take some CD's that you know and are very familiar with to your local audio retailer. Audition whatever strikes your fancy and try different types of music with it. If you find something that you think might sound good in your listening space with your sub, try it out. Make sure they will allow you to bring them back if they're not to your liking. Most good shops will, especially if you buy something else.

Reviews are good as a starting point but only you know what you like and you're the only one who needs to be satisfied with your purchase. Happy hunting!
 
If they are available down there, the aforementioned Focal 706s would be my first choice if you value detail over a more full sound or the PSBs Image B6s if you'd trade some detail for a more robust overall sound. I could gladly livce with either but I hgsve the older version of the PSBs in my office rig. Absolutely love them.

But based on prices I've seen in Australia, I'd definitely look for used gear.
 
Thanks for all the great advice guys. After a fair bit of research I've discovered that a lot of popular speaker brands aren't readily available to me here in Australia. Therefore, I'm reconsidering my budget. I only want to do this once so I want to do it right! If that means spending a bit more for decades of satisfaction then so be it. I'm a big believer in making a choice, purchasing and then getting out of the market to enjoy what you've got. Otherwise obsession and empty pockets generally ensue!

Barring something from way out left-field, my choice now seems to be between the following speakers (accompanied by the prices I can get them for)...

1. PSB Image B6 - $664 AUD
2. Dynaudio Excite X12 - $1,132 AUD
3. Polk Audio RTi A3 - $440 AUD (RRP $599)

The Polks I am easily able to listen to and will. The others aren't readily stocked in Melbourne (from what I can tell) so will have to order online.

So. I know personal taste is everything - but how about some opinions on each of these, or even comparisons if you've heard both. Keep in mind I'm running a sub too.

Cheers.

PS. I get a bit of anxiety when making a big purchase and research the hell out of it. To be honest, I'm sure any of these speakers will beat the living s*** out of what I have now. Just wanna get some great speakers I can smile at every time I hear them. Don't want over-hyped stuff. Just want something natural sounding that will represent the various styles of music I listen to faithfully.
 
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One thing to consider is this: Synergy is everything. So you want something that will have the kind of sound you like, but will also play nice with your receiver. Can mean the difference between a good system and a great system.
 
If you're inclined to the brighter top end there's a pair of Usher S-520 locally available.

If you prefer more of warmish sound there's a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 also locally available.

Both around A$300-$350 new.
 
The Warfedales are a great buy and would suit your musical tastes well.
The Dynaudio's are a bit above all the other speakers you listed, but at double the price, they should be.
If it were me, I would go for the PSB's, good bass and a nice balanced speaker.
Warfedales second, a little smoother presentation if that's your thing.

Good hunting!
 
Obviously, Australia is a fair piece from Detroit, but we see KLH 5s go for well under US$500 quite often. Small, but can use a powerful source to good affect.
 
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