Bookshelf Speakers

[Hollis]

Anyone care to help me out with my predicament? I've got a budget of no more than $600, so I was looking at the B&W DM602-S2, Axiom M22 Ti's, and Paradigm Monitor 3's. These are just for musical listening in a room about 10x10, and I've already got an Onkyo TX-8511 receiver, so that's a non-issue. What would be the general concensus here? Any others that I missed and should look into?

[CMT]

May I ask what type of music to which you normally listen? Are you looking for a more technical monitor, something that will rock harder than anyone would imagine for its small size, or something in between? Does you music have a lot of bass in it? All factors, you know

The list you have are pretty technical speakers, so I don't think that given any of those choices you can go wrong.

[Hollis]

Mostly electronic music, some others occasionally. Bass respsonse wise, I'm looking more for clarity rather than volume (hence the speaker choices). I know you can't get much bass out of bookshelfs, and that's not a problem for me. So far I'm looking more at the Paradigms and Axioms as the B&W's cost so friggin' much ($600/pair compared to $400 for the other two pair).

[e46m3racer]

Based on your response, I would go with the speaker with the larger driver.

Most audiofiles will say go with the B&W's. But yes...they are expensive.

With an Onkyo receiver, I would go with the Paradigm's or Axiom's.

I have book shelf Paradigm's in my family room as my only speakers. I do have them hooked up to an Adcom 5500 (200x2) amp. Amazed as to how clear and loud they play. Good bass too.

[CMT]

Originally posted by e46m3racer

I have book shelf Paradigm's in my family room as my only speakers. I do have them hooked up to an Adcom 5500 (200x2) amp. Amazed as to how clear and loud they play. Good bass too.

Nice amp - had a GFA 5400 before the B&K and I was really happy with it, very clean, powerful, just a liiiiiittle too harsh when the volume was cranked (contributed, no doubt, by the rest of the Adcom gear in the setup).

For $500, these are the only speakers I would buy:

http://www.magnepan.com/1-800-474-1646/index.html

$550 for a set of Magnepan ribbons? Insane. My neighbor had a set of 1.6s running through all Linn gear and they were transparent with seemingly infinite detail. The only drawback was their size - the 1.6s were huge, and I suspect the MMG is also...not small. But think about the sound, man, think about the sound! :Evil:



Stereophile reviewed these mated to a REL subwoofer, and they were very impressed, giving it the usual "sounds like a setup costing XXX times as much," etc....but they aren't bookshelf speakers. Anyway, good luck whatever the choice!

[M~BeBoT]

Why not get the mission book shelf $300 and buy a sub with the rest or a center channel for vocals

if you can find series 1 it would be cheaper for the B&W.
The B&W are great i have the 602 but series 1. It takes time to break in before it sounds good.

[LUNI2NZ]

I've heard good things about the B&Ws, but no personal experience. You should also check out Boston Acoustics. I've sold them and the Paradigms. The Bostons are much better sounding than the Paradigms.

Jay

[Mark H.]

i was considering paradigms/B&W/Klipsch ......listen to each speaker side by side with ur music and u will tell which sounds the best. BTW i went with klipsch, the horns sound amazing. the efficiency is great and the sound is really rich.

[pete]

no me gusta paradigm