Bookcase speakers?

[medjuck]

After 20 years my Cambridge Soundworks speakers have finally given up.  (Well at least one of them has.)  Any recommendations for a pair of bookcase speakers used only for music (i.e. not movies or tv.)   

[Scott Dolan]

What's your budget? 

[medjuck]

hundreds not thousands. 

[Scott Dolan]

PSB Imagine http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PBIMGB

KEF Q300B http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA8X54XF7199

B&W 600 Series http://www.bestbuy.com/site/bowers-wilkins-600-series-686-s2-5-2-way-bookshelf-loudspeakers-pair-black/4826001.p?skuId=4826001

Polk Audio RTi A1 https://www.polkaudio.com/products/rtia1

Oh, and don't pass up a chance to audition these just because of the brand and price. They're fucking outstanding! Pioneer SP-BS22-LR https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-BS22-LR-Designed-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers/dp/B008NCD2LG

Edited January 15, 2017 by Scott Dolan

[medjuck]

Thanks.  

[Scott Dolan]

My pleasure, brother. There are a ton of excellent options out there. 

BTW, I see I put the wrong link up for the Pioneers. Here's the one I meant to post. https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-BS22-LR-Designed-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers/dp/B008NCD2LG

I'll change it above as well. 

Edited January 15, 2017 by Scott Dolan

[soulpope]

In case 1.000 USD+ are still within your budget you should give a listen to the KEF LS50

http://us.kef.com/ls50

In case you`re looking for a best buy option this speaker from Mission could be an option :

http://www.whathifi.com/mission/lx-2/review

[Scott Dolan]

You can find the LS50 for $1000? I thought they were still $1500. 

[soulpope]

2 hours ago, Scott Dolan said:

You can find the LS50 for $1000? I thought they were still $1500. 

I believe to have written in my original post USD 1000+  ..... 

[clifford_thornton]

Got a couple little Snells that I love very much. Hand-me-downs from my dad, who's a stereo nut, but I don't believe they cost more than $800 or something.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

21 hours ago, clifford_thornton said:

Got a couple little Snells that I love very much. Hand-me-downs from my dad, who's a stereo nut, but I don't believe they cost more than $800 or something.

Depending on the age, old Snells will probably need re-foamed woofers. Worst case, they may need re-foamed *and* new capacitors in the crossover. My friend had some old B&W speakers that improved tremendously when he re-capped them.

BTW, that might be what happened to your old Cambridge Soundworks speakers, You can re-foam them too but the grill has to be pried off with a screwdriver. I did it without damaging the speaker but it was tricky.

[Dmitry]

The best bookshelf speakers, bar none, that I've ever heard were Linn Tukan.

[Teasing the Korean]

I have a $500 pair of B&W shelf speakers that I got on sale for $400.  I think they were the previous year's model.  At any rate, they are really good.  I like bass, and I rarely have to push the bass beyond the flat position.  I sometimes roll back the highs a tad.  I am very happy with them. 

Edited January 16, 2017 by Teasing the Korean

[Scott Dolan]

B&W make fantastic speakers. They can sometimes be a tad bright, but in the price range they are right up there with the very best (if they aren't the very best). 

[Use3D]

Got a pair of B&W's from Jim a few years ago. Love 'em, not parting with these bad boys. 

[soulpope]

21 hours ago, Dmitry said:

The best bookshelf speakers, bar none, that I've ever heard were Linn Tukan.

Quality speakers .... as were their predecessors aka Linn Kan ...

[Kevin Bresnahan]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bowers-and-Wilkins-B-W-DM601-S3-Speakers-/112269191414?hash=item1a23c3e8f6:g:gPUAAOSwt5hYenwO

Wait until after the auction and offer $350 including shipping?

[AmirBagachelles]

I wholeheartedly recommend the B&W 601 series. Value miracle for a few hundred bucks. 

[Kevin Bresnahan]

22 hours ago, AmirBagachelles said:

I wholeheartedly recommend the B&W 601 series. Value miracle for a few hundred bucks. 

I do too but i will add that the S3 version (the last version B&W issued) included the improved Nautilus tweeter and should be the version you get.

[Scott Dolan]

Any update on your search, medjuck? 

[medjuck]

Yes. I went the cheap route with the Pioneers after I read only good reviews for them. So far  they seem fine for my purposes-- in the living room, not the listening room.   BTW How long should speakers last?  All my others are 20 years or more old. 

[Scott Dolan]

You know, I'm not sure there is a definitive shelf life for speakers. But yes, 20+ years is definitely a reasonable length of time for pretty much any speaker to last. 

Glad to hear you went with the Pioneers. I think they scare most people off because of the price and the name Pioneer. I'm actually getting a pair of them for my drum kit. Going to hook them up with a Bic America subwoofer.