Sub $500 Bookshelf Speaker for Near-field Listening

JoeThePop

Known member
After much thought I have decided that I am going to buy new speakers for my current situation, which will be what I will have as my primary listening source for the next 2 to 3 years. We plan on moving after my daughter graduates from High School in 2 years, at which time I will revisit setting up a new 2 channel audio system. I’ll try to be thorough so we don’t have to play 20 questions to determine what I’m looking for.

Current system is a 33-year-old Yamaha receiver (specs in attachment), Chromecast Audio for streaming, barely working Sony CD player and 23-year-old Paradigm Titan speakers. I’ll be upgrading the digital front end after purchasing speakers.

The system will be for near field listening (approximately 5 feet).

Speaker requirements:
  • No bigger than my current Paradigms (13" x 7.75" x 9.75")
  • Passive (I have looked at powered/active extensively but for now have ruled that out)
  • Max cost $500
  • Absolutely no black ash finish
  • I want the speakers to work well with poor recordings without sounding harsh, and with minimal sibilance.
Musical taste is mostly different genres of rock music from the 70's to today.

70's arena and progressive rock, punk, new wave, alternative, grunge, indie, new hip-hoppish (21 pilots); very little jazz (think Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald); very little country (love Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson); accessible classical (Mozart, Tchaikovsky); no electronic music. I have recently been really enjoying female vocalists (Neko Case, Brandi Carlile, Florence Welch, Lana Del Rey…).

I have done quite a bit of online research and have a few candidates, but willing to consider any other suggestions.
  • Acoustic Energy AE100 (new version from 2017)
  • PSB Alpha P5 (I love Paul Barton’s design philosophy)
  • Outside chance - Klipsch RP-500M (I have a friend with Klipsch speakers that I can listen to, including with some poor recordings)
I am not really interested in vintage as I tend to believe that in the lower price range I’m looking at speakers have really benefited from the R&D and lower manufacturing costs over the last 10 – 15 years.

I won’t say I 100% won’t consider used, but I obviously buy to keep things, so I have no problem buying and paying for new.
 

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Elac recently gave a much-needed makeover looks-wise to its debut series and supposedly they sound pretty good. I've liked all the Elacs I've heard. I had the Uni-fi UB-5s or whatever they're called, only replaced them because my lower wattage amp didn't love them. My buddy that I sold them too loves them.

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Man... I LOVE my Audience ClairAudient The Ones... I paid like $750 for mine used... they sold/sell for a grand or so... but here's a set at $550 opening bid on ebay. Maybe you can contact the dealer and snag them for $500... if you're cool with blue.

- Woody

 
Woody, do you need a sub with the Ones?

I guess it depends on your listening preferences. They have really surprisingly good bass and I don't know if they NEED a sub, but I do run a small REL T-Zero on the floor under my desk cause I got a good deal on it. It is BARELY on. Most of the time I forget its there.

- Woody
 
Elac recently gave a much-needed makeover looks-wise to its debut series and supposedly they sound pretty good. I've liked all the Elacs I've heard. I had the Uni-fi UB-5s or whatever they're called, only replaced them because my lower wattage amp didn't love them. My buddy that I sold them too loves them.

I like the look of the new Elacs, but they are a bit larger than I want. I know I'm being super picky, but this is going to be a small space, near-field listening system that I hope someday will be a secondary system. Maybe they'll come out with a smaller Debut Reference DBR52?
 
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Man... I LOVE my Audience ClairAudient The Ones... I paid like $750 for mine used... they sold/sell for a grand or so... but here's a set at $550 opening bid on ebay. Maybe you can contact the dealer and snag them for $500... if you're cool with blue.

- Woody


Hey Woody, I have not been considering a single driver speaker because I do wonder how they can possibly reproduce high frequencies. But for a near-field set up maybe I should reconsider. Obviously with as 3" driver The Ones should be able to produce high frequencies.
I'm coming from the experience of a onetime Bose 901 owner. Yes I bought into the marketing hype as a youngster back in 1981. When I started auditioning speakers in the 1990's I remember being astounded at the sound of a speaker with a proper tweeter when compared to my 901's and their array of full range 4.5" drivers. I sold the Bose and never looked back.
 
Hey Sound Dragon. I have considered Wharfedale diamonds. Are you speaking as an owner of Diamonds?

I have owned several different iterations of the Diamond and they have all performed exceedingly above their price point and pedigree. While I no longer have a pair in the stable, I would consider them over many other more expensive book shelf speakers for such an application.
 
I have owned several different iterations of the Diamond and they have all performed exceedingly above their price point and pedigree. While I no longer have a pair in the stable, I would consider them over many other more expensive book shelf speakers for such an application.

Wharfedales do have a reputation for a laid back sound which I prefer. I have also been looking at the Wharfedale Denton 80th Anniversary speakers that are $500 but seem to go on sale for $400 regularly. So many choices.
 
Hey Now,

I have been using a pair of Role Audio Kayaks in a near field set up and they sound real good. New they are over budget, but used, easily under budget. Here are a pair on USAM.

Role Audio Kayak

Good luck in your search.


Finest kind,
Chris
 
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Hey Now,

I have been using a pair of Role Audio Kayaks in a near field set up and they sound real good. New they are over budget, but used, easily under budget. Here are a pair on USAM.

Role Audio Kayak

Good luck in your search.


Finest kind,
Chris
Nice looking speakers. Thanks for the suggestion. With all the searching online I have done, never ran across that brand.
 
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Try looking into the Qacoustics 3020i. They are rated very well by reviews and are in your budget. I haven't heard them, but I have a pair of the 3050i floorstanders (bigger brother) that sound very good.
 
Let me see what PSB has. Paul Barton is a real musician (violinist), and has a knack for making speakers that sound musical.

Yep. The new PSB Alpha P5 is definitely a finalist. I love how Paul Barton designs his speakers based on measurements, and years of research on how those measurements relate to our hearing preferences.
 
Hi Joe, this is written from the viewpoint of someone who is a keen near-field enthusiast. As you've doubtlessly gathered/experienced, near-field is very forgiving as it reduces (sometimes almost eliminates) many of the room-induced problems caused when speakers are more distantly spaced. Pretty close to sitting inside earphone listening but without the tedium of the cans (even the best ones) on your head for extended periods and their relative lack of spatial enjoyment. Which as a mid-fi listener at best, leads me to mention that I have been using a couple of pairs of old three-ways (Pioneer and Celestion) for years now; their age would be in the 30+ years region and, along with a sub, they suit my needs really well, across a wide cross-section of genres. That in turn leads me suggest that you might consider second-hand speakers (from a trusted source, of course). Not trying to negate any of the other advice here, just putting in my two-bob's worth. All the best with your new setup.
 
Hi Joe, this is written from the viewpoint of someone who is a keen near-field enthusiast. As you've doubtlessly gathered/experienced, near-field is very forgiving as it reduces (sometimes almost eliminates) many of the room-induced problems caused when speakers are more distantly spaced. Pretty close to sitting inside earphone listening but without the tedium of the cans (even the best ones) on your head for extended periods and their relative lack of spatial enjoyment. Which as a mid-fi listener at best, leads me to mention that I have been using a couple of pairs of old three-ways (Pioneer and Celestion) for years now; their age would be in the 30+ years region and, along with a sub, they suit my needs really well, across a wide cross-section of genres. That in turn leads me suggest that you might consider second-hand speakers (from a trusted source, of course). Not trying to negate any of the other advice here, just putting in my two-bob's worth. All the best with your new setup.
Hey Andy, thanks for the input. I actually changed my mind on active speakers after much consideration. I bought a pair of SVS Prime Wireless active speakers and couldn't be happier. I decided for desktop use they offered outstanding value and the best option for decluttering my desk.

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