View Full Version : Bookshelf Speakers - For Bookshelves.
martian sunrise
28-02-2015, 18:42
Can anyone recommend bookshelf speakers that actually work on bookshelves, as opposed to on stands?
We are renovating our living room and the way the enemy has envisaged it all means that the current speakers (Proac 3s, which she hates!) are going to have to be on either side of the fireplace. The only way this will work is if the are right back against the wall, which they don't seem to like.
The bookshelf speakers wil be 6 inches from the back wall and next to the alcove (on the inside).
Current amplification is a modded Pioneer SA-9500 and budget will be about £500. I am probably looking at used.
There may not be an ideal solution, but I am happy to experiment.
Thanks in advance.
walpurgis
28-02-2015, 18:45
Cura CA5 if you can find a pair. They are a sealed box using high quality drivers and sound very fine. They are decidedly lacking in 'boom' and ideal for shelf mounting, they work close to walls. Rare though.
What size of speaker, if you are looking for small then Totem Kin Mini, within your budget and impressive for size and price.
If interested let me know for a demo
My old LS3/5A's only worked well,when they were on a bookshelf surrounded by books.Never sounded the same on some stands.
martian sunrise
28-02-2015, 19:21
Thanks for the replies.
So, a sealed box is the way forward?
I'd love a demo, Neil. Where in the midlands? I will be at silverstone shortly.
Martyn Miles
01-03-2015, 05:20
The original Wharfedale Diamond ( and presumably the later models ) worked well on a bookshelf.
It is a surprisingly good loudspeaker...
Ronksley
01-03-2015, 08:36
The original Wharfedale Diamond ( and presumably the later models ) worked well on a bookshelf.
It is a surprisingly good loudspeaker...
I have a pair of Diamond IIIs ( Similair to these http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/wharfedale_diamond_3ii.html ) which I really like big sound for such little things they no longer work, if they did I would have them in my kitchen in with the JPWs connected in series to one amp
Seen some Wharfedales knocking about for about £30 and been very tempted to buy them really do vocals well often had some opera on in the backgorund and really impressed by how good the vocals are, they were good with rock and indie stuff aswell
Linn Kan mk1. Well within budget and sound great too.
Linn Kan mk1. Well within budget and sound great too.
Oh no they don't :lol: (oh yes they do........)
AVI N5's are similar balance to Kans and should be clearer too and by inference and comments on their forum, the active DM5's are perfect for bookshelves as absolutely no eq is applied to the 5" driver. N4's used to win loads of awards, but may need a little bit of space around them possibly.
Vintage cheapies like Mission 760, 780 and 751's should be good too and the KEF RDM1 (I think they were called) were like a better version.
So many baby speakers (including later Wharfedale Diamonds I think) are balanced with a bumped-up mid bass as the LS3/5A was, to try to make them sound bigger than they are, but this may not help bookshelf mounting.
[Edit] - Rega RS1's should be perfect. There's a new range coming soon, beefed up and with beefed up prices to match sadly. The RS1 replacement will cost 50% more I believe (beefed up cabs, slightly doped bass drivers I think etc.)
One final shout - if you'd like a project, try to find some really vintage AR7 or 6's. They'll need the main driver refoaming, but came in sturdy boxes and were DESIGNED from the outset for shelf use. I think even the bigger AR models from the early 70's (AR2ax, 3a, 4 and 5) were also designed primarily for this use too (the US had bigger bookshelves ;))
IMHO all minimonitors will work fine on bookshelves. Some rear-ported speakers like early Royds are designed to be near a wall, other front-ported or closed speakers are fine.
...of course "fine" isn't as good as dedicated stands and positioning, but that wasn't the question. :P
EDIT: in the cases where there is too much boom, probably a rear-ported issue, maybe not, but on a shelf consider stuffing ports with straws or wadding.
I would recommend Acoustic Research AR6s. They are surprisingly capable and would be a good match for your Pioneer in terms of vintage.
Ninanina
01-03-2015, 23:34
I would still rate the Ls 3/5a's... not just because I own a pair but because some of what they do is quite magical... Just my opinion of course...:D
southall-1998
01-03-2015, 23:39
If you're on the cheap. Try out any of the small JPW speakers.
S.
I would still rate the Ls 3/5a's... not just because I own a pair but because some of what they do is quite magical... Just my opinion of course...:D
A cheaper alternative to the LS3/5a would be JR149s. I imagine 'the enemy' would approve of their design.
Ninanina
02-03-2015, 00:18
A cheaper alternative to the LS3/5a would be JR149s. I imagine 'the enemy' would approve of their design.
Yes Paul the cheaper JR149's would also be very good indeed.... but I think you can still find some proper LS 3/5a's for the £500 budget...
southall-1998
02-03-2015, 00:22
Stirling LS3/5a V2 are nice.
S.
Ninanina
02-03-2015, 00:24
Stirling LS3/5a V2 are nice.
S.
Shane that may well be true but they are NOT proper LS 3/5a's in my opinion..
southall-1998
02-03-2015, 00:26
Fair enough, Bev.
S.
Ninanina
02-03-2015, 00:37
Fair enough, Bev.
S.
Just my own thoughts of course Shane... I'm sure £500 would purchase some sort of LS 3/5a...
My own LS 3/5a's are Sterling originals... Some day I must get round to selling them... Tricky though as I still love them.. ;)
southall-1998
02-03-2015, 00:41
Just my own thoughts of course Shane... I'm sure £500 would purchase some sort of LS 3/5a...
My own LS 3/5a's are Sterling originals... Some day I must get round to selling them... Tricky though as I still love them.. ;)
Just bung them in the attic :)
S.
jandl100
02-03-2015, 08:02
A cheaper alternative to the LS3/5a would be JR149s. I imagine 'the enemy' would approve of their design.
Yep, good call. The JR150 is a bit bigger and somewhat better in some ways if the enemy will let them pass.
Here's when I had both ....
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii114/jandl100/JRspkrsThiel.jpg (http://s262.photobucket.com/user/jandl100/media/JRspkrsThiel.jpg.html)
-- although I doubt if the enemy will allow them in the room naked. ;)
The 150 is a fair bit bigger, with commensurate extra weight to the sound, and probably loses just a smidgeon of the 149's midrange clarity.
Epos speakers also work well against the wall - in fact, I think they work best that way.
martian sunrise
02-03-2015, 14:12
How tall are the 150s? Pretty much anything that would fit on a record shelf would get approval.
simply put...anything WITHOUT a rear port (or bottom as per eltax etc) should be ok.
BUT...will be better in a bit of free space...I find if bookshelving is a must, the best and neatest solution is to level the books across the front baffle of the cab.
NIGE.
The Barbarian
02-03-2015, 23:34
I prefer the '150's over the '149' simply because they use Audax units.
Martyn Miles
03-03-2015, 07:28
Shane that may well be true but they are NOT proper LS3/5as in my opinion..
Oh, controversial statement...
I had a pair of JR149s on JR wall mounts, best looking speaker you will ever buy, sound great too.
I replaced my JR149s with a pair of Harbeth P3s and if you can double your budget then buy a pair cause you will never buy another speaker, ever!
The Harbeths like some room but they can be put on a shelf and up against a wall and your wife/enemy will love them as they are tiny.
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