View Full Version : Good Budget Bookshelf Speakers
southall-1998_mk2
08-12-2018, 12:02
For many years I've been using Mordaunt Short MS10i speakers. Sometime next year I might fancy trying something else.
What budget bookshelf speakers do you guys recommend for under £500?
S.
Haselsh1
08-12-2018, 12:06
Q Acoustics mate
;)
southall-1998_mk2
08-12-2018, 12:07
Q Acoustics mate
;)
I've had some Q Acoustics in the past. They didn't do anything special for me I'm afraid.
S.
Try Q Acoustics Concept 20s they’re unbeatable for the money, love mine.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181208/2f93ae61d17da3fbd486555fe61dc813.jpg
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
southall-1998_mk2
08-12-2018, 12:36
Are the Tannoy Mercury M1 any decent? You can pick them up for around £30-60.
S.
walpurgis
08-12-2018, 12:58
Maybe a pair of smaller Ruarks might suit you Shane. They tend to sound pretty good.
southall-1998_mk2
08-12-2018, 13:10
Never heard a Ruark speaker. Any particular model worth chasing after?
S.
walpurgis
08-12-2018, 13:16
Never heard a Ruark speaker. Any particular model worth chasing after?
S.
Swordsman, Sabre, Epilogue, Icon. The Swordsman and Sabre are sealed cabinet designs and the Epilogue and Icon are ported. If you are using your gear in a small room the Sabres may be best suited.
As a normally non Monitor Audio fan the Bronze 2s are actually pretty good, I would personally rate them over Q Acoustics. They are not as shouty or as etched as a lot of newer MA speakers. The Quad S1 (or S2) is also very good, nice midrange which has definite Quad sounding characteristics. The ribbon tweeter I feel gives them an edge in this price range.
Both are under your budget, but if I was spending around 500, I would probably stretch a bit further and put the Quad S2 (£599) at the top of my listening list. But the S1 at 499 I think is a bit of a bargain.
That's new though, I'd be tempted to look around S/H with 500 to play with.
southall-1998_mk2
08-12-2018, 13:19
Swordsman, Sabre, Epilogue. The Swordsman and Sabre are sealed cabinet designs and the Epilogue is ported. If you are using your gear in a small room the Sabres may be best suited.
My main system is located in the garden cabin room, which is roughly medium sized.
S.
southall-1998_mk2
08-12-2018, 13:21
As a normally non Monitor Audio fan the Bronze 2s are actually pretty good, I would personally rate them over Q Acoustics. They are not as shouty or as etched as a lot of newer MA speakers. The Quad S1 (or S2) is also very good, nice midrange which has definite Quad sounding characteristics. The ribbon tweeter I feel gives them an edge in this price range.
Both are under your budget, but if I was spending around 500, I would probably stretch a bit further and put the Quad S2 (£599) at the top of my listening list. But the S1 at 499 I think is a bit of a bargain.
That's new though, I'd be tempted to look around S/H with 500 to play with.
Thanks for that, Tim. Will keep an eye out for some Bronze 2's.
S.
Sherwood
08-12-2018, 13:26
Depending on how you plan to place these and how full a bass you are looking for, I would look at the Martin Logan Motion series. They are designed for wall mounting and come with a special fitting. At their price they are exceptional. They have an air motion tweeter which ensures speed, detail, dynamics and an out of the box projection that exceeds my LS3/5a's.
I bought a pair of the Motion 2 speakers which I use as a portable system and a bedroom system when I am not travelling. These may be a bit bass light for some so that the Motion 4i may be a better choice. The latter will be around your price level, but are hard to find in the UK.
wee tee cee
08-12-2018, 13:55
I would contact Colin Topps (TOPPSY) at Reiver acoustic and ask if he builds anything near your budget, He used to build a stand mounter.
Dont see one on theyre site but well worth an enquiry.
Colin's speakers will bang for buck outperform anything commercial.
Pieoftheday
08-12-2018, 15:34
Got some usher s520's in private exhibitions, £165 delivered:)
southall-1998_mk2
08-12-2018, 15:43
Got some usher s520's in private exhibitions, £165 delivered:)
Had a pair once before. Didn't really get on with them.
S.
ianlenco
08-12-2018, 16:20
A bit leftfield but these are truly excellent.
https://wellroundedsound.com/collections/products/products/mm6-mini-monitor-2-way-1
Mark at Malvern Audio Research sells them in the UK. He used this model at the Leamington Spa Audio Show earlier this year on the end of Ming Da valve amps and they sounded superb. It was quite amusing to watch folk coming in and looking behind display boards for the subwoofer which didn't exist!
I better declare I was helping Mark at the show but it was my first exposure to these speakers and after a day of listening to them I was still very impressed.
Pieoftheday
08-12-2018, 16:35
Had a pair once before. Didn't really get on with them.
S.
I must admit it took me a while to like them,had them on the end of some pioneer amp, I forget which, not bad, quad 306 was good but most recent was a cambridge azura 561w which has been great
Colin2040
08-12-2018, 17:03
I tried a few recently as I needed some small stand mount I got a pair of Polk s20 I think I paid around £140brand new and love them. Great bass for a small speaker.
SantanaCorreia
08-12-2018, 20:34
Try Q Acoustics Concept 20s they’re unbeatable for the money, love mine.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181208/2f93ae61d17da3fbd486555fe61dc813.jpg
Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkIs that a XiangSheng?
Enviado do meu HTC_M10h através do Tapatalk
Is that a XiangSheng?
Enviado do meu HTC_M10h através do Tapatalk
It was before it went faulty, it was a nightmare, good riddance, the photo is from 5-6 months ago, the XS DAC and Amptastic Mini have been replaced with an Eu spec (as opposed to UK spec) Onkyo A-9010 amp.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Ninanina
08-12-2018, 21:52
Swordsman, Sabre, Epilogue, Icon. The Swordsman and Sabre are sealed cabinet designs and the Epilogue and Icon are ported. If you are using your gear in a small room the Sabres may be best suited.
I can second the Ruark Sabre Shane, I had a pair when they were new and they are very good indeed..
However if you can get a pair of LS3/5a's within your budget that would be my recommendation... LS3/5a's are, in my opinion, still the best sounding bookshelf speaker available
Ninanina
08-12-2018, 22:19
The only other recommendation I can give Shane is a pair of JR149 that use the same drivers as the rather expensive LS3/5a's
JR149's come up on eBay quite often for not too much
I've not heard the JR149's but can't imagine they sound much different to LS3/5a's
willbewill
09-12-2018, 08:32
A bit leftfield but these are truly excellent.
https://wellroundedsound.com/collections/products/products/mm6-mini-monitor-2-way-1
Mark at Malvern Audio Research sells them in the UK. He used this model at the Leamington Spa Audio Show earlier this year on the end of Ming Da valve amps and they sounded superb. It was quite amusing to watch folk coming in and looking behind display boards for the subwoofer which didn't exist!
I better declare I was helping Mark at the show but it was my first exposure to these speakers and after a day of listening to them I was still very impressed.
I have a pair of the smaller mm2, which to my ears are better, tiny speakers with a big detailed sound.
I bought them immediately I heard them and everyone who has experienced them is amazed.
£500 gets you a world class standmount IMHO, certainly not budget. Amphion Argon2 and Royd Sorcerer SE spring to mind, likely around £350 to £400.
https://www.soundstage.com/revequip/amphion_argon2.htm
http://kralkaudio.com/ based in Yorkshire and have been getting good reveiws.
high.spirits
10-12-2018, 19:03
I used to have some PMC Db1i speakers.
They are very good and can be purchased second hand within your budget.
Well within your budget (enough left over to buy something else to compare to):
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HQ-SPEAKERS-BOOKSHELF-REGA-KYTE/173682954274?hash=item28704f9022:g:FW0AAOSwH0VcDPM H:rk:1:pf:0
Pigmy Pony
10-12-2018, 19:33
I used to have some PMC Db1i speakers.
They are very good and can be purchased second hand within your budget.
+1. I've heard this model a few times. Surprising bass for such a small speaker.
southall-1998_mk2
10-12-2018, 20:04
Thanks for the suggestions.
Are the Proac ''Studio Range'' any decent?
S.
Idlewithnodrive
10-12-2018, 22:16
http://kralkaudio.com/ based in Yorkshire and have been getting good reveiws.
What he said The small TDB-2's are amazing for £185 delivered, new.
A total no brainier, imo.
southall-1998_mk2
11-12-2018, 11:31
Very interesting idiosyncratic looking things!
S.
A pair of Snell J might fit the budget if you like that presentation, and fit handily in corners or against walls. For more 'in yer face' a pair of AE1 monitors will deliver, not sure on used price at the moment though. I agree with the Royd suggestions, always a fun listen irrespective of model, and some of the new Wharfedale models are well in budget and very decent as well IMO.
Sent from my BLA-L09 using Tapatalk
southall-1998_mk2
11-12-2018, 21:18
I've had a few AE1's in the past. Good speakers but can get a bit tiring after a while.
I quite like the Audio Note AN-J. Never heard the Snell stuff. I'd expect the presentation to be fairly similar though.
S.
Have you tried Royd Eden's?
southall-1998_mk2
11-12-2018, 21:45
Have you tried Royd Eden's?
Yes. Didn't float my boat. Have also tried Sapphires twice....Nasty things!
S.
Yes. Didn't float my boat. Have also tried Sapphires twice....Nasty things!
S.
Sapphires are bright / mid-forward and quite thin IMO. Very raw speakers. The Sorcerer SE and particularly the RR3 have a smoother and deeper, meatier balance.
southall-1998_mk2
12-12-2018, 15:02
Sapphires are bright / mid-forward and quite thin IMO. Very raw speakers. The Sorcerer SE and particularly the RR3 have a smoother and deeper, meatier balance.
I got on fairly OK with Minstrels. But never heard the SE version.
S.
https://www.tektondesign.com/mini-lore-monitor.html
SantanaCorreia
06-10-2019, 18:36
Dear friends,
Sorry to brother again. I halted this purchase while I did not move into my new home.
Now that I have 50 sq meters of living room to fill with good sound I am back on track.
As anyone heard the new CA a61/81?
Enviado do meu SM-G960F através do Tapatalk
Dear friends,
Sorry to brother again. I halted this purchase while I did not move into my new home.
Now that I have 50 sq meters of living room to fill with good sound I am back on track.
As anyone heard the new CA a61/81?
Enviado do meu SM-G960F através do Tapatalk
Got an email from CA this morning mainly as I have a CXA60, the CXA61 and 81 have both got awards in WHF 2019 as best in their respective price categories. On the Cambridge website there’s a video interviewing a number of people after they auditioned them which is very positive.
https://mailchi.mp/d3b98b926999/punchy-exciting-a-real-winner?e=898a65f812
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.