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Bookshelf speakers for $500ish

I'm looking to upgrade my Dynaco A25s to something more compact and modern.

They will be amplified by Marantz 2238B, and I'll be listening to acoustic jazz such as Bud Powell or Miles Davis- a lot of piano trios and small groups with horns.

The room is 10' x 12', and I won't be able to mount them on stands, or be more than a few inches from the back wall.

Budget is $500 or so. I like the idea of buying used, but I'm not up for a very long hunt. New options I'm considering are KEF Q300, B&W 685 S2.

Thanks for your help!
tmcevoy213
mesch
3,484 posts
 
You mentioned two speakers you were considering. I am not familiar with the KEFs however do own the B&K 685s, which I use in a second system. I heard then in a dealership placed on a shelf against a wall and they sounded very good driven by a Rotel 1520 integrated amp. I bought them on AG used with the idea that should I wish to change, I could sell them at little loss. The 685s do show up used here on occasion for ~$350. I also heard the Rega RS1 and also liked them. However temporal distance and environmental differences prevent me from making any comparative statements.

Do you have a dealer for the speakers you are considering who would let you audition at home?
tmcevoy213 OP
5 posts
 
@Mesch: I'm not sure if they offer home audition, it's worth checking into. Their price is $800 for the Rega- double the cost of a used Minuet that I could sell for a little loss, as you mentioned. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who's compared those two (RS1 and Minuet).
ferrellms
12 posts
 
I'd try powered studio monitors. I have Equator D5s now and they are quite good, although with 5" woofers the bass is light. You also avoid the cost of a power amp. I have not heard any passive speakers in that price range that are as good as the Equators. In fact, I had Mackie MR1s actives (300 pr) that sounded quite a bit better than my BW 805 Matrix speakers to my ears. Bye, bye, B&W.

You can find used Mackies all over the place.
kiko65
279 posts
 
The Supreme Pluses add more "punch and snap" and are better suited for Jazz.

The RS1s add more "realism and clarity" and are better suited for classical/full scale orchestra.

I really enjoy the piano/string notes coming out of the Supreme Pluses on a small scale like duos, trios, and quartets but it gets a little congested with a full scale orchestra ensemble.

Keep in mind that both are rear ported so you would have to see if they would work in your room.

Good luck.
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
Consider an href=http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/infinity-primus-p363-
loudspeaker/>overachieving compact floorstander.

These are not hard to find new w/warranty at $400/pr. Read the TAS review
before deciding. A small floorstander doesn't really take more overall space
than a stand-mounted compact monitor, while running on fewer watts and
having greater dynamics.
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