Recommendation for detailed/analytical bookshelf speaker?

Heresy IIIs...keep the shelves for books (remember those?), although amazingly, Klipsch says you can take off the little Heresy slanted riser things for bookshelf mounting clearly for the slightly insane among us. Otherwise, the little Wilsons are adorable and you can pick various colors (and I've heard a pair of these...they're real good), or the new little Magicos are cool until somebody sticks their finger in that tweeter.

Hi. In terms of making bad recordings (e.g. some awesome 80s and 90s tracks that while great were very bad/cheaply recorded or the ones made under the loudness war), being that both speakers (KEF LS50 and ATC SCM11) are known for being detailing, which one handle those kind of recordings best? By handling I mean, which makes those recordings sound more full/airy and/or less harsh or shouty? Thank you very much!

P.S. Would the solution for having detailing speakers that also handles well bad recordings and that doesn’t excel only on premium recordings, if it is not a "contradictio in terminis" and such a speaker exist, the Klipsch speakers like the RP 600 M be a solution?

Thank you very much!

Ref 3a mm decapo anniversity edition....one on the way..super!!!

Hi. In terms of making bad recordings (e.g. some awesome 80s and 90s tracks that while great were very bad/cheaply recorded or the ones made under the loudness war), being that both speakers (KEF LS50 and ATC SCM11) are known for being detailing, which one handle those kind of recordings best? By handling I mean, which makes those recordings sound more full/airy and/or less harsh or shouty? Thank you very much!

Ls50s

In my experience, I preferred ATC SCM 7 v.3 over the LS50. Both are exceptionally transparent but the ATC’s do a wide variety of music well where as the LS50’s fall short on some rock recordings. 3 doors down “the road I’m on” sounds worse on the LS50’s than any other speaker I’ve ever heard. The LS50’s do sound magical with certain recordings and certain genres of music so take my previous statement with a grain of salt.

The bass on the ATC SCM 7 v.3 was incredibly well defined, articulated and textured. They dug deep and were incredibly well controlled and fast with no overhang. I feel like the ATC is a slightly more refined sound. I feel like the LS50’s are actually more fatiguing. They are both inefficient speakers and need loads of high quality current to drive them well.

I’m guessing that the ATC SCM11 v.3 will have enough bass for you whereas the LS50’s will more than likely require a sub.

The ATC’s look better in person than in pictures. They are built like tanks. The grills are more attractive in person and they are the first grills I’ve used where I couldn’t tell a sonic difference with them in place.

LS50’s and ATC’s have kind of been at the top of my radar lately. I’ve had 3 pairs of LS50’s (active and passive) and a pair of ATC’s, all in the past 5 months.

They are both fabulous speakers but for me, ATC wins out. I have some Tyler Acoustics right now (which are awesome as well) but will get some ATC SCM 11 v.3 at some point.

another speaker that I really enjoyed were the Paradigm Signature 2 V.3 with the beryllium tweeters. Theres a pair on US Audiomart for sale currently.

I also prefer a highly detailed, clear sound that allows you to see deeply into the mix. The LS50’s do this well but the ATC’s give the music more of an organic sound in my experience. I can really hear the swing of the music with the ATC’s and the way it sews the harmonies and tones together is awesome. The emotions you can hear in vocals with the ATC’s is awesome!

I hear you mention detail and analytical sound... resolution is another good one to add to your list because that’s what helps you hear deep into a mix, as if peeling layers of an onion back. You don’t have to give up musicality or sweetness in order to achieve detail and resolution, so don’t think you do, otherwise you might settle on a cold, analytical, un-involving sound that doesn’t draw you into the music.

Good luck with your search!