Budget bookshelf speakers FOR a bookshelf...


am looking for a set (under $600) of bookshelf speakers that will actually sound good in a bookshelf. not on top, but on a shelf with a shelf of books above and below them. max of 10" wide by 14" high. i like all kinds of music, from abba to metallica, the planets to rammstein, al dimeola to joe bonamassa. used of course is just fine :)
128x128starkiller
Look for a pair of RA Labs center channel speakers, a sealed box design. They work great on a book shelf. They are 7 inches high, 21 inches wide (tweeter/2 mid range). The often come up used for about 250 for the pair. RA was one of Roy Allison's design efforts that worked well in a number of sizes. There is a passive sub that works well with all of the RA speakers.
I believe that NHT once made a speaker with adjustable dispersion for exactly this kind of application. Sorry, can't recall the model designation.

Good Luck

Marty
I have Tannoy Fusion 1's on a bookshelf in my daughters room and they sound just fine. Very musical little spks. I don't know what exactly their dimensions are, but I think they should come really close to what you're looking for. These should work well for you.
Totem Dreamcatcher monitor is relatively inexpensive and has worked well in a bookshelf for me.(My better system is in my study and the secondary one in the living room) It seems to benefit from the bass boost as the port is is in the back. The bass is not very smooth though, but adequate in my opinion,(only when the speaker is placed in a bookshelf). The presentation is also very forward and extremely dynamic. I think this helps the sound not get buried in the surrounding shelf.
Roth Audio OLi1. Small, inexpensive and with good sound all around except of course deep bass. They benefit from close boundary location like a bookshelf. And yes, that review is mine, as well as this one.