My journey to search for standmount bookshelf speakers...


Over the years, I’ve auditioned several speakers:

System Audio SA706 - Sound really good with classical music with state of the art recording, otherwise I would not consider it as forgiving kind of sound on some less than perfect recording, the high can become pretty hot sizzling, no sibilance though, just a bit bright if listen for a long time, but I have no complain on bass except drum kicks music

Chario Syntar 516R - Sound crisp and clear, thus not so forgiving on some recordings sensitive to treble, though no sibilance found, bass not as clean as others I’ve listened

PSB Alpha B1 - Small little speakers that sound great, a bit glaring on the tweeters over long listening sessions, bass limited due to small woofer size

Q Acoustics 2020i - The best smooth treble I’ve ever heard, I found nothing to complain on the mid & high, rich but not overly lust, bass though again due to limited woofer size not dynamic and fast enough

Elac B6 - Oh, sound pretty balanced, neat and vivid, overall presentation is clean and clear, bass is varied based on recording, I would say it sound a bit light on some, some just right, treble compare to Q Acoustics a little bit less smooth, most probably a better amp will do better, but I’m not sure how much you have to spend again

Dynaudio Focus 110 - I actually feel in awe when listening to this speakers with first track Igor Stravinsky - The Firebird - Finale (from album Tutti!), a small speakers that sound so big dynamic powerful, surprisingly the Focus series is pretty forgiving on some old recordings, very listenable, the only weakness I would say is the woofer a bit stiff for drum music, and frequency cutoff by the crossover design, instead of rolled off I’ve experienced from other speakers I’ve auditioned, I’ve to say the high really special on this

Currently, I own Wharfedale Denton classic speakers, very forgiving speakers, a bit of mid bass bump kind of speakers, high is not as clean as Dynaudio Focus 110 but still sound smooth without hot sizzling effect, the bass is considered not powerful and dynamic enough

Guys, what else I can look for at this price range?

128x128wim1983

Good thing is they dont impart any tone on speaker...some say .001%...lol...i have no idea anymore about dyns (new)...the 160 was the one to get i guess before they changed everything...

The atc 11 as i mentioned earlier...used for the money...if music is all your after...you’ed be hard pressed to find something to my ears that has more bang for the buck...imho.

I have had floor standers for quite some time and stand mount weren't on the menu...

moving to a smaller room I needed something that could be less intrusive on the rooms limitations...hence atc sealed cabs....

Wim1983 wrote...
@4play The metal tweeters could be the concern for me, as I'm using a Yamaha A-S801, may sound bright on some materials?


On the contrary they DO NOT sound bright at all. These are the best speakers I have owned. The 3D holographic texture makes these speakers stand out from other speakers.

I would love to move up the Focal ladder and get the Aria 906.
@4play May I know what amp you use to drive the speakers? As I read from review, the Focal Arial 906 is unforgiving to show flaws in recordings, so what music you listen to by the way? I find most speakers sound a bit noisy on this recording Adele - Hometown Glory
Let me add for consideration the Holt Hill stand mounted loudspeakers, which sell for $1500 plus $500  for the stands (if one wishes to order the stands manufactured by Holt Hill).  They are two way quasi-transmission line speakers employing an unusually long throw 'woofer' and a silk dome tweeter.  The 'woofer' design allows for very near to full audio frequency range. The tweeters produce detailed yet 'silky' high frequencies.  They 'held up' amazingly well...they were possibly superior in respect of the musicality that the silk tweeters brought to the treble...next to my recently arrived B&W 802d3's.  They are larger than traditional bookshelf speakers, they require some form of stand mounting, they come only in a painted gloss black (which I find quite attractive), in part explaining a price more often associated with floor standing loudspeakers.  In their price range  I have auditioned nothing that comes close to equalling them.