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Best bookshelf speakers

Hi all,

I'm looking to buy a pair of good bookshelf speakers and since a lot of you here seems to know about speakers much more then me, I figured I'd ask for advice.

Here are the parameters I'm working with / looking for:

- The room is about 1200 cu/ft
- Looking for great performance at low volume
- Rich timbre
- Rich, warm bass
- Natural highs (not metallic-sounding)
- Low frequency range in around 40Hz (preferably 30Hz, but I know, there are hardly any in this range at my price point)
- $500 - $700, new or used

So far I am considering the following options (in no particular order):

- KEF Q350
- Dali Zensor 3
- Canton Chrono 503.2
- Wharfedale Diamond 225

So my questions are:

1) From my list of 4, which would be your choice?
2) What other bookshelf speaker would you add to the list that fir my parameters?

Any thoughts are appreciated
rado001
mesch
3,427 posts
 
+1 lak. The Focal Chorus 706 are now sold new for $550. I have a pair in a secondary system. They fit your room size well. Have a very articulate midrange and treble, doesn't go as low as you are looking for ( at your budget this is expecting too much), however very satisfactory bass for a small room. Image and soundstage well. 

freediver
1,034 posts
 
Dali Zensor 3 all the wayyyy!
 They need a LOT of running in for the bass to come alive..
freediver
1,034 posts
 
There is a pair of LSA 1 monitors in Black Ash for sale here that are a SCREAMING deal...
johnto
985 posts
 
Check out the mini Philharmoniter at Philharmonic Audio. Dennis makes some outstanding speakers that are hard to beat in their price range.
glennewdick's avatar
glennewdick
1,556 posts
 
are you handy and can you assemble something fairly easy? then maybe a kit speakers is for you. i was thinking about entry level speakers and one thought is to build your own out of a kit. I'm talking a kit with precut cabinets so a little glue and a screwdriver and your covered. then its up to you on how you finish them. there are quite a few quality kits available in your price range and you could get much more bang for your buck that way if your mildly handy. partsconextion is a good place to start then I'd search these forms as there has been a few good threads on the topic here. for $500-700 you should be able to get an equivalent sounding $1500-3000 speaker. just will be unfinished so painted is the easiest and you can get good results for less money then a veneer.
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