Budget Speaker Recommendation?

Rear ports are generally designed to be used away from rear wall.

BEst to avoid in general for bookshelfs. Front ported works best. Acoustic suspension will work also but will either sacrifice low end or tend to be much larger.

Earlier this year, I bought Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 based on the strength of reviews I read (Stereophile and elsewhere). You can get them new for less than $250. I got mine from Wild Electronics.

They seem to scale well with whatever equipment you use. I had been using my 12-year-old Denon mini component system with them and they sounded OK. But when I upgraded the source recently (MSB Platinum DAC), the speakers offered much improved sound. I'm now very happy with the Diamond 9.1. I should add that they are used in my office rig for nearfield listening.

Triangle Titus 202 are better than any other speaker mentioned, though the Quad 11 come fairly close.

These are ported on the bottom, and are designed to be enhanced close to a wall. Give it a read.

http://www.whathifi.com/review/wharfedale-diamond-121

Mot

It's been 3+ years. Do you two really think he hasn't purchased speakers yet?

Shakey