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Recommendations for bookshelf speakers

I hope some of you knowledgeable folks can help point me in the right direction here. I've just sold off a pair of venerable old Celestion SL600s to a friend who's setting up her own system. I've been using these for casual listening, mostly as computer monitors (YouTube mainly, and some streaming broadcast services, with very occasional forays into higher-res formats) and as musical as they are, I think it's time for something more modern and more efficient.

Well, this is where I get lost. I'd like something that approximates the Celestions' musicality, but scouring the internet for information on speakers of appropriate size and price (I can go up to about $1000 for these) just seems to muddy the waters. I'm happy to go with either used or new. A few that I've looked into but been put off by various aspects of their reviews: Monitor Audio Silver 50 and RX1, Polk Audio LSiM703 (there's a really good deal on these on Polk's website, but they're quite a bit bigger than I'd like), various models of Elac's bookshelf speakers, PSB Imagine Bs, and even a few used B&Ws, a brand I've never really liked all that much.

I'd be grateful for any suggestions you might have. There's an endless variety of speakers out there and I feel I've barely scratched the surface. Your suggestions would be gratefully received. Thanks!
cooper52
stevehardy1
78 posts
 
My last system was with Vandersteen 3A signatures, Aragon 8008BB power amp & Adcom GFP-750 Preamp. Current system is Maggie 1.7is, PS Audio Direcstream DAC & PS Audio BHK 250 amp.  My bedroom system is a Nuforce STA 200 power amp with a pair of Focal 706s. These are amazing speakers & I got them for $450 a pair new here on Audiogon from  Canadian dealer. I have not heard ANYTHING remotely this good up to $800. I chuckle every time I hear them. Punchy, clear, revealing, delicate, open & with good imaging.  No brainers at $450.
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markcdaniel
45 posts
 
My favorite bookshelf speakers right now are the Focal 906. I have used them as near field listening monitors for PC, as L/R paired with a PS Audio Sprout 100 in a 2 channel configuration, and as Surround L/R in an all Focal 5.1 configuration with a Yamaha RX-A1060 AVR.  I have never been disappointed, in fact they rival their tower big brother - the Focal Aria 926. I am positive you can pick up a pair of 906’s in your budget, either new on sale or gently used here on Audiogon. Happy hunting! 
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kingbarbuda
514 posts
 
For the money the ELAC UniFi UB-5 speakers are great. They are also just very good speakers. An added bonus is that for some reason, they are heavily discounted and you can find them on Amazon. If you want to move up to they big brother towers the ELAC UniFi UF-5 are even better and discounted too and on Amazon. These aren’t bookshelf or speaker stand speakers in the traditional sense, but the Magnepan Little Ribbon Speakers (LRS) are excellent, and ordered directly from Magnepan for only $650!
jrod68
42 posts
 
I bought the SVS Ultra bookshelf speakers about a year ago. They are fantastic. Silky smooth, tight bass. I’d check them out for sure. Good luck.
cooper52 OP
175 posts
 
Thanks for all your suggestions. There are a few speakers presently listed here on A'gon that I'm very interested in: Some Spendor SP 3/1Ps and the above mentioned Focal Aria 906s. From this you might get an idea of what appeals to my taste. Speakers like the KEFs (and a lot of other modern speakers I've heard) are clean and tight with great imaging, but I find them uninvolving, sometimes downright shrill. I'm also interested in LSA .5s but I haven't seen these for sale anywhere recently. Discontinued, I think. 

A bit more detail about my system: amplification is an Arcam A85 integrated, and between the computer and the amp I'm using a Musical Fidelity VDac II (basic but very serviceable DAC). Digital optical cable between computer's sound card (Soundblaster Z) and DAC.  



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