Unbelievably (the right word) underrated (& this may make no sense until you’ve heard them in this way) is the 1970’s JBL 2500 bookshelf speaker (used & often available for 50 to 75 dollars) - PROVIDED you put in a kick-ass capacitor in the xover (a top WIMA in the pair I heard). Replacing the wiring helps too. It then sounds like a really, really good $1000 plus (maybe 2000 plus or 3000 +) pair of bookshelf speakers. No bass to speak of, but transparency & musicality that are authentically jaw-dropping. The titanium tweeter is honestly better than any rebuilt titanium tweeter I’ve heard on any Wilson. The midrange driver is surprisingly, quite nice & detailed beyond all expectations in this context with good equipment, but overall no Watt. Someone did it as a lark & I was well, astonished. I’m no modder (I’m not good with my hands) but this I GUARANTEE. Highest quality parts are critical here. Add a sub & you’ve got a budget system for a relative, gf or someone else, that will make you look like a hero. For good reason. The other speakers in the range (2600, 2800) do well with this done to them, but this speaker has the best midrange driver. If I thought this could come back at me, I’d never suggest it here.
