Please help a Novice

agree, decide on the speakers, then find the amp they need.

Thanks for all the responses.

Since my last post I have decided to start looking more into bookshelf speakers. I went to a local retailer two days ago and listened to B&W 685's and cm1's. I also checked out the paradigm studio 10's. Overall I liked the cm1's but haven't been able to find them around my budget used. I also liked the 685's more than the studio 10's. They just had more bass which is very important to me when buying bookshelves.

After looking online I found good reviews on the 685's, Monitor BX2's, Wharfedale 9.1 and 10.1's, Energy rc-10's, Paradigm Mini and titan (as mentioned by some of you above), acaydis dm1's, and ATC SCM 7's.

I don't have the luxury of hearing all of these speakers and most of the ones you mentioned. Does anyone know what bookshelves have particularly good bass response in the $500 used or new range, and still be exceptionally good sounding speakers. Should any of the speakers I mentioned be taken off the list?

Very good sounding speakers are not likely to have really good bass at the price point, it is one of the tradeoffs the designer must make at the price point and speaker size IMHO (though Totem at a higher price does do bass very well for the size of speaker). A brand you have not mentioned that I think builds very good speakers at their resepctive price points is PSB - you do get a lot of bang for the buck with their product and your don't suffer the EURO penalty on the exchange rate, which should help even more. But I do think at your price point, the mid range quality should be your priority, and reasonable bass extension (45-50hz or so?), just don't think you can have it all at the price point - though the Vandersteen 1c as a smallish floor standing speaker does give you a very decent amount of quality bass, but that does not fit the bookself requirement.

I went to another store yesterday after work and listened to Monitor Silver RS1, PSB Imagine mini and Imagine B's, and lastly the Dali Lektor 2. Out of all of them I liked the PSB's the best, second best was Monitor, and last was Dali. The PSB mini were really unbelievable for the price point and size. The guy helping me did bring up Totem as well. PSB is definitely one of the top choices for me now along with the 685's and checking out Totem.

Does anyone have anything to say about Wharfedale? There speakers have great reviews (Diamond series bookshelves) and are pretty cheap.

Let me know if anyone else has any other suggestions. Thanks

I have now had the Daber Monitor 3's for two weeks and have had a chance to do some critical listening. I have the rounded cabinets in maple that Steve provides for a small extra fee. They are gorgeous with very high end carpentry work! The first thing that will strike you is the deep, tight bass for such a relatively small speaker. I doubt anyone but the most avid bass fan will see the need for a subwoofer in a two-channel setup. The mids are very satisfying and the highs are clear and precise. Vocals are rendered in a very natural fashion. The soundstage competes with the best. My wife, who is very musically inclined, even prefers them over my Acoustic Zen Adagios. A very different speaker and a matter of taste, but still high praise from a very musical person. I love them both for different reasons. To say that I am pleased with the results would be an understatement. In summary I think this must be one of the best values in speakers out there and they are made in the USA by a small entrepreneurial company. Give them a try - you will not be disappointed!

As a side note the speaker stands for the Volla speakers fit as if made for these speakers (rounded) - got them from MSS HIFI at a decent preice. Steve is planning on making stands for them as well in the near future.