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Recommendations for monitor/bookshelf speakers

I have a smaller sized room listening room 12x12x10(height) with soon-to-be built-in shelving on one wall. I am shopping for speakers that cannot be taller than 20" and I assume front ported as the shelf they will be placed on is only 20" deep. Am I wrong about must having front ported speakers since the rear of the speaker will most likely to be very close to the wall? To date I have only found the KEF XQ20. I listen mostly to roots rock, jazz, and the Grateful Dead.
Thanks a million.
big_music
goldprintaudio's avatar
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goldprintaudio
502 posts
 
Not sure what price range you are looking to be in, but the Joseph Audio RM7xl's are front ported bookshelves.

***** Joseph dealer disclaimer *****

Taylor
Goldprint Audio
zmanastronomy's avatar
zmanastronomy
738 posts
 
I highly recomend the Triangle Comete ES. It's about 17in tall and front ported. Very lively and well ballanced.You can get them used for around $500 here on Agon.
Hope this helps.
transnova's avatar
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transnova
350 posts
 
Though not inexpensive,the XQ 20 are the best I've heard at my local high end dealer.They are beautiful(in the rosewood)and the soundstage is unbelievable!!!
adam18
670 posts
 
B&W 685 and Triangle Titus EX may be two speakers worth checking out. You also can get on the websites of the major manufacturers (Polk, PSB, Paradigm, Wharfdale, KEF, etc.) and look at the specs. Good Luck and Happy Listening.
rar1's avatar
rar1
1,784 posts
 
In practice, with shelf placement, the use of a front or rear port is not as important as you may think. What will impact the sound more is whether the speakers will be placed on shelves which are enclosed. With enclosed shelves, you will essentially be placing the speaker box inside another box. This type of placement will make all speakers sound pretty much the same, which is just OK. You will lose a lot of the nuances. On open shelves, the speaker sound will not be as closed in and will have a chance to open up.

I can tell you that if your shelves will be enclosed, there are a number of rear ported speakers that are designed with near rear wall placement in mind ... the Rega R1s, for example. The Regas are probably one of the best for this type of application. I was also surprised with how well the Energy RC10's sounded inside an enclosed bookcase. Equally surprising was how poorly the Spendor SA1's and Totem Mites sounded on enclosed shelves.

If the shelves will be open, then the Ascend Acoustic Sierra 1's would work very well. The Sierras can also be placed on their sides with no ill effects. My comments are experienced based as I have owned every speaker that I mention and have lived with speakers on enclosed shelves and on top of bookcases for decades.

My tastes in music run similar to yours ... Americana, folk, country, roots, etc. Try Rosanne Cash's 'The List' or Stills/ Young 'Long May You Run' when/if you audition.

Rich
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