Advice for bookshelf speakers


It is time for me to consider getting some new speakers and I'd like some advice.  This is a secondary system where I watch movies the majority of the time but I still like the speakers to sound good on those occasions when I listen to music. I need to replace my left, center and right.  The speakers I am replacing are KEF XQ1s and an XQ2C.  I can live with just a left and right if the manufacturer does not make a center channel.  These will be driven by an AVR, not separates and will have a sub to pick up the lower frequencies.  I have some WAF dimensions that need to be adhered to: 9"-10" from the back wall, no taller than 17" and the left and right tweeters will be 55" apart.  I would prefer there not to be a precise sweet spot since we sit in various areas on the oversize couch facing the speakers.  I'm not really too hung up on budget.  Somewhere between $2-4K total would be where I would like to be.

 

Given the above, I was thinking about sealed or front vented.  I don't think rear vented would be good for this situation but I could be wrong.  I have only done internet viewing and no listening.  I have looked at Salk's website and have also thought about ATC and ProAc.  I've also looked at Ascend (too narrow of a sweet spot?), Fritz (rear vent), Watkins Generation 4 (are these vented?) and others and just wanted to bounce it off this group. Thanks in advance.

dlm110

The Usher Mini-X Diamond is definitely worth a hard look.  The looks give them high WAF, they’re front ported, and they use the top diamond tweeter from their $28,000 flagship TD20 speakers, which is quite amazing given the sub $4k price of the Mini-X DMD.  They’re also not hard to drive so should work fine with your AVR, and Usher speakers sound incredible.  I’d stay away from ATC for this reason as they really need some power to get the best out of them.  Hope this helps, and best of luck. 
https://soundapproach.com/usher-dancer-mini-x-bookshelf-speakers-pair.html

Sonner Legato Unum may be a bit over budget but we’ll worth a listen. 
 

 

+1 on Paradigms and their Founder  40B's are more expensive, but higher quality. They are 15% off now on sale.

 

I would consider the Paradigm Founders 40. 

Used they go for $1700ish. New +$1K. Not sure how

close to wall they can be set.

I own the Fritz Carerra 7BEs but they need to be out further than your

WAF tolerances.

AudioNotes Speakers are designed to set against or near the back wall.

I heard a $6k Hemp model at a recent show and the sound was wonderful.

Keep us posted please.