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Back to Square One

I'll make a long story short. Thanks to some car repairs since September I've shot my disposable income for the year. Still need a pair of speakers too because when I was just about to buy a pair my car needed a new engine.

Have looked at the DIY concept but have become very discouraged with the attitude of some of the people. Many have an elitist attitude that ANY commercial offering is junk and pales in comparison to any home built speaker or speaker kit. In light of this I don't entirely trust some of the advice I am getting from those people on another forum.

At this point I think I can scrape up around $400 again by May if nothing else happens to cause me to be out 4 grand or $1500 at a shot. I figure I can still get a decent speaker for up to $400 and be content until at some point when I can build a DIY kit or find a better commercial offering.

1) My current Jamo C 601's sound fine but need to be placed 24 inches from the back wall to give the right sound stage. I need something that can be placed right up against the back wall or perhaps a few inches off.

2) Need a speaker with a mellow high end. Nothing bright. Like a nice soundstage and good detail. Bass does not need to be heavy. Just want to hear it.

3) Prefer a bookshelf speaker though may consider a small tower if it is light weight.

4) Will be using a Qinpu A3 integrated amp and also a Dayton DTA 120 solid state integrated amp. 50 wpc into 8 ohms.

5) Room size is 14 by 12 with a 9 foot ceiling. Hardwood floors too. Thus the need for a mellow speaker.

Was thinking the Boston Acoustics A 25 might work. Read a couple of reviews that said it can be placed up against the wall and still sound decent.

Any other ideas. I am open to suggestions.
will62
kiko65
279 posts
 
If you could stretch your budget to about $500.00, a used pair of GoldenEar Aon 2s would be ideal for your needs.
Another suggestion would be a used pair of the amazing Silverline Minuet Supreme Pluses.

Both the Diamond 10.1 and the SP-BS21s or 22s are excellent choices $400.00 and under.
mesch
3,411 posts
 
If you are anticipating an speaker upgrade when finances allow, I would go with the Pioneer sp22s for now. A very pleasing sound at a price that will allow for savings to be set aside for the future.
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
I suggest you read this review from Absolute Sound about the $400/pair Infinity Primus P363 compact floorstanders.

Although the review mentions that street price is around $300/pair, in my own searches, for the most part they seem to be holding steady at around $400/pair. If they're as good as TAS says they are, that's still quite a good deal.

They are 39.5" tall with a footprint of 8.25"w x 13"d. That's about the size of a mini-monitor on a stand, but in this case you get a twin woofer 3-way, making for a claimed 93dB sensitivity and 38Hz bass extension. Available as close as your local Best Buy.
will62 OP
177 posts
 
Infinity 363 tower is too heavy. I don't want to lug around another 50 lb speaker these days.

Sales Rep with Wharfedale suggested the new 220. What Hi Fi raves about it and says it is the best speaker in its class. No flaws. And with the downward firing port it can be places just a few inches from the rear wall and sound fine.

Aon 2's according to a review said don't play well in larger rooms. Best in very small rooms. I suspect that the size room I have and the high ceiling will not work well for this speaker.

The Pioneer gets very good reviews including a great write up from Stereophile. Comes up a bit short against the Wharfedale's but overall a very good speaker that is dirt cheap. It has a rear port though I and I am wondering about placement. Will have to read more user reviews to see if this can be placed near a rear wall and still project a good image. Wharfedales's will do that.

Design Acoustics is another large speaker from what I see. Finding a complete working model is going to be a challenge. Every one for sale that I could see needed some kind of work. Will research these a bit more though because they do seem to have the right sound for my ears.
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
03-19-15: Will62

Aon 2's according to a review said don't play well in larger rooms. Best in very small rooms. I suspect that the size room I have and the high ceiling will not work well for this speaker.
I'm curious to know which review this was. The Aon 2 has a sensitivity somewhere around 86-89 dB and power handling up to 200 watts. Its sidewalls are taken up by two large passive radiators. A 9 x 12 room would be child's play for this speaker. It really behaves more like a 40" tall tower.

I heard the Aon 3s in a much larger room (probably 15x18 or even larger) and if anything, people were looking for the hidden subwoofer. Filling space is one of its strong suits.

There are several reviews out there to balance the information. Here's the one from Stereophile.

One other thing: the Aon 2 should be considered a 4-ohm speaker. With the wrong amp it could sound small and undynamic. With a 4-ohm rated amp it should be fine. I heard it powered by a 100wpc Peachtree.
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