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Best Bookshelf Speakers $500 or less - Page 3

post #31 of 44
7/16/09 at 3:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeusEx View Post
I just got a pair of Energy RC-10 bookshelf speakers for under $300 (MSRP $600), and hooked up to a vintage Onkyo integrated amplifier, they are amazing for the price. Incredibly smooth and sweet highs, uncolored and balanced midrange, and impactful, extended lows (very good for a 5 1/2" driver). They are a generally neutral speaker, slightly warm sounding (the bass is, at least), but balanced enough for studio usage.
They are great for any genre (I've tried classical, rock, pop, trance, folk, jazz, modern), and you said you also use logic pro, so they're good to go for studio use.

If your budget was under $250, i'd say go for Audioengine or M-Audio, but since its $500, you can do a lot better with something like the Energy paired with a Rotel/NAD integrated amplifier.
I would take Energy RC-10s all day long over those powered speakers, as good as they might be. They're not going to compete with true bookshelves and an amp.
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post #32 of 44
7/17/09 at 12:16am
The AVSforum has 426 pages and and 12,782 posts in the Energy speaker thread, if you want to read about them. Or you could try to actually listen to them.
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post #33 of 44
7/17/09 at 1:11am
I went with active speakers for my desktop too. I just didn't have the space for a good amp.

I haven't heard the Mackie MR5. I've listened extensively to the HR824 and found them to be truly amazing. The MR5 have gotten praise so I think they're worth a listen.

I've listened to the Audioengine A5 casually a couple of times and liked what I heard. There was a MacWorld coupon available a while ago that made them tempting and pretty affordable.
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post #34 of 44
7/17/09 at 1:18am
I just picked up the Blue Sky Exo 2.1 system on clearance from the Guitar Center near my work for $199 (normally $349). I was leaning towards the A5s, but for this price I couldn't pass them up and am very happy with them.
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post #35 of 44
7/17/09 at 10:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by richpjr View Post
I just picked up the Blue Sky Exo 2.1 system on clearance from the Guitar Center near my work for $199 (normally $349). I was leaning towards the A5s, but for this price I couldn't pass them up and am very happy with them.
I forgot about Blue Sky. They are actually a very good buy for the $$.

Still, Av123 X-LS Encore or ELT bookshelves + a decent little amp = yes. The X-LS hit harder than any other bookshelf under $1000 that I have heard. Aka, get the X-LS and a sub becomes less important than with other bookshelves. You still need one but for most music it is just fine.
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post #36 of 44
7/17/09 at 3:14pm
I use the a5, good build quality, Kevlar and silk. Not the cardboard like stuff in a lot of other speaker drivers. Plus if you look around, you may be able to get the matching sub with them for 500. That would take a bit of shopping around though.
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post #37 of 44
4/17/10 at 3:34pm
so basically the best deal would be the A5s and the RC10s with an amp.

sorry to revive this old thread but my budget is pretty limited too. i'll be using the speakers for music (all sorts), movies, and games. would an active speaker set up fit me better or the RC10s with an amp?

I'm fairly certain that a tube amp is out since i'm not using the speakers strictly for music, so if the votes go towards the RC10s which affordable amp would make a good pairing?
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post #38 of 44
4/17/10 at 10:36pm
A5s are well loved. I just ordered Swan M200MKIII, because I like the look and I really wanted to try them. If I don't like them I will get A5s
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post #39 of 44
4/18/10 at 7:55am
and upgradibility with the A5s? since theres a built in amp, i'm going to go ahead and assume you're not supposed to amp twice, therefore the only thing that could help is a preamp?
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post #40 of 44
4/20/10 at 5:50am
buy some peerless nomex drivers and some vifa tweeters + build your own box = studio reference monitors

if you want three-way cabinets, try the peerless xxls subwoofers in 4ohms (midrange and tweeter @ 8ohms)
make sure you go the ported route either way if you want any kind of bass.
bookshelf speakers dont offer base in 2way models.. they arent supposed to -and when you ask them to, you lose details in the sound.

honestly you can put those midranges in free-air along with the tweeter, dont expect any bass, but the mids and highs will be fine if you calibrate your equalizer.
i have mine sitting on top of the speaker box because my 12inch woofer was making the midranges move too much and distorted the sound because the back of the speaker wasnt sealed off from the big woofer.
i re-calibrated my EQ and havent heard the 12's hurt the little midranges since.
the sound is a little 'lite' but it is easy on the ears and offers much less fatigue.
besides.. those midranges can use the xmax to make the male vocals sound 'beefier' when used without a box.

hell.. my midranges dont even move despite the big beautiful rubber surround that they have.

peerless = a quick and easy $50 per speaker for audiophile quality sound

just dont buy any cheap generic junk crossover, because it could hurt the overall quality of the output.

my speakers can produce male vocals and female vocals at the same time with lots of seperation.
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post #41 of 44
4/20/10 at 9:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Saintkeat View Post
and upgradibility with the A5s? since theres a built in amp, i'm going to go ahead and assume you're not supposed to amp twice, therefore the only thing that could help is a preamp?
No amping twice is not advised as you will lower the SNR of the system and possibly dmage the amp. If you are interested in trying different amplifers then go with a passive speaker set.
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post #42 of 44
4/20/10 at 10:23am
Adam A3X. It's a little over your budget but it kicks all others in the same price range
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post #43 of 44
4/20/10 at 10:35am
I'm going to have to chime in here, whenever mentions the A5's, you must also consider the Aktimate Mini's. They receive just as much universal approval as the A5's, and especially for you to consider, they actually have an iPod dock on them, so you can just plug straight in and enjoy your music. I have a pair and I couldn't really be happier. I don't know how easy they will be to source for you, but definately consider them.

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post #44 of 44
4/20/10 at 11:26am
Id go w/ the A5's
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