Serious bookshelf speakers
Posted by: nickpeacock on 15 July 2016
In the not-far-off process of buying a flat I am resigned to having less space. In particular, whereas I can just about get away with my Martin Logan Electromotion ESLs (which are indescribably magnificent), the near-certain reality is that nothing into which I will have to squeeze my middle-aged post-divorce self will allow me to continue with the MLs.
Hey-ho - onwards and upwards. I will be running NDX (just waiting for ex dem model to be available from Grahams in the next couple of weeks) + 252/SCDR + 250.2.
I'm looking for genuine bookshelf speakers (ie which don't have to be standmounts) which will give me the speed and transparency of the MLs. I want accurate but not heart-stopping bass, and speakers which work well at low to mid volumes.
In the past I have owned and enjoyed Harbeth P3ESRs, but they couldn't match the speed and transparency of my MLs. Grahams have suggested the B&W 805d3.
Assume that my budget can cope with anything up to the B&Ws (c£4500). Any other thoughts as to what I should try to audition? Direct experience from people who know what I mean about panel speakers would be much appreciated.
kuma posted:ATC7 is excellent. One of my favourite monitors. ( actually I prefer them over the 11s ) But you are right, tho, ATC speakers do need proper stands ( high mass ) to shine.
Here are another *book shelf* speakers: Power of analysis rivaling that of ATC speakers but Wilson monitors generally are unfussy in terms of placement and these Duette are certainly designed with lifestyle set ups in mind. They retains dynamics even at a low volume and won't flinch at high-ish SPL as the ATC.
Wilson Duette:
Wow, Kuma - just drooling over these - precious little chance of being able to afford them, sadly. Has anyone heard them with Naim amps?
That's a very pretty picture of the Wilsons. Unfortunately, they'd sound crap in that location. 
I agree with yeti. You should only start looking once you know the environment into which you're moving.
Frank.
I guess the problem is that if you want, and have a £4500 budget for, a decent pair of speakers, they just get bigger as you spend more. So your options feel limited if you want something that does justice to your electronics. Having said that, this is the Naim forum, and it's surely only a matter of time before someone suggests N-Sats on dedicated wall brackets, so it might as well be me This seems to me like a reasonable compromise between a true bookshelf location and a standmount/floorstander.
Hi Nick,
one of the very few speakers that will actually work on a shelf are the Audiomachina CRM. Mine had go to there to keep them away from the children. They are not ported and suffer no bass boom, even close to a wall. To stay inside your budget you might have to look for used ones, though.
And: they replaced the Martin Logan Ethos as the main speaker in my dealers showroom 
.
ChrisSU posted:I guess the problem is that if you want, and have a £4500 budget for, a decent pair of speakers, they just get bigger as you spend more. So your options feel limited if you want something that does justice to your electronics. Having said that, this is the Naim forum, and it's surely only a matter of time before someone suggests N-Sats on dedicated wall brackets, so it might as well be me
Some are smaller - look at Shahinian Arcs. Physically, they're quite small and discreet. Of course, they're not bookshelves, but they'd easily get out of the way near a wall, and if they don't sound best there, they're light enough and unfussy enough to move into the room for more serious listening. They're not cheap though, at £6k (soon to be more with the weak £stg).
Frank.
!