For once, I too ask for advice. It's about small cheap loudspeakers. Thanks.

PP.SS. I have already spent hours on the web searching, comparing, trying to guess, tossing coins, reading reviews (man is a prostitute and a liar when it's about reviewing audio gear), reasoning and trying to revive my once working intuition. But I need some help all the same.

Good morning Max

You my like the look of some of the bookshelf speakers from Monitor Audio. They seem to be rear-ported, but designed for shelf use though.

Adam

Good Morning Adam,

first note taken. Thanks,

Max

Hi Max, I am using System Audio 705s in my office system. Vary agile and musical, price range within your specs but rear ported so some booming effect is unavoidable. I will be monitoring this thread with interest as I was wondering whether a sealed enclosure design might be appropriate for literally “bookshelf” speakers. 

Greg

Hi, thanks. Don't know them, check immediately. Have a good Sunday.

Max

What is your listening priority

Resolution...
Dynamics (Timing / PRaT / agility etc...)...
Neutrality (when on a bookshelf)...
Ease of drive...
Something else?

If it's resolution, the Spendor SA1s are available s/h for just over your price (£425 - £450).

Suggest you take a look at System Audio Aura 1. Modest dimensions, front ported (used to have a pair in my home office that were mounted on the wall, which worked well) and overall very capable speakers. Obviously not masses of bass, but what's there is very good and overall the rendition is fast and clean (but never clinical or boring). I've had many small speakers and in the "reasonably priced category" I think these are possibly the best I've had. Dali Opticon 1 may be worth a look too - Dali are typically good a low volumes too, if that's a consideration - but I haven't personally heard them.

Hi Max -

The B&W 6xx bookshelf speakers (in many incarnations over more than a decade) are front ported and often have brackets for direct wall mounting... Given their low price new (200€ for the smallest current model 686S2) and wide availability used (lots of old variants to explore), you might find something to get you started? I had success with very inexpensive original 685’s from about 2007 in a bedroom system hard against the wall beside a dresser drawer unit. Lotta love-it/hate-it in the B&W world of course, but for price, availability, and a decent sized used market, this could be worth a few more minutes searching in front of your screen (or driving around the usual places in your neighbourhood)...

Good luck and have fun!

Regards alan 

Totem Dreamcatchers.

They don’t tick your rear ported requirement but having heard them on a bookshelf it doesn’t seem to matter. Above all they’re fun and about the right price used.

For new speakers: Monitor Audio Bronze 2 are exceptionally well balanced, in budget, 350mm tall and front ported.

Despite being a ported speaker, they still work quite well when placed against a wall (front porting is absolutely no guarantee of good "close to wall" performance).

The Rega RS1 was a later updated Kyte and retained all of the magic of the Kytes without the slight edge to the treble.

Note that I found the R1 was not as good .

Even though rear ported they will go as close  to the rear wall as you like. I had my pair as close as the speaker plugs would allow with no problem.

Guess they would be easier to find than a good pair of Kytes.

Max height and depth, if on a shelf? Max width? (And of course, on a shelf around ear level speakers could be oriented horizontally...)

I don’t know if you’re aware, but there is one significant potential strength of shelf mounting: if you can arrange shelves all around - above, below and to the sides - to be filled approx flush with the front face of the speakers, you can achieve what is called ‘soffit mounting’, which removes the negative effect of rearward radiated sound reflected and causing comb-filtering when it interferes with the direct sound.

If I was looking for something within those parameters (though in practice with that budget I wouldn’t limit myself to 21st century), I’d be interested in finding out how the following sound - and these do occasionally crop up in that price range.

PMC DB1

PMC Wafer 1 (designed for on- or in- wall mounting)

ATC SCM 7

N.B. In case you haven’t come across it, HiFi Shark is a good web resource to use to search for secondhand gear, also allowing you to set up notifications.

Neat Iota

One of the best small speakers, and very current is the Revel Concerta 2 M16, possibily a little over your budget but a pre-loved pair???

They produce a very detailed, open & dynamic sound, at last years Bristol Show they were in my top 3 of best in show, competing with speakers way above their price point.

certainly worth considering 

Max, As others have already pointed out, a lot of small speakers have rear ports which may be problematic in a bookshelf location. Something that might fit the bill for you and work well with your Linn electronics would be the front ported Linn Majik 109's.

To save you searching, here's a picture 

I would imagine the Dynaudio Emit range would sound pretty good although over the 500 euro mark I would think new ex dem or used ones must be worth a listen.

Hi Max,

the Trenner & Friedl Sun would be nice, but is way above the budget. When it comes to affordable small speakers, the Zensor 1 and 3 from Dali have a good reputation.

KRK g6 passive studio monitor, front ported. Less than €400,- pp. Do not know if the poweramp is up for the job

If you are not to attached to the power amp there is also an active version.

Passieve 6 " Monitor

2-weg
Impedantie : 4 Ohm
1 " silk dome tweeter
Conus woofers gemaakt van glas aramide composiet
Frequentiebereik : 33 Hz tot 34 kHz ( -10 dB )
Gevoeligheid : 81 dB @ 1M / thomann 1W
Nominale impedantie : 4 Ohm
Crossover Freq . 100 W RMS , 400W Piek
Aanbevolen versterker : 50 - 150 W ( 4 ohm )
Ingangen: Terminal poorten
MDF kast
Afmetingen ( HxBxD ) : 332 x 226 x 290 mm
Gewicht: ca. 8,3 kg

I would suggest a pair of Sonus Faber Concertino. They are 8 ohms, front ported and beautiful to look at!

Bob the Builder posted:

I would imagine the Dynaudio Emit range would sound pretty good although over the 500 euro mark I would think new ex dem or used ones must be worth a listen.

I thought about them too, but they are rear ported, so I imagine they need a bit of space around them.

Guru junior.

Hi all,

thank you for the many replies.

Huge, I have no special priority safe that the speakers don't turn out too lean sounding. My enjoyment of vinyl is, so far, still confined to an emotional plain and I don't expect imaging or HiFi spectaculars from two units buried among books.

Two mentions for the System Audio, which is a good thing because my dealer has some in stock and in store; and two for the Monitor Audio, which are a sort of underrated, ubiquitous classic. These are more difficult to demo, unless I go to my ancient dealer, who's in Torino, but there's Amazon, with a return policy (although I am developing something vs Amazon due to the damage it brings to brick and mortar shops and some rumors on their fiscal situation).

Folkman, I have had the Kytes and have heard both R1s and RS1s and I sincerely think that neither later evolution is as balanced, easy and listenable as the Kytes.

Thanks for making me aware of a few brands I ignored, such as Trenner & Firedl or KRK. The idea of the Concertino is also worth some research even though I was never a great fun of Sonus Faber; yet, they belong to the last era of good honest models from SF, before they became all shining enclosures and steel tops and yacht looks. So far, from a size, likely quality and good looks point of view I had thought of the Dali Zensor 3, but I have new ideas to investigate. As for my half joke on the 21st century, it's the simple wish to try and trust something conceived and built in an awfully consumeristic time, not relying perforce on the 'good ol' times' production.

The Linn Majik look the role a lot, but I fear they're way too expensive for a secondary system. It will take some time, or an unexpected lucky strike. Thanks to all, I'll now spend some time browsing here and there.

Max

I'd suggest getting a second hand pair of Heybrook HB1's.

They are a sealed box design and were designed to be installed close to a wall.

Wilmslow Audio make an updated kit version.

I don't know why there are so few new sealed box speaker designs. 

Huge posted:

For new speakers: Monitor Audio Bronze 2 are exceptionally well balanced, in budget, 350mm tall and front ported.

Despite being a ported speaker, they still work quite well when placed against a wall (front porting is absolutely no guarantee of good "close to wall" performance).

I'll second this, My Son has these in his bedroom on the end of a Yamaha Mini System that is sat on a draw unit, they are not right up against the wall, but pretty close. He mostly listens to Classical music and these do a great job, they can rock to and are fun to listen to.

Good luck in your search.

I've had the Kairn/LK140 which was same amp module as LK85 but more powerfull, older Kairn preamp but higher up the hiearchy than Kolektor, not sure about age and service options ? 

Friendly smooth sound, Not a bad combination indeed but guess easy speakers are preferred, ideal and perhaps developed together, would be bookshelf Linn Kan 3, Tukan, Katan etc but some are rear ported though guess they will, as RS1 work close to rear wall.

System Audio are great as are the affordable Dali Pico, Q acoustic 2010, older Royds, Wharfedale Diamonds, Monitor Audio etc, plenty of choice out there on the cheapskate.