Bookshelf Speaker Help

[U1337]

I'm in the market for some good bookshelf speakers mainly used for my imac i was looking at the usher s520 and since I'm new to this what would ne a good inexpensive amp and how could I hook it up I'm sorry im a complete noob

 

[Mr. Wolf]

What's your budget? Ushers ain't cheap so your definition of inexpensive might differ from others. ;-)

 

[Christobevii3]

For an amp I'd recommend the gizmo from tweak city audio for a basic one. For much nicer cambridge audio has a few nice ones around $400-500 area.

Tweak city audio also has some speakers that look pretty good, the waf-1 that I think you can order probably in the next month or two.

I personally run the av123 etl525's with the gizmo and a zero dac. They work great as near field monitors and have a nice musical sound to them (softer but detailed).

Gizmo Amp Link

WAF-1 Speakers Link

 

[Alai]

Not sure of the WAF-1, but at that price, instead of the Gizmo, I would just grab a full blown power amp:
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1250220205&/Adcom-GFA-535-Sweet-little-amp
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1252102977&/Adcom-GFA-535-mkii-stereo-amp

 

[Christobevii3]

I dont know if I'd want something that big and with no volume control/eq on the front. Just my preferrence

 

[U1337]

Well the speakers I can afford but the amp would have to be at the most 120$ and small since I have my iMac on my table as well as my xbox setup

 

[Christobevii3]

Check out that gizmo then, its probably the size you'd want to be looking at. The waf1 speakers he says early august are the shipping date.

 

[Zenshi]

Since it sounds like you are running 2.0 and not 2.1 and since the Ushers are not hard to drive speakers, another option is to go with something like a T amp. They only cost like $50 or so and though they only give like 15W of power, for a small setup, it should be good.

 

[thetruth]

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-380

or the Gizmo sure.

http://www.av123.com//index.php?pag...facturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=37

Less than the price of the S520. Usher made a good speaker in the 520. It is an extraordinary speaker when modified and the Tiny Dancer is one of my favorites.

However, the av123 525 is the best speaker under $200 and better in many ways than the Usher imo. Really musical and engaging for nearfield and easy to drive.

 

[illgiveumorality]

Picked up a gizmo for 80 bucks, absolutely love the little thing.

 

[Christobevii3]

I had a sonic impact tamp before I had my gizmo and I can say that it is a stronger amp and the basic eq helps a ton. I run my av123 et525's with it and like he said they are great near field and have a soft touch for music which is prefect. Plus if you want to add a sub later it has a variable subwoofer output.

 

[CJRP]

Not to keep plugging Paradigm speakers, but the Atoms are really great sounding and are very, very efficient. You wouldn't need a very powerful amp/receiver to drive them.

 

[Putz]

Not to keep plugging Paradigm speakers, but the Atoms are really great sounding and are very, very efficient. You wouldn't need a very powerful amp/receiver to drive them.

picked up a pair on the weekend, love them