Small Bookshelves

[FRAGMAN BOB]

I've got a small stereo amp that puts out a solid 20wpc. Anyone have recommendations for smallish bookshelves that I can use with my PC. I used to have Energy satellites and they sounded pretty good.

 

[LeninGHOLA]

What kind of budget are we talking about?

 

[FRAGMAN BOB]

What kind of budget are we talking about?

Under 200 per pair sound reasonable? Just going to be using it for basic music/gaming when not using my headphones.

 

[gorb]

$170 pr http://www.crutchfield.com/p_108P162BG/Infinity-Primus-P162-Black-grille.html?search=P162&skipvs=T

$200 pr http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=B2030P&N=0&InitialSearch=yes

 

[LeninGHOLA]

I can say those Behringers sound pretty good.

 

[Procyon12]

neither of those are what id consider "small" for a bookshelf....
but they are full range speakers.

if you have a sub:
http://www.aperionaudio.com/product/Intimus-4B-Satellite-Speaker,113,90,261.aspx

 

[FRAGMAN BOB]

I agree those aren't really small bookshelf speakers. Before this I had these satellites http://www.energy-speakers.com/na-en/products/rc-micro-overview/

 

[gorb]

well if you want satellites ask for satellites...the speakers listed are decently small for bookshelves. there are plenty of larger ones.

you should have kept the rc-micros

 

[HammerSandwich]

Which amp, Bob? It's not just about watts.

 

[Blackbeard Ben]

Audio Advisor is always a good place to look; they have a very good selection of small bookshelf speakers:
http://www.audioadvisor.com/products.asp?dept=49

Everyone I know that's dealt with them (myself included) has been very impressed with their level of service, too.

 

[Rossi~]

Check out the JBL Control 1. Fantastic for their size, nice soundstage but will pretty much need a sub with them.

 

[FRAGMAN BOB]

http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=126730
Its a modded radioshack accurian amp (which is a rebadged ST&T imicro 84)

I didn't get rid of the Energy Micro's, just used them on my HT

 

[HammerSandwich]

You'll want high sensitivity & impedance with that amp. For reference, your Energy RCs were rated at 88dB/2.83V & 8 ohms.

The P162 has slightly higher sensitivity but drops below 6 ohms. Might work okay, especially if you don't crank it.

Behringer rates the 2030p at 89dB & 8 ohms. If the specs are honest, they'll work well.

The Intimus 4Bs are also rated at 8 ohms, but they have low sensitivity of 84dB. Again, they should work okay for quieter listening.

JBL Control 1 runs 4 ohms. Stay away.

My favorite small/cheap speaker, the PSB Alpha B1, is also too low in impedance.

 

[WiL11o6]

http://www.nhthifi.com/Bookshelf-speaker-SuperZero-2-0-NLP

 

[Rossi~]

JBL Control 1 runs 4 ohms. Stay away.

No they're not. The 'Pro' versions are, but standard aren't.

http://uk.jbl.com/jbl-product-detail-uk/control-one.html

Type 2-Way Satellite Speaker
Low-Frequency Transducer 4" (100mm) Magnetically shielded
High-Frequency Transducer 1/2"" (12mm) Titanium-laminate, magnetically shielded
Maximum Recommended Amplifier Power 100 W
Frequency Response 80Hz – 20kHz
Nominal Impedance 8 ohms
Sensitivity (2.83V @1m) 89 dB

 

[gorb]

I didn't get rid of the Energy Micro's, just used them on my HT

ah, good

if you weren't limited to $200, I'd recommend getting the RC-10s for $300/pr since vanns.com somehow got them back in stock

 

[HammerSandwich]

No they're not.

Thanks for the correction. I definitely looked up the wrong one.

 

[FRAGMAN BOB]

Great responses guys. Thanks a lot. Wish we had a rep system here. You'd all be getting greens!