Audio How To: What To Buy? – How To Set It Up?

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Check Out the Best Budget HiFi Guide for Products in the $200-$1200 Price Range

Electrocompaniet PSB-1 ~ $1200

Bookshelf Speakers

Electrocompaniet PSB-1 are the bookshelf speakers of Electrocompaniet Prelude line. They use a custom designed Scanspeak 1″ silk done tweeter that has won my heart with its smooth detail and captivating sound. These can make almost any harsh entry level electronics sound better. The PSB-1 are great for smaller rooms, including apartments with thinner walls and dorms. The bass is very clear but isn’t booming or penetrating. Very close living quarter friendly.

Specifications

Frequency response: 55-20000 Hz +/- 2.5 dB
Impedance: 4 ohms
Sensitivity: 87 dB/m 2.83v
Power handling: 70/110W
X.over frequency: 2500 Hz
Bass tuning frequency: 55Hz

Other Recommend Bookshelf Speakers – Dynaudio Audience 42, Usher 701 speaker kit (DIY), Totem Acoustic Rainmakers, Klipsch RB-61, B&W DM 602 S3, Audio Note AX-2

Also see our Editor’s Best Bookshelf Speakers under $1000 Guide

Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1 ~ $800

Bookshelf Speakers

Sierra-1 from Ascend Acoustics are hard to keep your eyes off. The dark maroon red piano gloss finish with bamboo underly is stunning. (this photo doesn’t do them justice) Thankfully the sound lives up to the looks. The Sierra-1 have a deep and warm bass and dynamic highs. Horns sound great on these. Easy to set up and great for home theater as well. Good detail in the highs and mids. They pair well with equipment that has controlled and tight bass that should be a bit under whelming.

Specifications

Typical In-Room Frequency Response 39Hz – 22kHz Â± 3dB
In-Room Sensitivity 87dB @ 1 watt / 1 meter
Frequency Response (Anechoic) 44Hz – 22kHz Â± 3dB
Sensitivity (Anechoic) 86.5dB @ 1 watt / 1 meter
Average Impedance 8 ohms

Other Recommend Bookshelf Speakers – Dynaudio Audience 42, Usher 701 speaker kit (DIY), Totem Acoustic Rainmakers, Klipsch RB-61, B&W DM 602 S3, Audio Note AX-2

Also see our Editor’s Best Bookshelf Speakers under $1000 Guide

PMC TB2i ~ $2400

Bookshelf Speakers

PMC TB2i offer studio quality naturalness and detail. The mid range is deeply clear and detailed and the high end can sustain cymbal rides and recording room echoes to their natural endings. With the right recordings the resolution of the tweeter is great enough to put you in the recording room. The bass while very good does only go to 40Hz so pairing with a sub is recommended if you want more thump but these already offer a tight and controlled fast paced bass that is plenty to make hip hop beats bumping and classical dynamic shifts engaging.

Technical features

PMC ATLâ„¢ (Advanced Transmission Line) with 3 folds
Phenomenal bass response down to 40Hz
Dedicated magnetically screened centre channel – TB2M-C
PMC/SEASÂ®, 27mm SONOLEXâ„¢ soft dome tweeter, ferro fluid cooled
PMC designed 170mm Doped LF driver with cast magnesium chassis
Magnetic shielding available for safe positioning near tube TVâ€™s

Other Recommend Bookshelf Speakers – Dynaudio Audience 42, Usher 701 speaker kit (DIY), Totem Acoustic Rainmakers, Klipsch RB-61, B&W DM 602 S3, Audio Note AX-2

Also see our Editor’s Best Bookshelf Speakers under $1000 Guide

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By adam


Floorstanding Speakers	Bookshelf Speakers	Integrated Amplifiers	Headphones


Cables	Turntables	Cartridges	iPod Audio

derek says:

December 16, 2010 at 11:53 am

Monitor Audio speakers have always been a favorite choice for me. Smooth roll-off the highs, very tight sounding bass response without being overpowering, and mids that make your favorite vocalist sound even sweeter.

Nice job of picking components that won’t break the bank.

adam says:

December 16, 2010 at 1:28 pm

Derek -

Really – you found Monitor Audio speakers rolled off at the high end – not what I normally hear about them. What amplifier or rest of the system, source for instance, did you pair them with, or heard them paired with? Not saying they are harsh, but the RS6 I’ve heard had a slightly thin airy high end. Good if you were looking to hear the room in a recording, but definitely didn’t help with a black whole for a stage.

DBoy says:

January 6, 2011 at 12:52 am

There is lot of PMP that sound better than iPod
for less than 800

Jack says:

January 18, 2011 at 7:22 pm

For those of you who have trouble justifying big speakers to your significant other (like me), try the Silverline Minuets. They are small enough that they can sit on a desk and they absolutely rock. They go low enough that they don’t demand a sub but I recommend one.

RubÃ©n says:

February 5, 2011 at 4:13 pm

Hi all,
Iam newbie in this forum.
Is the new Magnepan similar in soun dto the olds models?

February 5, 2011 at 4:23 pm

I currenlty have Apogee and for my they are not surpassed even today in the planar range.

February 5, 2011 at 4:25 pm

I miss said that full planars like Apogee is very demanding on room space and position

February 5, 2011 at 4:27 pm

But when they are paired with a good power amp is IMHO one of the more realistics speakers

February 5, 2011 at 4:31 pm

A few years ago change the olds ribbons with new ones (manufactured in Australia) and sound even betters than the originals.
More extended, transparency, air

February 5, 2011 at 4:35 pm

For full potential the Divas must be actively biamped

Lorenqo says:

February 23, 2011 at 7:48 pm

planar speakers all sound wimpy and apogees require a amp you could use for arc welding to drive them properly. maybe there ar PMP that sound better than Ipod but they’re not tha good either. the Hifiman is a real audio product and with it’s versatility is a bargain reelly

Audio How To: What To Buy? – How To Set It Up?

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