Speaker recommendation

**jadedavid** · March 26, 2020, 08:08 AM

My brother called me yesterday looking for a recommendation for a pair of speakers.
He doesn't want to spend more than $1000. New or used OK. Front ported or sealed. No subs. Max size
24"X14X14. They are to fit in a built in bookcase. Amplifier is a vintage Solid State Harmon Kardon.
He listens to mostly classic rock and Blues/Jazz so a somewhat warmer speaker would be desirable.
I'm at a loss in that price range. I was thinking a used pair of Harbeth 7"s would fit the bill but he won't spend that much.
Any suggestions?

**Mike** · March 26, 2020, 08:38 AM

Fyne 303’s work.

**jadedavid** · March 26, 2020, 09:32 AM

They look interesting but as floor standers they are too tall.
24" max height.

**Mike** · March 26, 2020, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by jadedavid

They look interesting but as floor standers they are too tall.
24" max height.

Fyne 500.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Mr Peabody** · March 26, 2020, 10:34 AM

I would definitely look for front port if placed in a bookshelf. With that said I saw KEF LS50 was supposed to be on sale somewhere for $899 a pair.00.

Vintage HK had the current to drive most speakers within reason.

Elac has become a go to speaker for value. Maybe a Monitor Audio Silver stand mount.

A used Dynaudio Audience 52 or 42 would be great, they come with port plugs but who knows if a seller would still have them. I'm not up on current Dyn, they may have a stand mount for under $1k new.

**Boogieman** · March 27, 2020, 03:40 PM

Zu Audio Dirty Weekend is hard to beat for $1K. If someone is not interested in the audiophile hobby but just wants to enjoy great music and rock out, there's nothing out there that competes with Zu Dirty Weekend.

That's what I had my brother get a few years ago, and he thanks me every time I speak to him.

No brainer, really. https://www.zuaudio.com/loudspeakers...irty-weekend-2

**Dentdog** · March 27, 2020, 10:26 PM

Have a pair and yes they are worth the fare. Have the big Def IVs in the basement but with some warm tubes the Omens actually sound pretty good.

**Mr Peabody** · March 27, 2020, 11:18 PM

I don't think Zu has anything to meet the 24 inch criteria and they need the feet to keep the bottom firing port free., probably not ideal for a bookshelf designation.

**MikeCh** · March 28, 2020, 12:09 AM

David,

What are your brothers speakers currently?...or that he's had that he loved or disliked?

Here are some vintage suggestions that I believe fit the size requirements and can sound quite good in a bookshelf role.

Dynaco A25
JBL L96
JBL 4313
Dahlquist M905

**Jack** · March 28, 2020, 12:41 AM

Any of the later ADS bookshelf speakers will do the trick as they are sealed and on the warmer side. The two "classics" the L710 and L810 would be to tall and hard to find but there are others from that era that will work and are on the warmer side. I owned the L810's for many years and my son still has them. A personal favorite which fits the bill is the L570/2. I have two pairs in near mint condition. One pair rotates through my Home Office system and the other pair is boxed up. They are 19"x12"x10". Here is a group of photos of a pair that were for sale several years back.

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/...images/500983/

**Boogieman** · March 28, 2020, 06:42 AM

Originally Posted by Mr Peabody

I don't think Zu has anything to meet the 24 inch criteria and they need the feet to keep the bottom firing port free., probably not ideal for a bookshelf designation.

Hi,
I believe Zu actually does have a couple of smaller speakers. It's on their website

**Boogieman** · March 28, 2020, 06:53 AM

Originally Posted by Dentdog

Have a pair and yes they are worth the fare. Have the big Def IVs in the basement but with some warm tubes the Omens actually sound pretty good.

My brother runs his with solid state integrated from Rogue, the Sphinx (class D, actually, with a tubed preamp stage). It's like a grand, or a few hundred dollars more in US dollars. He uses a modest chord dac. He also streams hi-rez from Amazon. He's a big fan of 60s jazz and rock/ blues rock of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Clapton, Phish, Dead, Floyd, etc.. Badly recorded classic rock really comes to life. Big, dynamic, fast, tonally rich sound. He has been working from home for several years and has his system on 10 hours a day.

But guys who listen to 0:39 of track 6 here and 2:54 of another track instead of taking in the music would really scoff at the Zu sound.

**jadedavid** · March 28, 2020, 08:53 AM

[QUOTE=MikeCh;297928]David,

What are your brothers speakers currently?...or that he's had that he loved or disliked?

In his previous larger home he had Klipsch La Scala's. And in a second room he had PhaseTech or Phase?? something (they are physically too large for this space).

Many good suggestions, thanks to all. Will look into them and pass on the recommendations.

**Bones13** · March 29, 2020, 08:26 AM

Look at Tekton Design, they have The “Mini-Lore” for $595, and what look to be a stellar pair of speakers that just fit the size required the “Dynamite” for a bit over budget, $1500.

I could not tell whether there is a rear port or not.

With enough power, I would second the KEF recommendations.

**Nikhil** · March 29, 2020, 10:15 AM

NHT C3 Bookshelf Speakers

https://www.nhthifi.com/products/165...shelf-speakers

Have always heard good things about these speakers. On sale for $499 each on their website.
Three way compact sealed box design so should be easier to place in a book case.

NHT has a 30 day satisfaction guarantee where you can return them if not satisfied.

Regards

.

**Don Ivey** · April 2, 2020, 12:01 PM

Klipsch RP600M's are only about $500, and sound oh so good with my Belles Aria integrated. Very sensitive, and esp. good for classic rock, at low or high volume.

**joeinid** · April 3, 2020, 07:08 PM

Wharfdale Linton.

https://www.musicdirect.com/speakers...shelf-Speakers

**AJ Soundfield** · April 4, 2020, 06:40 AM

Rear ports are a no no Joe

**u-sound** · April 4, 2020, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by AJ Soundfield

Rear ports are a no no Joe

glad you finally let that secret out to public

**AJ Soundfield** · April 4, 2020, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by jadedavid

My brother called me yesterday looking for a recommendation for a pair of speakers.
He doesn't want to spend more than $1000. New or used OK. Front ported or sealed. No subs. Max size
24"X14X14. They are to fit in a built in bookcase.

Originally Posted by u-sound

Originally Posted by AJ Soundfield

Rear ports are a no no Joe

glad you finally let that secret out to public

Reading is no secret.

**u-sound** · April 4, 2020, 06:12 PM

wow isnt it amazing how things change when you consider all apects...
thx for clarification, my mistake

**AJ Soundfield** · April 4, 2020, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by u-sound

wow isnt it amazing how things change when you consider all apects...
thx for clarification, my mistake

No worries, stay safe, enjoy some music!

**u-sound** · April 4, 2020, 06:44 PM

what about the soundfield mmw? are they sealed?

**AJ Soundfield** · April 5, 2020, 06:49 AM

Originally Posted by u-sound

what about the soundfield mmw? are they sealed?

Yes, but the bass is active, so probably not feasible for a "built in" bookcase. Unsure how he would even run speaker wires, much less AC cord. Over his $1k price limit too.
For this sort of specific application "shelf in wall", a speaker designed specific for that is ideal, but rare. Something with no baffle step filtering in XO, like an in-wall speaker...but already in a box. I'd probably lean towards a sealed design also, but again, those a rare these days.

cheers,

AJ

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