http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/rss.xml Reviews of smaller bookshelf speakers that can sit along side a family photo and a few classic tomes of Shakespeare. hourly 12 2006-12-01T00:00 http://www.audioholics.com/static/logo.jpg http://www.audioholics.com/ http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/emotiva-er-5-0-speaker-system-review Emotiva, the maker of affordable amps and processors, has stepped into the speaker world in a big way. With the help of the famous loudspeaker designer Vance Dickason, they have put together a 5.0 package at a price that seems almost too good to be true. These speakers sound great, the dipole surrounds are amazing, and the boundary and tweeter adjustments mean that they'll fit almost any room. The downside? Just look at them… tom 2008-03-31T13:37:51+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/tk-5c The RBH Sound TK-5Cs were top notch performers, sounding BIGGER than they looked without faltering at high SPL levels. If you can't find an RBH dealer in your area, check out the EMP EF30s which are similar in performance but almost $150 cheaper through the Audioholics online store. Gene 2007-12-05T21:52:46+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/usher-be-718 If you are on the market for a dynamic pair of compact speakers with a high Spouse Acceptance Factor (SAF), dynamic audio performance on par with speakers twice their price, and an ability to create a sound image nearly on par with full sized speakers, than I urge you to consider the Usher Audio Be-718 Tiny Dancer speakers seriously. They are absolutely gorgeous, with the piano gloss center section and beautiful wood side panels making them right at home in a medium sized den with a tube amplifier softening that hard edge while sipping a 20 year old brandy. The Be-718 Tiny Dancer’s are not without peer, as there are other bookshelves, and even some floor standing speakers that perform admirably at or near this price point, but the combination of sturdy construction, excellent engineering, innovative tweeter design and implementation, and performance per dollar spent put these substantial sound boxes into the “if this is your price range, put these on your short list of speakers to audition” checkbox. It was truly my pleasure to review these highly capable pair of speakers with décor friendly appeal, and musicality nearly beyond reproach. anthony 2007-12-03T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/usher-s-520-review-addendum We recently reviewed the Usher S-520 bookshelf speaker system and found them to be an uncommonly good value because of their fidelity, build quality, and aesthetics. Just as we were gearing up to ship these speakers back to the manufacturer, Musikmatters – US Distributor of Usher Audio products, requested that we retest these speakers after replacing the woofers since we reported the woofers were susceptible to bottoming out during large bass transients in our face off review. Check out our results. Gene 2007-09-26T10:21:09+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/bookshelf-speaker-faceoff-2007 The gloves come off as Audioholics takes on eight pairs of bookshelf speakers priced from $200 - $1800 a pair and tells you who leads the pack and who you should send packing. While there may not be consensus, the four reviewers who took these speakers to task have some common opinions where it counts. Even when they agree to disagree, the results are informative and eye-opening. We also took a suite of measurements on each speaker at 1 meter (on-axis only as our time was limited) and these graphs are included towards the end of the shootout. clint 2007-08-21T12:18:46+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/ascend-acoustics-sierra-1 If I had to describe it in a word, that word would be "pandemonium." That was what seemed to be happening in the audiophile community as Ascend Acoustics announced their new "reference" bookshelf speakers, the Sierra-1's. Long time lovers of the brand were putting their beloved speakers up for sale with the Sierra-1's on pre-order. Sight unseen, ear unheard, the Sierra's were being compared and debated against speakers many times their price. As bookshelf speakers go, they aren't the cheapest but this is definitely a case of "you get what you pay for." And you're getting a lot. The bass and treble extension seems out of place in the same box. Usually you hope for one or the other. In this case, you get both and in a bookshelf package. tom 2007-08-08T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/rbh-sound-mc-6c-bookshelf-speaker-review The RBH Sound MC-6C speaker system has certainly exceeded my expectations and proved that, like a fine wine, a product line can get better overtime. The fact that the MC-6C’s could outgun pricier speakers on the market is a testament to a speaker company not so concerned with profit margins as much as they are with bringing a high performance product to market. Gene 2007-05-30T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/usher-audio-s-520-bookshelf-speaker-review After spending some time with these speakers, I’m convinced that Usher Audio is looking to dispel the idea that you need to search the Internet for quality bookshelf speakers at a reasonable price. The build quality is without equal, the component quality rivals (and bests) speakers much more expensive, and the sound if phenomenal. As far as I’m concerned, these are THE budget bookshelf speakers to beat. tom 2007-05-18T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/jamo-c803-bookshelf-speaker-review The quality of loudspeakers being produced by most companies these days is pretty good. Rarely does a set of speakers come in for review that just sound awful. Each pair generally has strengths and weaknesses, but overall, I have found that there are many quality products out there to choose from. You can almost always find a speaker that combines good performance with a size, shape and aesthetic appeal that suits your personal taste in most any price range. With that being said, it has been a while since a product just blew my socks off. Enter the Jamo C 803 bookshelf speakers. jclarke 2007-04-19T14:54:45+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/dali-mentor-1-bookshelf-loudspeaker-review The DALI Mentor 1 is a fine sounding speaker system in a neat little package. They are best suited for small to medium sized rooms and highly recommended to be utilized with a dedicated subwoofer. The tweeter array in the Mentor 1’s is exceptionally good, never sounding compressed or strained. If what you are after is a compact, attractive, well-built speaker system that will reveal all of the subtleties of your recordings, then the DALI Mentor 1’s should be added to your auditioning shortlist. They score big in the WAF department, play nicely with virtually any decent amplifier or receiver on the market, and will likely impress any audiophile with their excellent imaging and 3D spatiality. So do your best to pair them with good electronics, an acoustically neutral listening room, and quality source material and be prepared to be rewarded with a level of detail and transparency not typically found in many competitor speaker systems. Gene 2007-04-16T22:04:25+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/hsu-research-hb-1-bookshelf-speaker-review When a company like HSU Research with a reputation for making quality products (in this case subs) at extremely affordable prices announces a new product, we all sit up at attention. The HB-1 is a horn loaded bookshelf specifically made to fill large rooms. It is designed to be crossed over at 80 Hz which mean that it has the ability to seamlessly blend with a quality subwoofer or two. What we have here is a very good speaker for an entry level system. And by entry level I mean would trounce nearly any other system that people would consider to be “entry”. Easy to setup, easy to power, and easy on the wallet. Paired with one of HSU Research’s subs and you’ve got a winning combination. tom 2007-04-13T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/pioneer-pure-malt-speakers "I'll have a pair of those Pioneer's, straight up!" That was my first thought when Pioneer asked if I would be interested in reviewing a pair of their Pure Malt Speakers, whose cabinets are made from 50 year old retired malt whiskey barrels. Apparently Pioneer has sold these speakers for years in Japan, and last year began to offer them for sale in the USA exclusively via their website. I have never thought of Pioneer as a speaker company. I am aware that they have made speakers for years, but to be honest, I have never considered them when shopping for speakers. But how can I resist the opportunity to audition what appeared to me to be a unique custom product such as these? jclarke 2007-04-10T13:48:17+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/swans-s200a-multimedia-speakers It wasn’t so long ago that I was researching my first “real” set of speakers. At the time, there were a number of brands that caught my attention. Swans was one of them. But by the time I was ready to buy, they had kind of fallen off the radar and I ended up with another Internet direct brand. When I saw them at CEDIA last year, I noticed one of our reviews for a different product printed up and sitting on their desk (apparently one of their staff picked it up at another booth) I pointed at it and said, “That’s us.” Well, one thing led to another and now I’m looking at a set of their “hi-end” multimedia speakers. tom 2007-02-14T16:02:20+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/boston-acoustics-2008-speakers Boston Acoustics showed off their new logo, new speakers and new brands story/direction for the loudspeaker company. Boston is now making speakers to seamlessly integrate into a room. They new "POP" - Personalized Options Plan - allows interior designers to use the entire Boston line to compliment nearly any interior design decor. clint 2007-01-08T00:00:00+00:00 Video Spotlight http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/rbh-sound-mc-44c-speaker-video RBH Sound speaks with us about their new MC-44C, a speaker designed specifically for use as rear effects channels in today's surround sound systems. RBH designed the MC-44C to provide timbre-matched surround sound consistent with the high value for which the MC Series is known. clint 2007-01-08T00:00:00+00:00 Video Spotlight http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/boston-acoustics-e-series-video Boston Acoustics showed off their E-Series speaker line to Gene DellaSala at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Quietly impressive with gracefully rounded corners and the look and feel of fine furniture, theE-Series speakers are designed to complement contemporary interiors. They feature the use of dark gray grills neatly contained within a thin aluminum frame and fine-grain side panels that add the warmth of polished wood. As a result, the speakers are pleasing to look, yet easily blend into almost any type of room. clint 2007-01-08T00:00:00+00:00 Video Spotlight http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/nht-classic-2 They say perfect objectivity is an unrealistic goal, though fairness is not. I must admit I’m a little biased when it comes to NHT speakers, since they were my first real hi-fi speakers. I almost bought a used pair of NHT Super-Twos, but their new Super Audio line had just been released, so I bought the ST-4s instead. NHT has implemented some clever ideas, bringing high-end sound to the budget-minded people like me. Super Audio is where NHT brought its aluminum-dome tweeters and a separate enclosure design to its ST-4. These are ideas that would be improved upon in the Classic series. wayde 2006-12-07T12:10:49+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/speaker-face-off-2-large-bookshelf-speakers This speaker face off review focuses on mid priced Tower type speakers ($900/pair - $1400/pair), which may be used for stereo listening and/or home theater applications. Although there is a price delta of $500 between the cheapest and most expensive speakers in the review, we feel that is not as big of an issue as price does not always reflect better quality. Gene 2006-10-31T08:22:27+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/bw-cm1 Bowers & Wilkins, Ltd. is a well recognized name among audiophiles and classical music aficionados. The B&W 800 series loudspeakers have long been considered preeminent studio monitors for orchestral recording sessions dating back to the launch of the original 801 in 1979. The list of recording labels and studios that have used 800 series monitors includes Philips, Decca Records, Deutsche Grammophon, and EMI’s Abbey Road Studios where, incidentally, the latest Star Wars movie, Revenge of the Sith was recorded and mixed using B&W loudspeakers. Because of the prominent use for orchestral recording, the speakers are often favored amongst avid orchestral listeners with the intent of replicating the recording session as close as possible by using the same speakers for reproduction as were used in production. david 2006-10-26T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/onix-x-ls Not long ago, Gene offered me the opportunity to review a first production of a new loudspeaker system by AV123. I jumped at the opportunity as I’d seen their name pop up in a number of online forums and read the reviews of some of their other products. I was curious to see what the chatter was all about. Soon thereafter, The Onix x-ls, a 2-way, vented cabinet system, arrived. mark 2006-02-10T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/artison-sketch-lcr We got our first "up close and personal" look at Artison's products back at the 2004 CEDIA convention. Curt Chrisholm of Velodyne introduced us to these custom flat panel speakers (it was the Portrait model we first saw and heard.) The concept of a pair of flat panels that also sported a "DualMono" center channel intrigued us and we put it on our list to eventually contact them and arrange for a review. While it took us more than a year to do so, we were pleased to be able to take a closer look at Artison's new Sketch LCR loudspeakers. clint 2006-01-26T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/aperion-intimus-632-lr We’ve been big fans of several direct-to-consumer loudspeaker manufacturers - but only after they proved to us that their products held up against comparable models by more mainstream manufacturers. Last year Aperion Audio joined our recommended list by producing a good bang-for-the-buck product with the Intimus 5.1 system (comprised of four 532-LRs a 532-C and S-8 powered subwoofer). This year we wanted to hear what their newer, larger products had to offer in terms of quality and performance. clint 2006-01-10T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/speaker-face-off-iv Over the past few years there has been much talk about budget speakers. With this in mind, we decided to conduct a bookshelf speaker shoot out. We selected four different brands of speakers all under $300/pr. ray 2005-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/bg-z-1 BG Corporation was founded in 1994 and is based in Carson City, Nevada. Up until late last year, they went by the brand name Bohlender-Graebener but today prefer to be simply known as BG. Their focus has been on permanent-planar magnetic loudspeaker systems. Arvind Kohli 2005-10-06T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/mi-horn-vht-series Musical Industry (MI) was founded November, 2002. Their objective is the pursuit of lower cost sound improvements in hi-end audio. Upon a quick glance at their site, I must admit to a high level of skepticism. Being the objectivist I am, I simply find little value in ancillary devices or tweaks that have little basis in provable sciences. But, there are those audiophiles that would care less one way or the other so long as higher fidelity is promised, even if its not delivered, they will think they can hear it and be happy nonetheless. Gene 2005-09-06T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/phase-tech-ci-20vii I have reviewed many in-wall and in-ceiling speaker systems during the past year, more than any other A/V product. This is because I have the ability to install them without destroying my living room walls in the process. To test in-wall speakers I built 'portable' walls that are constructed like a typical residential wall, with studs spaced 16" apart on-center and covered with 0.5" drywall. The walls are 32" wide and stand 48" tall and are large enough to simulate a real wall, but portable enough to move from my workshop into my listening room without sustaining a back injury. Gary Altunian 2005-07-29T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/speaker-face-off-iii You may be puzzled when you look at this Loudspeaker Face Off Review and notice that there are brands and models of Loudspeakers ranging drastically in price and size. There are reasons to our madness as to why we choose such a diverse range of Loudspeakers to review: 1) These were the speakers available to us for the review. 2) Most importantly, price and size don't always dictate quality. So on with the Face Off we say, and bring on the music! Gene 2005-06-01T00:00:00+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/atlantic-technology-4200e Let me start by saying that I truly love reviewing loudspeakers. I really do. However, I had just completed reviewing several loudspeaker systems over the last couple of months and the thought of one more brought mixed emotions. I'm into new equipment as much as the next guy, but unpacking and repacking multiple boxes is not the part we relish. It was late in the evening and I was kind of worn out by the time I finally got the 4200e speakers & sub connected to my reference system. clint 2005-04-12T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/rbh-sound-signature-se-r RBH Sound's Signature Series represents their "cream of the crop" in loudspeaker design. This series of product can be found in many of our reference systems for good reason - they rock! Gene 2005-03-23T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/triad-gold-minimonitor Triad Speakers is located in Portland, Oregon, home of some of the best microbrewery beers in the US. Nestled between the numerous quality breweries, tucked away very close to downtown Portland is the home of a speaker manufacturer who applies craftsmanship and exceptional build quality to every speaker they make. Perhaps one of Triad’s most redeeming qualifications is that they do not covet their drivers with implied origins but instead proudly list the actual manufacturers and model numbers. Steve DellaSala 2004-12-13T00:00:00+00:00 Pro Review