Bookshelf spkrs for classical

[Gordon MacPherson]

Hi,
I am looking for bookshelf speakers to play classical music. Price
range is up to 350 GBP (say 500 USD). I have heard good things of the
B&W DM602 S3, Epos M5, Monitor Audio RS1, Wharfedale Diamond 9.2. I have
a medium sized room (about 12x14 ft). At the moment I am leaning
towards the Monitor Audios.
Any other suggestions or opinions welcome

Thanks

Gordon

[andy]

Gordon MacPherson wrote:
> Hi,
> I am looking for bookshelf speakers to play classical music. Price
> range is up to 350 GBP (say 500 USD). I have heard good things of the
> B&W DM602 S3, Epos M5, Monitor Audio RS1, Wharfedale Diamond 9.2. I have
> a medium sized room (about 12x14 ft). At the moment I am leaning
> towards the Monitor Audios.
> Any other suggestions or opinions welcome

One thing I would recommend is to go listen, pay the extra and buy
locally. Messing about returning faulty mass produced consumer products
bought through the post is a pain. I currently end up returning about
10-20% of my consumer purchases as faulty/incompatible although to be
fair most of this is computer parts.

I recently went through a similar exercise for some bookshelf speakers
for the kitchen and was surprised at the large differences in nominally
similar looking speakers. I guess striving for neutrality is not a wise
business move in this sector. Perhaps another reason to go listen.

[DaveW]

Of those you've listed I would highly recommend the Monitor Audio RS1's. I
have a complete Monitor Audio home theater system with their floor speakers,
etc. They sound magnificent and have more detail and air and neutral
tonality than their equivalents in other brands that I auditioned, including
B&W's, etc. And, yes , I have listened to the RS1's at my local dealer. I
love them.







--
DaveW

----------------
"Gordon MacPherson" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
> I am looking for bookshelf speakers to play classical music. Price range
> is up to 350 GBP (say 500 USD). I have heard good things of the B&W DM602
> S3, Epos M5, Monitor Audio RS1, Wharfedale Diamond 9.2. I have a medium
> sized room (about 12x14 ft). At the moment I am leaning towards the
> Monitor Audios.
> Any other suggestions or opinions welcome
>
> Thanks
>
> Gordon
>
>
>

[Rich Wilson]

"Gordon MacPherson" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
> I am looking for bookshelf speakers to play classical music. Price range
> is up to 350 GBP (say 500 USD). I have heard good things of the B&W DM602
> S3, Epos M5, Monitor Audio RS1, Wharfedale Diamond 9.2. I have a medium
> sized room (about 12x14 ft). At the moment I am leaning towards the
> Monitor Audios.
> Any other suggestions or opinions welcome

I'd avoid Wharfedale Diamonds. I tried some a while back and they make your
music sound surprisingly dull and lifeless. There didn't seem to be much
actually recognisably wrong with the sound but I found even my favourite
music sounded what I can only describe as "boring". After a few minutes I
really didn't want to listen any more.

As I remember I also tried Monitor Audios (can't remember which model) and
they were better. I'm still kicking myself for not trying the B&Ws. I
actually got Mission Volares (now renamed as the M60 series), which I'd say
are definitely worth a listen, particularly if you need small speakers that
sound much bigger than they really are. I imagine that for classical music
they'd be best paired with a fairly warm-sounding amp.

Hope that helps.

[harrogate3]

"Gordon MacPherson" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
> I am looking for bookshelf speakers to play classical music. Price
> range is up to 350 GBP (say 500 USD). I have heard good things of
the
> B&W DM602 S3, Epos M5, Monitor Audio RS1, Wharfedale Diamond 9.2. I
have
> a medium sized room (about 12x14 ft). At the moment I am leaning
> towards the Monitor Audios.
> Any other suggestions or opinions welcome
>
> Thanks
>
> Gordon
>
>
>
>

Don't leave out Neat, Tangent, KEF, or Tannoy, all of which make good
products, even if one is way overpriced!

[Roy]

Gordon MacPherson wrote:
> Hi,
> I am looking for bookshelf speakers to play classical music. Price
> range is up to 350 GBP (say 500 USD). I have heard good things of the
> B&W DM602 S3, Epos M5, Monitor Audio RS1, Wharfedale Diamond 9.2. I have
> a medium sized room (about 12x14 ft). At the moment I am leaning
> towards the Monitor Audios.
> Any other suggestions or opinions welcome
>
> Thanks
>
> Gordon
>
>
>

AVI Neutrons

Roy.

[Chris Isbell]

On Fri, 27 Oct 2006 14:57:50 +0100, Gordon MacPherson
> wrote:

>Hi,
>I am looking for bookshelf speakers to play classical music. Price
>range is up to 350 GBP (say 500 USD). I have heard good things of the
>B&W DM602 S3, Epos M5, Monitor Audio RS1, Wharfedale Diamond 9.2. I have
>a medium sized room (about 12x14 ft). At the moment I am leaning
>towards the Monitor Audios.
>Any other suggestions or opinions welcome

You might like to listen to the Quad 11L speakers. I have a pair on my
secondary system and use them almost exclusively for classical music.

--
Chris Isbell
Southampton, UK

[Rob]

Gordon MacPherson wrote:
> Hi,
> I am looking for bookshelf speakers to play classical music. Price
> range is up to 350 GBP (say 500 USD). I have heard good things of the
> B&W DM602 S3, Epos M5, Monitor Audio RS1, Wharfedale Diamond 9.2. I have
> a medium sized room (about 12x14 ft). At the moment I am leaning
> towards the Monitor Audios.
> Any other suggestions or opinions welcome
>
> Thanks
>
> Gordon
>
>
>

I'd suggest giving the Dynaudio 42s a listen - they were my choice after
listening to several competitors.

Rob

[duncan]

"Rob" > wrote in message
...
> Gordon MacPherson wrote:
>> Hi,
>> I am looking for bookshelf speakers to play classical music. Price range
>> is up to 350 GBP (say 500 USD). I have heard good things of the B&W DM602
>> S3, Epos M5, Monitor Audio RS1, Wharfedale Diamond 9.2. I have a medium
>> sized room (about 12x14 ft). At the moment I am leaning towards the
>> Monitor Audios.
>> Any other suggestions or opinions welcome
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Gordon
>>
>>
>>
>
> Yes Dynaudio are speakers to go for, I've had a pair of 42s which are
> excellent. I regretted selling them but managed to buy a pair of Dynaudio
> Contour 1.1 for £220 off ebay, which are even better.

[Easynews]

"Chris Isbell" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 27 Oct 2006 14:57:50 +0100, Gordon MacPherson
> > wrote:
>
>>Hi,
>>I am looking for bookshelf speakers to play classical music. Price
>>range is up to 350 GBP (say 500 USD). I have heard good things of the
>>B&W DM602 S3, Epos M5, Monitor Audio RS1, Wharfedale Diamond 9.2. I have
>>a medium sized room (about 12x14 ft). At the moment I am leaning
>>towards the Monitor Audios.
>>Any other suggestions or opinions welcome
>
> You might like to listen to the Quad 11L speakers. I have a pair on my
> secondary system and use them almost exclusively for classical music.
>
> --
> Chris Isbell
> Southampton, UK

I second that- or even better the Quad 12L, though a bit more pricey. These
have gone a bit "out of fashion" since the company moved production to
China- hence you can often pick up reduced deals in stores (or eBay). They
are fantastic speakers- I use mine to listen to classical, both CD and
vinyl. You need a decent pair of speaker stands and cables to get the most
out of them though, and they have to be set well away from the wall- so I
guess not really bookshelf as such.