Please Suggest me a pair of Active bookshelf speakers

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mahiruha

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Hi,
I am looking for a decent pair of active bookshelf speakers. I want to connect them to my bedroom system which has project debut III TT and Creek OBH-15 phoho pre. I want to go through the active route as it will keep the setup simple. I have found Audioengine A5 fits my requirement perfectly. I am just wondering is there any other speakers available within
50K price range which is considerably better in performence as compared to
audioengine A5. Here one thing I need to mention that maximum spacing I can allow between the speakers is 5 ft and distance from the speakers can be 12 ft.Please suggest what is the best way to go in this case? I am not after huge soundstage but speakers should produce decent music with good midrange and treble. Don't have too much bass preference.
Thanks.
 
Go for Swan M200 Mark III sounding much better than many other active spks including Audioengine, Edirol and wharfedale. They will also suit your music tastes and preferences.
 
Quad 11/12 used to have an active version. not sure if they are still available but if you get it they would IMHO be a great option.
 
Hi All,
thanks for your suggestions.
Arj: Active quad 11L sound s good need to find out if it is available.

Sound & Music: Thanks for suggesting this wonderful speakers. They look wonderful and reviws are excellent and all that comes at similar price point as compared to AE5. The sad part is I called up chennai dealer he told me he dosn't stock them as the demand is very low. So the only option is to get from some overseas dealer. I found one HK dealer. Now sure if ship them to India. Any suggestions?

anm: The speakers look good but pretty expensive.
avihifi - AVI worldwide store

Blasto: Well I am quite tempted to get AE5. They have long list of satisfied users. I also have my almost unused Wharfedale SW 150 which I can connect to it. It is on top of my list but exploring if there is some considerably better.

Buswal: Thanks for reinforcing my preference for AE5.They have plethora of connecting options so no need to worry. They don't have RCA but they provide stereo to rca cable which you can use.
Thanks.
 
mahiruha said:
Arj: Active quad 11L sound s good need to find out if it is available.
Click to expand...

this is the distributor in india:Name Designer Audio India Pvt. Ltd.
Contact Mr.Dilip Shah , Mr.Ravi Shah
Phone 9122 - 23520320
Fax 9122 - 23512836
Email [email protected]

maybe you could find something ?. Quad has a great sound for its price...especially for those who like it coloured warmish.
 
Hi Mahi
Inquire with Pandam Audio if any of the Genelac models are within your budget. They are also supposed to be good
 
arj said:
this is the distributor in india:Name Designer Audio India Pvt. Ltd.
Contact Mr.Dilip Shah , Mr.Ravi Shah
Phone 9122 - 23520320
Fax 9122 - 23512836
Email [email protected]

maybe you could find something ?. Quad has a great sound for its price...especially for those who like it coloured warmish.
Click to expand...

Hi Arj,
thanks for the info. I enquired with them and they have it. The problem is it is not available in Calcutta. The dealer in calcutta can arrange a normal 11L for audition with an amp. Do you have any idea what sort of amp needs to be paired with the Quad 11L which can give me rough idea what a active 11L would sound like or it is an absolute impossible task. Also could you please suggest it is better to put this speakers on stand or to put them on a shelf which I am yet to build. The problem with the shelf would be it will have the TT and few other players so they might interfare with each other.The other problem with the quads is it has only one input and I need to connect my TV and turntable to it. Is there any way to do it?
Thanks.
 
mahiruha said:
Hi Arj,
thanks for the info. I enquired with them and they have it. The problem is it is not available in Calcutta. The dealer in calcutta can arrange a normal 11L for audition with an amp. Do you have any idea what sort of amp needs to be paired with the Quad 11L which can give me rough idea what a active 11L would sound like or it is an absolute impossible task. Also could you please suggest it is better to put this speakers on stand or to put them on a shelf which I am yet to build. The problem with the shelf would be it will have the TT and few other players so they might interfare with each other.The other problem with the quads is it has only one input and I need to connect my TV and turntable to it. Is there any way to do it?
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Passive Quads are easy to drive and any Amp >30 Watts should go fine with it. But pairing with too warm/dark amps may make it sound lazy. so avaoid most tubes. I have heard of both Rotels and marantz amps sounding well with it.

All bookshelves sound better on stands. but if you want to put it on a shelf, if you can manage it, make it a granite shelf to give it a solid grounding.

BTW for the active version, i think you will need a preamp for this speaker as it only has an Amp module. even a simple passive preamp with multiple inputs can solve your problem..am sure there are options available.. I believe Viren also had made one for someone
 
Mahiruha a friend of mine is selling his Quad active speakers. Let me know if your interested, I can get you in touch with him...

--
helium
Amp: Lyrita SET 2A3
Speakers: Vintage B&W DM4
 
Hi Arj,
thanks for the inputs. Well the Quad 11L active speakers do have volume control in each speakers so if I want to connect my TT only I can use them without a pre amp. If I want to to connect multiple sources then a preamp would be necessary but I am bit concerned that if a pre amp is introduced in the path be it active or passive how much it is going to alter the sound signature.
I have found another interesting speaker for my requirement. They are Sonodyne SM 50AK Studio Reference Speaker. It seems they are priced similarly in europe simialr to Quad 11L active speakers not sure about the Indian pricing though. Do you have any experience with those speakers? Quad 11L has better power specs ( not sure if it over speced for my requirement) but Sonodyne has more options like 4 bass tilt and treble tilt DIP switches for workstation boundary compensation.
Thanks

PS: I just checked the manual for the Sonodyne. http://www.mcl-media.co.uk/sonodyne-sm-50ak-studio-reference-speaker
It says the connecting options are one balanced TRS and one 3 pin balanced XLR input. It seems for connecting unbalanced sources special wiring configuration is needed like one end RCA and another end XLR or TRS. How difficult it is to achieve?
 
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sonodyne may not be a bad option although i will still prefer the Quad as their sonic signature is preferable personally (and have not heard the Sonodyne).

I did not know about the Volume control in the quad, but i would doubt if it were anything more than a Volume pOT/attenuater which can be effectively Bypassed by putting the volume at highest. i doubt putting a pre would break it.

another option is a high quality RCA splitter
aaqrcasplitter.jpg

it is available here..but you can fint it at ebay also.
but here you need to be careful that only one of the sources is on at any given time..not sure how good/bad it is technically for inputs, although this works fine for Outputs.

XLR to RCA : Here also you do have converters available..high cost would be by Cardas. available at Audiogon at 70 USD. lower value you will also get at 20north by a brand called Hamas
 
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Sonodyne is finally working on a high performance active speaker system which will sound far superior compared to their present models. Dont know what they plan to name it, but its scheduled for launch in the very near future. See attached picture of its prototype

The small Genelec 6010A & 8020B are also great options to check out at PANDAM Professional Audio
 
hi,Boss you are in from Kolkata,and you forgot the best Active book shelf speakers?
hey Man it is SONODYNE.try it once and you will feel very have.SM100 AK .

Thanks
babloo
 
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