Awesome Inexpensive Bookshelf Speakers

For a while now, I've been wanting to buy a new set of stereo speakers. I am not your typical speaker buyer in that I am also a musician. Furthermore, I intend to use these speakers as near-field studio monitors and for everyday listening. This poses a distinct challenge.

Near-field studio monitors are usually designed with one principle in mind, and that is perfectly flat frequency response. This is very desirable for monitoring recording music, mixing recorded music, and for accurate sound reproduction. However, speakers that have a flat response tend to be too accurate in that they result in ear fatigue after a while. This must have something to do with various psycho-acoustic principles, but I'm no expert. I just know that if I end up listening to a pair of Mackie HR824s for more than a couple hours I'm probably going to go nuts.

In my own listening environment, I sit within 2-4 feet of the speakers at all times. I use them to edit and mix audio, so they have to be accurate. I use them for casual listening, so they have to not cause listener fatigue. Ultimately, I plan to match a subwoofer to them, so trying to get bass-heavy small speakers is not important, I would prefer more accurate sounds. I also want them to cost <$1000, preferably <$500. I asked a friend of mine that is a knowledgeable audio geek, and he suggested these models:

cheap speakers list

Paradigm Atom Monitor v.5 ($250)
Epos ELS-3 ($300)
Axiom Audio M3 v2 ($330)
Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 ($350)
PSB Image B25 ($450)
Rega Research Limited R1 ($495)
Audio Note AX-1 ($500)
Aperion Audio Intimus 632-LR ($600)
NHT SB-3 ($600)
Epos M5 ($650)
Dynaudio Audience 42 ($700)
Monitor Audio RS 1 ($700)
Hyperion Sound HWS 586 ($760)
Ascend Acoustics CBM 170 SE($348)

He was particularly bullish on the Dynaudio, and that's probably what I'd get if I was going to spend $700, or if I didn't want to mess with a sub. At this moment however, I'd go with the Ascend Acoustics CBM 170 SE for only $348. The reviews are excellent, and it seems like they fit my listening profile and space very closely. The only downside is they are boring and sort of ugly little boxes (though not much uglier than that hr824 above). Maybe I'll hold off until their design is better.