Bookshelf speakers are the most common choice for building stereo systems. Compact speakers are easy to fit into any room, and the capabilities of modern speakers in terms of creating a reliable sound picture have increased radically.
8. KEF LS50
TTX – frequency response – 47 – 45,000 Hz | Resistance – 8 Ohm | Sensitivity – 85 dB | Weight (one column) – 7.8 kg.
Pros – Excellent scale from compact size
Cons – limited bass
Verdict – entrance ticket to the world of Hi-Fi
The twelfth generation of branded Uni-Q Driver Array drivers works wonders – the combination of a 23 mm ventilated aluminum tweeter with a vibration-absorbing disk assembly Metamaterial Absorption Technology and a 130 mm mid/bass driver sounds so confident that you want to check whether compact bookshelf speakers really play, and not hidden ones Somewhere there are floor standing speakers. You just have to take care of powerful and stable amplification, because the sensitivity of the speakers is only 85 dB.
7. Falcon Acoustics LS3/5a
TTX – frequency response – 70 – 20,000 Hz | Resistance – 15 Ohm | Sensitivity – 83 dB | Weight (one column) – 5.35 kg.
Pros – studio-neutral sound
Cons – again – bass extension is short
Verdict – best styling of classic LS3/5a
The Falcon Acoustics LS3/5a two-way speakers feature an infinite-baffle design, using the classic combination of a 19mm mylar dome tweeter and a 127mm woofer with a Bextrene-cone cone. A special Gold version of the speaker is now assembled on an audiophile element base – the crossover uses polypropylene capacitors and resistors with ultra-low inductance. As a result, the design of the speakers, launched into series for recording studios almost fifty years ago, still beats many competitors in terms of rhythm and neutrality “one left”. Just don’t forget about a serious amplifier – despite as much as 15 Ohms of resistance, the sensitivity of the speakers does not exceed 83 dB.
6. Acelec Model One
TTX – frequency response – 45 – 35,000 Hz | Resistance – 8 Ohm | Sensitivity – 84 dB | Weight (one column) – 17 kg.
Pros – transparent sound, scattering of details
Cons – can sometimes seem sterile
Verdict – fantastic speakers
Again, when working with Acelec Model One, we must not forget about the quality and stability of the amplifier – the sensitivity of the speaker systems is 84 dB. However, if the appropriate partner is selected, seventeen-kilogram strong men literally fascinate. The speakers display a ton of detail while being able to soar into pure fury – the combination of a 0.7″ ribbon driver and a 15cm Scan-Speak mid/bass driver with a paper cone, housed in an all-aluminum enclosure, works wonders.
5. Vivid Kaya S12
TTX – frequency response – 45 – 25,000 Hz | Resistance – 8 Ohm | Sensitivity – 85 dB | Weight (one column) – 8 kg.
Pros: exquisite appearance and the same sound
Cons – low frequency texture is not enough
Verdict – acoustics that will definitely surprise you
Absolutely charming in appearance, similar to drops, the Vivid Kaya S12 speakers demonstrate a flat frequency response in the range of 45 – 25,000 Hz, which is a breakthrough for speakers based on a 26 mm Tapered Tube tweeter and a 100 mm aluminum woofer. The special design of the housings (two layers of polyurethane are separated by a special absorber) and the use of drivers from the top-end (Vivid Giya) model of the company are supported by a luxurious sound that provides a record “rate of fire”. By the way, the measured sensitivity is 1 dB higher than the performance characteristics.
4. Joseph Audio Pulsar2 Graphene
TTX – frequency response – 42 – 20,000 Hz | Resistance – 8 Ohm | Sensitivity – 83.5 dB | Weight (one column) – 16.3 kg.
Pros: incredible volume of sound, excellent localization
Cons – limited scale
Verdict – the choice for small spaces
Joseph Audio Pulsar2 Graphene can be dimmed in rooms larger than 20 m2, but for small rooms this is a real godsend. The enchanting sound surprises even seasoned audiophiles, and in terms of stereo imaging and timbre fidelity, the loudspeakers generally have few equals. The diffusers of the new series of speakers are now covered with a nano-layer of graphene, and the crossover is also of its own design – Parallel Asymmetrical Infinite Slope.
3. Marten Parker Duo Diamond Edition
TTX – frequency response – 36 – 40,000 Hz | Resistance – 6 Ohm | Sensitivity – 88 dB | Weight (one column) – 18 kg.
Pros – reference resolution
Disadvantages – the timbre picture is not always correct
Verdict – The Diamond Edition of the Marten Parker Duo is even more impressive
The Diamond Edition version of the famous Marten Parker Duo speakers features an inch diamond tweeter, a 7.5″ ceramic mid/bass driver and a 9″ back-firing passive radiator with an aluminum diffuser. All internal wiring is made with Jorma Statement reference cable, the crossovers are assembled using our own Multi-diverse circuit, and the multi-layer M-board enclosures completely absorb unwanted resonances. With an excellent sensitivity of 88 dB, the speakers won’t overload the amplifier, and their luxurious presentation seems to be the starting point for many competitors.
2. Borresen Z1
Price – 1 4 500 euros
TTX – frequency response – 50 – 50,000 Hz | Resistance – 6 Ohm | Sensitivity – 86 dB | Weight (one column) – 11.6 kg.
Pros – energetic performance without the edge of falsehood
Cons – attack from below may not be enough
Verdict – the sound of tomorrow
Borresen products are a true treasure trove of innovation, and the Borresen Z1 bookshelf speaker systems are no exception. The model uses the developments of the reference series – from a closed ribbon tweeter with a moving mass of 0.01 grams and a record 94 dB sensitivity for this technology, to the use of a composite of two layers and Nomex honeycomb core in the bass/midrange diffusers. 8 mm voice coils with an induction of only 0.06 mH do not contain iron – the list of patented circuits could go on for a long time. It’s better to hear it once and be amazed by the open and honest nature of the sound, which does not baffle any genre.
1. TAD CE1TX
TTX – frequency response – 34 – 100,000 Hz | Resistance – 4 Ohms | Sensitivity – 85 dB | Weight (one column) – 29 kg.
Pros – mercurial, dynamic and exclusively natural sound
Cons – only price
Verdict – reference speakers
The TAD CE1TX uses the company’s favorite configuration of a TAD Coherent Source Transducer coaxial driver (5.5″ magnesium midrange and a centrally mounted beryllium tweeter) and a woofer with an aramid composite cone. The gain will take some work (4 Ohms, 85 dB is no joke), but once opened, you definitely won’t want to listen to other speakers for quite a long time. The TAD CE1TX is amazing in a good way.
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