How is Monitor Audio for bookshelf speakers?

[mfs378]

I'm looking at getting a nice set of bookshelf speakers and a stereo integrated amp. I don't know much about speakers, but I have been to an audio store once. The salesman demoed some Klipsch and Boston Acoustics speakers for me, and then played the Monitor Audios. The difference to me was huge.

I believe these are the ones I heard: GS10

It seems you can pick them up for about $1k from ebay Link.

Listening room would be maybe 12x15x9, and the speakers would be used mostly for music and video. I don't need a subwoofer or ridiculous bass.

So... my questions are:

Are they considered overpriced? good? bad?

Any alternatives I should look at?

 

[Goosemaster]

good.

 

[potato28]

Calling Yoyo...

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Monitor audio makes some good stuff. I've only heard their very small high WAF radius series though.

You have a ton of options in the $1k range though. Were Klipsch, Boston, and Monitor Audio the only options in the range that they had?

 

[Tiamat]

Pretty good, although it would be nice if you had Paradigm, B&W, and Dali to audition as well...

 

[mfs378]

Yeah this was a small shop that I checked out a few months back because I was in the area and it was convenient. The shop is actually nowhere near me, so I won't be going back there. I haven't been to any places near me yet.

Unfortunately, the shop only played those three for models me. Of those three the Monitors really blew me away. I'm going on memory here but I think that total transparency is the phrase I would use to describe them. I will have to check out some of the other brands, however.

I should have asked this in my initial post, but is there any way to get to the quality of the Monitors without spending $1k? In other words, are there any brands known to be better bang-for-the-buck?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I've had very good experience going with online brands for some of my equipment. I think you get a better deal overall going factory direct as I compared several retail brands at the pricepoint I was considering and the online products I've tried since then have been significantly better imo.

Just as an example, AV123 has no-risk trials of their bookshelf speakers now. A pair of Ref1s would be the $1k option from them
http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=23.1

Recently they had a sale on those for $599 so I wouldn't recommend them at the $999 price, but just for an example that would be a way to demo somthing in your own home without any risk to give you an idea of what's out there.

 

[spidey07]

They are very nice. Very smooth.

If you want, look at B&W Nautilus line as well. If you're spending a grand on monitors you can get some sweet ones.

Are you going to get quality monitors for under a grand? Not likely.

 

[EvilYoda]

You can buy my Dynaudio Contour S1.4's over the summer! Just a hair over 1K...well, maybe a few hairs. Still, good sh*t. ^_^

As for Monitor...I remember them being pretty good but there was something about the sound that I didn't like...don't remember what though. I should find out who still carries Monitor around me...

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: EvilYoda
You can buy my Dynaudio Contour S1.4's over the summer! Just a hair over 1K...well, maybe a few hairs. Still, good sh*t. ^_^

As for Monitor...I remember them being pretty good but there was something about the sound that I didn't like...don't remember what though. I should find out who still carries Monitor around me...

Nice speakers.

-edit-
OP - you should buy these. Otherwise I will.

 

[mfs378]

Originally posted by: spidey07
They are very nice. Very smooth.

If you want, look at B&W Nautilus line as well. If you're spending a grand on monitors you can get some sweet ones.

Are you going to get quality monitors for under a grand? Not likely.

Nautilus

Is this what you meant??

 

[spidey07]

I meant this...

http://www.bwspeakers.com/index.cfm/fus...ion/products.models/Label/Model%20805S

Been a while.

-edit-
In all honesy, listen to speakers with your favorite tunes that you know well and pick ones you enjoy. Everybody's ears are different in what they like.

Eitherway, make sure you get a decent integrated amp. Used would be a good idea for this route. What's your source?

 

[mfs378]

Originally posted by: EvilYoda
You can buy my Dynaudio Contour S1.4's over the summer! Just a hair over 1K...well, maybe a few hairs. Still, good sh*t. ^_^

As for Monitor...I remember them being pretty good but there was something about the sound that I didn't like...don't remember what though. I should find out who still carries Monitor around me...

They go for $2800? Thats a bit much for me.

 

[mfs378]

Originally posted by: spidey07
I meant this...

http://www.bwspeakers.com/index.cfm/fus...ion/products.models/Label/Model%20805S

Been a while.

-edit-
In all honesy, listen to speakers with your favorite tunes that you know well and pick ones you enjoy. Everybody's ears are different in what they like.

Eitherway, make sure you get a decent integrated amp. Used would be a good idea for this route. What's your source?

*looking into the future* I was thinking something from NAD. My source would be my PC, losslessly compressed audio with a USB DAC.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: mfs378
*looking into the future* I was thinking something from NAD. My source would be my PC, losslessly compressed audio with a USB DAC.

Always loved NAD integrated. I don't know much about PC audio, although I do know using an outboard DAC with a good card can yield good results. We used to use a Macintosh on stage and it did just fine 15 years ago.

 

[richardycc]

checkout NHT classic 3, I might upgrade to their classic 4 soon.

 

[EvilYoda]

Originally posted by: mfs378

Originally posted by: EvilYoda
You can buy my Dynaudio Contour S1.4's over the summer! Just a hair over 1K...well, maybe a few hairs. Still, good sh*t. ^_^

As for Monitor...I remember them being pretty good but there was something about the sound that I didn't like...don't remember what though. I should find out who still carries Monitor around me...

They go for $2800? Thats a bit much for me.

Nah, you'll quickly find out how dangerous the world of used audio is. I would probably be asking for $1700 or something around there, but that could drop...especially with someone with a solid trading history.