Bookshelf speakers on a budget


Hi, I'm looking for suggestions for a decent pair of bookshelf speakers. However I'm on a budget in the $400-$500 range; I know this is a low dollar amount but it's all I can afford right now. If anyone has any suggestions I'd appreciate them.

Thanks 
hfarrior3

Showing 10 responses by hfarrior3

I'm leaning toward to Dali Zensor 1's over the ELAC Debut 6's.

The new ELACS at $500 are out of my range (I have hear about the defective colored UB5s for $00, and if they are around by the time I purchase I might get those)
Right now I'm using a Jolida FX-10 that my friend is letting me borrow. When I get enough money saved up I'll either buy his or look for another option (I've read mixed reviews on the FX-10). I'm looking to put the speakers on a credenza so they will be about 1'6'' away from the wall, will this be enough space?
This is a classic case of why speakers should always be the first
component you should buy.
Well, I kind of am buying my speakers before my amp. The components I've purchased are the table and the pre-amp. Remember I haven't bought an amp yet. I'm going to buy some speakers, power it with my friends amp for the time being until I find a reasonably priced, decent amp to power the speakers. I'll probably end up getting speaker stands down the road. 

Which leads me to my next question. What is a reasonably priced amp to drive these speakers. I posted a link to an article with a few options. 

You all have to remember, I don't have the disposable income to go out and by speakers, stands, and an amp all at once (plus I need a new cartridge). This is why I'm piecing stuff together little by little.

I'm piecing this stuff together overtime so I'm focusing on speakers right now. $400 is now my top limit.

For the time being I'm going to use my friend's amp until I either purchase his, or (depending on what power needs of me speakers) purchase another one.
I have a cambridge azur 551P MM Phono premap. 

Would it be better to find a cheaper, more powerful amp to drive the Dali or Elacs?

I found this list of affordable amps. Not sure which ones are "decent" or powerful enough to drive the speakers I'm looking at.
I found this review on the ELAC Debt 6 

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-bookshelf-speakers/

He seemed to like them better than the Zensor 1's. 

Is this site pretty credible, seems like he put a lot of work into the review.