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Good Sound under $500

Hello All,
I'll get to the point, I'm downsizing and looking for a good sounding, inexpensive speaker to hold me over until I can get a pair of Proac 1sc or the newer D1. I presently have an Arcam AVR300, Oppo BDP83, Totem Hawks, Totem Signature 1 Center, HSU VTF2 sub. The Totem Hawks and Signature are going to waste because I live in a duplex and we share a common wall in our living rooms which happens to be 13x18x8. I've always felt the Hawks had a little more bass than I needed, I'm not a bass hound. But I do like a good solid detailed bass, The Hawks's bass is a little overwhelming and not very detailed. I went to a local audio store and listened to the Usher Tiny Dancer BE-718, an amazing sounding speaker but out of my budget now or in the future but it's sound was more of what I am looking for. Definitely different than the Hawks.

I'm looking for a decent stand mounted Speaker with clarity, imaging, and decent bass down to about 60 or 70 hz. The sub can handle the rest if needed. Is the size I quoted above for my living room considered small or medium?

Some I've been thinking about are:
Epos els3
ERA D4/D5
PSB Image B6
Silverline Minuets (too small?)

To name a few. I've been reading the forums for the last month or so, this is where I decided on the Proac's but I have to wait till some come up for sale. Plus I will need a center channel speaker for these present and future speakers.

I listen to 50/50 movies/music, my musical tastes are Dave Matthews, Eric Clapton, acoustic guitar, blues, female vocals like Sarah Mclaclan, Bonnie Rait, etc.

I'm open to suggestions folks and thanks for your help.
denon53
tawaundabomb
38 posts
 
If you were listening to the Usher Tiny Dancer and left the store,then you missed the best value under $500 the Usher S-520,its probably won more global awards than any other speaker and speaker history,its not hype either they really are that good.Others to consider are:

Wharfedale Diamond 10.2
Hsu hb1MkII
SVS SBS-02
Arx 3
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
Your bass is a bit too strong and not too clear? From Totem Hawks?

Hmmm... Maybe you just need some bass traps in the corners.

Do you still have the Hawks' shipping boxes? To see if you need traps, take those boxes, stuff them full of wadded up newspapers, and stick them in the corners behind the speakers. If they improve the bass level and clarity, then go shopping for some real traps which will better control the bass while looking a lot better.
guppy
133 posts
 
Tekton makes some great sounding monitors in your price range that are also very well built. I don't know how they do it for the very low prices they charge.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,846 posts
 
I've heard the Ushers you like.

Triangle Titus XS or Comete with sub used might give the Ushers a good comparative run but for much less in your price range.

I've run my Titus XS with an M&K sub and will say when dialed in the resulting sound is very big league and easily competitive with standalone speakers costing 5-10X as much
rleff
1,065 posts
 
Any interest in a active speaker;those quad actives for 475 might be able to hold you over until you can get the speakers you really want.
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