Used Bookshelf up to $3k

Hey there, you’re going to get a lot of suggestions here, but it would be super helpful if we knew how you’d be driving them.  I saw someone suggested Dynaudio Special Forty Bookshelf speakers - great speakers, but if you’re using older tube gear they’d be a mismatch - So what amp are you using to drive them?

I'm now using a new version of the Belles Aria...the 501. I was using the integrated tube Billie amp (original version).  I was going to look at the newest Billie (version 3?), but they kept delaying release date, and raised the price significantly), so I started looking around and settled on the Belles.

I have thought about the Special 40, and there is a used one for sale about an hour from me, but they are rear ported and my stuff is on the main shelf with about 16" of clearance in rear, and I'm leery of a rear ported model. I've also thought seriously about both the Spendor and Totem. I had Totem Sky's and quite liked them.

BTW, I have an email in to Fritz.

Thanks a lot to everyone....except...shhh.

 

I bought a used pair of Fritz speakers for my main system and am very happy with them.

So can also recommend Fritz like the others above.

From my perspective, Pindac has some of the most intelligent audio advice on this forum.  

For monitor speakers, my top choice would be BMR Philharmonic Monitors, for around $2200 in a stunning rosewood cabinet.  I have had the following speakers in my rooms over five decades and these Monitors are pretty much end game for me.  Fritz speakers ought to be considered as well as they are outstanding and fairly priced.  The same goes for Buchardt speakers, high performers at their price point.  Cheers.  

List of speakers from 1973 to 2025:

Rectilinear III Highboys (outstanding speakers!)

AR bookshelves

JBL L100 (they contributed to my hearing loss)

Electro-Voice Sentry 100's

Spica TC 40's and TC 50's

JSE Infinite Slope 3's

Goetz MS3 Towers (I had them for 20 years, made by a boutique designer)

KEF LS50 (My least-liked speakers among the bunch, shrill sonically and hard to drive, but I imagine I never ran them in fully)

Von Schweikert V22

Usher BE-718

Totem Hawks

SVS Black Towers

Klipsch Cornwalls (modded to Cornscala's, way too big for my room)

The Clue speakers

Tyler Acoustic's Linbrooks

Joseph Audio RM25XL  (I should have never sold these)

Dynaco A10, A 25, A35

KLH Model 5, 6, 21 and 28?

Blumenstein Orca's

Green Mountain Audio Rio and Eos HX

GR Research LGK

ELAC Debut B6

Dali Zensor 1 and 3's (both outstanding monitors)

Linkwitz Lxmini's 

Spatial Audio M4 Triode Masters

Revel M22

Gallo Strada’s (wonderful little orbs of musicality, in my bedroom system)

Buchardt S400 (very revealing monitors)

CSS Audio 1TD-X monitors DIY

BMR Philharmonic Monitors

Holy Crap!

BTW, Pindac may be the most knowledgable guy in the world on audio, but his delivery needs lots of work. Just sayin.