Best looking (first) and great sounding (second) bookshelf for $1000

[Jack in Wilmington]

Usher X-719 - Likely the most dynamic of this group with real energy in the lower octaves. If you like VSA, you'll likely appreciate Usher. Variable wood and color finishes (even screaming yellow!)



Tyler Acoutics - gorgeous wood work and top notch components.
Taylo Mini's (the price is a bit high, but negotiate. It can be done.)


PD10's are perfect for a lower power tube amp (8ohm, 97dB's)


Quad 12L - very fast sound, beautiful fit and finish, excellent coherence top to bottom, legendary name in audio.
[img]
http://edu.pudasjarvi.fi/~mokkula/images/Hifi/Quad%2012L.jpg[/img]

Hey Topspeed, If you were getting the X-719's, which color would you go for. The red has me very intrigued, though I would like to see them first. Thanks

[RGA]

Well beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I have found that if the sound is good the speaker will start to LOOK a heckuva lot better and if the sound is poor then no matter how pretty they are they will soon look ugly.

The Audio Note AX Two was designed for SETs and sounds quite excellent with Jolida -- very popular combination. Now they look utilitarian but come in a different finishes. They sound excellent with all sorts of acoustic music and punch way way beyond the price class. Comparing say the B&W 705, Totem Model One, Paradigm Studio 20, all of which cost a lot more and using piano - a very difficult instrument the AX Two was in our view easily the best at producing the tranisent and the decay of the instrument as well as the vocals without hardness or early compression.

But like I say it is not as pretty as most and I am not sure thatthey come with front grills - so you will see the drivers on Audio Note speakers (because they're meant to be listened to without the grills).

http://www.audionote.co.uk/products/.../ax-2_01.shtml

[Feanor]

Well beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I have found that if the sound is good the speaker will start to LOOK a heckuva lot better and if the sound is poor then no matter how pretty they are they will soon look ugly.
...
But like I say it is not as pretty as most and I am not sure thatthey come with front grills - so you will see the drivers on Audio Note speakers (because they're meant to be listened to without the grills).

http://www.audionote.co.uk/products/.../ax-2_01.shtml

IMO, grills are necessary to satisfy the esthetic taste of "wives", (using the term loosely to describe non-audio enthusiasts). That excludes the Audio Note from present consideration along with some others, e.g. the Tylers if I'm not mistaken.

Apart from that, the Audio Notes do resemble plywood boxes, (aren't they plywood boxes?), with Radio Shack drivers. But, hey, handsome is as handsome does.

[GMichael]

IMO, grills are necessary to satisfy the esthetic taste of "wives", (using the term loosely to describe non-audio enthusiasts). That excludes the Audio Note from present consideration along with some others, e.g. the Tylers if I'm not mistaken.

Apart from that, the Audio Notes do resemble plywood boxes, (aren't they plywood boxes?), with Radio Shack drivers. But, hey, handsome is as handsome does.

Doh.....

[PeruvianSkies]

IMO, grills are necessary to satisfy the esthetic taste of "wives", (using the term loosely to describe non-audio enthusiasts). That excludes the Audio Note from present consideration along with some others, e.g. the Tylers if I'm not mistaken.

Apart from that, the Audio Notes do resemble plywood boxes, (aren't they plywood boxes?), with Radio Shack drivers. But, hey, handsome is as handsome does.

You mean like these grills:

[drseid]

Like Jack, I have heard many of the same speakers (and I bet at the same place... the excellent Quest for Sound). I personally chose the Consonance Eric-1s for my office system (although I confess I was sold on them previously at THE Show in Vegas in 2005). At $1K for sound I personally would look no further, and I am currently powering them with a Jolida Integrated right now to great effect. I confess that I am also a fan of the VR-1s, and it goes without saying the Tylers are also extremely good speakers (I think my moniker more than gives away my bias there). Tyler demos with Jolida for what its worth, and I believe they make a superb match.

Bottom line is you have a lot of great choices to look at... The Ushers are stunning looking too, not to mention anything from AV123. I'd say you are in the catbird seat here. :-)

---Dave

[Jack in Wilmington]

Like Jack, I have heard many of the same speakers (and I bet at the same place... the excellent Quest for Sound). I personally chose the Consonance Eric-1s for my office system (although I confess I was sold on them previously at THE Show in Vegas in 2005). At $1K for sound I personally would look no further, and I am currently powering them with a Jolida Integrated right now to great effect. I confess that I am also a fan of the VR-1s, and it goes without saying the Tylers are also extremely good speakers (I think my moniker more than gives away my bias there). Tyler demos with Jolida for what its worth, and I believe they make a superb match.

Bottom line is you have a lot of grat choices to look at... The Ushers are stunning looking too, not to mention anything from AV123. I'd say you are in the catbird seat here. :-)

---Dave

You'd win that bet Dave. Can't wait to go back there. I've got $1000 put away in my vacation club at work so far. Vacation Club my a$$. Future Usher Owners Club is more like it.

[drseid]

You'd win that bet Dave. Can't wait to go back there. I've got $1000 put away in my vacation club at work so far. Vacation Club my a$$. Future Usher Owners Club is more like it.

Good for you Jack. Enjoy those Ushers (better than any vacation club anyway). :-)

Happy listening

---Dave

[drseid]

IMO, grills are necessary to satisfy the esthetic taste of "wives", (using the term loosely to describe non-audio enthusiasts). That excludes the Audio Note from present consideration along with some others, e.g. the Tylers if I'm not mistaken.

In the case of the Tylers, Grilles are available, but cost $40/pr. extra if the customer wants them. Personally I can't stand the looks of the Tyler Grilles and never use mine. They have not even left their plastic. :-)

---Dave

[Feanor]

In the case of the Tylers, Grilles are available, but cost $40/pr. extra if the customer wants them. Personally I can't stand the looks of the Tyler Grilles and never use mine. They have not even left their plastic. :-)

---Dave

Personally I love see those Seas drivers, (of course, I'm not a "wife").

[Duds]

As Topspeed knows, i also own the VR-1's. Great speaker and the African Hazelwood finish is awesome.

I heard they are discontinued, but does that mean you cant find them new anywhere?

If you want, send me a message and i will give you the name of the dealer i got mine, maybe he has some left.