250$-300$ Compact (powered) Bookshelf speakers that don't look ugly?

[svinyard]

My audio journey continues. Wife says the 11" to 17" tall bookshelfs don't fit our house. So now I'm hunting for some compact 4"-ish woofer speakers. Ideally around 8" tall or so and look cool. I'm sure my room is going to be an audio disaster with smaller speakers as its fairly large (est 30x15ft). So I did my research and found that smaller speakers are cheaper than a divorce (credit Gaffigan).

For passives I can go 100-150$ or 250-300$ for actives (likely my preference is actives all things considered since this is clearly not a highend audio setup).

Amir likes the Edifier MR4 but those are kinda ugly.

Maybe the RB42 but not all that great of looks I guess. With grills they remind me of computer speakers from logitech.

https://www.amazon.com/Micca-RB42-Reference-Bookshelf-Speaker/dp/B07JC416LG/ref=pd_lpo_1?pd_rd_i=B07JC416LG&psc=1

 

[RickSanchez]

Tough to offer recommendations because obviously what speakers "look cool" to you and your wife will be very specific to you guys. Maybe to help ASR members you can provide examples of what you think would look good (even if not the right size)?

The first speakers I thought of when I read your post are satellites, the Polk S10's. I'm not even suggesting you get these, they probably don't measure all that well. (The Polk S15's did OK in Amir's review, but those are a fair bit larger.) But in terms of your reqs:

• 4" mid/woofer
• 8.4" high
• they look cool? (up to you) They also come with grill covers but those make the speakers look pretty blah IMO.

 

[svinyard]

Hey. Yeah those look kind of cool for sure. I think they are outside of my price range tho. I'm leaning hard towards powered at this point for convenience/clean setup.

Wife liked the Jamo S 803's/801's but now that we have them in house, she says they are way too big. I think the Kanto YU4's look cool and are the right size...but they are out of my price range.

 

[DanielT]

...and look cool...

Google search:
Which of them are good-looking or ugly?

You see the problem?

 

[Madjalapeno]

I alsways thought the AudioEngine speakers would have a high WAF - $250

passive:

active:

P4 Passive Speakers — Audioengine

P4 Passive Speakers allow you to enjoy award winning Audioengine sound with your existing integrated amplifier or stereo receiver.

audioengineusa.com

 

[Matthias McCready]

Do you have picture of where you are trying to place them? Perhaps we can find you something that "blends in."

 

[svinyard]

I alsways thought the AudioEngine speakers would have a high WAF - $250

P4 Passive Speakers — Audioengine

P4 Passive Speakers allow you to enjoy award winning Audioengine sound with your existing integrated amplifier or stereo receiver.

audioengineusa.com

Those are beauties! At my price point they'd have to be powered tho. (I updated thread title).

 

[svinyard]

On the back wall under those two mini-windows. There is a wide dark wood table just past the dining table. Will have a turntable and a set of speakers for general listening/dinner parties etc. (yeah I know these speakers are going to not cut it, just trying to salvage things without buying junk)

Do you have picture of where you are trying to place them? Perhaps we can find you something that "blends in."

 

[Madjalapeno]

Those are beauties! At my price point they'd have to be powered tho. (I updated thread title).

I was just editing to add in their powered version for $269

 

[svinyard]

I was just editing to add in their powered version for $269

So those are cool. AudioEngine apparently does great stuff and I think they even have some wifi integration. They are pretty tiny tho with a 2.75" woofer. I worry that I'm giving up too much compared to something with a 4" woofer (in a 8.5" tall speaker). I'm tempted to buy some Kanto YU4's on open box but I hate not being able to listen to them first and return if I don't like. Thankyou for the help btw!

 

[SMc]

Going by price and looks: Q Acoustics 3010 if you can stretch the budget for passive or Audioengine A2+ for powered.

 

[Rick63]

These are somewhat intriguing to me. Used to be $599 a pair, now $299. Looks like they're about 9" tall. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but they look good to me.

HiVI Swan H5

HiVI Swan H5 The biggest and most powerful HiVi H Series monitor speaker The capable HiVi H5 is a complete self-powered single loudspeaker, but this H Series main speaker is also the most powerful. The H5 is a higher-output model in the HiVi H series ran

www.chanemusiccinema.com

http://www.swans.se/swans-h5

 

[Matthias McCready]

Since these won't be in an ideal listening position perhaps going for coverage/SPL rather than finest quality might take precedence?

A few ideas:

1) Have you considered wall mounted patio style speakers (OSD comes to mind as being reasonable good for the money). I have always been happy with purchases from them, for what I paid.
2) Ceiling speakers: For the price my favorite is Martin Audio's commercial stuff. Quite good for the price. This would be well within budget.
3) How about larger speakers hidden on the far side of the room? For example leftover from my high school days I have a pair of giant Cerwin Vega RE-30's. There is nothing audiophile about them... but they are fun none the less. Great for cooking and entertaining. While they are giant I have them placed so they appear to be a pair of end tables. Every time I have friends (granted not audio folks) they always remark "where is the music coming from." The low end is quite good. In this line I am just wondering if she might not mind something a little larger, in a less prominent place?

 

[DanielT]

Speakers in furniture? Speakers that are hidden?

Note, I was not thinking of any directly specific model, more on the concept itself.

 

[Doodski]

Speakers in furniture? Speakers that are hidden?

Note, I was not thinking of any directly specific model, more on the concept itself.

That cabinet with the clamshell top and tube amp inside is wonderful.

 

[RickSanchez]

Speakers in furniture? Speakers that are hidden?

Note, I was not thinking of any directly specific model, more on the concept itself.

Not a bad idea. IKEA has some of these.

Speakers - Wireless & Home Speakers

Discover IKEA’s collection of Bluetooth and WiFi home speakers for a clear and powerful sound experience wherever you place them. Shop speakers today!

www.ikea.com

 

[svinyard]

That cabinet with the clamshell top and tube amp inside is wonderful.

It looks so dang awesome.

 

[Doodski]

It looks so dang awesome.

It just needs some tasty RGB lighting inside for when the lid is opened.

 

[svinyard]

Since these won't be in an ideal listening position perhaps going for coverage/SPL rather than finest quality might take precedence?

A few ideas:

1) Have you considered wall mounted patio style speakers (OSD comes to mind as being reasonable good for the money). I have always been happy with purchases from them, for what I paid.
2) Ceiling speakers: For the price my favorite is Martin Audio's commercial stuff. Quite good for the price. This would be well within budget.
3) How about larger speakers hidden on the far side of the room? For example leftover from my high school days I have a pair of giant Cerwin Vega RE-30's. There is nothing audiophile about them... but they are fun none the less. Great for cooking and entertaining. While they are giant I have them placed so they appear to be a pair of end tables. Every time I have friends (granted not audio folks) they always remark "where is the music coming from." The low end is quite good. In this line I am just wondering if she might not mind something a little larger, in a less prominent place?

I actually have some ceiling mounted Yamaha IC600 (4 of them) already in the house. I hooked them up to a buddies receiver that he brought over. They sounded liked total garbage tho lol. Our Alexa speaker was much better. I think something in similar design to the Kanto YU4's could be good. Maybe I can find something that works for them.

 

[Matthias McCready]

I actually have some ceiling mounted Yamaha IC600 (4 of them) already in the house. I hooked them up to a buddies receiver that he brought over. They sounded liked total garbage tho lol. Our Alexa speaker was much better. I think something in similar design to the Kanto YU4's could be good. Maybe I can find something that works for them.

Not all ceiling/pendant/wall mounted speakers are created equally. Most are absolute rubbish, but good ones do exist.

My favorite speakers in these categories are made by Meyer sound..... those are little bit out of budget though.

Their UP-4 "slim" line is fun. Small, sexy, and sound just phenomenal... and also have enough SPL to plaster you to the back wall.