Inexpensive powered bookshelf speakers with Bluetooth

[Matthias McCready]

Hello,

I'm looking for some bookshelf speakers for a family member. Currently, they listen to music on a tablet.

And most of the speakers I am used to speccing fall into the large-format PA category—heh—so I am a little out of my depth here.

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The room is probably 28x30ft - it is an open kitchen/living room area.

1) Price range around $300 max.
2) Bookshelf/small - should not be more than 14 inches in any dimension.
3) Looking for powered - Bluetooth capable is preferred.
4) Clean black grill cloth that disappears - they do not want to see/notice the speakers - which probably rules out all of the fun budget studio monitors.
5) SPL will be in the 60's to 70's A-weighted - they will not be pushed, but it is a decent-sized room.
6) They will not be combined with a sub, however the normal low-end/roll off of a bookshelf speaker will be fine.

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Apologies if there is another thread recently for this - most of the other ones I saw were for passive, had higher budgets, or were from several years back.

Thanks for the help!
MATH

 

[staticV3]

Clean black grill cloth that disappears - they do not want to see/notice the speakers - which probably rules out all of the fun budget studio monitors.

That one's a major hurdle.

I would choose between the Kanto Ora/ORA4, the Kali LP-UNF, and the iLoud Micro Monitor.

Out of these, I would personally choose the Kali.

 

[somebodyelse]

If anyone sews they might be able to make a fabric sleeve to take the place of a cloth grill. We've seen someone do it for the LS60s in another thread. The iLoud has nesh over the drivers so no chance of fouling there. I think the Kanto drivers are recessed enough for it not to be an issue, but the knob on one speaker might. Not sure about the Kali.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...symfonisk-picture-frame-speaker-review.25139/ might hit the domestic acceptability, but isn't quite what you asked for.

Is the Neumi BS5P still around?

 

[kemmler3D]

If anyone has DIY inclination in this situation, you could do really well with the JBL 305p combined with a WiiM Mini, (then add a grille somehow...) stuff seems to be on sale right now so it's a good time to snag a pair, I think.

For a purpose-built Bluetooth speaker, some of the bigger JBL stuff is very competent in that price range, but they sacrifice a clean aesthetic and some sound quality for battery life, portability, and water resistance.

 

[Matthias McCready]

Thanks for the replies so far

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It is a hurtle... haha

I should state this is for my mother - as adults my brother and I both ended up working in audio for a living; he does mixing/mastering and I do FOH. My mother was, shall we say non-plussed when my brother and I were bringing home all forms of speakers growing up - she always wanted to hang a quilt in front of stuff (ideal placement right?).

She is an avid sewer, however, she does not have a lot of volition for cleaning up the speaker appearance - so unfortunately no go on the studio monitor looking stuff - I am quite fortunate at home, my wife also enjoys speakers and does not care what they look like, just how they sound.

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Back to the situation at hand:

Some she likes the look of are the basic black box.

View attachment 410222

I see the Edifier is inexpensive, but I have never heard of that brand before. Klipsch accomplishes the look with many of their boxes (and they are on sale right now). They also seem a little more in line with the room size, however, I know Klipsch can focus more on marketing rather than box design.

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The budget could stretch more if e-ARC - maybe enough to the Klipsch fives, which have better reviews.

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Not sure if I would be better off looking at passive, a small class D amp, and a Bluetooth receiver for the budget.

 

[Timcognito]

JBL 306P MK II Review (Studio Monitor)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the JBL Professional 306P MKII powered speaker. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $149 including Prime shipping from Amazon (each). Naturally the 306p has identical look and feel of the rest of the LSR series: Same as the back...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Amazon.com

$300/pr

 

[kemmler3D]

If passives are on the table and flat black grilles are a requirement, I would suggest:

Polk Signature Elite ES20 - $279 on sale
WiiM Mini for bluetooth (and Wifi) input, WITH EQ: $71 on sale
Fosi V3 amplifier (300w) $89

Very strong budget setup with the requisite look. A friend of mine just picked up a pair of the Polks and he's pretty happy with them as surrounds for his Buchardts.

Tuck the amp and WiiM behind the speakers and you've done very little to impair the decor.

It's a little above the budget but all of this has been reviewed here and found competent.

I wouldn't bother with Klipsch, they tend to get called harsh, with reason.

 

[Vincent Kars]

I see the Edifier is inexpensive

It is. The trick is to park a stereo amp in one box. No need for an expensive aluminium enclosure for the amp.
Over the years it has become popular with the budget minded.

 

[Matthias McCready]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Is the Neumi BS5P still around?

It is, looks like it has e-ARC as well now. Looking into this!

If passives are on the table and flat black grilles are a requirement, I would suggest:

Polk Signature Elite ES20 - $279 on sale
WiiM Mini for bluetooth (and Wifi) input, WITH EQ: $71 on sale
Fosi V3 amplifier (300w) $89

Very strong budget setup with the requisite look. A friend of mine just picked up a pair of the Polks and he's pretty happy with them as surrounds for his Buchardts.

Tuck the amp and WiiM behind the speakers and you've done very little to impair the decor.

It's a little above the budget but all of this has been reviewed here and found competent.

I wouldn't bother with Klipsch, they tend to get called harsh, with reason.

Will pass on the Klipsch and I will look into the Polk, I have heard some of their budget speakers that I liked.

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Also slightly above budget, but has anyone had expierence with Elac's Debut ConneX DCB41? It also has eARC - and while I don't remember the model I do remember liking some variety of Elac speaker I heard years back.

 

[kemmler3D]

Thanks for the replies so far.


It is, looks like it has e-ARC as well now. Looking into this!

Will pass on the Klipsch and I will look into the Polk, I have heard some of their budget speakers that I liked.

---

Also slightly above budget, but has anyone had expierence with Elac's Debut ConneX DCB41? It also has eARC - and while I don't remember the model I do remember liking some variety of Elac speaker I heard years back.

I am not sure about that exact model, but some ELAC speakers in this price range have been reviewed here and did pretty well. The DBR62 is meant to be one of the best in its price range but I think there is strong competition for the cheaper models.

 

[Somafunk]

Q acoustics M20 are available in this country (uk) for under £300 so may be less over Black Friday weekend or the Kanto Ora may work