Bookshelf Speakers Under £1K | John's Picks

John's favourite bookshelf / stand mount speakers for under £1,000.
Shown in price order from lowest to highest.
Arcam Radia video
• Arcam Radia | Overview...
Products in the video....
Arcam Radia Series
petertyson.co.uk/catalogsearc...
ELAC Debut B5.2
petertyson.co.uk/elac-debut-b...
KEF Q350
petertyson.co.uk/kef-q350-boo...
Dali Oberon 3
petertyson.co.uk/dali-oberon-...
Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3
petertyson.co.uk/bowers-wilki...
Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G
petertyson.co.uk/monitor-audi...
Focal Vestia No1
petertyson.co.uk/focal-vestia...
Sonus Faber Lumina II
petertyson.co.uk/sonus-faber-...
Cameo products that cost much more than £1,000!!
Sonus faber Homage Amati G5
petertyson.co.uk/sonus-faber-...
McIntosh MC1.25KW 1
petertyson.co.uk/mcintosh-mc1...
CHAPTERS
0:00 - Intro
0:40 - Test Overview
1:26 - ELAC Debut B5.2
2:44 - KEF Q350
4:30 - DALI Oberon 3
6:00 - B&W 607 S3
7:36 - Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G
9:27 - Focal Vestia No1
10:54 - Sonus Faber Lumina II
12:40 - John's Thoughts
13:26 - Sign Off

[@aleksandarbrzic8351]

Very useful and informative! Everybody can find great sound for thousands and thousands, but the budget category is actually the most interesting one!

[@ramondelgado6778]

Great review!!! Enjoyed the comparison very much!!!!

[@marty1iwilson]

Really good video. So helpful to get a shprt video comparing so many speakers. Well done indeed. My pick would be the SF....

[@guitar-nut]

I purchased the Lumina ii from PT and paired them with a Naim Nova. Quite a lot of top end and very detailed which i like but also the bass is very good for a small bookshelf speaker. They are not fussy with placement and can be positioned close to the rear wall. Really nice speaker.

[@kingtubby999]

Great video John, great style as you told us what you think, good & bad... Nice to do an under £2000 one....

[@Peter-Tyson]

Thanks, glad you liked it. If this video does well I'll do £1,000 - £2,000 and the same for floor standers. -John

[@nc3419]

I have the Dali Opticon 1 MK1 (preferred even over the Menuet SE) and is closest to neutral compared to my other speakers. Martin Logan 15i which has similar punch, but less so than MA Silver 100s and even smoother and better instrument separation in the upper mids and highs, great for watching movies. Triangle Zeta if I want a more laid back and easy sound but still detailed which I like for music at times. All budget but competent, different sounding which gives variety. Did try the MA Silver 50 6th gen but preferred those I already have. While resolving with plenty of detail, it lacked that something that moves me emotionally. Also had a strange chirping sound with sibilant passages. Nothing at all like the bigger Silver 100s, not even a toned down version like the 15i seems to be. Tried Dali Spektor 1 which I liked but needs alot of power for SPLs and Oberon 1s which were ok, but not really much better than Spektor 1 IMO. The Menuet SE did some things really amazing, great resolution but seemed a bit veiled, lacking detail that every other speaker gave probably why it sounded so smooth. Also difficult to drive as the frequency curve dips well under 4 ohms for a good chunk of the curve and can really heat up a lower powered amp. Really wanted that speaker to work out but in the end, happier with Opticon. Would like to try the SF Lumina series someday, among a few others which are much higher priced. I use both a Hegel h160 (overkill) and 2 Keces E40 integrated amps (highly underated). Always looking for a third Keces E40 used and if priced right but rarely become available. With small speakers, a sub helps.

[@ericmuijs1938]

Great review thanks!!

[@daveconroy6859]

Outstanding company

[@yttean98]

Good review, very concise and to the point, most of what you said seem to correspond what i have in mind.

[@Peter-Tyson]

Thank you. -John

[@mgaming7]

I just bought the Sonus Faber Lumia II's. I am in love with them. Still watched to see if you guys liked them as much as I do.

[@kingtubby999]

Thanks John

[@markfortune3492]

Great video, stumbled across this today. Another shout out for £1-£2/3k. I recently joined my audiophile journey after 20+ year wait (life, wife and kids) after hearing a set of Dali stand mounts through Marantz Ki Signature separates, I was blown away. But after buying, I am now in a stage where most get to, and that is “ I wish I knew this before”. I went all out (for my budget), media wall, Arcam SA30, Triangle Genese Quartets and Kasa 500 amp for my 2 KEF built in subs. But now I am finding that as I WFH a lot I am in my office most of the time, so now I am wishing I went more AV route in living room and had focused more audiophile in office. Both are very large rooms, but low ceiling in office so will have to go bookshelf than stand mount. This video has been great for me as the route I think I will take is for office, spend more upfront on components and start off entry level speaker, knowing that this is what I will upgrade no doubt first. Gareth hearing about bass, as I am a bass lover for my sins, never grey out of the golden age of trance music. Thanks again and apologise for long post if you read it.

[@Peter-Tyson]

Thanks for the comment and for watching. I'm currently working on floor standing speakers under £1000. I will do the same for £1000-£2000. -John

[@Khalantho]

Thanks for the video 😊

[@Peter-Tyson]

You're very welcome, thanks for watching. -John

[@perlman7376]

Thanks for posting this well done video. No annoying thumping bass and enough subjectivity mixed in with the overall objectivity. Which one would be best for reproducing an orchestra? My ideal speakers would be those that emulate my experience at Carnegie Hall being 15-20 rows back dead center.

[@ramondelgado6778]

Excellent!! Thank you for this great review and comparison!!!!

[@Peter-Tyson]

Thank you, I'm glad you liked it. I would suggest the Focal for you, you would appreciate the effortless dynamics. Other than that the Dali and Sonus Faber would be good choices. -John.

[@perlman7376]

@@Peter-Tyson Thank you for your response. All the best.

[@stephenbowden2929]

Good video. Would be nice to see what you think of the Q Acoustics concept 30 as they get excellent reviews elsewhere

[@Peter-Tyson]

Thanks 😊. I've not heard a lot of the Q Acoustics yet, what I have heard are pretty good. Maybe a future video 👍. -John

[@Eron55555]

Thanks John. Have you heard the Elac Unifi UB52s? I think pretty similar to the b6.2's with possibly a bit better off axis response.

[@Peter-Tyson]

I haven't, if I get chance I'll have a listen. -John

[@alexandrenataf8270]

Hey! What do you think about the Q Acoustic Concept 20 ? Thank you :D

[@d.s.6268]

Very helpful video, thank you ! Do you have any good choice among those if I lean towards a "monitor like" sound ? Thank you.

[@Peter-Tyson]

Focal or Dali would be worth a listen for you. -John

[@Akstergrind]

Bought a pair of Monitor Audio Silver 100s from you (Peter Tyson) and absolutely love them! Had some of the B&W 607s and 606s, but they annoyed me because the grilles kept falling off whenever I went anywhere near them. Nobody else seems to’ve noticed this about them.

[@Peter-Tyson]

I had a similar thing with the covers on my 705 S2, I just put them in a drawer and forgot about them. I like the look of the naked drivers :-) - John

[@mgaming7]

Hey Peter, if you were to add a sub to the Sonus Faber Lumia 2's, (price appropriate 2.1 for Music, not home theater) what you get?

[@Adrianek81]

I just sold my oberon 3 and i got opticon 2 mk 2,you not joking,oberon 3 has amazing bass,i used with with maranrz nr1711 with audyssey mic calibration,i never heard so much bass from bookshelf speaker😁✌️

[@Akstergrind]

True, it’s incredible that such tiny speakers are able to pump out such a lot of bass!

[@Sandoz-tq7qj]

I love them all 😛

[@4ujase]

Well Well pleased with the Dali Oberon 3 I purchased on eBay from Peter Tyson, really works well with the Atoll IN100SE integrated amplifier.

[@Peter-Tyson]

Yes, they are very good. To be fair, I've not heard a bad Dali yet! - John

[@nippahut]

sonus faber simply the best of that bunch !!

[@Ricky-cl5bu]

Ok good job 👍

[@matoot]

Have you checked out the Fyne Audio F500? Really like them.

[@Peter-Tyson]

I've heard a few Fyne audio, we stock them. I've not heard the F500, I have heard the F501 though, quite like them. I have heard 3 of the Vintage Classic ones too. Not bad. -John

[@futures2247]

KEF LSX 2 are amazing

[@lexsemenenko7044]

I was going to buy Sonus Faber Lumina II, for its beautiful sound and design. But got a chance to buy B&W 705 S2 for just $200 more than Lumina II . (More than 50% off) that B&W is an another tier speaker . Waiting for the speakers to arrive but am worried if I made the right decision. Any thoughts? I just loved Faber sound and didn’t listen to B&W

[@Peter-Tyson]

You did good! 705 are amazing speakers! I'd be proud to own those! -John

[@ENGBriseB]

The Wharfedale Dimiond 12.3 Speakers are a very good. And are very well made heavy. And are a lot better than their price which is a good thing.

[@computerenthusiast402]

What the best center channel under $300 to pair with the Elac B5.20?

[@Peter-Tyson]

Always try and match manufacturer and models with centre and front channels. A uniform sound across the front channels is so much better. -John

[@themarksmanABP]

If you had 3k for a speaker system in a medium sized room, that you wanted to shine for mostly rock/acoustic/vocal which speakers would you go to? Think... stereophonics, metallica, ben howard, kings of leon etc I will need to stream Tidal hifi from my phone. Not sure which total components would need to be purchased after the speakers...

[@Peter-Tyson]

If you're after smaller speakers like the ones in the video. The B&W 706 are worth considering. petertyson.co.uk/bowers-wilkins-706-s3-standmount-speakers If you're using Tidal and streaming then the Roksan Attessa streaming amp will do you proud with B&W. petertyson.co.uk/roksan-attessa-streaming-amplifier Just have to budget for some stands. I would be happy to take that system home. -John

[@themarksmanABP]

@@Peter-Tyson thank you for the reply, I will look into these in depth, you have a store not too far from me, perhaps ill have to come and demo soon as im ready

[@Xcrv]

What about dynaudio emit 20 and / or b&w 606 s3, can get both for around €720

[@Peter-Tyson]

I'm not familiar with the Dynaudio so can't comment. The B&W 606 S3 is fantastic for the price and a solid option. I took it out as I didn't want the video to be too B&W heavy. - John

[@selassie123GA]

Emit 20s have nice Bass and Vocals but too much Cabinet Resonance. Prefered the Emit 10 instead.

[@dragonstone6594]

Which one do you think is better the B&W 607 S3 or the Monitor Audio Silver 7G 50?

[@Peter-Tyson]

Personally I would choose the B&W every time. - John

[@dragonstone6594]

@@Peter-Tyson Nice. I'm going to get the B&W and pair it with Marantz Cinema 50.

[@chriswidden7685]

Is it me? Have I missed it somewhere. I have yet to see anyone reviewing or comparing " Bookshelf" speakers that are not on stands. I dont have room for stands. My kit has to go on a very long but very solid sideboard. It's not negotiable ( ask ny wife ! ). So which are the best small proper bookshelf speakers that perform well on a shelf or similar not a stand ?

[@Peter-Tyson]

It's a very 'hifi' thing to mount them on stands. On a solid sideboard like you describe they would all be fine. I think at least the B&W (maybe others) come with rubber feet for just that job. - John.

[@chriswidden7685]

@@Peter-Tyson Thanks . Really good to know.

[@psyphonyxaudio]

Have the Lumina 2 - a great speaker ( for those that enjoy a tilted top end )

[@Peter-Tyson]

They're not the last word in accuracy but I really enjoy listening to them, there's just something about Sonus Faber. -John.

[@psyphonyxaudio]

@@Peter-Tyson - Agree =) The Amator versions should be a delight to compare. I've requested they get a spot on other channels as well. ( they also look WAY sexier ) =)

[@Peter-Tyson]

We have them here, the sound is not radically different to be honest. Personally i prefer the sound of the original if anything. Maybe I've just spent more time with them than the new ones. You're right, the finish is stunning! - John

[@manugrandest1683]

​@@Peter-Tyson Bonjour Quelle différence de sonorité pour vous ?

[@steveopenshaw1219]

9:50 “Isn’t that lovely” 😆 Why do I feel that the way he says this translates to “Isn’t that a load of pretentious bullshit!”

[@Peter-Tyson]

I have to admit, your comment made me laugh.... - John.

[@delstone3801]

Emotiva b1+ , not a work of art but darn good .

[@tonym8358]

Do you ship to USA?

[@Peter-Tyson]

Hi, no, sorry. UK deliveries only. - John

[@bobgauthier1569]

Love my very inexpensive JBL 530s in my small room they sound great 😊

[@Peter-Tyson]

If you love them.....that's all that matters 🙂. I'm quite looking forward to trying some JBL speakers. -John.

[@Marie579]

Hi John from Ba…… Hi John from pang and Tyson…… Hi John from …. Arghhh !!!! 😂 Crappy jokes aside, I think you reviewing various brands actually suits your style, you’re presumably free to give a candid and honest review of components. And I assume you’re your own boss. Nice to hear you again even though you’re quite elusive…👍👍👍

[@Peter-Tyson]

That made me laugh! I can safely say I've found my new home now and have no plans to go anywhere else! You're right, it's great fun to have so many brands and products to review and compare. Thanks to people like you that watch me on KZbin. I hope that I can grow this channel and do this for a long time. -John

[@Marie579]

Good on you John, I genuinely hope you’ve found your niche now.

[@davidthom7127]

You need to test with music, not pixels.

[@Peter-Tyson]

Absolutely right, there's no substitute for a real demonstration with your own music. -John

[@StrangeBrewReviews]

you should check out the new Cerwin-Vega! LA165 , at only $270 for the pair they hit way way above their price...best speakers under $500 easily on par with some $1k speakers.