Which bookshelf – standmount or monitor – is right for you?

Geoffrey

November 21, 2021

Which bookshelf – standmount or monitor – is right for you?

Lists

We have made a list for you per price range in which we briefly discuss some of our references and also offer some alternatives. Think of it as a kind of guide. Of course this list is far from complete but the speakers listed have all passed through the hands of Alpha Audio and you can always read our reviews.

>500 euro

We open our storage room and take out one of the most popular entry-level speakers of the moment. The Q Acoustics 3030i , our reference in this price range mainly because it does so much right. We also tested the 3050i floorstander but found it too tame with many amps. The 3030i is more balanced and is not a difficult partner. In addition, it has surprisingly good bass and is tweeter does not make the ears bleed but there is still plenty of detail. It is obviously not perfect but a fine all-rounder

Alternatives include the previously mentioned Elac Debut, Acoustic Energy AE101, Monitor Audio Bronze, Dali Obéron, Dynaudio Emit, Kef Q150, Wharfedale 12.1, Dali Spektor,…

500-1000 euro

Here we cannot ignore the Bowers and Wilkins 606S2 (Dutch review). We have them in house permanently and get them out regularly when we feel like partying. They sound great and look great. An anniversary edition came out recently but we think the regular version is very good and definitely reference material.

This speaker initially surprises with its enormously powerful bass but also the mid and high end is fine and never disturbs. The 606S2 is nicely balanced and with all with an affordable amplifier will perform very well.

Alternatives include the Monitor Audio Silver 100, Kef Q350, Sonus Faber Lamina1,…

1000-1500 euro

in this popular price range, we have no less than two references that we often refer back to. The first is the Elac Carina BS 243.3 which possesses a delightful Jet tweeter. The mid-driver produces tight and punchy bass, helped by the ‘down-firing’ port. The Carina is soft in the highs, lets a lot of detail through but has a rather laid back sound that can make you listen to it for hours

A second, less obvious candidate is the Vienna Acoustics Haydn Jubilee. We love it and find its coherence and tonality particularly addictive. In our opinion, this speaker never lets you down. What a wonderful speaker to fall back on. The Haydn Jubilee is a Limited Edition (35/500) but for those who can’t get their hands on any more, there is still the regular Haydn. Ours, at least, is not going away anymore.

Alternatives are the Acoustic Energy AE500, Sonus Faber Sonetto 1, Definitive Technology Demand11, Golden Ear Reference BRX, Dali Menuet SE,…

1500-2500

Alternatives include the Monitor Audio Gold 1005G, Elac Solano BS283, Elac Vela BS403, JM Reynaud Bliss Jubilé, Dali Rubicon 2, ATC SCM11

2500-3500

The Atc Scm19 V2is the absolute best in this price range. He was our reference for years but we never got the bass right in our space. So we had to let it go (it still hurts). However, this speaker is bizarrely transparent and an excellent testing tool. The uncolored reproduction and the exceptional detail for this price range are really amazing but you have to have the appropriate amplifier and space for it or of course you can also provide a subwoofer.

Alternatives include the Bowers 705S2, Neat Ministra, Q Acoustics Concept 300,…

3500-5000 euro

width= Our new reference in this price range is the Revel Performa M126Be . A great, compact speaker that is easy to place and easy to drive. Of course it deserves top-notch amps and sources, but they are not very difficult to get to a certain level.

This speaker is honest, uncolored, fast and detail rich. An endgame speaker at a price that is still (just) achievable for many.

Alternatives include the Totem Signature One, Dynaudio Special Forty,..

>5000 euros

Our reference above 5000 euros is the Focal Sopra 1. It continues to surprise us after all these years and grows along with the system as it gets better and better. The Focal Sopra 1 is a special speaker and is becoming a true classic.