My original plan for intro speakers was to just get active ones like the Audioengine A5s. However, I got a good deal on some floorstanding Wharfedales from someone about an hour away and jumped on it. Sadly, when I went to pick them up, he wasn't there to give them to me. Communication error on my part most likely

Now that I look at my situation I'm thinking bookshelf speakers are the way to go anyways so... I'm out gas money but that's not a big deal.

The question I have now is which route to take...Should I use the integrated amp I have (NAD 320BEE) and get some <$200 bookshelf speakers or go with something like the Audioengine A5s.

Thanks in advance.

What state is the NAD in? If it's good, then I'd say go for the speakers. I've heard good things about Wharfdales.

I use the NAD 1020A which is the preamp version of the 3020 and it's a damn fine amp. Powerful headphone amp too.

The NAD 320BEE is in great shape from the pictures and the seller gave it a 9/10. It should be at my house waiting for me by now so I'll check when I get home.

I kind of like the idea of keeping the NAD just so that I can sell my phono pre and consolidate.

The reason I'm leaning away from the Wharfedales is just because of the size of them. I could probably make it work though.

The NAD 320BEE is in great shape from the pictures and the seller gave it a 9/10. It should be at my house waiting for me by now so I'll check when I get home.

I kind of like the idea of keeping the NAD just so that I can sell my phono pre and consolidate.

does the NAD have an RIAA phono in? most new integrateds don't.

Thanks for the pro tip.. after some looking, this doesn't even have a phono stage Not a big deal though.

Thanks for the pro tip.. after some looking, this doesn't even have a phono stage Not a big deal though.

Weird, my NAD pre does have a phono stage. I thought all the 3020s did.

From my readings, my 320BEE is a new integrated amp based on the 3020. The 320BEE is still in production and the 3020 is vintage, right?

From my readings, my 320BEE is a new integrated amp based on the 3020. The 320BEE is still in production and the 3020 is vintage, right?

Ack, damn my old and failing eyesight. Yes, I misread the 320B for 3020B. The 3020 is indeed vintage, but still very good.

I misread it as being a vintage NAD as well.

Well, if you don't want the Wharfdales, then don't get the Wharfdales.

I got a pair of Pioneer HPM-200's, and they're pretty much too big for anything other than an entire floor (read: basement) of most houses I've been in (read: non-mansions). I'm having a hard time bringing myself to selling them, because I really want them, and now I have them. Alas, it is not meant to be.

Yeah... I just don't know how well it would work out in the near future. Right now, it would be fine... in a couple months, I have no idea.

Would bookshelf speakers be the least sensitive to placement and room size?

Meh, to a point, but only because they have no bass. A lot of them still benefit from room placement.

I read somewhere that pseudo-line sources (Nearfield Acoustics' Pipedreams, upper-echelon Genesis, Infinity, etc.) are the least sensitive to placement; I don't think anything is in determinant of room size -- you need speakers that can go louder for larger rooms, period. I guess if you get speakers that can go louder to begin with -- like my Dynaudio Special 25's -- then they would work just as well in small rooms as large, but then you still have the room node issue, and there are some rooms (cubes, for example) that will always have nodes, no matter what speaker you have.

Okay, it seems like it would be a good idea to just keep them amp.

Now.. it's which speakers to get. I'm going back to Tulsa in a couple of weeks so I could still get the Wharfedale Modus 8 (??) speakers for ~$100. Or, I could get different speakers.. hopefully something smallish.

Same budget. Anything worth my time?

Update: I got the amp in today and it is in great condition. I haven't gotten to do serious listening but it definitely has some power from the headphone output. It drives my Sextetts without a problem where my CK2III even had trouble. I'll compare the two based on SQ later.

Also, I didn't think about this pro but using this amp allows me to plug all of my sources in and switch via remote / buttons. That's definitely something I was wanting to accomplish.

I've decided to keep the amp for multiple reasons so all that's left is for me to decide on speakers. If there's anything that would perform as well as those Wharfedale's (I'm okay best guesses since I don't think anyone has heard these speakers) then let me know.

Kef iQ3

Not quite in the budget

iQ1? Used?

What about the Kef Q1s you have?

What about the Kef Q1s you have?

What about them? They are the older version of the iQ3. You might be able to get them on ebay for under 200.

No, I think he wants yours.

BTW - I haven't ruled out the other ones you recommended earlier Reks.. I wasn't trying to just ignore them Just looking around still.

No, I think he wants yours.

No way

The question I have now is which route to take...Should I use the integrated amp I have (NAD 320BEE) and get some <$200 bookshelf speakers or go with something like the Audioengine A5s.

Thanks in advance.

Have you heard the A5? I am kind of interested in the A2 for my iMac.

i've heard them, i've heard them!

Cool, thanks.

I would like active speakers like the A5 I don't want to lose this amp! The headphone output is so much more powerful than my CK2III. Sextetts sound so much better now that they finally have power.

So, I think I'll just stick with getting passive bookshelf speakers but I'm going to do that after this marathon of concerts passes and I have more cash and an easier schedule.