Recommended $300 bookshelf speakers, 3:2 pulldown and progressive scan DVD players
Week of September 14, 2003
Q: I am shopping for bookshelf-sized speakers in the $300 per pair range. Any recommendations?
-Steve Gratz, Washington, DC
A: There are several recommendations I give to anyone shopping for speakers. These recommendations are not just for specific speaker brands or models, but also how and where to shop for them.
First of all, be sure to bring your own CDs and DVDs when shopping for speakers. You will only be able to make valid comparisons between models by evaluating them while playing the same source material. You will also know how they sound with the same music and movies you will be using at home.
Before you start playing the CDs and DVDs, be sure the amplifier or receiver’s bass, treble, and loudness controls are turned off or set to the neutral position. You want to hear the speakers as they are without any artificial enhancement from the receiver.
Next, be sure to visit several audio/video specialty stores as well as the big-box retailers. Many consumers avoid these specialty stores because have the impression they cater only to dedicated audio/video enthusiasts, or only sell very expensive products. In almost all cases this is not true.
Though any audio/video specialty store will sell some very expensive equipment, most of these stores also stock products selling in the same price ranges as those offered in the electronics superstores. These products often significantly outperform their mass-market counterparts that sell for the same price. This is especially true when it comes to speakers, by far the most important part of your sound system.
Some of the audiophile world’s most highly regarded speaker lines are only available through these specialty retailers. Names such as PSB Speakers, Monitor Audio, Paradigm, and Acoustic Energy are not well known outside of the audiophile community but all make fantastic speakers, some of which sell for under $300 per pair.
Finally, these stores almost always have very knowledgeable sales help and provide a very high level of service. It’s a shopping experience you are sure to enjoy. While you are there you will probably see some demonstration systems that sell in the tens of thousands of dollars, which may be a fun new experience for you, too.
In terms of specific recommendations, some of my favorite speakers selling for under $300 are the Monitor Audio Bronze B1 at $299 per pair, the PSB Alpha B at $249 per pair, and the Paradigm Atom at only $189 per pair. As I mentioned before, these speakers are only available through specialty shops. Among brands sold at the big-box stores, Polk Audio’s RTi28 has a very clean and dynamic sound that rivals anything else at its price of $329 per pair. It is scheduled to be replaced with a new model soon and as a result is currently available for much less. I have seen it selling for as little as $180 per pair, quite a bargain for such a good speaker.
For more information on speakers and sound reproduction, be sure to visit my website, www.multimediaanswers.com. Good luck finding that perfect speaker.
Q: What does “3:2 pull down” mean in regards to a progressive scan DVD player?
-Frank Willson, Taveres, FL
A: Film and video are recorded at different frame rates. Video is recorded at 29.97 frames per second (fps); film is made at 24 fps. The difference in frame rates can cause picture defects called artifacts when playing a DVD movie on a progressive scan player. The 3:2 pulldown feature compensates for the difference and eliminates these defects. Make sure any progressive scan DVD player you buy has this feature.
