Best Monitors used under $800

Hi, Alfred: I've had recent experience with several very good monitors that are available for less than $800 (used). You should check out the following, all of which offer high quality sound (arranged in ascending order of price): 1. Krix Equinox (I have a pair in my office system, and they are terrific); 2. B&W CDM1 SE (or new model, the CDM1 NT) 3. PSB Stratus Mini; 4. Coincident Technology Triumph Signature. None of these monitors will produce the lower octave-and-a-half of bass, so you will need a good quality subwoofer (for music, the Vandersteen 2W or V2W is nearly unbeatable).

If you can find the original B&W CDM-1 get them instead of the SE model. The NT are going to be $1000 to $1200 new. Probably too soon for used. The CDM-2 or DM602-S2 are good too.

Just browsing tonight I came across the following on Audioweb, Audioreview, Audioshopper and Audiogon: ACI Sapphire2, Spendor3/5, Legacy Audio Studio, and a floorstanding alternative, Mission775s. Check them out and also look for Dynaudio Audience and Totem1s. I am partial to the Totems but they are all worth a look. For the larger standmounts Partsexpress has heavy gauge metal stands for about 100 bucks, for the smaller ones Atacama stands can be found almost as cheap. There are lots of decent box speakers out there, good luck.