To equal the speakers you have in Floorstanding, as a generalization, you would need to spend 2 to more likely 3 times what the LS50 cost. Which is roughly the budget you original stated.
However, to noticeably exceed the quality of the LS50 in a Floorstanding speaker, I speculate that you are going to have to spend 3x to 5x the cost of the LS50 speakers.
However, do keep in mind that Floorstanding have their own benefits. They move more air and have more sense of impact and weight above the crossover frequency.
So you have to ask yourself, what
kind of better do you want?
To illustrate one kind of better, let me use my own system. I have TWO PAIR of Front speakers in a Stereo system. When I kick on the second pair of speakers, I get a +6db increase in the output. That is the equivalent of applying FOUR Times the power. I can reach 110db peaks during movies which is well above the Reference standard.
The
PMC Twenty series might be what you are looking for. They are single bass driver speakers that meet a very high standard of sound. Prices running from £2300/pr up to £5750/pr.
The
PMC Twenty.24 with a 6.5" (165mm) bass driver, and response down to an unbelievable 28hz, should do a nice job at
£3400/pr.
The smaller
PMC Twenty.22 with a 5.5" (140mm) bass driver is rated down to 29hz, but I suspect with both these speakers, the deepest bass comes from the Transmission Line design. The price on these is a more modest
£2300/pr.
But I can't help but wonder what it is your are hoping to gain from this upgrade, besides a more cosmetically appealing appearance?
Next, you implied, but did not clearly say, that you have limited space. Bigger multi-driver speakers are going to need a bit more space around them. Bookshelf can be placed much closer to the wall behind. So, exactly how big is your room? (Dimensions), and if that is an open floorplan, then how big is your actual listening space? We need both if it applies.
Again, back to what it is you are looking for. The
PMC Twenty are one approach; a single bass driver speaker. But a speaker like the
Monitor Audio Gold 300 with multiple bass drivers still brings impressive clarity, and the added drivers bring more impact and weight to both music and movies.
Monitor Audio Gold 300 Speakers
Even with a Subwoofer in the mix, I suspect these multi-driver speaker are going to need some space. But, while I have a very large open floorplan, my actually listening space is about 16ft x 16ft (5m x 5m). I have floorstanding with 2x8" each, and they are placed with about 12" behind the speakers. I simply line up the front of my speakers with the front of my equipment stand, and that gives me the roughly 10" to 12" behind the speakers that I need. Though truthfully a bit more space would probably improve the sound. But I done the best I can with what I have to work with.
Though I've not heard them, they seem to have a pretty solid reputation, the
ATC SCM40 are floorstanding 3-way speakers with a 6.5" bass driver. The bass is modest but adequate, and certainly better than the LS50, and they should integrate very well with a Subwoofer.
ATC SCM40 Entry Series Speakers
In the same vein as PMC and ATC single driver models, those who have heard
PROAC speakers have been very impressed, though they are not cheap. But they do speaker in your price range -
Buy Floor Standing Speakers from HiFix | Lowest Prices, Brand PROAC
So, you need to refine your requirements beyond simply saying Floorstanding. We need to know what you expect from the speakers, and more specifically the kind of floorstanding you are looking for. And, perhaps, the range of form factors you can tolerate in your room. For example, do you demand that the speakers have very skinny front faces?
Just a few thoughts.
Steve/bluewizard
