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advice on speaker matching, selection

New to the forum
Current set up:Custom built (Yaeger Audio) Freed-Williamson design tube amp rated at 25WRogue 66 preampRega 25 w/Grado Platinum 3Pioneer PD 65 through MSB Nelson Link III DACM&K S-1Bs speakers
I LOVE this amp.  It is so vintage sounding... very mellow, laid back, natural.  Obviously not a lot of power.  I live in a small apartment in a large high rise.  Therefore, I never play loud anymore.  My tastes run to jazz, classical, vocals.  I do still listen to rock (but less so).
The vintage MKs I'm running were well thought of in the day.  Unfortunately, I don't think their sensitivity is sufficient to be powered by 25W.  While the MKs are neutral and cast a wonderful sound stage, I'm not getting enough bass, nor inner detail/placement of the musicians in space.

As all of us know in this hobby, avoiding "going sideways" in the next purchase is paramount.
So... looking for opinions of stand mounted or SMALL floor standing speakers to enliven this rig and tastes.  Budget: $1-1.5K.  Thanks for your wisdom and experience in advance.  Peace 

philfoster
jc4659
545 posts
 
The M&K's were designed to be used with their subwoofer but since you live in an apartment this might not be a good idea.  I have owned the satellite 1A's and volkswoofer A ~35 years ago and drove them with a 40W/ch NAD integrated with lots of headroom.  Those speakers were awesome and could really boogie.
jc4659
545 posts
 
As an afterthought, if you really like the M&K's but just want to boost the low end why not consider a Schiit Loki+ for $150.  It's a basic equalizer and may be the least expensive way to tailor the sound to your liking.
philfoster OP
5 posts
 
The MKs really are pretty sweet, especially considering they're 35+ years old now.  Not a sub guy, though, especially in my apartment building.  I've enjoyed my time with them, and someone else will appreciate them for what they are.  My hunch is the NAD integrated was a great pairing.  My little-watt valve amp doesn't have the oomph, and the MKs don't have the refinement to respond to the amp.  My guess.  Hence, the speaker quest.
erik_squires
16,017 posts
 
Sorry missed the budget part.

I've owned the S1B speakers, and you absolutely will not get any bass out of them.  Sealed, dual 4" drivers.  No way.

Having said that, the sub integration and subs from MK kind of sucked. Getting a great sub with DSP correction would be a great idea.
jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
@schubert 

Omega does have a good rep because they are bought by rockers( most
speakers are). I have a 2,000 $ pr and it is great on vocals and compressed rock(it all is ) just fair at best on dynamic Jazz and symphonic music .One driver can only do so much .


thanks for that comment on omega - they have been on my radar due to their high efficiency easy impedance nature... 
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