Best high end monitors?

Thanks, Shadorne. Indeed I am a huge PF fan.

Here's another speaker for your consideration:

Green Mountain Audio Eos or Eos HD.

I have not heard the Eos or Eos HD, but I own the GMA Callisos and Roy Johnson (GMA founder and designer) says they best the Callisto in every way. While I find that a tall claim (as I think the Callistos are absolutely genius) I have read from some who have upgraded from the Callistos to the Eos and Eos HD who back up Roy's claim.

I would also recommend a pair of small REL subs. Run the speaker level tapped off of the speaker binding posts on the back of your speaker, and cross them over around 35 Hz (begin with 70% of the -3 dB low-end output of your speaker of choice). Physically move your speakers around for best imaging, then physically move the subs, adjust the output, and adjust the phase for smoothest low-end integration and overall impact.

I have a small, challenging room (see my system). While I love REL subs, I personally went with something less expensive that still had speaker level inputs, phase control, and a variable crossover down to 30 Hz - a pair of Martin Logan Dynamo subs.

I would say that I mostly listen to rock (Tool to My Chemical Romance to Band of Horses to The National to Iron & Wine) as well, with some things like Dead Can Dance, Michael Hedges, Enya, etc. thrown in. My system responds very well to each of these genres.

Madfloyd,

If you are Mad about Floyd as in Pink FLoyd then do try to hear some ATC's.
David Gilmour uses them in Astoria (Pink Floyd's studio in London) as does their
engineer, James Guthrie, Das Boot Studio. Their stuff has been mastered by
Doug Sax, who has ATC's in his "Mastering Lab". Amused to Death
was done on Roger Water's ATC's in his home studio and also mastered by Doug
Sax. If you think Floyd make good quality recordings then ATC might be well
worth an audition -the passive 20's or newer 19's are a sealed box, which
should work well for near wall placement and they can fully exploit your hefty
power amp.

Anyone else try Usher Tiny Dancers (BE-718)? Great reviews but (and this sounds kinda snobby), they aren't very expensive.

I'm very drawn to trying the Focal Micro BE's (as Rello mentioned) but I have bi-wire and this makes it a pain (as it is with the Electra 1007 BE's I'm currently using) because I switch speakers when watching theater.

When I was auditioning floorstanders, I tried the Dynaudio C2 and they sounded like bookshelf speakers to me at the time (bass was anemic) but I'm guessing the C1 would be a good contender.

Lots of suggestions for brands I don't recognize - I have some research to do!

Thanks to all.

Helicon 300 MK2 are also very good speaker with ribbon tweeter combo.

Harmonic Precison Caravelles; if you can find them for sale. I had them and they are superb, but were a little too small for the room I have. Excellent sound, smooth highs and very dynamic. They can play very loud without distortion.

Monitor Audio PL100

Hi,

Ironically, you named the winner right in your disclaimer...Magico Minis!!

Might as well throw my hat into the ring. Vivid audio are among the best monitors and speakers I have heard at any price. I was lucky enough to have the B-1's in my showroom thanks to Philip O'hanlon of On a Higher note. Brief history. One former owner of B&W, and the designer of the Nautilus series set out to develop speakers their way. The Vivids are the result. The most musical, holographic and accurate loudspeakers I have heard. Shaming the likes of Revel and Wilson. I am not a dealer for Vivid, but wouldn't mind being one.

There is no "best". With a good sub, any good monitor that sounds good to you mated to a good sub will sound great and deliver meat on the bones.

I've heard the Magico's...very nice indeed but overpriced IMHO for monitors. I use a meager pair of highly regarded $500 Triangle Titus 202 monitors with a decent M&K sub in my 2 channel a/v system and it sounds absolutely fabulous.

Intuitive Design Delta Gammas, call Dale Pitcher.

Hope you can hear F300 from a new company called Eficion (www.eficion.com). The top portion can be used separately as a monitor. It's midrange seemlessly crosses over to a fantastic AMT tweeter. It makes all dome tweetered speakers more or less the same.

I have had two speakers that I could recommend. Currently I have Focal Micro BE speakers with an Electra sub. These speakers are effortless and have a great sense of space. I thoroughly enjoy this speaker. Footnote: they do take awhile to break in so make sure your demos have a few hundred hours. Also, they are not forward sounding at all. You get the sense you are hearing everthing without being too artifically detailed.

The other speaker is the Wilson Benesch ARC. Not as much top end extension (air) but the bass is deeper (not better). Very coherent. I think the WB can play at a louder level (not a real benefit for me). Both are easy to drive. Both have a teriffic midrange. I could live with either. See if you could listen to both. Not sure of your electronics but both work very well with tubes (I use BAT separates) Good Luck

Dynaudio C1's is my first choice followed by the Sonus Faber Creamora-M's then the Usher Tiny Dancers. First 2 are about the same price with the ushers being about 1/2 that (not having a price range its hard to recommend anything). Personally I own the Dyn C1's. You really need to demo them (preferably in your room) because everyone has different tastes and expectations

ATC,Harbeth,Spendor,Reference 3A,Totem
My favorites are the Harbeth 40.1 and the Spendor SP100R, but that extending the term monitor to the max!
All the above have pluses and minuses but are at the top of the food chain.

Artemis Audio EOS Sig. 2-way speaker, they come up for sale once and a while and you will be amazed.

Go to this members site below to view, you would minus the huge bass units they are sitting on. I actually had these, I truly enjoyed the speakers but not the bass units and had them paired up with Entec subs.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vaslt&1204831363&read&keyw&zzartemis

Currently trying JM Focal Electra 1007 BE's. Don't have the sub(s) hooked up yet, but find the tweeter a little forward and the image a little smallish for my taste

Try something with a soft dome tweeter and definitely go for a sealed box. Something that begins to roll of gradually at 80 Hz would be ideal and place them close to the wall (within two feet).

The JL's are a sealed sub - so I'd definitely go with small sealed box monitors...nice and tight punchy sound to go with the JL's and less phase issues compared to a ported design.

Room is 14 x 26 x 7.5. Room is soundproofed and seems to retain bass energy. Current speakers are Aerial Model 9'
s and their 4 woofers produce too much bass.

Amps are Theta Citadel 1.5 (400 watt monoblocks)

Hey Floyd,

When I heard the Micro utopia BE's they were placed half way out into the room, i.e. room was 15 feet deep and the speakers were literally 7.5' out into the room. Not forward sounding and a huge image. Matter of fact, the speakers completely disappeared and the soundstage was deeeeep and wide. It was an enlightening experience.

Enjoy the hunt.....

TIC

Harbeth SHL5s

What amplifier are you planning to drive them with and how big is the room??

check out German Physiks (google em) they make some really cool monitors. they are omni designs and can be placed with great flexability.

Thanks for the responses.

I'm considering non-full range speakers because my room is problematic. I want the sound of full range, but feel I might be better off being able to position monitors for the best soundstage and use an EQ'd sub to deal with problematic bass nodes.

Currently trying JM Focal Electra 1007 BE's. Don't have the sub(s) hooked up yet, but find the tweeter a little forward and the image a little smallish for my taste. I am considering the Micro Utopias because I've heard the tweeter (although BE) is not as forward and midrange is better. So I thought I'd ask about alternatives before moving forward.

he audiophile definition of monitor pretty much covers anything not nailed to the floor. assuming you have an amp, and you really mean 'monitor' in the 'passive, somewhat nearfield and probably on a stand so I could have bought a floorstander anyway-kinda way', check out all the brit stuff, old and new.

Agree with Spencer Merlin-tsm's-I recently had mine upgraded to the lead free versions---all I can say is-WOW!
Bob

Merlin TSM-MXe needs to be on your list. Rel sub would probably be a better match. Cheers,
Spencer

floyd,

The suggestion of Reference 3A MM DeCapo(i) is pretty solid, especially at their used price of about $1200-$1600. I previously owned them and enjoyed them.

However! I recently heard a pair of JMLabs/Focal Micro Utopia BE moniotrs at a friend's house, and All I can say is WOW! They were fantastic in his system. However, they are about $4000+ used w/ their matching stands.

The Micros produced about the best sound I've ever heard in a real system, with the exception of a lack of low bass extension. However, if you are going to use subs anyway, they certain deserve consideration if they are within your budget.

Enjoy,

TIC

My first choice would be Harmonic Precision Caravelle's (but of course I have them and I'm biased towards them).

My second choice would be to seriously look into the Reference 3A De Capo i's. They're very good monitors.

"Any active speaker is better than any passive speaker."

What a crock. Never make blanket statements like that, you are simply showing your ignorance.

-RW-

ATC.

Any active speaker is better than any passive speaker.

http://www.flatearthaudio.com/atc_info.html

SEAS exotic monitor