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Floorstanders for small rooms? Budget $1200 used

Hi again,

Well, I am still looking at some speaker suggestions, this time for some floor-standing models that work well in smaller rooms. I listen mostly to classic jazz, but also electronic, vocals, classical, and some rock. I need a pretty versatile speaker. My associated equipment is C-J PV10A preamp, MF-2200 amp, Von Schweikert VR-2000 speaker, Arcam CD73T CDP.

My system is pretty warm and lush at this point, so I probably want something maybe a bit more detailed (changing preamp may help too). My current speakers seem pretty musical and not too detailed. They are bit 4-way speakers with a 10" driver and response down to 26hz, and probably a bit too much for the place I am moving to soon (although I won't purchase a new pair until after the move (and I know the speakers won't work). The speakers will be used in a room 11x14ish, with the listening end up against the far wall.

So far I have been thinking about the Soliloquy 5.3's (already posted on this), but am looking for other suggestions as well. I have a budget of no more than $1200 to spend on a speaker (probably used/demo) at this time.

Thanks for any suggestions!
chiho
boa2's avatar
boa2
1,551 posts
 
Chiho,

The 6.3's will not overpower your room. I'm using a speaker that goes down to 25Hz, and on the width side of the room. As long as the bass is tight and controlled (which the Soliloquy is), you will not have any problem IMO.

I was not as impressed with the Kestrel II, but of course that was just my experience. I heard them paired with the Unison Unico, and I would lay pesos to churros that Vertewax is used to a more musical sound with his Rogue amps than the setup that I heard.

I've not heard a more amenable lineup than Soliloquy. Simply connect any amp, and you have insta-synergy.
All the best,
Howard
spacekadet
63 posts
 
Chiho, I got your answer. Totem Acoustics Hawk.

I have pretty much the same taste in music and an even smaller room (8.5' x 11') These babies have very small footprint (6.75" x 9.5") and are only 36" tall, and they'll look good in any room, especially a small one.

Totems are famous for their amazing bass reproduction from such small speakers. The Hawk does not dissapoint either and goes down to clean 29Hz. However, I must warn you that, the bass can overwhelm a small room at loud volumes.

The midrange is what the Totems do best. It is full, lush, and if you like to listen to a lot of Jazz like me, I'm sure you'll be just as satisfied as I am. The instruments just bloom to life and the vocals sound as if the singer is in my room.

Now for the downsides. It takes them some time (~100hrs) to really start singing, but this may not matter if you buy them used. Second, they need a powerful amp, they love a lot of current, but can only handle about 120-150Wpc of power and will not play cleanly at ear-splitting-wallpaint-falling-off levels. Don't get me wrong, I never play them that loud in my room since I'll go deaf, but when I had them set up in my big living room, sometimes I wished they would go louder.

As for your budget, the Hawk is a little out of your range (~$1300-$1500 used), but it'll be well worth the extra hundred or two. If you can't stretch the budget, I'd look into their smaller floorstanders, the Totem Arro and the Staff.

Anyway, you now have my recommendations, go listen to them and let your ears decide. Good luck and Happy listening!

P.S. Please look at my system to see the speakers.
washline
202 posts
 
I too have a quite small room, but may eventually move into a new place in a few years with a bigger music room. Would the JM Lab Diva Utopias be too much for a small room? I like the Micros quite a bit but they lack the bass extension and would prefer a one box solution. I may still buy the Micros anyway with a sub but I'd really prefer to get the Divas. Any thoughts?
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