Help Deciding On New Speakers For Small Room, $10k budget
Hello everyone! A brief background. For the first time in my life, I have a dedicated room for listening! š Iām very excited about it. However, itās not very big. Something is better than nothing though. Previously I always lived in apartments and had to primarily listen on headphones. The room size is 10 feet by 11 feet with 10 foot ceilings, almost a perfect square. It has already been professionally sound treated with many panels from Gik Acoustics. So despite its tricky sizing, it should be all set up for a proper experience! And I already have a nice chain, a McIntosh MC52 Preamp and Primare Power Amp and CD Player with a Holo Audio May KTE. Oh, I also have a Rel A7X subwoofer.
I unfortunately have a disability that makes it very difficult for me to travel. I cannot easily just go to a hifi store and try things. I also live kinda in the middle of nowhere. But Iām a former professional musician and music is my life, and I want to feel connected to my music as much as I can, so Iām willing to invest into it. I have a budget of about $10k give or take $1k or so. I donāt mind looking at used options in like new condition.
A little about my hearing preferences: I am very sensitive to high frequencies, specifically around 7k-10k. For reference, every hifi headphone Iāve ever used made me wince because the high frequencies are too pronounced. I just put up with it because I didnāt have a choice, but Iāve noticed that with speakers Iām usually not so sensitive to them so Iām excited to go down this journey and enjoy my music listening more. I like powerful, punchy bass, and generally prefer a warmer sound signature, however, even though my ears are sensitive to higher frequencies, I love a nice crisp and realistic cymbal sound. In general, as a musician, I think Iād love something that sounds ātrue to lifeā because I have obviously a lot of experience hearing instruments live. I mostly listen to jazz (because Iām a jazz musician) but I also love music of all genres like rock, electronic, pop, soul, alternative, and occasionally K-Pop too, Iām pretty open minded. So something that is a good all-rounder might also be nice. Writing this all out, I now think I might be asking for the moon though, so letās just say jazz and realistic instruments is my main priority š
So with all that said, I would greatly appreciate your suggestions. Iāve been looking at Focalās line of Kanta and Sopra but Iāve heard they are bright. Iāve heard B&W but I donāt think their house sound is for me, again too bright. Ā Also debating between bookshelves and small floor standers for a smallish room. Iāve been looking also at Canton, Dali, Tannoy and Wharfdale, but Iām not as familiar with the speaker world as I am the headphone or IEM world, so Iām quite open to ideas. Thank you so much and best wishes on the evening of this crazy time Iām in the U.S.!
- ...
- 100 posts total
Joseph Audio still uses the Infinite Slope Crossover Technology of Richard Modafferi, the most amazingly distinct speakers you will ever hear, I loved my JSE Model IIās in a larger room, they still sound awesome in my friendās even large space, I went back to my vintage family heirloom horns and 15" woofer. you need a 2 way for your space that is not lacking ...... hereās a used pair at $1,200. local pickup. You would need to use UPS Pack and Ship, just have seller drop them off at UPS unpackaged for you. note: if sand filled, have them drain it, you add play sand after you get them. excerpt The improvements in the RM22si Signature Mk.2, while not as dramatic as those I found with theĀ Mk.2 version of the RM7si Signature, were significant. only sensitivity 86, you need a decent amount of power and wonāt need a lot of volume in that space, ........................... OR, hereās a pair that will take your whole budget https://nowlistenhere.net/speakers/joseph-audio-pulsar2-graphene I would prefer the larger rm22si box sand filled, and having most of my money still in my pocket Ā |
Check out the Revival Audio Atalante 3 monitors. From what you described, it kind of mirrors what Iāve settled for with these speakers. Theyāre made by Daniel Emonts who was lead speaker designer at Dynaudio for seven years and their award winners were his designs. Before that he led speaker design at Focal/JMLab and before that at Altec. Everything is bespoke and made in France from the cabinets down to his drivers. Nothing is off the shelf. Hereās the most recent review (reflective of current pricing as well) that I could find. Thereās lots more online if you wish to investigate. For just under $2700 (sans stands) you can save quite a lot. All the best, |
I Ā am not saying you're wrong as I have no way to know, but I do wonder why anyone would spend 10K on such a diminutive and theoretically inexpensive-to-manufacture loudspeaker when for a fraction of the price this very similar product can be chosen instead-https://www.stereophile.com/content/genelec-g-three-active-loudspeaker |
- 100 posts total