looking for best speakers to match with small 25w

You might want to consider the decware 1.5s. I'm breaking in a pair right now and they are a most beguiling speaker. Airy, articulate as hell, and downright spooky with the right recording. Not the last word in bass but what it does have is pretty much spot on (down 3db @ 37hz.) They are a bit polite, placing you at the venue rather than an in your face kind of presentation. I'm told that they'll loosen up as time goes on (the 8" driver is only 4 grams of doped paper and is pretty tightly mounted) but the dynamic swings and transients can be breathtaking. You tend to 'see' more anatomy of vocalists and notes have that initial bite, followed by the body and then decay in a most natural manner. Separation is outstanding; nothing is congealed or homoginized but their is a slight lack of oomph from the lower mids on down (again, they haven't broken in yet, but are getting better every time I hear them). My only caveat is that a mediocre or bad recording will not be enhanced by these speakers: they reveal flaws like a magnifying glass. I haven't heard everything out there but plannars, stats and box speakers now sound like they're playing through a bolt or two of cheescloth. They are 92db efficient, use a ribbon tweeter from 3000 on up with only a capacitor, and have a passive 8" woofer firing downward. I'm presently using a TAD modified Cayin CA-30 and it's a match made in heaven. The sound is so good that I've put off getting a new CDP for now and am still using my old Rotel RCD-971 as source. Check them out at decware.com and enjoy the music!

bluemike,

No but I remember them fondly, I have my Audio Note kit 3 speakers in the corners not in the middle of the room like the Trentes demand. I find even with the Audio Note amp the Trentes tended to sound better - the Kit 3 is more picky of input source...

all the best

Phil

I have to disagree with most of what has been suggested. But, to be fair, it's not so easy to meet the requirements put forth by Rapogee.

Most of these speakers are quite sensitive, yes. And, some are even tight in the lower end. But, he also states he doesn't like forward sounding speakers, and most of what I see here definitely fall into that category. That seems to be the case with more sensitive speakers in my opinion.

I parted with my trentes as well ...

I now have a pair of Tonian acoustic monitors
Very similar to the trentes only faster and much more musical ..if that's at all possible

To my ears they are natural sounding and very realistic

overall i'm quite impressed

Trelja,

The Trentes are supremly musical and not the slightest bit forward or bright and also extremely forgiving and detailed beyond belief. They offer a very well balanced sound going down to about 45 hz and ignore their 88db rating they lit up with my 18 wpc Soro SE amp.

Bluemike,

I have not heard of the Tonian speakers but all the best to you and what you land with... I may finally be settling down on my stereo adventures but find it hard to give up the 'gon' :)