Monitors for a bedroom system.......


Hi guys, I always like the great advice I get here. I am setting up a bedroom system for the 30-45 minutes it takes me to fall asleep. I tend to play ambient stuff to help me nod off. Anything with great, deep soundstage, clarity, neutrality? The speakers have to have presence at low volumes. In fact, they only need to play at low volumes. Placement restrictions will force them to sit about 6 inches from the wall. I can spend about $2000 used.
I wasnt thinking when I sold my Nautilus 805's. Any suggestions??
mythtrip
S7:

Actually, my assertion that $2K is too much to spend on bedroom speakers is not based on one's ability to pay. What I was considering was :

- how bedrooms are typically furnished (bed, night stands, dressers, armoires, drapes, etc.)
- the physical dimensions of many bedrooms
- the listening options
- time when the music listening would be taking place

Mythtrip also added that he would be listening at low volumes for 30 to 45 minutes and that speaker placement options are limited (looking for monitors that would be placed 6 inches from the wall).

Given all these limitations, I think that $2K is too much to spend. I don't believe that you will get $2K worth of performance. Beyond that, if one still wants to spend $2K ... go for it.

The only question that I would raise is that from everything that I have read about the B&W Nautilus speakers is that they need to be played loud to get the best out of them. I also don't agree that placing rear ported speakers 6 inches from a rear wall necessarily works for the better, unless the speakers were designed to work that way. Sealed box or front porting is the way to go in this situation.

Regards, Rich
The aspect of the request that I don't get is wanting a "..great, deep soundstage.." which is to be appreciated playing ambient music while nodding off (laying down I presume). Most monitors in that price range will be soundstage champions anyway, that is, after all, a strength of a good monitor. But I'm not sure you'd be able to appreciate that aspect of them while laying down and listening to ambient music, which, by definition doesn't even have a soundstage, but is more of a surround sound with no pinpoint sources. Perhaps you may want to consider a surround system in the bedroom for ambient music.

That said, I'd agree that $2k seems like money better spent someplace else. Great monitors exist that could be very rewarding, and look great to boot, at a much lower pricepoint. Given the remainder of the requested qualities I'd take a good look at Silverline Audio's offerings. With the close proximity to the wall you may want to seek out a monitor that is not rear ported.

Sweet dreams.

Marco
Yeap I agree with Rar1 on this. If you own this home. Have you considered mounting speakers on the ceiling that tilt down towards your bed. The speakers can be be back from the foot of the bed facing you at a 45 degree angle. I've got a good friend with speakers mounted like this. O'Boy at the soundstage depth you get..it's uncanny!You can take some of the money you save and get it installed if your not comfortable doing it yourself. A pair of small single drivers would be great for this. It's like laying down with earphones on.;-)

Don't let the bed bugs bite!
>$2000 is too much to spend for speakers for a bedroom system<

Yeah? And what qualifies you to tell HIM how much $$ to spend on anything? If he wants to spend 2K, it's HIS choice. Recommendations for less expensive speakers are great, but don't make sweeping generalizations like that.

Oz
Have some fun.Look at Bottleneck sight and get flea powered amp assmebled for you (they are big for kit builder but can be asembled)and a set of single driver Oemga's.When you get above 100db-104db efficiency you need almost no power tp get it where you wan ti (even if it's to wake up and no t crash).The reason I this is it's different than your main rig and ost importantly plays with good dynamics at a lower ed mid level stuff (or a clkasic re-built from 50's).If you want a traditonal speaker to hook to some Adcom/NAD.Roteol midfi (*or really good elctronics bought at good budget) try a pair of Audio Physiuc Sparks (only 89 db efficincy -reneber every tine yiuy increase the efficiency 3 DB the power doubkes that;s wgy most spopeakers out there run at 86-89 db.I got them for a buddy and was bummmed to give them up.They are slender floorstanding speakers (hell if you have to use a stand might as well get SOME LF out of it).I was going to replace my $6500 german semi horns (very efficienbt worked great and loudly if I wanted with my Odeon Tosca semi horns) and thjought opf next model up the tempo's.I was warned against it because it did not play as well allow volume levels.What you want this bedroon volume levels with all the dunamics a drive that lkouder speakers can produce(I sold B&W 805 up till new west series for over 6 years-Not the right speaker).Also the Audio Physic spark (or if nee be Yara which comes in monitor and floorstanding flavors)but stick with Sparck.When you want to move them close to you for a "serious" nearfield session they are easy to move arounbd.Lastly if you can handle the hight check out the Cain and Cain web site.There Abby's would run on a 3 watt speaker and could be used with a nice refurbed Scott or Dynaco's.The $1200 Abby's atre very slender but as ell as Kareem Abdull Jabar but come in nice colors.Since this is a bedroom system have some fun and get funky while getting good sound.Remeber there are fols out there in the SET crwod who could afford mainstream stereo and spend MORE to with Lowther or Fostex drivers.But keep it cheap (Bottleneck and Parts connection would be good sources fro equip and info).
Chazzbo
P.S .I ofetn think of putting my myney whgere my mouth is and taking my $4K 90 DB semi horns (not quite efficienbt enough for flea power amps but great for 20-40 watt push pulls tube amps and replacing them with either a $500 Omega or a $1200 Cain and cain Abby's w(which BTW come in a lot of coll colors).
Just my two (different) cents
Chazzbo
P.S Just to be contrary I think that Quad makes a great piston speaker which is a surporise since there a essentially a start up (with trad speakers that is).