Monitors to replace EPOS M-16i

My suggestion...go tubes!! Get a nice tube preamp, throw in some NOS tubes and go from there!!

I have the M5i's, and even though I have them up for sale, they are still 100 times better sounding on tubes then on solid state!!

And, btw, the reason they are up for sale is that I do want to take that one suggestion and try an LS3/5A clone :)

Other than that I found them to be much better than most that I've tried in that price range. If I could afford to keep them and still get a clone, I will...simple as that LOL!!

While I have enjoyed CJ tube preamps in the past, I am trying to keep this system balanced towards just maybe a BIT more euphonic than "neutral". Tubes take it too far, in my estimation (but oh how they sound!). (I do a little recording and mixing now and then, so it's nice to have a "mix check" system I can rely on. I mix through NHT Pro nearfields, and while they're great at what they do, they're not 100% reliable. I doubt any nearfields are.)

Knownothing (ironic name!), I do play the Epos with the grills on, and I have messed around with room placement quite extensively. Toed-in seems to give the most balanced presentation, but it's still not quite "flat".

I think I may jump on a pair of Quad 22L2 and hope I can sell the subwoofer. (Knowing me, I'll probably keep it in case I pull the trigger on a pair of Maggie MMG that I've always wanted to try. I'm hopeless.)

My experience is limited (I haven't heard the Epos M16i, for starters), but I had Quad 11Ls and now Dynaudio X12s in a room exactly the same size as yours, set up in the same less-than-deal way. I loved the Quads with a Music Hall cdp and amp, but when I switched to Naim electronics, I found them warm and a bit fuzzy. A good deal on the Dynaudios prompted me to try them, and I think they're fantastic. I can't speak to other models, but the X12s are revealing without being harsh and the bass is shockingly good for small monitors. For me, they're fast and detailed but not too forward. Maybe worth a try ...

Ja2austintx,

Funny Afranta mentions Dynaudios because in noting where you are from, I was going to suggest you go take a listen. I believe you still have a good Dynaudio dealer in Austin - I listened to and fell in love with a Rega table/PrimaLuna integrated/Dynaudio 52SE set up in that shop. I also heard some Dynaudio Audience 72's (now discontinued) with NAD separates and they sounded really good as well. I guess if you were to buy new, the Excite X32 would be the most comparable to Quad 22L2 or Epos M16i, but well above stated $1000 budget. Afranta seems to think the X12 could do the trick in your room, but I am skeptical. A good used pair of Audience 72's or 72SE's in particular, or even 52SE's would be very nice (although nobody in this price range comes close to the finish job on the Quads if that matters to you... nobody).