Hey folks - I've seen some recent posts (even one from a couple of days ago) asking for help with small room, low volume, high efficiency speakers, and hoping to broaden the discussion.
I'm trying to nail down a new speaker purchase and have dug myself a hole that I'm dying to get out of. It's hard to find time to demo some stuff and I know it would give me a bit of clarity, but I also know it wouldn't be that easy to drive all over the state of California.
I'm looking for a set of bookshelf/stand mounts for living room hi-fi music listening. Requirements are a passive speaker pair, good at low- to mid-level volumes, relatively neutral sound, no sub needed out of the box, and a budget between $500-2500.
I live in an apartment and listen at reasonable levels, consistently between 50-65 db. Living room is ~15' x 15' (then open another 12' into the kitchen) and I'm listening on my couch at a 9-10' distance. My current (old as hell) powered desktop speakers I'm using in the interim are 4' apart but I'll be able to separate up to 7-8'. They're small, but I'm loving even the entry-level separation and sound stage, and excited to fill my area with more across the mid-range and low-end.
I've resurrected my vinyl collection thanks to a new Pro-Ject Debut PRO, and stream via Spotify and Sonos to the rest of the house pretty much all day long. I use a Sonos Port as a makeshift DAC/passive streaming source for now, with hopes to upgrade to a proper Qobuz-enabled DAC/streamer eventually. I have a Schiit Mani 2 serving as the phono preamp, with plans to settle on a preamp and amp once the speakers are set (leaning toward a Schiit Saga+ and some sort of Class D or B amp with efficiency as the priority there).
I absolutely love the look of the Buchardt S400 Mk II and Revival Atalante 3. They're at the tip top of budget, but my bigger concern is they'll be too much for the space I'm in. I also like the look of the Wharfedale Denton and Linton, but again, is that too much speaker for the space?
I'm also looking closely at the KEF Q350, Dynaudio Evoke 20, and now the Triangle Comete EZ has started creeping up to the top of the list as well.
Here's the exhaustive list of what I've looked into (probably missing a few) and appreciate any guidance, first hand experience, or hell...even a few more suggestions added to the pile. Thanks!
