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Speakers for extremely close listening

I am not sure if this can be called "extreme nearfield listening", but I wonder whether some kind of audio bliss is achievable within an extremely narrow space?? I am talking about listening distance of not more than 3 feet (or around 1 meter) from the speakers.

Of course headphones could be an option, but I would rather not having to wear headphones. Just personal preferences.

The listening spot will be at a corner of a small room, with book shelves lining the walls behind and beside it. The speakers will be quite close to the wall -- one feet or less.

I do not have any amp for the speakers yet, but I plan to use some SS integrated amp and with CD as the only source. Due to many factors tubes are out of question for me.

As this will be a third system for me, I would like to keep the budget to be less than $1500 used. This system will mainly be used to play rock, electronica, and vocal pop, as well as post-rock, alternative rock and even metal music. So bass needs to have good impact and deepness.

The speakers will have to be small monitor size. Floor-standing will not do, because the speakers will be put just beyond my working desk.

I have given it a few thoughts. Perhaps you can see if they make sense:

- with such close distance, would a single driver or co-axial driver unit be much more desirable? My gut feeling says a 2-way co-axial driver like the KEF Uni-Q unit may be the best for any achievable imaging.

- also because of the close distance, I think the sensitivity requirement can be relaxed somewhat. So I am considering quite insensitive speakers too.

- since the speakers will be very close to the wall, I think the bass response could be reinforced. Does it mean that speakers with a low-end frequency rolloff at 80Hz or even 100Hz should be OK?

- I am not sure whether a port-reflex or tight cabinet is better?

I would try to do audition if possible, but I would also like to hear what you think about this. At the moment, Dynaudio, B&W, KEF, ATC, Linn, Sonus Faber are some of the brands I am considering.

Thanks
Patrick
payip
rsbeck
887 posts
 
I would suggest getting speakers that are often used for "nearfield" listening. I'm talking about recording studio monitors. I've been in several recording studios with great sounding monitors and I noticed what they had in common. They were using a speaker called the Mackie HR824. It is a bookshelf sized speaker (with soft dome tweeters) and they sound great up
close -- or -- if you spread them out, they will throw a wide deep soundstage. They are "active" speakers, they are bi-amped and I think that's one of the reasons they achieve such amazing sound. The amps are tuned
especially for the speakers, with a more powerful amp for the bottom end, which helps give them a lot of low extension for such a small speaker.
If you buy a CD player with a volume control, you could plug straight into the Mackies -- they will take balanced interconnects, single ended, or speaker wire. Another thing you could do is use your computer as a transport, get a
sound card that would take a digital feed from your computer, convert it to
analogue and feed it to your Mackie Speakers. You can download your CD's
to your hard drive uncompressed and they will sound great. So, instead of a
CD player, you put your money into a high quality sound card -- and you also
have a computer. My next suggestion would be -- get a 17" Apple i-book and then you have a home entertainment center with a 17" widescreen monitor, DVD player, digital music transport, internet, games, speakers -- plus -- an extremely powerful portable computer. Now, for your bookshelves, I recommend hardwood with fine grain....
exertfluffer
270 posts
 
Might I suggest a "supprise entry"? The Little Infinity TSS750 mini shows some superb promise with the right gear!!!
They are very detailed, uncolored, dynamic(yes!), and great immagers! I think these would be wonderful with tube gear especially! A little tube integrated should sound way good on em. They also sound good with warmer SS gear.
The deal with these is that they are bass limited to upper only. They play down to like 125hz, and you need a sub! They are only $99 or less each retail, are well well built(aluminum case), solid, and great looking...not to mention compact(3 to 4" driver with 3/4" tweeter).
One trick with these is you might consider putting a bit more insulation inside them to warm up the midrange pressence a bit. Otherwise, superb!
For cheep, you can pick up two of these at Circuit city and similar...VERY WORTH A TRY!
Not that I go by this, but HT magazine rated this system(4 of these plus center and matching sub) like 95/100 or so! Anyway, worth a listen/try for your application. Like I said, you can tinker with the gear for best results. But I think you might like what you hear...
jayctoy's avatar
jayctoy
4,258 posts
 
The norh marble speakers are good on close listening.
The 6.9, 7.0 0r the marble 9.
rives
953 posts
 
For extremely close listening single driver speakers would be my choice. Speakers with multiple drivers require some space for those drivers to blend properly. I'm still trying to figure out Sures headphones with 2 drivers--expensive and supposedly very good, but I haven't heard them. What other headphones use multiple drivers--none that I'm aware of. KEF Uni-Q design would make sense, so would some of the panel type speakers (solid panels--not electrostats that move air as one unit).
ptmconsulting
1,000 posts
 
Sennheiser HD600 (headphones). Can't get much closer than that.

Enjoy,
Bob
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