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Which monitors for my tube system in a large room?

Hi guys,

I was completely happy with my system---Devore Nines, Leben CS300XS---when I got blindsided by a new apartment and a new baby. Between those two life-changing factors, my space and time to listen to the system have shrunk. In this apartment the rig has to live in the living/dining room, which means the Nines are suddenly Too Big---not purely WAF, I also concede that they are looming weirdly over my shoulder when I'm eating dinner a few feet away.

Luckily, I can keep them---I will move them across town to the studio where I work, which from now on will be my serious private listening space, and where I'll build a new system around them (the fun silver lining.)

At home I don't want to give up having a serious setup, even if it will have to be used more for background-listening. My plan is to keep the Leben, which I love, and get some bookshelf speakers with stands, which won't be as imposing as the Nines. Obviously there will be a sacrifice in bass and so on, but maybe I'll have fun and discover the joys of smaller monitors!

They will need to work well with the 15w Leben, and the ability to play well from corners is a plus. They will be positioned on the short wall of an 18x21' room with 8' ceilings. I won't be listening very loud in the home setup, and at least for a few years probably won't be up late doing serious solo listening. I just want musicality and listenability.

To that end, been thinking about small models from Omega, Spendor, Coincident, Proac, Usher. I live in NYC and can demo some of these, others not.

Any advice?

Thanks so much in advance for your ruminations!
price
price OP
31 posts
 
You know what? Audiogon is a bit like therapy... a talking cure. After formulating my post and getting a few comments, I've realized what was in front of my face all along---I need small floor standers, not monitors on stands.

Bjesien and JDoris, you are totally right about kids and stands. And why not avoid ugly stands and simply scale down what's already working for me? So I'm switching the hunt: looking for small floor standers now, guys. Now... any recommendations? I think I'm still probably in the same general area with the same companies. But let's say 36" as a top height.
rleff
1,065 posts
 
The Odyssey Lorelei Upgraded speakers that are for sale might be worth checking out as well as Merlin.
clio09
3,355 posts
 
Tonian Labs Tl-D1 speakers are floor standers with a small footprint.
allchemie
118 posts
 
I would seriously consider the Coincident Technology Triumph Extreme speakers. As with all Coincident speakers, they are very easy to drive. They also have a very neutral sound. As long as you have very good source components along with your Leben, you will get great sound and music from these Coincidents. Also, instead of buying the Coincident stands (which are excellent), you should consider the Coincident passive subwoofers, which act as a stand while also providing great help in the "nether" regions of sound.

I use 5 Coincident Triumph Extreme's in my home theatre set-up and for the front two speakers I use the Coincident passive subs. They work great. Guests are amazed at the wonderful sound the set-up produces. I've had people with $20,000 and up speakers say they are amazed by my speakers.

Greg
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,213 posts
 
IF you want good full range sound, do not want to have to deal with monitor stands, and do not want to be locked into listening from a small sweet spot necessarily, take a look at small footprint floorstander designs from another vendor in Brooklyn, NY, OHM Microwalshes or Walsh 1000s (www.ohmspeakers.com).
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