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Speakers for a smaller room/moving issues...

Been looking for apartments/condos/houses to rent in New York as I am moving back there shortly. In other words-- I am moving out of my rental house with its adequately sized listening room/den into a potentially more cramped crib- possibly with neighbors behind an adjoining wall or two.
I've been privy in this search to all kinds of rooms-- small, big, oddly shaped etc. And of course, I am considering all kinds of speakers-- planars (so as not to piss off the upstairs and downstairs neighbors as much as box speakers), smaller monitors in case my room is like 13 by 14 or something and so forth.
Alright already- I'll come out with it! I guess what I really want to ask forum members doesnt exactly pertain to a particular speaker rec at all--
Rather, when you guys move, or for that matter, when you chose your current home or apartment, was your 'listening room' a primary consideration?
I mean, my realtor barely understands my needs in this regard and seems a bit miffed at this point regarding my 'listening room neurosis.'
But what can I do? Move into a small condo and buy a Hello Kitty boombox? What did YOU do? (And DONT say "gave up the hobby"-- otherwise you wouldnt be reading this in the first place! Clever, eh?!)

PS- Jaybo, I love your 2 or 3 word answers; please feel free to participate multiple times!

abramsmatch
oneinthepipe
22 posts
 
Linn Tukans are designed to be placed a few inches from the wall. They are fairly decent sounding speakers with a big soundstage. They won't bother the neighbours too much, since they don't have much bass.
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
any ls3/5....or go nuts with a pair of harmonix bravos....both are superb in any room, and you can enjoy without driving the neighbors crazy......
abramsmatch OP
61 posts
 
Used to own a pair of Tukans-- great speaker-- fast and involving. Nice upfront presentation.
As far as LS3/5 family goes-- if they were decent at lowish levels-- I might be so inclined. However, the inefficiency of say, a Harbeth HLP3 ES might not bode well for low level dynamics etc.
The new Sonus Faber ellipsa bookshelves are designed for near wall placement as well and are quite beautiful.
First-- I need to seek out an appropriate room and it seems like many rooms would not lend themselves to any type of audio pursuit whatsoever! Hence my question as to how much/what kinds of a concessions my fellow audiophiles have made in this regard.
reubent
6,952 posts
 
I've recently read some reviews of the Magnapan "wings" on-wall planars that were very favorable. Of course, they would require a small sub to work at all. I also saw a small pair of Maggies at the AKFest and they were pretty good. I don't know if they were MMG-Ws on small stands or if they were MC-1s. Regardless, they were very good sounding, only about 18" off of the wall behind them and took up very little floorspace. They also used a very small sub which you may be able to place discretely in your room.

Don't know if you have the room for them, but I recently heard a pair of JMLabs Micro Utopia BE speakers at a friends house. They were outstanding! They only lacked a bit of bottom end, but my friend had them place 1/2 way out into the room. They may have the required bottom end if placed closer to the wall. In my friends's room, they were one of the best speakers I've ever heard.

Enjoy,

TIC
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