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Speakers that can be placed against the wall?

I have finally decided to do something I promised myself I would do when I got out of college (just took about 20 years to make it a priority)...Get an upper-end stereo system. My problem is I live in a small house and need to be able to place the speakers against the wall. The room is about 18' x 13' with the speakers located against the long (18') wall. I will be able to keep the speakers away from the side walls but they need to stay close to the back wall. I like Jazz, don't usually listen at loud volumes, but would like to have a speaker that will sound good with most types of music (not asking much, am I?). I don't want to spend more than about $4-5K for the speakers (I'll probably buy used). This is the first component I want to buy for my system. I'm probably going to use a tube preamp and solid state amp (or monoblock amps). Any recommendations for speakers that can be placed against the rear wall, in a smallish room that can give good soundstage and imaging? Or should I take up knitting?
jjam
glide3
402 posts
 
I would second the Audio note suggestion and will also add the new KCS SEAS Exotic to this this...Just got a pair and they are terrific...being sealed box you can get them pretty close to the back wall without too much sacrifice
brauser
530 posts
 
Klipch makes a speaker called the Cornwall which is the combination of terms 'corner and wall'. They are extremely efficient and have developed a following outside of the US in combination with SET amps. I spent some time with these being driven by solid state electronics and they were very articulate, but also a bit edgy. Might be worth checking into.
face
516 posts
 
Polk SDA's work best a few inches from the rear wall.
dfhaleycko
178 posts
 
If you can find some North Creek Eska's or Kitty Kats, they were specifically designed for close-to-wall placement. They use fantastic drivers and over-built crossovers with incredible parts quality (ScanSpeak tweeters/Vifa woofers, etc.)

The Cornwalls is an interesting suggestion. They are a bit colored by modern tastes, and they're relatively HUGE, but can sound really sweet with good low-power tube equipment. Like even a Dynaco ST-70 will sound fantastic.

I love Maggies, but the MMG's mentioned above won't give you good results close to a wall. They like to be a few feet out. Great bargain/fantastic sound tho.

HTH!
pryso
1,986 posts
 
To be more specific regarding Unsound's comment, consider a pair of Vandersteen VSM speakers with a pair of Vandy subs. The VSM was designed as a surround speaker for home theater, thus voiced for on wall placement. Just as with any audio brand, not everyone likes the Vandersteen sound but there are strong similarities between models so if you appreciate their strong points, the VSM can be a real space saving option. One version of the VSM can be painted, it that helps with WAF. And the subs can be located fairly close to the wall.

Unfortunately for situations such as yours, very few speakers sound decent when placed against or close to a wall. To work well, that must have been an objective by the designer. Also remember that some speakers may be so large (for example the Cornwall) that a smaller speaker might not sit further into the room, while having 12-18 inches behind it.
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