Small Floorstander/Monitor good with tubes

Just a note to clarify my earlier post. I've owned my VSMs for almost 10 years and they're not going anywhere. I'd agree that they're among the best I've heard regardless of price. It's just that I couldn't get them to sound their best close to the wall. I had limited freedom to damp that wall, so I can't comment on this potential fix.

As far as my current room goes...well, nothing will sound decent below 100hz or so without e.q. (even with the extensive treatments I've employed). C'est la vie.

Marty

Marty

Marty, I don't think you were "dissing" the Merlins. I think you comments about positioning in relationship to the walls are true. Though I suspect that Bobby's comments might be a pretty good approach to ameliorate some of those problems. Is this a similar consideration with the TMX? Or would they be more suitable in this application - I suspect they give you a lot of the VSM with less bass, but I suspect very comparable (possibly better?) midrange performance. I agree, my VSMs are not going anywhere, for certain people (me) there is no better overall speaker (they all have compromises) regardless of price.

a new pair of e an model will sound better than any upgraded model imho. the speaker is good for about 10% and the sbam about 30%. so a new pair of vsm mmes or mxes with a lf sbam will sound 40% better imho than an upgraded version. there is still a huge improvement to the e mod which marty can attest to.
a tsm mme will beat up a pair of vsm mm or mxs from 50 hz up. so the tsm mme or mxe (concieved as an e version) are only beat by a new vsm mme or mxe with a lead free bam.
the tsm and vsm both have a large radius milled on the edges to move defracted energy behind them. you want this damped as much as possible.
the tsm and vsm have an ultra flat amplitude so reflected energy will be noticeable. other speakers with a more uneven amplitude may image better near a wall but if you damp the rear wall as suggested, the merlin will distance itself again from them. the more uniform a speaker is in amplitude and on and off axis dispersion, the better the focus and expanse.
certain types of axial dispersion characterisics and amplitude irregularities may indeed have sympathetic characteristics in reflective rooms. that imho is more what is being discussed here. you are fine with me marty.
best,
b

A bit of a leap of faith, since it's hard for me to hear these speakers first, but I found a good pair at a decent price. Will let you know how it turns out.

Thanks for all who responded.

D

I should clarify-- I went with the TSM-MME.