2. speakers
  3. 1234315363

Small Floorstander/Monitor good with tubes

Need suggestions for my next speaker. I currently run Totem Rokks with a parasound multi-channel amp, but will be moving to medium power tubes soon (16-60 watts). The new speakers will need to work well enough with the parasound now, while I get funds for a new amp, and for movies going forward.

Must Haves:
1. Room is small, so must work at about 22" from wall and the speakers can't be big.
2. Sensitive or benign enough impedance to be driven with medium power tubes.
3. No more than $2500 used, and preferably under $2K.

Priorities:
1. Timbral accuracy
2. PRAT with decent bass extension (at least to 40 hz)
3. Imaging/soundstage layering

I listen mainly to studio-produced rock and jazz, but like a transparent enough speaker to dig deep into bluegrass and classical. I recently auditioned the Devore Gibbon 8 against the Dynaudio Focus 220 run by a small Leben Integrated and liked the Dynaudio better, even though I suspected the Devore was more accurate-- I liked the Dyns' "thunk."

Among those I've considered:

Dynaudio Focus 220
PSB Synchrony 2
Totem Model 1 Sig.
Acoustic Zen Adagio
Joseph Audio RM25si
Old model Merlin VSM or more recent TSM
Old model Living Voice Avatar

Appreciate your help.
dkidknow
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
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.
bobbyapalkovic
729 posts
 
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
dkidknow OP
61 posts
 
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
dkidknow OP
61 posts
 
I should clarify-- I went with the TSM-MME.
More to discover