2. speakers
  3. 1254578299

1K used monitor with wide/uniform dispersion

My wife and I are moving, which means a new listening room and the need for a new set of speakers.

I'm looking for a monitor that will meet three criteria: 1) a very natural, lifelike midrange with a sweet top end; 2) the widest and most uniform dispersion, so the speaker will have not only a wide sweet spot but sound good all over the room; 3) good dynamic capabilities.

My short list right now includes the Totem Model 1 (which I owned very briefly with a weak amp and shrill CD player; I've heard it in other contexts and liked it a lot) and KEF XQ20 (my first speakers were cheap KEFs, so I have a sense of and like the KEF sound). What else am I missing? What else is out there? I don't know that I'm interested in Ohms, and planars wouldn't fit the space.

The new room is 13x18, and the speakers will be on the middle of the long wall (so side-wall reflections won't be a worry). I'll be able to follow the rule of thirds for speaker and listening position, and so will be listening in the near-field. My current Vandersteen 2ce sig IIs will be too big for the room--too much bass with our proximity to neighbors, for one thing, and I won't be able to sit far enough away for the drivers to integrate. I'm bummed that they'll have to go. The rest of my system is an NAD C372 integrated and Rotel 1072 with Tributaries and Signal cabling. I listen at low to moderate volumes, usually in the 60-75dB range. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
ablang
zenblaster
504 posts
 
Alblang- IMO-you would be fine with the NAD, I would contact Vince at Totem and he would be THE person to ok the match.
BobReynolds- Is that your experience or something you read? I am currently running the Mani2 and they fill my room better than full range Alon's that they replaced. It could be just my room but it fills very well. So many variables though. Have to say that I really love these Mani's, just a super speaker that rocks the house and disappear like no other monitor I've heard. The deep bass they make defy their size.
ablang OP
165 posts
 
Thanks for all the help so far. My short list is down to the Revel M22, KEF XQ20, and Spendor S3/5 (I know the Spendor's short on dynamics and bass, but it's seductive all the same...)

The B&Ws and Revel M20s don't meet the WAF, which is no real problem. I do have questions about two of my options, though.

First, I'm provisionally discounting the Totem Model 1 because of a few things I've been hearing (including on a current thread here) about the Dynaudio drivers going south over time and costing a lot to replace. If anyone has another perspective on that and/or I'm being completely irrational, please tell me. If durability isn't an issue, they'd be high on my list.

Second, I haven't seen anyone weigh in on the KEFs, and among other things they seem not to hold their value well for resale--any thoughts on this?
bjesien
1,269 posts
 
Reynaud. Do some searches. I don't know about the NAD though. Maybe a lower powered Rega or a tube integrated.
Good luck and keep posting.
Post removed 
timrhu
2,779 posts
 
I owned the Totem Model 1s and the Revel M20s. The Totems were only in my system for a couple of months, less than satisfying results. In fact, poor bass was the main reason for their departure.
The M20s, on the other hand, were the finest stand mounted speaker I have owned. I do agree on their looks though, not very pretty. The M22s look much better, IMO, and are on my radar. Would not hesitate to pick up a used pair for a trial. Good luck with your search.
More to discover