Monitor with sub or Full Range Speakers

Rich,

Thanks for the suggestion about full range speakers which I have always owned and for $3,000 I know I could probally find a really good full-range speaker. I was thinking about trying something different as my full range Legacys have been in my system for 10 years.

I recently upgraded my cd player (Cary 306/200) and integrated amp (LSA Signature) and wanted to try a different type of speaker approach. Those two purchase were absolutely great.

Now the speakers, this is a very hard decision because I have lived with a certain sound all of these years and I am taking a chance that I will actually like these.

Pulling the trigger on this or any purchase is difficult because I don't want to do this again for the next 5 years.

How do you just buy and sell and then sell again, it can make you go a little crazy.

Bob & Revrob,

I don't know the Mirage OMD 28, but A'gon'r Johnnyb53 recommends it highly. You might want to e-mail him since that pricing is certainly aggressive. With the discount it fits both your budgets, as well.

I've heard the XD in 3 different rooms (2 NHT dealers and a furniture?! store) and it sounded good all 3 times. The XD is a very fine system and, given the current pricing, a good value (and I suspect that Mirage is probably, as well). Both systems, however, will be limited by the room.

Marty

PS If NHT stays out of business, you might want to make sure that you're comfortable buying a a complex, idiosyncratic system like the XD. Not suggesting you shouldn't be comfortable, just food for thought.

Martykl,

I read one of the review for the Mirage and the review stated that when he inserted the DK Integrated amp in place of the Simaudio I-7 the bass sounded boomy and he would not recommend the speakers with this amp.

Seeing that I own the next version of the amp, LSA Signature, it may not be a good fit. Also I am only looking for 2 channel stereo, this set-up will not be a part of home theater.

Thanks for the info. If I was looking at HT I would gives these some consideration.

06-27-09: Revrob
I read one of the review for the Mirage and the review stated that when he inserted the DK Integrated amp in place of the Simaudio I-7 the bass sounded boomy and he would not recommend the speakers with this amp.

The ported Mirage floorstanders, and particularly the OMD-28, need an amp with a low output impedance, lots of current, and preferably a high damping factor. My personal experience and one A-goner's recommendation indicate that these speakers like switching amps. I use an Onkyo A-9555 integrated (a switching amp) to drive my OMD-15s. The Onkyo's damping factor is a rather low 25, but it's still an excellent match, probably because the Onkyo is fast, has lots of instantaneous current on tap, a wide bandwidth, and doesn't crap out on impedance dips. I can see where certain tube amps might not be a good match.

I decided to go with a pair of used Salk HT3 for a little more money. They are exactly what I was looking for, a full range speakers that I can live with for the next 5 years. I am very please with my purchase.

I was getting a little overwhelmed with the choices for speakers at the $3k price point. Once I got a chance to hear the Salks I pulled the trigger.

Thanks for all who responded to my question? I guess the debate about full range or monitors with subs will be for me answered another day.

Peace.