Listening position: Can you try a different layout - bring the speakers 1/3 of the way (about 6') out into the room, and move your chair back to about about 4' from rear wall?. This way the speakers will have more room for soundstaging, revealing greater depth perception, and any potential floorstanders won't get overly boomy from too much wall/corner interaction.
Speaker Recommendations for Soundstage and Imaging
I'm putting together a new system where a large soundstage and holographic imaging are the top two priorities. I'm willing to give up something in other areas (detail, neutrality, dynamics, low bass, etc) to maximize those two properties. My budget for the speakers in this system is $2,000. My understanding is that, generally speaking, large floorstanders more readily offer large soundstages and small mini-monitors more readily offer that precise, holographic imaging. So I realize I'm after two competing but hopefully not mutually exclusive traits in that price range. Now if that wasn't demanding enough, I'd also prefer the compact floorstanding form factor. I'm willing to go standmount monitor but not willing to add a sub. Large floorstanders are out of the question. I'd love to hear the recommendations of the A'gon community. Thanks.
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There's a speaker that exactly meets your requirements--the Thiel 1.6. Thiels are known for spooky-good imaging and soundstages that extend beyond the speakers. The 1.6 is a petite floorstander, a yard tall and a footprint the size of a piece of notebook paper. The port is a slot facing front so there shouldn't be much problem putting it closer to the wall behind, though you WILL lose much of that magic imaging unless you place damping panels on the walls. The price is exactly right too. If the new list price is a little much you should have no trouble scoring a used set under $2K. For the best imaging, you need a phase-coherent speaker, and the Thiel 1.6 is one of the best in that regard. The acid test for this is the step response, shown on this page of the Stereophile review. It's nearly textbook perfect, and indicates that the sounds from all drivers hit your ears at the same time. The only caveat with these (and most Thiel) speakers is that the load requires a good high-current amp capable of driving low impedances. The impedance measurements show that it presents a 3-ohm load over much of its operating range. |
Hey Insomniac99, Just read your post for the first time and we are having very similar situations. Read my post "replacing Totem One's". Totem Ones have the most amazing soundstage and Imaging that very few others can beat and I have auditioned and owned many others. That is why I bought them. I was going to recommend the new Totem One's until I heard placement. Soundstage and Imaging don't really go hand n' hand with close placement to rear walls. However doing some homework and suggestions for my myself (same situation). The three speakers for you to look at are the Guru's, Merlins, B&W 805 and Reynaud Offrande. I've also changed sound preference to a sweeter tube like sound which very hard to find & costly while at the same time be powerful enough to run the Totems. Guru's are specifically made to be near a rear wall and have received much praise in the recent reviews, the others are front firing which will help and all have excellent reviews. The type of speaker you like depends a lot on your choice of sound and gear combo. The proper amp will be an issue, these type of speakers generally like lot's of juice. Take this with a grain of salt and go audition yourself |
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