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Big speakers in small room at moderate volume levels

My office is 11’W x 10’L x 9’H and is where I can listen to music for the next few years. I have a toddler and, for now, he has commanded the big spaces in the rest of the house. I have auditioned the Magico A3 and wanted to buy it but that was before I was relegated to the smallish office (I was expecting to move to a bigger room). I have removed the closet doors in this office room. The removal of the closet door gives me another 4 feet of depth to this room, though for only 1/2 width of the room. I can sit unobstructed 8 feet away from the speakers before I hit the area where the closet ends (so near field listening).

I currently I have KEF LS50 with Peachtree Nova 150. It is good and I can listen for the whole day without fatigue. I listen to FM, digital files on ROON, and my Sony SCD-1 SACD player. I want a bigger sound so I am looking at bigger speakers. I also do not want to use a sub since I am not a fan. I will also upgrade the NOVA 150 to the NOVA 500 in Spring 2019 and use with the LS50’s in a bedroom.

I came to the conclusion that my tastes would be best served by one of KEF Reference 1 or Magico A3. I was thinking that I would use the Lyngdorf 3400 in this room but I am having seconds thoughts on this now (some A’gon comments that it maybe a little dry). I am interested in solid state AB units like the Hegel H590 and Mark Levinson 585 to drive the speakers. I have heard the ML 585 and it is a fatigue free sounding unit that was a joy to listen to. I have not heard the Hegel H590 yet (but have heard other Hegels with KEF) and I am in the process of getting an audition of the H590. I have also discounted the class AB Micromega M-One 150 (with MARS room correction) because I do not want a cooling fan blowing in the room.

I must mention that I do not listen that loud when I am working and when I am working very late at night the volume is very low. The Mark Levinson and A3 combo was very good at low volumes during my demo but that was in the dealers perfect large room.

1) Am I making a mistake foregoing room correction with the 2 integrateds I am considering? Should I go with the Lyngdorf and A3 or KEF Ref 1, though I have never heard the Lyngdorf?

2) Will the Magico A3 work in this small room at moderate volumes WITHOUT room correction or will I subject myself to headaches and fatigue?

I am going to ask the dealer selling the A3’s this question when I am ready to buy but i wanted to ask on A’gon first to get some feedback. I doubt I could get the A3’s into my room for a trial but I have not asked the dealer yet.

I think (not 100% sure) the KEF Reference 1 with a non room correcting amp should work in my office space but I would prefer to buy the Magico A3 for the office. I have plans to buy another KEF model once my kid is a bit older and I can kick him out of the big room.
yyzsantabarbara
gosta's avatar
gosta
839 posts
 
@ yyzsantabarbara

I’m interested to. There’s so many "effects" in that track. Can you say what time it starts? She harkles after 11 sec and prepares to sing after 19 sec and start singing after 40 sec. Is it somewhere there or is it later? The whole song?

That advice for Wayfaring Stranger with Emmylou was excellent. Really fine recording. Her voice was fantastic in those days. The Wrecking Ball cd is a recording that separates speakers/systems. But her voice is harder now, always interesting but a little tireing. I would say that the live cd Spy Boy, mostly based on Wrecking Ball, is one of the best live recordings for sound quality (and music). Sometimes terrifying music for the speakers at high volume (Deeper Well) but still no ear fatigue - they bleed instead.. :-) But you will need something else than LS50 for these cd’s (sorry - but I’m sure you are aware of that). Flat bass capacity extremely important. Fine test for your office room.

Have listened to Rebecka Flack cd "Quiet fire" today. What a gem. Voice, bass, piano, choir, orchestra and a very very deep soundstage. This is real music.

All I wanted to mention was that if you find the Lyngdorf room corrected bass a little to much, or would like a little more forward low-mid, don’t miss to ask your dealer to try the "Open 1" and/or "Open 2" eq curves.

yyzsantabarbara OP
4,926 posts
 
@gosta I noticed it a little after the start and through out the song. I noticed the song iitle is "GOODBYE". I did not know that during the demo. The dealer skipped to that song after HE did not like the first one. So maybe there is something to the  song title and the effect that I seem to have hallucinated.
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,003 posts
 
probably semantics but I would not use term atmospheric for 2 nd track...I played it thru ROON off my NAS...I will listen again this eve or next on the 7’s also. I will say w my multitrack working headset on, the Treo allow a pretty easy discection of the layers...but I love and appreciate that in a musical non fatiguing speaker...my bias..

not to switch gears on ha..but give All my Tears a spin also..from wrecking ball. Then for drive and impact try Same cut from the great Julie Miller her version on Broken Things...

and yes, Spyboy is quite nice....

and while we are on the Daniel Lanois track....don’t forget his work with Neil Young - more of a fatigue test...ha.

but then dont miss his Daniels album Acadie

one last thought..try the group Wayfaring Strangers.....the album Wayfaring Stranger for atmospherics......stellare muscians and IMO a fantastic recording....
yyzsantabarbara OP
4,926 posts
 
BTW - don't take my comment on the dealer skipping the track as a negative thing. It was a collaborative thing with he and I to get the sound correct with the Persona 5F.  A real fun demo.

I am trying to convince my brother-in-law to go to the Canadian dealer and demo the Yamaha, he lives close by If he cannot my dad can once he arrives back from his winter retreat.

@tomic601 Thanks for the tune suggestions. Listening to Emmylou this morning segued me to some Linda Ronstadt. Have not listened to these ladies in a while.
gosta's avatar
gosta
839 posts
 
Linda with Aaron one of my long-time favourites. Some tracks a little bright though (when you play high high volume). Aaron's "Warm your heart" is one of my references. 

Came across the group Wayfaring Strangers also. Lots of recordings of that track. Liked, of course, Eva Cassidy's versions. The sound of the group was very big, a bit too much in my room, probably got some room nodes working. Will listen more.
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