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need recommendations for standmount speakers

Hi guys.

I’m looking for new standmount speakers. Budget is up to 3k but can stretch if needed. 

My current setup in my small bedroom (about 3x3m size) is as follows:

Cambridge Audio cxn v2
Benchmark dac3b
Benchmark hpa4
Benchmark ahb2
B&W 606 on b&w stav 24 stands
Rel t7i

Music is from tidal/roon and I have done REW on this setup. Somehow feels like something is missing.. I can’t pinpoint what exactly, but perhaps lacking some weight in the mids..

I’ve tried the Buchardt S400 for a month before eventually returning them. Although very good speakers, I felt they lacked a bit of high end sparkle. I preferred the top end of the b&w.

Unfortunately, I can’t have the speakers more than 20 cm from the back wall. They’re about 5 feet apart.

Any recommendations for new speakers? I was considering the B&W 705 s2, Dynaudio Special 40 and Focal Aria 906. Home demo is pretty hard to arrange where I’m at.
128x128docroasty
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
Fritz Carrera features an under-control beryllium tweeter.  Might be up your alley.
nquery
103 posts
 
@vinguard, I have owned both of those speakers ...

imo, I wouldn’t say that the Special 40’s lack sparkle, it’s just that they lean a lot towards the mid-bass. OP wants both more mid-bass weight and some top end sparkle - I think the S40 tonality might be a good match. The bigger problem might be that they need space around them - 20cm from wall might cause problems in that 3m x 3m room. would probably want to try the single port bung.

Sierra RAAL ribbons have revealing/clear top-ends for sure and would work well in the small space, but might not satisfy the desire for weight in the mids ... I found them (including the towers) a little too neutral/dull for music. But they excel in multi-channel home theater (which is where I use them).

yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,701 posts
 
The Harbeth P3ESR should fit the bill. With the sealed woofer they can be placed close to rear wall with no problem!
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=harbeth+p3esr+review&view=detail&mid=5D7EB69CCEBBAAE793...

mofojo
2,303 posts
 
Out of the 3 you have listed I would go with the Focal in that small of room that close to the wall. I especially suspect the Dynaudio would be pretty boomy. In the right room I would go Dynaudio all day. 
audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,807 posts
 
We have currently a lot of monitors in that price range, from ATC, KEF, Dali, Paradigm, Quad. 

The Quad Z2 is one of the best sounding monitors we have ever heard in the $2,500.00 price point. 

All the drivers are custom designed including one of the best sounding ribbons we have ever heard. Most ribbon tweeters have a bit of glare along with their superior speed and articulation.

The Quad's tweeter is a pure ribbon bonded to a thin layer of plastic which damps the metal which stops the normal ringing which occurs in most conventionally designed ribbon tweeters.

The Quad Z series tweeter is also considerably larger than most ribbons which allows it to handle more power as well as having a lower crossover point.

The Quad Z2 throws a gigantic sound stage, the midrange is smooth and full bodied, the bass is also quite deep and tight. 

The Z2 also uses a custom designed Kevlar midrange/woofer which integrates beautifully with the tweeter.

Quad hired Peter Comenaeu the genius behind Heybrook loudspeakers who previously had spent years at Heybrook developing a proprietary ribbon tweeter to spearhead the Quad dynamic loudspeaker project.

They have been receiving rave reviews all over Europe.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ Quad dealers
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