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Minimonitors

Hoping to get input of fellow members to help with speakers. The most challenging part of my search for audio bliss has been speakers. I've had Thiel 1.2, Monitor Audio Gold, Cary Silver Oak, Zu Essence, Ref 3A MM deCapo BE, Magnepan SMG, and Harbeth SHL5, to name a few. Most have shortcomings but the Harbeths and Magnepans gave me the fondest listening sessions because of their liveliness and imaging. I'm basically looking for something that will just put out what its fed, play well, and basically disappear. I listen primarily to vocal and acoustic music and enjoy 60s and 70s rock and R&B recordings. System consist of LP12/Origin Live/Lyra MC, Esoteric SA-50, David Berning ZOTL Pre One, VAC Renaissance 70-70/Lamm ML2.1/JA Burgess SE45 with Chord and Siltech cables. Hoping to keep the cost below $5K. Any input is appreciated.
128x128bananaslug
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verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,500 posts
 
amazing amps but not a ton of power out of any of them.  

i would seriously consider the DeVore Gibbon 3XL.  Nice speaker and very good sound.  Has an SPL of 90dB.  Maybe a used pair of Focal Sopra No 1s would de good and have an 89dB SPL.  

There are lots of other monitors I like.  I think you would probably really like Raidho Monitors but they like a little more oomph with an SPL rating of 85dB for the X-1s.  
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
If you're not too hung up on the whole mini-monitor thing, a pair of Tekton Impact Monitors at $2k combined with a DBA will get you killer performance and depending on how you do the DBA come in right at or under $5k total. You absolutely will have better bass and a greater sense of envelopment (disappearing act) than anything you could ever get from a tiny little minimonitor.
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,732 posts
 
Since you liked the Harbeth SHL5 I think you should look into the P3ESR. Of all the Harbeths that I have owned including the M30.1 and the Compact 7 I prefer the P3ESRs to larger Harbeths!
bananaslug's avatar
bananaslug OP
18 posts
 
Forgot to mention, listening room is 16 wide by 20 deep. Most listening are low level, hardly ever passing noon on the dial. Can't remember who said it but it stuck with me: "the first few watts are really key". The Harbeths were fantastic but didn't quite have the low end grip, especially when listening to Pink Floyd. Wondering if I made a mistake getting rid of them. Perhaps a sub would have done the trick. Appreciate the responses so far.
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