Which monitors for my tube system in a large room?


Hi guys,

I was completely happy with my system---Devore Nines, Leben CS300XS---when I got blindsided by a new apartment and a new baby. Between those two life-changing factors, my space and time to listen to the system have shrunk. In this apartment the rig has to live in the living/dining room, which means the Nines are suddenly Too Big---not purely WAF, I also concede that they are looming weirdly over my shoulder when I'm eating dinner a few feet away.

Luckily, I can keep them---I will move them across town to the studio where I work, which from now on will be my serious private listening space, and where I'll build a new system around them (the fun silver lining.)

At home I don't want to give up having a serious setup, even if it will have to be used more for background-listening. My plan is to keep the Leben, which I love, and get some bookshelf speakers with stands, which won't be as imposing as the Nines. Obviously there will be a sacrifice in bass and so on, but maybe I'll have fun and discover the joys of smaller monitors!

They will need to work well with the 15w Leben, and the ability to play well from corners is a plus. They will be positioned on the short wall of an 18x21' room with 8' ceilings. I won't be listening very loud in the home setup, and at least for a few years probably won't be up late doing serious solo listening. I just want musicality and listenability.

To that end, been thinking about small models from Omega, Spendor, Coincident, Proac, Usher. I live in NYC and can demo some of these, others not.

Any advice?

Thanks so much in advance for your ruminations!
price
Someone has already suggested the Esoteric MG-20; their MG-10 monitors are also excellent if you don't want floorstanders.

I'll also second the previous recommendation of the Reference 3A MM de Capo i.

Here's why...I recently completed my own search for new speakers. I set out looking for smallish floorstanders around $2k, but the only 2 speakers I fell in love with (in my price range...) were the Esoteric MG-10 and the Reference 3A de Capos, both monitors. I ended up buying the Reference 3As here on Audiogon.

For my tastes, both of these little speakers are giant killers!
Compact floor speakers - Tannoy Kensington's are superb and well suited to the Leben.
Gallo ref 3.5s are surprisingly small, and very good (I'd prefer them to the Nines), but they might require changing amps. I'm guessing they are pretty placement flexible, too. Exposed drivers might be issue with kids, but they'd still be unobtrusive with the "grills".

John
i would try Lawrence Acoustic Mandolins....I have a pair of Violins (their bigger monitor) and I can't be happier...i can gurantee that you'd love them...and your wife would like the speakers' look...