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Best small speakers?

I'm looking for great sound at the best price... spending around 5K, am i going to get better sound and with small monitor speakers like the B&W 805's or Harbeth? I have Paradigm S-8s now... they are big sound alright, but i think if i spent the same money on a great smaller speaker i would get more for my money as far as sound goes... ? I have an above average system, rouge 180 monoblocks, shanata cables, conditioner etc.
bobmclean
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,396 posts
 
I've heard PSB sound very good with Rogue amps.

Also Magnepan.
ebm
9,311 posts
 
MAGICO MINI 2/MAGICO Q1
rlwainwright
1,904 posts
 
I and anyoher long-time member and i (due to the mind-bending demo I haeard thru his smoewhat modest system. I knew I had to have a pair in my system. And thus began the 8-month "watch Audiogon like a hawk for the right speakers at the right price" obsession.

We both have the marvelous Gallo Reference 3.1s You can find this in pristine condition for right around 1500 - 1800 delivered.

Do yourself a favor and read the reveiews for these remarkable speakers. Adn, generally, very high-WAF...

An example: here is an Agon ad for the Gallo Reference 3.5, the successor to the 3.1. However, Anthony *doubled* the price and I think that hurt it'sgiant killer" cred.

[/URLhttp://show.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/st.pl?spkrfull&1280430038&item&Hifiheaven2002&4&5&6&http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/srch_fs.plQQANYAAKEYWAApurlsrchAAEXYAAstAAAAgallo/URL]

However, the ad linked is offering the 3.5s at @9995.00 - still a *smokin'* deal in any budget-minded music lover...

-RW-
kjfront
3 posts
 
I have personally not found that small speakers necessarily outperform larger speakers in the same price range. Much depends on the room and the type of music you listen to.
Smaller room and/or listening to primarily small ensemble acoustic music or classic rock and minimonitor is probably the way to go.
I have heard B&W 805 diamonds and think highly of them. Would also consider Joseph audio pulsar, Totems and dynaudio in that price range.
donjr
1,335 posts
 
Hands down the Harbeth Super 5's. Go audition them if you can. Google reviews. The reviews will amaze you. I'm not sure why mapman mentioned Rogue, but at the 2010 'The Show' in Montreal, the most well regarded room was the room with a Rogue Cronus Magnum, Rega Apollo, and Harbeth Compact 7's. Look it up on Google. I've read reviews of the Rogue / Harbeth combo several time and my local dealer also recommends this combo. Remember, specs do not matter when auditioning audio gear so if someone tells you such and such will not work with such and such, it's not true.
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