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Help Me Choose or Confuse Me More

Hello All

I need some help. I have tried asking this elsewhere but need a group of well-rounded, more brand-agnostic opinions. 

Moved into my home office when covid hit. I needed a quick set up, because it was temporary. Now it's not temporary. So I'm upgrading some things.

I'm in the command chair about 15 hours a day. I'm on video conference meetings an average of 5 hours, the rest of the time is split between music via Tidal, or Amazon Prime TV. So I'm either paying attention to meetings, working on docs projects/sending or answering emails/approvals or projects while listening to music or background TV. 
 
Current Set Up: 2017 13" Macbook Pro > Samsung QN50Q80T > eARC Out > Certified 4k 2.0 USB-C to HDMI > Bluesound Powernode 2i > Kimber 4VS bare wire > KEF Q100s on SoundRiser Pro stands and a Rythmik F12 sub crossed at 80hz sitting in the corner. The home office was a spare bedroom at 11'2" x 9'11" with 8' ceilings. I've added moderate room treatments about 60 sq ft with some bass trap in the ceiling corners. I've gotten a bigger desk 74"W x 39"D and use a desk-sized mouse pad to help with reflections. Also hardwood floors, but I put a runner rug down with carpet pad underneath. 
I am nearfield at the desk, about 36" - 40" from tweeter, and usually the phone dB meter is between 55-65 dB.       

Upgrades Coming: Mac Mini (more ports and faster guts) and NEW SPEAKERS. I just don't know which ones.

Short List (in no order)...
Kef LS50 Meta - about $1500. I like the Q100s but know there is better. The LS50 folks love them, but is there THAT much difference from the Q100 to the LS50 Meta?  
Harbeth P3ESR - $1500-$1700 range used. The Harbeth folks love them, but historically I haven't loved standard 2 way speakers. Something about sitting distance and time alignment.
Omega CAM - about $1500. I had a pair of the Super 3i about 5 years ago and liked the sounds, but had them in my man cave system and they weren't big enough for the room. The Omega alnico guys love them, but I'm not going to use tubes for 15 hours a day.     

Even given the sub I have I wouldn't describe myself as a basshead, but some highs are very unpleasant to me. After a recent hearing test I'm out at 15KHz.

What should I get? ≤$2k and used is ok. I do not live in a part of the country where I can go listen, basically 2+ hours from anywhere.  
mpschenck
mpschenck's avatar
mpschenck OP
11 posts
 
@donvito
I have one of those gigantic hand magnets. I have read people have a hard time getting the grills off "normally". 

@arafiq
The Q100s image like crazy that is one of the things I most like about them. I figure that is due to the uni-Q driver set and the LS50s would be the same. The brightness you mention may be the main reason I'm looking for something.  
I'm really looking for a thick rich midrange which by all accounts the Harbeths and Omegas excel at although in different ways, I suppose. 

Musical tastes are pretty varied I guess. No EDM, no Metal, No Jazz, No Classical, No Modern Country. Very, very little current indie pop, mostly listen to Classic and Indie Rock. 

I've already have a sub in the system. Currently using a Rythmik F12 but started out with an SVS SB-12 NSD.  
big_greg
6,711 posts
 
I have the Harbeth P3ESR in my computer room with a Power Sound Audio S1500 sub (total overkill).  The speakers are about 3 1/2 feet from my listening position.  I have not heard the others you mentioned, but have KEF Ref 1 in my main system.  The Harbeths give the Ref 1's a run for their money, and in many ways sound better in terms of detail and being more balanced and natural sounding, they just don't have the scale or the imaging of the KEFs, but are perfect for the setup they are in.  If you're that close to the speakers, imaging is less of an issue.  In terms of imaging, it's going to kind of suck no matter what you do, it'll be more like listening to headphones than a well placed set of speakers.
mpschenck's avatar
mpschenck OP
11 posts
 
I just measured the distance from my ears to the tweeter agin and it was about 44 inches. I could sit a little closer or a little further away. The Kefs do off axis really well. I have the Q100s toed in to basically pointing at my shoulders.

speakermaster
738 posts
 
You are not wrong new tweeters do not play highs in a natural fashion they wash out in the highs to get natural highs you need an uncompressed tweeter from a good vintage speaker they play unforced natural highs that respond to the music in a natural tonal fashion.
antonio33
5 posts
 
I would discount the Kef's, you are far to close, and they would be fatiguing in my opinion,  The Harbeths would work if you like the sound, Amphion Argon 1 would also be on my list. Two other speakers that you can purchase cheaper than here in the uk, Klipsch RP600's, maybe a little bit to much if you're working and I've never heard a pair of Revels that I have not liked.
Good luck in your search.
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