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Best Two-Way Monitor Speakers under $700 New/Used

So, here goes. I have a good friend who needs audiophile recommendations (you guys) for two-way speaker replacement with a budget not to exceed $700 new (or used) for the pair of speakers. He will place the monitor speakers on stands - color is important. Expresso finish or black color is preferred because it matches his room furniture. With that in mind, let me know what you think. He's running a NAD integrated solid state amp (but I'm anxiously trying to convince him to purchase a tube integrated or separates). He has a Music Hall turntable and Morrow Audio interconnects and speaker cabling. I recommended Totem Mites, Dynaudio Excite 12 (used) and Paradigm. Any other ideas that come to mind? Thanks in advance for your help.
wescoman
mechans
3,048 posts
 
@Gvasale,
Are you confused because there is a speaker manufacturer named Monitor? Otherwise it is used to describe a small speaker, which are frequently used by sound studios to monitor sources and playback.
batch68
27 posts
 
I'd suggest your friend take a look at Tekton -- they make great speakers (including stand mounts) in his price range.

Batch
gvasale's avatar
gvasale
99 posts
 
Mechans: Not at all. OP should have stated that if it was the requirement to have "Monitor Brand" product. Altec A7 is/was a monitor. Not small. I even had an opportunity to try and pitch a large Electro Voice to the Boston Symphony Orchestra about 1971, and sold some Altec 604s with cabinets to the Christian Science Publishing Company about the same time. So, size is not necessarily the defining factor, and not necessarily small either.
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
Gvsale: Since the OP mentioned that the user wanted something that would
blend into his decor and color scheme, preferably in espresso or black, and that
he would be placing the speakers on stands, I think that cleared up which use of
"monitor" we were talking about right from the start--a 2-way
stand-mounted speaker--the modern equivalent of a bookshelf speaker. Your
sweeping overview of all uses of monitor regarding playback transducers this
late into the thread is obviously not to clarify anything, but rather to give us a
history lesson and impress us with the circles you ran in 40 years ago.
gvasale's avatar
gvasale
99 posts
 
Johnnyb53: Then I'm sorry for giving the impression, but then why does someone want to dress up the word "bookshelf" with the shiney "monitor" and make it seem that the term "misleading" has no validity? Is marketing the only thing that has value? In other words, any speaker maker now uses the words "monitor" and now that magicaly transforms what could be the most miserable drek into the "cats meow?"
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