Speaker Recommendation Help Please.
Hello,
I am hoping to get some advice.
First, I'm in Canada so when I talk budgets I will use gear, not numbers, as that is probably the best way to remove the "currency" factor ($100 USD is very different than $100 CAD, but a NAD M33 is the same item on both sides of the border).
Second, I actually have pretty minimal experience with speakers. I was an avid headphone listener for years as I used to live in a condo so speakers, due to space and neighbours, was not an option. I've owned most TOTL headphones - HD800, Focal Utopia, LCD4, Abyss, Code-X, SR-009/007, etc.
Third, I'm looking at speakers for now, only. An amp and source will come later so let's ignore it for now entirely please. Assume whatever speaker I end up with, I will get an appropriate amp. I am trying to keep this as focused as possible and I have to start somewhere, and I've decided the speakers are the place. If I have a budget of $X, I am happy to spend $X on speakers and wait to buy an amp rather than spending $0.5X on speakers and $0.5X on an amp today.
Fourth, some information about my listening preferences... People ask, "what kind of music do you like". Well, as Justice Stewart might say, I can't define it but when I hear it, I know it. I'm pretty varied and probably listen to much of the same stuff every audiophile does. I don't listen to a lot of classical, chamber, techno, EDM, rap or country. Take whatever is left, and that's probably me. I love detail - It's what I love about the HD800 and Utopia's - there is so much nuance, air and separation. I love that. I also love texture, which is why I love the LCD4's. The resonance of a guitar body, the natural tone of a voice. And I love slam... This is my guilty pleasure. I used to drive my Abyss with a PassLabs INT-30A (30 watts of Class A into headphones) and you could almost feel the impact in your chest. If you need more detail, or have specific questions about any of this, please let me know.
Fifth, my room is the biggest small room there is (well, not really). The speakers on going on an 13 foot wall (that extends out to about 60 feet) and the room is 28 feet deep. The speakers can only be about 12-14 inches from the back wall (I have a wife and it's our family room) and my ears are about 10 feet from the speaker wall. Oh, and the ceilings are 12 feet high. Here's my crummy drawing of the room. Each square is one foot by one foot:
(Hopefully you can read all that).
The speakers are going on the left side and there is fireplace in between. Behind the couch is the kitchen and, if you are sitting on the couch, to your left, it opens up to the font of the house. Here's what is actually looks like and the new speaker will go where the current ones are:
(The speakers are Paradigm Active 20's for those playing at home)
To the right is the back of the home which is mostly glass.
Now, as for options. I don't love the signature of the Paradigms. They have a "dark" sound and have a recessed mids. What I call an "American sound". I am looking for something more neutral or even slightly warm.
Locally, there is a pair of Sophia V1's which is my current front runner. I think they will give me everything I am after with the right amp but they are a little big. They are also my #1 choice due to price. I worry about placement and that being a big problem.
I am also considering Wilson SabrinaX's,. I worry the Sabarina's may be too small sounding for the room (not that I need to fill it, and I don't listen loud), but I love the foot print of them. Also, because they are Wilson, I again worry about placement.
Next would be Sonus Faber Guarneri Traditions. I think I would have end up adding a sub down the road which technically makes them the biggest option (by foot print). I LOVE the look of them. I also would consider Serafinos if I don't need a but I feel like we are getting into next level stuff with those so everything, like the amp budget has to climb as well. Right now, my top choice amp for all options is a Hegel H390 or H590 so you get an ideal of budget. Tubes aren't an option.
Next would be Focal Sopra 2's. Visually, these are the bottom the list for me personally, but I think they are a bit of a middle ground sonically between the Sabrina's and GT's...
I am going to listen to all 4 speakers this week.
My question is which of the 4 would work best in my room given the placement restrictions? The Sophia's may be a no brainer here because of the price and that they are second hand so they have already depreciated so I could buy them and change to another option later. Are their others that you would strongly suggest? Maggies aren't an option due to looks. Magico isn't an option either.
Thank you for reading,
-Paul
+1 ATC! Its sealed cabinet design ensures excellent timing, useful low frequency output below the cut-off and that the speakers can be placed relatively close to walls without excessive low frequency output or ‘boom’. Both the mid-bass driver and tweeter are handmade by ATC. SCM20 | ATC Loudspeakersatc.audio/hi-fi/loudspeakers/classic-series/scm20/ |
I will also recommend Sonus Faber speakers. Don't worry for HF resolution and details, they have developed new technology DAD (Damped apex dome tweeter) which allows them for very high HF extension without distortion. With that in mind, you will hear plenty of details and resolution. But what you will like the most is the music that will come out of your speakers. Intimate, engaging, pleasant ... |
I like your layout - I love open concept and the modern touches. And I have a different layout but very large open area with 12'ft ceilings and an additional tray that goes up as well as the stairway going to the ground floor. An area rug and comfortable couch are excellent additions for comfort as well as sound treatments - I also have cellular blinds as window treatments to help manage the sound. I am a big fan of Sonus faber - I have the Olympica Nova Vs. Previously I owned the the Sonetto Vs. That being said I think you have an excellent pool of speakers - you're real decision is what is the sonic character you like. Tweeter characteristics, the construction of the cabinet and efficiency of the speaker. Enjoy the journey! |
As others have said, where ever you end up with speakers, a large heavy area rug for your seating area would be really important. I would also look to drape the fireplace with a fabric buffer. Think like a heavy curtain material as a valance. Let your wife have at it there. Can change with the seasons as a decorative touch. You could test the affect it has on your sound with a blanket initially. Those hard marble edges that close to the speakers will make upper mids and highs messy. A plant (ficus, fern, ivy) on the right will help diffuse your widow wall on that side. Speaker comments and recommendations to date are good. I would also look at closed box, or front ported, and would also add in that I think speakers with ribbon tweeters would work well in your space and add some of the sonic experience you are used to with your headphone lineup. If acceptable to spatial plans, I would also consider moving the seating area a foot or so closer to the kitchen area and widening the speaker placement to compensate. Adjust toward a 10’+ from speakers to open up the sonic space a little more, rather than near field. I don’t know what the issues would be for Canada, but you may want to look at the Ascend Acoustics Luna. http://ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/luna/luna.html. Give them a call, they offer in home trail, and are responsive to phone inquiry and are helpful. I am not a super high end audiophile, but find their speakers very natural sounding, accurate, and fast responding. Even their Sierra line would work with 1 foot from front wall and damper foam in the rear port. My listening space in an apartment is awful, no depth, no space behind listening position, 8 ft. ceiling, about 10’ deep so closer to near field, and very close left wall are real issues. Would love maggies cause i love their sound, but I don’t have the space for them, or a lot of speakers that I could really appreciate. I haven’t heard the Paradigm Active 20’s, but will say that I have heard their passive small speakers, and find that to my ears they only work well in a very narrow volume range. Balance of woofer and tweeter only work well at reference volume or slightly above (maybe 85 to 90db didn’t really push them higher). Terrible at lower volume (the dark sound you referenced, and no coherence ).
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