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Top monitors 3K - 6K range

Hello all,

I am looking into some flagship monitors and I'd like some help/recommendations. I don't have a single sound I like and my tastes in music are pretty diverse too. Currently I have a few nice speakers including Harbeth SHL-5, B&W 805N, Magnepan 1.6 and PSB Imagine B. These speakers are all pretty different and I do like them all. I have owned Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor M which somehow did not do it for me, amazing imaging but a little thick. Also I have had the Merlin TSM MMI which was great but my amplification is SS which seems to cause some restrictions.

My room is 12x16, speakers on the short wall. I do tend to like a slightly warm sounds but I also love dynamics, pinpoint imaging and sexy looking cabinets.

I am currently looking into:

B&W 805D
Totem Mani 2 Signature
Dynaudio C1
Focal Micro Be
Usher BE-718
Volent VL-2
Evolution MMMicroOne

Any recommendations? Am I missing anything?
128x128michaelkingdom
shsohis
119 posts
 
Joseph Audio Pulsar gets my vote.
yashu
196 posts
 
Great post Michael. Especially enjoyed your feelings on the C1, and I do agree.

Have had mine MKII, for a few months replacing Proac response 2.5. I was amazed how a monitor could sound this impressive especially replacing a floor stander. Proac was also a wonderful sound, but I think I am enjoying these quite a bit.

Must admit did have to get accustomed to the change after so many years living with the "British sound".

Louis
michaelkingdom's avatar
michaelkingdom OP
153 posts
 
I purposely left out which speakers I kept because I didn't want it to affect the way that I was describing the sounds. In the end, I did end up keeping the Focals simply for the fact that I like the way they sounded more. All analysis aside, they just fit better the type of listening that I do. The C1 is perhaps the statistical winner in my comparison but that was derived from listening habits that were outside of my normal path. On a regular day, with my normal habits the Focals are a much better fit. I find it amazing that the BE tweeter is not considered legendary because to me it is the single most dynamic driver I've ever heard - yet...

I am thinking of trying out some 805Ds to see how they match up.
kzhtoo
222 posts
 
Thanks for the unbiased, insightful and intimate review, Michael. I enjoy reading it. It deserves a new thread.
wcheng
33 posts
 
After receiving them last week, the Vapor Audio Cirrus definitely belongs somewhere near the top of this list
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