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Monitors for 14 x 20 Room

Hi All,

My wife inherited a home she wants to keep. It has a 14 foot by 20 foot living room. The front wall is on the 14 foot width and the listening position is 11 feet away.  The 20 foot length opens to other parts of the house about ten feet from the front wall on one side.

I am currently using an old pair of Paradigm Titans connected to a garage sale Niles SI 275 amp, Luminous Axiom II Passive preamp, and Sansui  TU717 tuner.

For a cobbled together second system it is marginally okay but I want to start the improvement process. If you believe Audio Science Review, the amp is a bargain at $100; and I know the Luminous preamp preamp. Yes, the source leaves something to be desired.

My thought is the speakers are the place to start. The speakers with the 75 wpc amp are fully capable of blowing me out of the room. The problems are that the speakers lack high end detail and nuance, the bass stops at 60 HZ, and I think I hear distortion everywhere.

My main speakers are Klipsch Forte iv's and Zu Soul Sixes as I try to figure out which I prefer; having made a decision to move to higher efficiency speakers and lower power amps.

So...I am looking for monitor speakers that are not large, would be happy at no more than 50 wpc in the future, get down below 50 HZ in the bass, and have a cleaner treble.

Speaker budget is $1,000 and used is fine. Your suggestions, please!

Dsper

 

 

 

dsper
slowlane
9 posts
 

Secondhand Dynaudio X14's might fit your criteria including your wife's preference for a smaller speaker. Secondhand prior version of the PSB Synchrony One B is another candidate within in your budget. Beware the One B is about the same size as the Fritz Carbon.

Since you mention you would spend Fritz money if the speakers were smaller, you might consider the Burkhardt S400. The current MK II version is about $2200 new. If you were careful and patient, you might get a secondhand MKI set for $1200 or better. The MK I is "warmer", according to Burkhardt.

Good luck with your shopping!

dsper OP
663 posts
 

Lots of good advice here. Thanks!

Quite a few suggestions are about as large as Fritz speakers. Maybe, I need to just buy Fritz speakers and beg for forgiveness😊

@erik_squires

 

What are sliced paper cones? Never heard of these before your post. 

@mesch

Have you played your Paradigm speakers with another amp and source? 

Yes, maybe I  should not have used the the word distortion. Lack of detail and nuance is probably more accurate! Nothing at the extremes that sounds good. Just an inexpensive speaker... 

sbrownnw
700 posts
 

Wharfdale Denton 80th anniversary monitors on good rigid stands.  I have some in my bedroom system and sound great.  I tried them with a Simaudio Moon I-3 and it was a very nice combo.  I got the I-3 while my other preamp and amp were getting serviced.  I might be selling the I-3 as I have plenty of gear already.

octet11
41 posts
 

Look into the Totem brand, many good examples of smallish speakers that under the right circumstances fill the soundstage and are non-fatiguing 

crouse99
44 posts
 

I am not familiar with your amp so I can't say for certain it would work with the original KEF LS50's but I can say the speakers are excellent.  Used ones can be had for $600 to $700. 

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