2. speakers
  3. 185202-126036

Recommendations for against the wall high efficiency speakers

I’m a believer in synergy, not individual components.   I’m setting up a new system in my condo and like most condos, I’ve got some limitations.   My room is 16’ wide and 35’ long, 9’ height.   The system will be placed 2/3 down on the long wall.   It’s the living room and my wife says no ugly room treatments as it’s our living room.   Just to head this off - I don’t need a new wife.    I listen at moderate levels (usually 70-85db).   Mostly progressive rock and jazz, all streamed, no phono.   Budget is $8k, for used speakers.   Once the speakers are mostly set, I'll work on amps, preamp, DAC, streamer, & cables ($25k all in budget, all used components).

 

The speakers will need to be placed right up next to the wall, so I was thinking of Ohm or Larsen, but these aren't very efficient – are there other options?   I’d like much higher efficiency as I like the dynamic presentation I generally get with that setup, but I don’t know of any efficient speakers I can place next to the wall.

 

I can add subs, if necessary, but I do need to take into account my neighbors above and below me.

 

I should add that historically, I've really preferred the sound of dipoles or open-baffle designs, but I don't have the space for them here.

 

Any suggestions or recommendations for my new-to-me main speakers?

noodlyarm
noodlyarm OP
106 posts
 

@roxy54, Interesting idea.   I've not heard the Audio Note, but they are well reviewed.   I'll see if I can find a pair to audition somewhere.

 

@rar1, I love Zu and had not thought about them.   Can they be placed up against the wall?   I've only heard the Druid 5 out in the room a ways, and figured that ruled them out for me.

 

@paradisecom, I used to own a pair of La Scala's way back in the late 70's.   I loved them, particularly after I modded the crossovers and adopted the new (1980) mid driver.   They would be too large, but the Cornwall IV...   Hmmm.

 

@hedwigstheme, they don't have to be high efficiency, I just generally like the sound and dynamic contrasts of high efficiency speakers.   I've never heard of Gradient revolution, but I'm looking them up right after i hit send on this reply.

 

Thank you all.

grislybutter
3,304 posts
 

some high sensitivity speakers:

brand name model price sensitivity impedance
Paradigm Premier 100B 399 90 8
Indiana TESI 261 450 91 4
Usher s-520 475 91 8
Klipsch RP-500M II 500 92 8
Tekton MINI LORE MONITOR  700 95 8
Indiana DIVA 262 800 91 4
Sonus Faber Lumina I 1000 90 4
Zu DWX 1398 95 8
Tekton DYNAMITE MONITOR 1700 92 4
Indiana DIVA 660 2100 91 8
Fyne F500SP 2300 90 8
Paradigm Founder 40B 2400 92 8
Triangle 40th Anniversary Comete EZ 2500 90 8
Zu Union 6 2900 99 8
Martin Logan ElectroMotion ESL 2800USD 3000 91 6
Klipsch Heritage Heresy IV 3200 99 8
Reference 3a MM DE CAPO BE MONITOR 3290 93 8
Creative Sound Solutions Criton 2TD-X Tower 3300 90 6
Nola Boxer 3 3500 90 8
Amphion Helium520/2 way vented 3600 90 4
JBL JBL 4329 4500 91 8
Devore Fidelity FIDELITY ORANGUTAN O/BABY 6000 90 8
Volti Razz LE 6500 97 6
Q Acoustics Concept 500 7000 90 6
Vienna Acoustics Concert Grand Reference 9900 90 4
Wharfedale Elysian 4 10000 92 4
Soundkaos Vox 3 10000 90 4
Totem Element Metal V2 10500 91 4
Sonner Legato Duo 12000 90 4
Zu druid 6 12500 101 8
Tekton 1812 MODEL V12 12570 104 4
Klipsch Heritage La Scala AK6 13000 105 8
Avantgarde  Uno 15000 107 18
Verity Audio Lakme 16000 91 8
Volti Vittoria 16500 104 6
Devore Fidelity FIDELITY GIBBON X “TEN”  17000 91 8.
Perlisten  S7T 18000 92 4
Paradigm Persona 9H 18500 96 8
Triangle Magellan Quatuor 20000 91 8
Usher td-10 22000 91 8
ProAc K10 23000 92 4
fthompson251's avatar
fthompson251
474 posts
 

Legacy Audio Signatures. 92 dB

https://legacyaudio.com/products/view/signature-se

timo62
281 posts
 

Definitely should check Audio Note Speakers. If you would like their speakers , Audio Note has some great sounding Integrated amps like the Oto and the Soro to go with their speakers. They also make fantastic DACs like the DAC 2.1x Sig and the DAC 3.1x/II Balanced. Audio Note makes everything ,so you can even try their cables.

gill_benedek's avatar
gill_benedek
8 posts
 

@grislybutter - excellent resource in your response.

@noodlyarm : Dare I say you live in New York?  Well, I do, and I am in a similar set up in my apartment.  I recommend you give strong consideration to Audio Monitor Silver 500G 7 series (I believe 90.5 efficiency rating).  See below for my setup details.  Admittedly your budget is higher, but I chose the AM 500 7g after auditioning/listening to SF Lumina III, B&W 700 series options, Totems, and Focal 928.  I think the speed, resolution and soundstage of the AMs are great for the money, and even stood out from the (much) more expensive pack at the 2022 Toronto Audio show.  I like the synergy with with my Hegel.  

 

AUDIO SETUP:
** Hegel 190 (did not do the firmware update as I hear it shifts audio level such that 40 would now play at like 70).  
** Monitor Audio 500 7G
** Pine Tree Audio Cables (6ft Iso-Quad Bi-Wire)
** Sources: Tidal via BubbleUpnP and Spotify
 

BUT PERHAPS SLIGHTLY OVER YOUR SPEAKER BUDGET, PERHAPS CONSIDER THESE:

* Going slightly over budget for Revel Ultima Salon 2, since you could probably get this premier (slightly older speaker), though it's honestly probably too much speaker for your space.

* I've never personally heard Dyanaudio Contours and Confidence series but their price point and reviews seem to be compelling, on my short list to hear at some point.

* If you can find the avantgarde zero ta plus for that price point, it may blow you away, but hard to find and likely slightly more.  Amazing how after 15 minutes of listening the "horn" type of sound starts to normalize and then you wonder why they're not embraced more.

More to discover