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Back to Square One

I'll make a long story short. Thanks to some car repairs since September I've shot my disposable income for the year. Still need a pair of speakers too because when I was just about to buy a pair my car needed a new engine.

Have looked at the DIY concept but have become very discouraged with the attitude of some of the people. Many have an elitist attitude that ANY commercial offering is junk and pales in comparison to any home built speaker or speaker kit. In light of this I don't entirely trust some of the advice I am getting from those people on another forum.

At this point I think I can scrape up around $400 again by May if nothing else happens to cause me to be out 4 grand or $1500 at a shot. I figure I can still get a decent speaker for up to $400 and be content until at some point when I can build a DIY kit or find a better commercial offering.

1) My current Jamo C 601's sound fine but need to be placed 24 inches from the back wall to give the right sound stage. I need something that can be placed right up against the back wall or perhaps a few inches off.

2) Need a speaker with a mellow high end. Nothing bright. Like a nice soundstage and good detail. Bass does not need to be heavy. Just want to hear it.

3) Prefer a bookshelf speaker though may consider a small tower if it is light weight.

4) Will be using a Qinpu A3 integrated amp and also a Dayton DTA 120 solid state integrated amp. 50 wpc into 8 ohms.

5) Room size is 14 by 12 with a 9 foot ceiling. Hardwood floors too. Thus the need for a mellow speaker.

Was thinking the Boston Acoustics A 25 might work. Read a couple of reviews that said it can be placed up against the wall and still sound decent.

Any other ideas. I am open to suggestions.
will62
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
Why is the weight of the Infinity Primus P363 such a factor? I'd consider 50 lbs to be a good thing for a small floorstander, and it has a lot going for it for being diminuitive while fully energizing your room and being devoid of cabinet resonances.

BTW, I think the WhatHiFi review chose poorly for the amplifier in their Aon test--an NAD D 3020, which is only 30 wpc. The symptoms they mentioned when trying to drive the Aons could easily be from running out of power. The Aons can absorb lots of power (200w) and play LOUD. With an 86 dB sensitivity, they should be able to put out nearly 110 dB (at one meter) with 200 watts input. That's loud, esp. in a 9x12 room. Your ceiling height doesn't make that much difference; it's the same volume as a 10 x 12 room with conventional 8' ceiling. This is the size of a typical kid's bedroom in a 3-bedroom house.

That review reveals more about successful amp-matching than speaker quality.
will62 OP
177 posts
 
http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/infinity-primus-p363-loudspeaker/?page=2

Looks like a good speaker. But again the weight is an issue. I have had a slipped disc in my back for 20 years and as I've gotten older I have eliminated most of my heavy furniture. Aside from my Mirage OM 10 towers I don't have anything that weighs more than 40 lbs at this time except for a chair that belonged to my Grandfather. When I buy a dresser again that will likely be as light a piece as I can find.

If I knew I was not going to move again I would be more inclined to buy a larger speaker. But the house is small and not ideal as my permanent home. Current apartment is even punier and these would take up half the room. LOL
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
Maybe you should consider the Magneplanar MMGs. They are $599/pair, are
only a couple inches deep and only weigh 20 lbs. each. You could place
them within a few inches of the wall when not in use and bring them out into
the room for music. At 20 lbs. each and 14.5" wide, they'd be easy to
move. I have a pair of 1.7s for an open architecture living room (augmented
by some small subwoofers and I *really* like them. It's amazing how natural a
speaker can sound when it has no enclosure and lots of diaphragm area. I
didn't realize how noisy conventional speakers are, trying to contain all the
backwave energy in a small box, which also bounces the sound around and
(presumably) influences the motion of the drivers.

FWIW, your dealer's recommendation of the Wharfedale Diamonds seems to
be a very good fit. I have had a pair of Diamond 7.3 compact towers in
constant use for 16 years.
will62 OP
177 posts
 
After I get my taxes done in early April I will know what I can afford. If I don't owe and get a few hundred back I may be able to purchase something up to $600. The MMG's do interest me and I have considered these over the years. Since they are light weight and can be moved, I would not have an issue owning a pair of these.

I have picked out a pair of DIY speakers which will be purchased at the end of this year or after I get moved into a house (or the existing house). But I want a pair of new commercial grade speakers as well since I will have two systems. Not sure the OM 10's will sound right in the other room due to placement issues again and the shape of one wall.

I also have to contend with plaster walls in the current house. Have put in some heavy drapes and will get some acoustic panels for the walls if I can figure out a way to mount them without drilling into the plaster. That being the case I must have a mellow speaker to avoid listening fatigue. Little question the Wharfedale's should work fine in that environment. Their Denton is half off at Music Direct and that might be worth considering since it has a very mellow sound and also does not need to be that far off the rear wall to sound good.
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