@cookiecurls you already have received some very good recommendations. I agree with those who suggest one of the BBC models. When I moved nearly a decade ago into a home with a small dedicated listening room, I had opportunity to build a system specifically for the space. Like you, Iām sensitive to high frequencies and lean toward warmer presentations of music. After an exhausting and exhaustive review of every stand mounted speaker at AXPONA, I decided to bring home a pair of Reference 3A MM de Capo BE speakers to audition. At the show, I thought they offered a more perfect balance (to my ear) of accuracy and warmth than any of the others I auditioned, many of which are suggested above. Reference 3A is not well known, but they have been around a very long time and are well regarded. The last I looked, they were less than half your budget. By the way, I recently added a pair of REL T7x subs to my system; they play beautifully with the Ref 3As.
Help Deciding On New Speakers For Small Room, $10k budget
Hello everyone! A brief background. For the first time in my life, I have a dedicated room for listening! š Iām very excited about it. However, itās not very big. Something is better than nothing though. Previously I always lived in apartments and had to primarily listen on headphones. The room size is 10 feet by 11 feet with 10 foot ceilings, almost a perfect square. It has already been professionally sound treated with many panels from Gik Acoustics. So despite its tricky sizing, it should be all set up for a proper experience! And I already have a nice chain, a McIntosh MC52 Preamp and Primare Power Amp and CD Player with a Holo Audio May KTE. Oh, I also have a Rel A7X subwoofer.
I unfortunately have a disability that makes it very difficult for me to travel. I cannot easily just go to a hifi store and try things. I also live kinda in the middle of nowhere. But Iām a former professional musician and music is my life, and I want to feel connected to my music as much as I can, so Iām willing to invest into it. I have a budget of about $10k give or take $1k or so. I donāt mind looking at used options in like new condition.
A little about my hearing preferences: I am very sensitive to high frequencies, specifically around 7k-10k. For reference, every hifi headphone Iāve ever used made me wince because the high frequencies are too pronounced. I just put up with it because I didnāt have a choice, but Iāve noticed that with speakers Iām usually not so sensitive to them so Iām excited to go down this journey and enjoy my music listening more. I like powerful, punchy bass, and generally prefer a warmer sound signature, however, even though my ears are sensitive to higher frequencies, I love a nice crisp and realistic cymbal sound. In general, as a musician, I think Iād love something that sounds ātrue to lifeā because I have obviously a lot of experience hearing instruments live. I mostly listen to jazz (because Iām a jazz musician) but I also love music of all genres like rock, electronic, pop, soul, alternative, and occasionally K-Pop too, Iām pretty open minded. So something that is a good all-rounder might also be nice. Writing this all out, I now think I might be asking for the moon though, so letās just say jazz and realistic instruments is my main priority š
So with all that said, I would greatly appreciate your suggestions. Iāve been looking at Focalās line of Kanta and Sopra but Iāve heard they are bright. Iāve heard B&W but I donāt think their house sound is for me, again too bright. Ā Also debating between bookshelves and small floor standers for a smallish room. Iāve been looking also at Canton, Dali, Tannoy and Wharfdale, but Iām not as familiar with the speaker world as I am the headphone or IEM world, so Iām quite open to ideas. Thank you so much and best wishes on the evening of this crazy time Iām in the U.S.!
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Given your requirements especially in the treble: Ā odyssey audio Lorelei. $2900 and add a Rythmic sealed sub or two, if needed.Ā https://odysseyaudio.com/lorelei-floorstanding-speaker/ Ā Ā |
++++1 for Joseph Audio Pulsar Graphene if you choose stand mounts, they have been stellar every time I have heard them (dealer demo, audio show, or friends home)....and they seem to be a little more forgiving of electronics If you like horns or hornĀ hybrids, the Volit Lucera speakers are brilliant.....and amazing at placing you in the music. Downside: you will not be able to demo them, they are floor stand speakers, and at $11,5000.....$1,500 over your budget. My next speakers to add to my collection (as of this writing) will be one of those 2 speakers. |
You probably have enough suggestions but I'll throw in the speakers I have in my secondary system in a smallish room with no room for speaker stands: Nola Boxer S3s. I tried several other speakers in the room and had issues. I find this speaker to be a great all arounder that does everything well and would probably be even better if I could put them on stands. As it is, they are sitting on an entertainment console about one foot from the wall which is as far as I can push them away from the wall. Even in this less than ideal situation, they sound terrific. Here's a review linked: https://positive-feedback.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/nola-boxer-s3-bookshelf-loudspeakers/ |
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