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Low Volume Speakers to pair with Gato 150

I recently moved back into my home and into a new audio set up throughout my house.  After shifting my equipment around and settling in most places, I am left with an unassigned GATO 150 amp and my main bedroom to set up, but no speakers.  I am hoping for some speaker recommendations that would pair well with this amp.  While this is a really nice amp, long story short, this is a 2nd/3rd system in my house, so trying to keep my speaker budget for this room in the $1k ballpark so I don't get too carried away.  The room is roughly 16' square, about 250 SF with vaulted ceilings and carpet floor.  Since this is my bedroom, I am looking for something that will play very nicely at low volumes.  Essentially will be playing jazz, folk/rock, acoustic, anything from Radio Paradise mellow mix.  This does not need to be a very resolving system, but much rather looking for that musicality.  I also have a Moon/KEF Reference set up as my main system, so looking for something very different in this room. I have not selected my source yet (probably SONOS port to stream to accomodate whole house music, and some sort of external DAC eventually), but in any case will be all streaming, no vinyl or cds.  Also would the speakers to produce a sound field that is great off-axis. 

Thanks and appreciate any input.  

rogclark783
chenry's avatar
chenry
190 posts
 

ELAC UniFi UBR 62, Martin Logan Motion XT B100, Omega Speaker Systems Compact Alnico Monitor.

jayctoy's avatar
jayctoy
4,050 posts
 

Omega. Speakers systems Compact Alnico monitor +1.

elliottbnewcombjr
5,373 posts
 

At Low Volume Listening: on average, human ears hear mids best, less well the highs and lows. We hear them all equally at ’normal’ volumes.

Maintaining awareness of the Bass player in Jazz groups is what keeps low volume listening ’involving’ for me. you said ’musicality’, it’s about preserving that ’musicality’ at low volume.

Your ’left over’ amp has no balance, tone, or ’loudness’ features. Your placement limitations might make balance a needed feature for imaging.

Low Volume Listening (loudness is such a stupid name) is what Fletcher Munson Loudness Compensation is all about.

wiki explains Fletcher Munson

As you lower the volume, progressively, the bass and highs get boosted, progressively. One maker inversely cuts the mids progressively as their method, I forget which one.

You could see if you think you need it, then solve it one of 2 ways:

1. replace the amp with one with built-in ’Loudness’, and Balance, and Tone Controls, many vintage Yamaha (and other makers) have all this, some with no remote control. Proper implementation: Look for Two controls, One ’Volume’, other ’Loudness’. Start with loudness ’flat’, set ’normal’ volume with volume control. use ’loudness’ control to lower the volume, fletcher munson begins progressively. loudness back to flat (essentially loudness off), use the main Volume control for occasional increase above normal listening level.

Do not lower the main volume below your pre-determined 'normal' as that does not progressively boost the highs or lows. Always use 'loudness' to lower below 'normal'.

 

2. my solution, to use featureless, or vintage feature laden non-remote equipment, is to add the Chase Remote Line Controller RLC-1. You must have the remote, no controls on the unit itself.

Remote Volume and Balance, and progressive bass boost as you lower the volume, continue to use your or any amp. Mute, tone controls, 4 switchable line inputs, two identical outputs

New with Remote

 

g2the2nd
67 posts
 

My bedroom speakers are Teton Lores. Sound great low, don’t need stands and the drivers are at the right height for listening from bed. In your budget too.

rogclark783 OP
7 posts
 

I really appreciate all these thoughts. What do people think about something from the Q acoustics line?

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