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Seeking speakers under $3K for 10x12 ft room and driven by 20wpc tube amp

I currently have a pair of Apogee Acoustics Centaur Minors driven by a new Black Ice integrated tube amp. The small but dedicated listening room means I’m doing near-field listening with me and the speakers forming a 6’ triangle. As you might expect, these speakers have terrific midrange but at 85dB sensitivity they are a bit difficult to drive and feel limited in dynamics. The room is acoustically treated.


I almost exclusively listen to small combo acoustic jazz and vocals and I’m seeking recommendations for something easier to drive and more dynamic that provides a more “palpable presence” of the musicians when played at louder levels. Prefer small floorstanders for aesthetics but not essential and preferably a brand where I might have a chance to audition them (I’m in SoCal). Also open to used (e.g. something like Wilson Cubs). TIA!

p.s. thanks for the Sonus faber suggestion.

ristretto
jimijam
59 posts
 

Try JBL L300  or JBL L112

mesch
3,519 posts
 

I am owner of the Fritz Carbon 7 SE MK2s. I have no doubt that they can be driven to loud levels with the OP's 20wpc amplifier in a room larger than 10x12'.

My only concern is that they would likely sound best at least 2' from the wall behind.

quickjack1234's avatar
quickjack1234
79 posts
 

here awesome ! May be an image of speaker and text

coltrane1's avatar
coltrane1
796 posts
 

These! And solid wood, no MDF.

elliottbnewcombjr
5,528 posts
 

someone said "provides a more “palpable presence” of the musicians when played at louder levels".

I keep shaking my head when I see all these small drivers trying to be woofers, long throw, ports, slots, corner placement reinforcement, .... and finally, like I did with my Wharfedales, add a self-powered sub so they don’t sound as small as they actually are. Superior parts, crossover wizardry from a magic kingdom cannot get more ’palpable presense’ out of these size drivers.

Your existing speakers indicate a past draw to ribbons, ribbon tweeters, I suspect years of listening with no strong fundamentals and their overtones.

I wish you lived near enough to hear these compact 3 ways with a 10" woofer that my experience indicates you can listen to from a short distance. I assumed they would be ’too big, that close’, so happy to discover I was wrong.

Having level controls to adjust the frequencies to whatever space you use them in is a big plus, repeat, big plus, for any speaker, in any space. The preponderance of room treatments is related to the lack of level controls IMO!

 

 

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