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monitor or floorstander?

i'll be shopping for new speakers sometime this year, and plan a trip to a local hifi shop in the next few weeks.
previously i have investigated floorstanders only, was leaning toward audio physic virgos (out of budget, but they were sweet, i'd stretch if need be). the same dealer carries spendor, alon, proac, verity, among others but i did not have time to audition competitive speakers.
lately my thoughts have turned to monitor speakers. i suspect my interest in monitors comes from thinking that a monitor, dollar for dollar, will be designed better than a floorstanding sibling.
i would like to keep my budget under $3.5k, but closer to $2.5 or $3k would be preferred and want to wring every goddamn cent for what its worth. buying used is not a problem either.
i'm not dead set on monitors, and still have interest in floorstanders, but i need to hear from monitor people.

my dealer is coming out of a massive remodeling project and usually only stocks top of the line gear in store. i'm hoping he has a pair of spendor 1/2 and proac monitors for audition.
can anyone suggest competitive monitors?

my listening: uncle topelo, son volt, dylan, neil young, zappa, black crowes, alice in chains, soundgraden, miles, monk, coltrane, bill evans, l.hopkins, jack dupree, zeppelin, stones, beatles, asylum street spankers, supersuckers, fu manchu, nebula, gov't mule, g. dead, marley, etc to name a few from recent rotation. so definitley rock (acoustic & heavy), jazz, alt-country listening sessions.

does my taste in music preclude me from being a monitor man?

associated equipment:
rogue audio magnum 99 preamp
rogue audio 88 amp
metronome cd 1
msb link dac iii
music hall 5
pro-ject phono box (temporary fix for phono, to be replaced)
alpha core goertz mi2
alpha core tourmaline ics
ps audio p600
paradigm monitor 7's (artifact from previous system)

my listening room at the moment is a little corner of the basement i call my own, (10' by 12')ish, where i have to set my speakers along short wall, bad huh? unfortunatley NO CHOICE right now.

thanks in advance
fujindemon
seandtaylor99
1,262 posts
 
sorry I can't help with the speaker choice, but I have the same size room and I'm using spica angelus (bass shy floorstanders, not ported) and a Rel strata sub. It works to great effect, but only if I have the speakers at least 2.5 feet from the rear wall and 2 feet from the side wall and listen in the nearfield (about 6 feet from the plane of the speakers).

Funnily enough this is exactly how Audio Physic recommends. I got info. for my placement from these links :

http://www.cardas.com/insights/roomsetup.html

http://www.audiophysic.de/produkte/aufstellung/aufstellung_e2.html

My experience was that floorstanders can work well in a small room so long as they have very tight, controlled bass. I would imagine that rear porting might present problems as well.

But I think you;ll get astounding results even in the small room with the correct speakers.
brulee
564 posts
 
Hi Fuji, I gotta disagree with Buckingham on this one. A small two way will work much better in a room you size. IMO, a good two way always seem to have a more coherent, integrated sound. I don't think you will have nearly the problems with a monitor than a full range floorstander. Although the Virgo's do sound very tempting.
IMO, Gunbei has given you the best advise so far.
Good hunting, hope you find that perfect fit.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
monitors tend to give you more detailed fast and tight mids than floorstanders. if you add a woofer you'll have a full range.
rlwainwright
1,904 posts
 
I would go with the best sound (to YOUR ears) that you can find for the $ you have available. Keep in mind that this is probably not going to be a short-term purchase, I kept my last set of speakers for almost 20 years (!!), and I plan on doing the same with my new (to me) speakers. You will, most likely, change listening rooms in that time period, don't sell yourself short now.

As for new vs. used, unless you can get a smokin' deal on a new or demo pair, go with a lovingly used pair - I found a set off the 'Gon last year that were absolutely perfect and I saved big bucks doing it. There is SO much good, used equipment out there, it seems silly to me to pony up for new. Let somebody else take the depreciation, a quality two year old speaker still has 90% of its life to go...
steveaudio
331 posts
 
I vote for the Merlin TSM-M's (or buy used SE's & have them upgraded). They are fairly efficient & sound great with tubes. Awesome speakers! Good luck .
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