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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
mckc
6 posts
 
Fujindemon,

I have to applaud the advice of Audiokinesis. This is knowledge and experience that is worth paying for and a great example of what a good retailer can offer. If only one had been around when I was starting...

I would certainly be in contact with the gentleman. If you follow the advice on the speaker, you will have something that will provide long-term enjoyment. Lastly, it is my understanding that the Gradients are very accurate in the right ways.

Best regards and applause for Duke,

Mike C.
fujindemon OP
134 posts
 
been busy for a couple of days...
i would like to thank everyone for their input, especially audiokinesis, i feel more prepared for speaker shopping now.

please continue to post if you have any new thoughts, advice, suggestions, etc

to be clear, and not sound snooty, i meant to say a local dealer typically only stocks a company's flagship model in store. according to him it is much better for business to 'downsell' after an audition if the customer's budget dictates than to 'upsell'.

anyway, i thought that i should add to my original post and say that my current room is strictly temporary. eventually, sooner than later i hope, i will have a dedicated listening room. when i purchase my first home, i will first select the best room for listening, then arrange for living spaces. i do have my priorities straight, i think. so the listening room will open up a bit i imagine from 10' by 12' (ish)

another thing: are talon speakers everything people describe them to be? i have yet to find a genuine complaint regarding their various models. specifically, do the peregrine monitors (80 some pounds each, hard to think of them as monitors at that point, but they are) really dig down below 40hz or is this just an optimistic manufacturer specification. i ask because i've seen these come up used once or twice and can't find a dealer to audition here in philadelphia.

so monitors or floorstanders, i'd like to continue to hear what people have to say.
btw, i would like to purchase a speaker for a lengthy stay in my system, i.e. i almost certainly want something to build another sytem around over the next few years. my current thoughts on amplification run toward vac, lamm, joule, atma-sphere and airtight (though almost certainly cherished used gear)

thanks again and in advance
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
Somehow I dislike Talone floorstanders and like the monitors Peregine and Khite for their realistic nature. They realy drop down bellow 40Hz but not on the slam level.
If the budget allowes, you can only benefit with these.
sonaalice234
1 posts
 

I just auditioned Canton speakers to compare them to my Reference 100s. But a Canton monitor blew me away. Not Canton, but a good monitor will get you far. With a sub, you have a great speaker system. See Talon monitors. Nothing about them, yet all reviews are favorable. They're out of your price range if you purchase new. but secondhand may be viable. Rogue also powered the Canton Monitors.

secretguy
1,681 posts
 

This always baffles me. A monitor ends up taking the same floor space yet gives so much less. Different strokes, I guess.

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