Speaker suggestions wanted

Resuviator, the Thiels may not be the problem? I used to sell them and(the older ones anyway) they really need electronics and a front end that can convey the emotive qualitys you felt they were lacking(most cd palyers sound unenvolving to me). All good speakers are stupid beasts, they just eat what you feed them. Feed them something cold and something cold comes out. They are a pretty clear window back to what they are hooked up to. I personaly liked them with something sort of romantic sounding like some of the Conrad Johnson tubes.(I understand the Carry stuff may have a sound something like that) but never with anything solid state that I ever tried them with seemed to do it for me. This is not an attack on you SS guys, so please don't all of you transistor types out there "flame" me now.

A used pair of Silverline Sonatinas might fit the bill nicely considering your tastes and room size. To meet your price target you might need to go with the old cabinet style, but I think it's actually more attractive than the Sonatina IIs. You will sacrifice a little bass with the older version though, but it should still give you enough to play with. I've always liked Thiels too, and I think the Sonatinas do many of the same things but evoke a little more emotion and are much easier to match with upstream components. Best of luck.

Tim

Get a pair of Spendor SP-7/1's. They are simply beautiful to both look at and listen to. You will not be sorry you bought them! Can be found periodically for about $1,200
a pair. Stunning mids, excellent soundstage, good enough bass and an ease and naturalness that will sweep you away.
Buy em. Plus they will fit in your room like a glove.

R,
My listening room is very similar in dimensions to the one you describe, though a bit more than 10' width. But a few questions first: I am not sure I understand your restrictions on placement. If the speakers are placed on the long wall, with the right 2 feet from the side wall and 7' between the two, is the left speaker 12 feet from its side wall? And if the listener is 7' from the center axis, won't he be 3.5 feet to the outside of one of the speakers? Maybe I misunderstood the second, and it is seven feet away from the line connecting the two?

In any case, regarding the SM1's: Dunlavy specifically instructs owners to

-place them on the long wall

-to NOT have the speakers be the same distance from their back and side walls

-to have the listener sit reasonably close to his back wall

-to have the distance between speakers be greater than the distance from the listener to each speaker, as the crow flies

I think your set up meets these requirements except for my questions about the left speakers placement versus the sidewall, and the listener versus the center of axis. The SM1s are excellent in many respects and remarkable in imaging, but much less so if the distances from side walls and back walls are not consistent between speakers, and expecially if the listening position is quite off center.

C.

Fly fish nz. C, In response to your questions: Yes the left spkr will be 12' from the side wall (with a desk in between)
Also the listening position will be 7' from the midpoint between the speakers,not the room. Thankyou for your Dunlavy SM-1 suggestion. Why is it do you think that this model (yr 2000 model according to audiogon)is not on the Dunlavy website? Have you heard them? Thanks D.