Many years ago I tried professional studio monitors, reasoning that people who (a) have to make their living listening to music and (b) have to listen for hours at a time every day, would be very sensitive both to accuracy (for want of a better word) and whether a speaker was fatiguing or not.
So far it's worked for me. I've now used Tannoy System 12 and 15 DMT monitors for several years and still marvel at the combination of detail and dynamics that never grates or irritates.
Of course, one's source components are an essential part of this equation. Also, if you want real 20 Hz bass, you'll need a subwoofer. Standard practice with studio monitors, even the huge main monitors, that use two large LF drivers, sacrifice the last octave in favour of sensitivity and dynamics and use a sub for LF reinforcement.
Driving 95-100 dB speakers with 1000 watts on the bottom and 500 on top may seem like madness, especially those who favour 5 wpc SETs for this purpose, but I've listened to a lot of audiophile setups, some costing as much as my house, and none compare to what I've heard from the main playback monitors (not the mixing monitors) in a good recording or mastering studio.
Some of my friends use the Tannoy DMT series speakers, too, and have rebuilt the crossovers with paper-in-oil caps for what they find is a smoother sound.
Hope this helps.
So far it's worked for me. I've now used Tannoy System 12 and 15 DMT monitors for several years and still marvel at the combination of detail and dynamics that never grates or irritates.
Of course, one's source components are an essential part of this equation. Also, if you want real 20 Hz bass, you'll need a subwoofer. Standard practice with studio monitors, even the huge main monitors, that use two large LF drivers, sacrifice the last octave in favour of sensitivity and dynamics and use a sub for LF reinforcement.
Driving 95-100 dB speakers with 1000 watts on the bottom and 500 on top may seem like madness, especially those who favour 5 wpc SETs for this purpose, but I've listened to a lot of audiophile setups, some costing as much as my house, and none compare to what I've heard from the main playback monitors (not the mixing monitors) in a good recording or mastering studio.
Some of my friends use the Tannoy DMT series speakers, too, and have rebuilt the crossovers with paper-in-oil caps for what they find is a smoother sound.
Hope this helps.