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Is it worth it?

I'll make this as brief as I can. I have a 15K front end, Audio Research, Theta, VPI etc. Retired to a small house, gave up my Von Schweikert 4.5s and listening room as part of the compromise my wife and I made. My room now is so small I need a monitor to try to get something I can live with with the quality of sound I'm use to. Nothing in this small town to hear, so can anyone suggest an alternative small speaker with state of the art sound? Envolving yet revealing. Thinking of Revel, Tyler, Totem but don't want to spend that kind of money if a lower cost speaker would come close, don't forget the room is the limiting factor. Help, before I throw in the towel!
jbelley3d7c
sdcampbell
2,136 posts
 
One of my favorite small monitors is the Sequerra MET-7, designed by audio guru Richard Sequerra. Warm but revealing, outstanding soundstaging, etc. You might want to augment them with a subwoofer, but during the years I owned the MET-7's I had no sub, and didn't feel terribly deprived.

The MET-7's have had only a few audio reviews written about them, but all the ones I've seen going back to the mid-1980's have been laudatory (Harry Pearson, founder of TAS, give them high marks). For more info about the Sequerra MET-7, go the the following link:
http://www.sequerra.com/electronics/data/index.html
john_l
782 posts
 
If I were stuck in a small room, I would try out Audio Physic Sparks, proac tablette 2000 signatures, Gallo Nucleas's, or Reference3a MM Decapo
The sparks are very clean sounding with amazing imaging. They are also small enough to slide back against a wall when not in use. Small, and floorstanding.
The proac tabs are a little more laid back, but will mate very well with ARC electronics. Very small.
The gallo's are futuristic looking and have tremendous imaging.
The reference3a's are a two-way ported monitor with no crossover (just a capacitor). They do well against a back wall & have amazing resolution. One of my friends just loaned me his set & I am very impressed with them.

I have also heard linn speakers (nexus) sound good in smaller rooms. You should look into some of the british manufacturers. Their speakers seem to be designed for placement in a smaller room & against a wall.
edesilva
768 posts
 
I'd second the ProAcs--they are fast and accurate, and don't try to compensate for being monitors by bloating out the mid-bass. They are also voiced with ARC electronics, so a good match with what you have. I loved the sound of my Response 2s with my VT100.
rockvirgo
587 posts
 
A day or so ago someone listed ProAc 2000 signatures in birds eye maple at a fair price. A salesperson once told me their designer voices the whole line using Audio Research tube gear. Give em a try until you figure out how to spend 3x as much.

You might also consider Dynaudio Contour 1.3's for the short list. I've only auditioned those but they made me smile when I listened; I'm still not sure exactly why. Enjoy your new surroundings!
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