Full-range recommendations
I think the Pulsars would be a great speaker for your situation. They are not sterile nor are they overly warm, they probably image and soundstage as well or better than your Ref 3As and will certainly add the bass you're currently lacking. They may even have enough bass if you move to a larger room as well. The Dyns are great too, but personally I can't get past the looks. Not sure the Avalons would give you the warmth you're looking for but I've not heard them in a while. Best of luck. |
How about LSA's LSA2.1 Statement? Price is right, has nice smooth airy tweeter, and reviews indicate it has excellent bass extension. A pair of 6-1/2" woofers per side is about as much woofer action as an 11x14 room could handle, and I have Mirage M5si's, whose dual 6-1/2" woofs have no trouble pressurizing my 18x22 room downinto the high 20s. It would be a great match for your amp. Talk to Wally; see what he thinks. |
I also agree with Phasecorrect: although I suggested the LSA 2.1 Statements, your situation is practically begging for a sub or two. Your current speakers are excellent from around 50 Hz up and your room is not very large. A viable solution is to add a sub or two to fill out that bottom octave. The advantages of powered subs are that some of them have high pass filters that limit the LF signal going to your little monitors, thereby making them clearer and more dynamic in their natural range, you can experiment with the subs' crossover points, phase relationships, and bass output to match your room, and you can locate the subs in-room where you get the best bass response while you place your monitors where you get the best soundstage and imaging. If you get the first Stereophile test & demonstration CD, it has test tones from 1Khz down to 20 Hz and makes it easier to get flat bass response from the monitors' output down to the lowest capabilities of the sub(s). I find it easier to use this tool to integrate subs with sats than it is to move big heavy full-rangers on an inch at a time one way and another to try to get best imaging, fewest room resonances, *and* best bass linearity and extension. Right now Audio Advisor has the MartinLogan Depth 3-driver sub on sale for$1349.10 through Sunday. It has a high pass crossover settable to 40 or 70 Hz and low pass to the sub ranging from 30 Hz to 80 Hz. Its bass extends down into the 20s, yet it has its own volume control so you can get your best bass extension without overloading your foom. It features three 8-inch aluminum cone drivers for fast transient response to blend with your Reference 3As while offering the radiating area of a 15-inch driver for bass slam and depth. If it doesn't work out for you, AA has a 30-day trial-and-return period and all it costs you is return shipping. Disclaimer: I have no relationship with Audio Advisor except as a satisfied customer. I have no relationship with MartinLogan subwoofers except as an impressed listener. |
