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Bookshelf speaker for Stingray II?

I'm putting together a secondary system based around a Manley Stingray II. I'm looking for bookshelf speakers (27x13x17 inches max, h/w/d) that will synergize well with it, and also work well lying on horizontally in a wall unit.

The room is large (28x18x8) and very "live," and the wall unit is on a short wall. Tweeters will be roughly at ear height, sitting. Obviously, the set up is severely compromised from the get-go, but it's our living room and I have to make the concessions.

I've read that the small Reynauds (Twins, Bliss) are good with the Stingray but I don't know how they'd sound on their sides, close to the wall. Any other suggestions? I'd probably need something sealed or front-ported. Budget is around $2K but I'm willing to step up for something just right.

Because of the room size and limited power of the Stingray (20w triode, 40 ultraliner), I'll need a pretty easy 4 ohm load. I have a small Von Schweikert sub I can add. I currently have a Moth S2A3 + Omega Grande 8Rs (3 watts + 96 db single-driver) in this space and the combo fills the room surprisingly well, with the sub. But I want more body and impact than the flea watts can deliver, hence the Manley.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
wrm57
rar1's avatar
rar1
1,784 posts
 
The midrange can sound a bit sweeter and with a little more control with ALNICO magnet speakers. With the Omega Super 3s vocals were very lifelike, but could sound a little ragged or hooty at the edges.

Rich
goldprintaudio's avatar
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goldprintaudio
502 posts
 
As a Manley and Joseph Audio dealer, I can tell you that Joseph Audio RM7xl's work great with the Stingray. These are also front ported, so should work ok in your wall unit.
wrm57 OP
1,048 posts
 
Rich, when you tried the Spendor SA1, was the pair well run-in? I've been digging around. Apparently they have a very long break-in period. What did you dislike about them?

Bill
wrm57 OP
1,048 posts
 
Thanks, Goldprintaudio. How would they do on their side? I don't know the gospel concerning horizontal placement of high-end monitors, having been a floorstander most of my days. Do you have a sense for consequent sonic effects?

Bill
rar1's avatar
rar1
1,784 posts
 
Hi Bill:

I ran the Spendors for a little over a year before selling them. I am not sure whether it was because I had them on their sides or they were inside a bookcase with a rear wall, but the speakers just lacked oomph. The Rega Ara and Energy RC 10 both seemed to benefit from the close to rear wall reinforcement, but not the Spendors or Totem Mites, for that matter.

It's not that the Spendors sounded bad, but the sound was lightweight, no fullness. It was too expensive a speaker to have there and not to be happy with the sound. To also note, I live in an apartment and am the Board president, so I don't play music all that loud anyway. And that could be part of it now that I think of it, the Spendors may have needed to be played loud to sound their best, not unlike B&W.

Rich
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