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Choosing a Floorstander by Footprint Size

I am helping my mom choose a floorstander with a very small footprint as she downsizes and moves to a retirement apartment.

They don't allow monitors on stands, and the layout of the room and furniture dictates size requirements.

I am looking for floorstanders that are about:
- 36" high
- 5-6" width
- 5-7" diameter

The only two that I have found are:

Indiana Arbour 4.02 (38hz-22000hz, 8 ohms, 90dB)
Monitor Audio Radius 270HD (48hz-35000hz, 8 ohms, 90dB)

The Arbours have been discontinued, though, so hard to find.

The MAs are sold as part of a HT system, but can stand alone. I auditioned them with NAD gear and was impressed with their soundstage and clarity. But they don't hit the bass, and in this situation, a subwoofer is not practical.

Any other speakers I should be looking at? They will be mated to either her current Electrocompaniet components, or more likely to some midrange NAD (integrated, CD, tuner)components. She listens to operas and classical music.
kixo
b_limo's avatar
b_limo
2,288 posts
 
Yeah, that is something else you might want to take into consideration is that small footprint speakers are easily tipped over, which is why, I'm assuming, that they don't want bookshelf speakers on stands. Maybe you could put a pair of bookshelf speakers on a shelf? Or dresser? Otherwise, the first that came to mind for me were totems.

Good luck! And visit your Grandma often ;-)
kixo OP
23 posts
 
Thanks everyone for your recommendations. The OHM Speakers really intrigued me as she will be sitting much of the time off-axis from the sweet spot, so the wider the sound stage, the better.

She can put bookshelfs on an open credenza, but I think she would prefer floorstanders.

For those who question the stability of these mini-towers, I have the same concern. Some have platforms to rest on to expand their footprint.

I have put several of these speakers on the short list, including the OHM MWT, Totem, and Vienna Acoustics. The are all in the $1001-1500 price range I am targeting.

One complication is that I am in CA, and she is in Honolulu, so no dealers where she is, and shipping is very expensive. (But thank you Crutchfield, which offers free shipping to all 50 states!)

I will revert with my findings. Thanks again to all who made recommendations.
chayro
3,011 posts
 
Check out Axiom Audio M50s. I set some friends up with a mid-fi system and they were quite respectable.
ngjockey
1,042 posts
 
Taller than suggested but BG Radia FS-420's at about $5000/pair are unobtrusive. Dipole might not be the best choice if close to the wall.
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
There's another speaker that nudges the footprint size a bit, but they're a little shorter at 33-7/16" tall. They're about 7-1/4" wide and about 9-3/4" deep. They are supplied with plinths and easily adjustable feet that widen the stance and thereby save you around $250 in outriggers. They are the Monitor Audio RX6 at $1250/pair retail. I've auditioned them and they sound wonderful with good bass extension and excellent top-to-bottom tonal balance.

For a really small footprint floorstanding omni--in addition to the Ohm Micros--*was* the Mirage OS3 FS, but those don't seem to be available reliably anymore. Pity; they sounded great as well, though they would benefit from a little sub.
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