Speaker advice?

@Mcanaday According to my Radio Shack SPL meter and a Stereophile test CD, I'm about -2db down at 63hz with the Silverline Minuets which incidentally measure flatter (at the listening chair) overall than both the Harbeth P3ESR and Kef LS50 in the same room which both have slight boosts in the upper bass range.

Depending on your music and bass requirements, it'd be hard to say whether or not you would want a subwoofer. In a room your size, and with most of the music I listen to, I'd be fine with the Minuets sans subwoofer.

As I've said in other posts, the Minuet is a small speaker and while it certainly can sound bigger than its size, both the (higher priced) Harbeth and Kef as well as an Omega Super 3XRS single driver speaker I use all sound larger and than the Minuet and compose themselves better in my room (just a little larger than yours) when the music gets complicated.

Hi Tony, Bob, and Seikosha-

First, thanks for the additional information about the Minuets. This does sound like quite a remarkable speaker. If it doesn't end up being the big winner, I will definitely find a way to use that in a desktop system down the line. As for the Dynaudios, I read somewhere that they needed a lot of space, and I was afraid for that reason they were too much speaker for my small room. I hated to eliminate them, as they are a speaker I have long fantasized about. I was also concerned I couldn't drive them well with the power I have.

I will definitely look at the Marantz, although one of my issues is footprint size for the components, and I think the Marantz may be too big.

Last night I started to read too about the Paradigm Signature Reference 1, which seems to run on less power than the Studio 10s (based on various reviews I read), and has good bass and is overall a very nice speaker. Since I am planning to pull it out in the room a bit, maybe this is another one to consider.

Anyway, I'm taking a pile of reviews and all your comments, and meeting my audiophile dad this weekend to try to come to a final decision! Thanks for all your help. You guys at Augiogon have been great!

Margot

Can't go wrong with either Dynaudio or the KEFs. You do need the right amp for both , 80 watts or more I would say and power output doubles from 8 to 4 ohms for best results. Smaller Wyred4Sound, BEl Canto or perhaps even D-Sonic Class D amps would be worth a look. I use CLass D amps with other smaller Dynaudio monitors in a similar small room to very good effect! I really like the KEF design with concentric drivers, especially for a smaller room where one may be listening fairly nearfield and drivers need to integrate well for good imaging, coherency, etc. I've been very tempted to try a pair of the ls50s, and very well may someday.

I heard KEF ls50 with rega before. Excellent!!