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Accurate speakers for a verity of genres?

Hello guys – I’m looking for L/R speakers to fill a 15x15 room – the budget is <4K (new/used). I’m not much of a PC user and was recommended by a good friend of mine to post here for advice.

I don’t have subs yet, so wanted something that could extend into the mid 30’s if needed. I will get subs next year so it’s not a big deal. My background is in music (have a degree from NYU) and come from a family or producers. Being that the speakers will be in my living room, I want something nice looking, and also capable of home theater usage and powered by a receiver.

I’m pretty young (under 26) and my musical tastes are leaning towards the more compressed side. Pop and some rock if I’m feeling casual, house or funk if I’m reminiscing and “real” hip-hop if I’m looking for stories or lyrical material. All mood dependent. I’m ‘classically trained’ and very critical in many genres’ being exposed to them my entire life though. Unfortunately, I do not listen classical music in my home although I do respect it. My instruments of choice are typically percussion based rather than string based and I really like both hard hitting bass and rolling basslines - but clean bass. Never boomy despite the musical choices.

Some examples of the types of music I listen to

Common – The People http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7B2VgRShew
The Roots – Boom http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyLEgfp4b-k
Nicolay and Kay – As the world turns http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q-apEQa8Vg
Geoffrey Oryema – Piri Wango Iya http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL4F21FAD18930ECDC&feature=player_detailpage&v=HIoY_7qCOHk#t=68s
Afefe Iku – Mirror Dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja1LS1AkN-Y&feature=related
Sigur Rios- Festival http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=RpKOawpMtsk#t=309s
Nosaj Thing – Aquarium http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPfDjZAct-0
LP – Iridescent http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLYiIBCN9ec&ob=av2n
James Blunt - I’ll take everything http://www.youube.com/watch?v=LX9sn5aAp_8
Sublime – Santeria http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEYN5w4T_aM&ob=av2n
Metallica – Unforgiven ½ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoTcb6vtGEo
Alicia Myers – I want to thank you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9wGnnwBc9M
Jackson 5 – Hum Along and Dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xRcmIDj2cc
Level 42 – Starchild http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOpYmMyo1FM

Strange eh? I enjoy an accurate sound, that isn’t harsh in the upper band. Perhaps I have sensitive ears nowadays. I know to appreciate flat req response, and smooth off-axis response, great crossovers, etc. Now the question is – Where do I begin looking? Thanks for your time!!!!
bthought
unsound
7,318 posts
 
Here is an unusual design that fits in your budget and might work well in problematic room such as yours, the Gradient Revolution:

http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/616/index.html
hevac1
812 posts
 
Try Verity Speakers they sound great with most any music.
bthought OP
15 posts
 
Thank you again!
martykl
3,578 posts
 
I own the Verity P/E and I'd think twice before putting a pair in that room. Per Hevac, it's a great sounding speaker for just about any genre, but....

It does feature a notable hump in the bass that might be trouble in that room. It's hard to say with certainty, but I'd definitely try for an in-room before going with the P/E. I'm not familiar with the rest of the Verity line, so it's also possible that other Verity models may be a safer call.
bondmanp
1,792 posts
 
I would recommend you audition the Ohm Walsh 2000 ($2800/pr). They are available with a 120-day home demo. They have the bass extension you want without any boominess, and a nothing for your pet to dig into below the top 8" of the cabinet. I've owned them for 2.5 yrs, and find them to be very accurate and detailed, but never etched or overly bright. I enjoy a fairly wide range of music as well, although not as obscure as some of your choices, and IMO, they sound wonderful with everything, even compressed music from Pandora sounds pretty good. I tried them out once with an 80 watt/channel receiver, and they sounded great. Looks are a matter of taste. These are 9" square towers. I like the way they look, and they are available in many different finishes, but you'll have to decide if they look and sound right for you, of course.
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