***Advice Needed***Choosing Between Mini & Midi Monitors


Downsized/up grade amp ordered I need to make a decision & order speakers.Current room size is roughly 12’x14’x8’ but that will probably get even smaller next year so this IS a factor in my decision.
Amp will be 25wpc.tube & music styles include classic rock,acoustic/electric blues,reggae,smooth jazz,baroque & chamber at low to moderate levels with an occasional cobweb clearing session now & then...Room is treated & really lets speakers do their thing without much interaction..
Current speakers are Dali Zensor 1’s & I REALLY love the physical size but they could use a touch deeper bass & better resolution.I don’t want to add a sub because this system needs to play as big as possible but have a SMALL form factor.With the current room my choice of speakers has come down to either the Focal Aria 906 or something from the Dynaudio Focus/Excite lines(160’s,140’s or X16/14),all of which I consider Midi Monitors as they are fairly large for stand mounted speakers.Choosing any of these speakers will no doubt give me a wonderfully balanced sound with bass that should be just right in my current room.The problem in my mind is if the room size does shrink next year they will be hard to keep balanced in the bass & I’ll be stuck trying to sell & replace them,not to mention they would be moving to a desktop/dresser top environment were their physical size would not work.
The other option is a mini size monitor like the PMC DB1i/DB1Gold or smaller Dynaudio Focus/Excite like the 110’s or X12’s.These speakers all have a reputation for playing bigger than they are but that is in small rooms & I worry they might sound lite in the bass(as the Zensor 1’s do) in the current room.
So what to do?Get the midi size monitors,have killer sound for a year or so & then deal with downsizing AGAIN(which I REALLY would like to avoid) or go with a true mini monitor & live with less bass impact  in the current room but easily transition to a smaller space were they would be juuusssttt right?
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Showing 1 response by jond

So I was at Deja Vu Audio yesterday and saw this new system from Nola called the Brio Trio, the link wasn’t working so cutting and pasting some text...

NOLA introduced its Brio Trio satellite/ subwoofer loudspeaker system at CES 2016: a compact, high-end three-piece package featuring NOLA’s hallmark open baffle design and a novel "1½ way" enclosure for the main speakers.

The Brio Trio lives up to its name with sonic vitality and dynamic realism that far exceeds its compact size. It’s ideal for use as a desktop monitor system or a top quality 2.1 channel system in smaller rooms or where space is limited yet uncompromising sound is desired.

Measuring just 5½ by 5½ by 12 inches, the Brio main speaker employs two identical 3½ inch (90 mm) drivers, with the upper driver operating in an open baffle as a dipole and the lower driver mounted in a ported chamber. This configuration combines the natural imaging and expansive soundstage provided by the open baffle mounting with the dynamic presence and impact of the enclosure-mounted driver.

The matching subwoofer utilizes an 8-inch, long-throw, highpower- handling bass driver in a sealed enclosure, powered by a Class A/B 250-watt amplifier. NOLA chose Class A/B rather than the more typically used Class D subwoofer amplifier topology because of the A/B design’s superior sound quality. The amplifier is a smaller version of the one used in NOLA’s T Bolt subwoofer. The subwoofer provides continuously variable level and crossover frequency controls (from 40Hz-180Hz, 24dB/octave), 6dB at 35Hz switchable EQ, a phase switch and line-level and speaker-level inputs, enabling it to be seamlessly matched to the Brio main speakers and deliver optimum performance in any system and room.

Performance achieved is far beyond expectations for this type of system.

The Nola Brio Trio satellite/subwoofer system will be available in early 2016 in Piano Gloss Black finish at a suggested retail price of $2,700.

I didn’t get to hear it but Vu, who’s ears I trust more than anyone, was really enthused about the system and it’s design and sound. A great match with a low to mid power tube amp and you would not believe how small the monitors are, really cool looking and fantastic WAF. They also look like a good deal at $2700 I never asked Vu the price but mentally assumed it was in the $3-4K range.