Best monitor under $1000

Frank:

Without sounding like a wiseguy on this one ...

There are many "best" monitors for under a $1000, that will all provide you with very good sound. But with what you have shared with us so far, it would be a fluke if any one recommendation gave you the "best" sound in return.

You will be using these speakers in a bedroom system ...

How will the speakers be placed ... on stands, inside a bookcase or on top of a dresser or armoire, wall mounted, etc? How far will they be from a back wall? How far will they be placed apart?

What will your listening position be ... fully reclined in bed; sitting up in bed; sitting in a chair; etc? Is the bedroom, in reality, where most of your listening occurs?

Room specifics ... carpet & drapes & heavy furniture or more spartan and Ikea like or somewhere in between? Are you or a significant other looking for a certain "look" or "lifestyle."

Listening preferences ... low volume as in "can't disturb the upstairs or downstairs neighbors" or as loud as I would like it to be? What type(s) of music do you typically listen to? What sound qualities are important to you ... detailed; on the warmish side; lots of bass; etc.?

When you can get a better handle on some of these questions, then I think that you will be able to narrow the list down pretty quickly. I do believe that certain speakers are better than others for bedroom duty, but more information is needed.

Regards, Rich

Frank:

This topic has come up before and the following is a recent example . The discussion got a bit spirited at the end. The thrust of the discussion though was just how much money does one sink into bedroom speakers, given the types of speaker placement/listening position restrictions that exist.

This system is your "away" system while you're on the road. I had a similar situation six years ago while working in Europe (home in NYC; flat in London; and my traveling circuit for 3 years was London; Channel Islands; Geneva; Vienna; and Frankfurt). My main concern was with breaking up the system and getting some of my money back, when it was time to go home for good.

With the preceding in mind, here's a way to go. Audio Advisor is clearing out its stock of Wharfedale Diamond speakers. They have the Diamond 9.2 for more than half price off. Superb speaker that will give you what you are looking for, especially for the types of music that you listen to and the near rear wall, on top of furniture placement that a bedroom system dictates. In addition to the Wharfedales, I have found that the NHT SB 2's & 3's (now replaced by NHT Classic 2 & 3) excel in bedroom set-ups, because they are acoustic suspension/sealed box design and are not placement fussy.

I am not familar with the amp that you will be using and what speakers tend to match up with it best. Incidentally though, the best monitor that I ever heard was the Focus Audio FS 688 . It will set you back about $2K ... but what a sound.

Regards, Rich