Best nearfield monitor?
I have not heard the smaller MM35. Though i've been told it is not as good as MM27. I can't say anyting more than this, imagine it is 5 drivers and 3 amps in each speaker. Bass section uses 500w, mid 250w and tweters 60w. The internal volume is only 32 litres and it is a bargain compaired to many high end speakers. Don't feel fear towards it's size, it can play very loud without cracking up. It is just listen. It might not be for every one (pending on preferences as always). All drivers sounds very well blended together. It is smooth and never sounds as presentation is etched in glass as so many others do. You can easily sit for hours and just listen to music. Bass is clean, very dense and rich but not bloated. Never before have i heard a monitor going deeper than my floorstanders. 2*10´bass drivers equals a 15'. It works on all types of music without any side-effects:-) |
I just got my Barefoot sound Micromain 27. I heard them before as i arranged a demo. Now i feel, they better my former system and i am just using them with my Wadia. I don't know how audible all revisions (updates) are, but mine are the latest. I think they make a point, proving many high end brands obviously overpriced. There is alot one could say about these. No monitor can even be near bass as these put out. Considering what i sold off (speaker, amp + speaker cable) cost more than 3 times as much. I think this is the best value in hifi i've encountered during my 16 years. |
I've owned a number of very good monitors, and the best for the money that offer incredible clarity and a full range bass response is the Blue Sky System One. Jerry Harrison of the Talking Heads used the System One to remix the their CD's and was so impressed that he then bought a pair for critical listening at home. The Blue Sky's are two powered monitors integrated with a powered sub that can be placed anywhere in the room with no bad effects on imaging (per Blue Sky humans are directionally challenged below 50hz). Disclaimer: I was going to use the Blue Skys in a second system that did not materialize, so I will be selling them here or on a pro audio board - so take this recommendation with a grain of salt, but not too big:I'm not in this hobby for the money and would never recommend them if they were'nt great. Check the reviews. |
It sounds like you may enjoy some Reference 3a De Capo i's . A nice little standmount rated to 30hz. with only a capacitor as a crossover network . Quite an easy load requiring only @ 5 watts to drive . I use them in a small room , 10ft. X 10ft. , and nearfield at @ 6ft. Resolving without being harsh . Very clear and smooth . The one caviet , they love tubes . I have not heard them sound their best with SS but some have . Good luck . |
I would also recommend the SP Tech Timepiece. A very well engineered speaker that will provide excellent and detailed bass response and, will output SPL's that will crack the plaster on your walls long before it shows signs of stress. http://www.4sptech.com/version2/timepiece2_features.html For an active studio type monitor the Meyer Sound HD-1, although quite expensive is another well engineered full range monitor that can ouput extreme SPL's while sounding neutral and clear. http://www.meyersound.com/products/studioseries/hd-1/ |
I am in a very small room and sit about 4-5 feet from the speakers. The Wilson WP7 is terrific in the nearfield--in fact, that was what they were originally designed for. Soundstage size is huge, transparent, and the instruments easily stand out from the mix. Add their bass and dynamics and I would vote for them as one of the best nearfield monitors. If you think about it, the WP7 is a combination of a nearfield monitor (Watt) and a bass bin (Puppy). If you buy a nearfield monitor you need a stand for it. So why not use a bass bin like the Puppy that goes to 20Hz instead of a stand that adds nothing to the sound. If you want a small monitor for imaging and detail, I agree, but why not get the bass, dynamics, and power handling of a larger speaker in a small package that works well in the nearfield? |
http://www.tnt-audio.com/casse/avalon_mixmon_e.html I own the "baby" version and am always blown-away by nearfield resolution and bass extension. I can only imagine what these can do over mine. |
Thanks to all of you, for me this subject is very interesting. I hope more join with ideas and tips!? Ofcourse the W/P 7 beats out in bass and dynamics. But we are missing the point here if we go for floorstanders! I had a large speaker before and i know what they do (if they are good). But thing is, i live small now. My last speaker created an ambience and soundstage which easily took the room in possession. Incredible speakers. I leave it, it belongs to yesterday! Sorry for the spinn off! W/P 7 sizing are too big. As for subwoofers, what a joke. I don't care what anyone says. Myabe TACT could do this good, otherwise i just suffer listening to it. I do not wish to be rude or anything even close. But a sub, never in my home (again). That is not highend IMO, not with music. I rather buy a floorstander directly. More tips please..... |
Really very impressed with whole Quad moving Coil line and the 11L and 12L are definetly worth a listen.I reccomend the 21l and 22L to my freinds who want the best mid fi who aren't going to enter our crazyt world.And must say the Ausio Physic Saprks which are narrow and light were perfect to easily and quickly pull off rerar wall for a session and had great dispersion characteristics especially for folks who wanted to get great imaging and dsipersion along long wall where as in rectangle most speakers sound best on short wall. G'luck Chazz |
My system is in a small room and for years I had various minimonitor speakers (B&W, Celestion, ADS, Essence) there as I sat nearfield. I supplemented the bottom end with a subwoofer but always wanted to try a floorstander that would improve bass and dynamics. However, I didn't want to give up the soundstaging/disappearing act that minimonitors excel at. I then tried some Wilson Sophias and then Watt Puppy 7's and was very pleasantly surprised at how well they soundstage, easily as well as the minimonitors I had. And the bass and dynamics are a big step up. |
I have been monitor shopping for a long time, trying literally 20 different monitors ranging from $500; Von Schweikert Audio VR-1 and NHT Classic 3's, up to the Dynaudio Contour S1.4's and Splendor monitors 2K+. I also was looking for a bottom end that could light up my ears without dragging in a sub. Bottom line... Dynaudio 1.3SE's... absolutely amazing. The low end is estonishing. I cant say enough about how these monitors just disapear in a room but can pump like no other. I will not be changing anytime soon. Hope that helps! |
Hello Inpieces, Is this for a recording industry application, or a home audio application? When you say "true deep bass response", how deep is "deep"? The requirement for extreme dynamic contrast without compression (or more realistically with minimal compression) is best served by prosound drivers. I don't have any experience with the Genelecs mentioned by Shadorne, but they're probably an excellent choice. Now for listening at very close range, a coaxial type driver has some definite advantages. Be aware of this: A coaxial's response will be the worst exactly on-axis. You want to listen from about maybe 15 degrees off axis. Don't aim a coaxial right at your ears, especially for nearfield listening. Same thing with a round horn or wavguide. Speaking of which, a company called SP Technology makes an excellent two-way waveguide-based speaker called the TimePiece. Very good dynamics (even though it doesn't use prosound drivers) and very good bass extension. You will need a lot of power though - the Timepiece isn't very efficient. Best of luck in your quest, Duke |
"true deep bass response" & "dynamic contrast and extreme dynamical outburst" ....if you mean fairly accurate but deep bass rather than copious amounts of room shaking resonant distortion then my suggestion would be an active monitor with a reflex port such as Genelec 8250A. Most pro gear can handle much greater dynamic range than consumer stuff as the audio engineer listens to recorded music prior to it being purposely compressed for consumers LP's and CD's. |
