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Best versatile speakers?

Hello All...

I would like to hear your opinions regarding the best versatile 2 way monitor or 3 way small floor standers that will do justice to all types of music. My wife and I listen to all sonic types of music from Ute Lemperer / Mozart to 70's and 80's rock to 90's hardcore and some Hip Hop.

For this reason I have always stuck with the Paradigm Studios. They seem to handle everything well.

We are running a Space-Tech Tube Pre and a Nad 270 power amp
Sources are a Toshiba 3950 - DVD-A / Sony Sce-775 for SACD and using a Benchmark DAC-1 for redbook. We also have a MMF-5 Music Hall for vinyl. The room is small 13.5 long x 8.5 width and 9ft high.

Suggestions beyond the Paradigm Studios? The Signature line is too easy a leap. For the money we want to check out other options.
iggystooge
tripper
223 posts
 
operaaudio.com

Meadowlark Kestrel 2/Swift

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1113312478
nickway
168 posts
 
I went from Paradigm Studio 40's v.2 to a Magnepan MG12.
In comparison the paradigm sounds a little shrill and cold and thin.

If you have the space Magnepan might be worth looking at.

Happy Listening,
iggystooge OP
7 posts
 
Hello All...

Thanks for the suggestions. Nick...How big is your room and where are the MG12's placed?

Another suggestion run by me was to ditch the NAD and go with a pair of powered ATC's.... does anyone have any experience or thoughs on this direction??
macdadtexas
1,794 posts
 
In your price range there are a bunch. My fav's would be Gallo Nucleus Ref 3, Magnepan 3.6R used (my fav for sure), Paradigm 100 V3 (great speaker), Vandersteen 3a sigs used, Joseph Audio Monitors. It's so subjective. I really think each speaker has a strength dependant on the type of music you most frequently listen to. I like rock music best from Klipschhorns, I like Paradigms for rock as well. The Joseph's are fantastic on orchestral music, as are the Vandersteens. Jazz and all vocals are sublime on Magnepans. But for all around, I like the Maggies. One downside is they tend to need more power and better amplification, NOT tubed, which means more money. The good news is, that most speakers sound so good now, that it's just a matter of personal preference.
jcruse
15 posts
 
Magnepans are simply NOT good for rock and hip-hop. I sold my Magnepan 3.6's for this reason, and have been very happy with my Gallo Reference III's for all types of music. They do small ensemble, orchestral, rock, hip-hop VERY well. You can add a subwoofer amp to drive the 2nd voice coils on the woofers to get sub-woofer level bass (23 Hz).
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