2. speakers
  3. 140726-1604

Big speakers in small room at moderate volume levels

My office is 11’W x 10’L x 9’H and is where I can listen to music for the next few years. I have a toddler and, for now, he has commanded the big spaces in the rest of the house. I have auditioned the Magico A3 and wanted to buy it but that was before I was relegated to the smallish office (I was expecting to move to a bigger room). I have removed the closet doors in this office room. The removal of the closet door gives me another 4 feet of depth to this room, though for only 1/2 width of the room. I can sit unobstructed 8 feet away from the speakers before I hit the area where the closet ends (so near field listening).

I currently I have KEF LS50 with Peachtree Nova 150. It is good and I can listen for the whole day without fatigue. I listen to FM, digital files on ROON, and my Sony SCD-1 SACD player. I want a bigger sound so I am looking at bigger speakers. I also do not want to use a sub since I am not a fan. I will also upgrade the NOVA 150 to the NOVA 500 in Spring 2019 and use with the LS50’s in a bedroom.

I came to the conclusion that my tastes would be best served by one of KEF Reference 1 or Magico A3. I was thinking that I would use the Lyngdorf 3400 in this room but I am having seconds thoughts on this now (some A’gon comments that it maybe a little dry). I am interested in solid state AB units like the Hegel H590 and Mark Levinson 585 to drive the speakers. I have heard the ML 585 and it is a fatigue free sounding unit that was a joy to listen to. I have not heard the Hegel H590 yet (but have heard other Hegels with KEF) and I am in the process of getting an audition of the H590. I have also discounted the class AB Micromega M-One 150 (with MARS room correction) because I do not want a cooling fan blowing in the room.

I must mention that I do not listen that loud when I am working and when I am working very late at night the volume is very low. The Mark Levinson and A3 combo was very good at low volumes during my demo but that was in the dealers perfect large room.

1) Am I making a mistake foregoing room correction with the 2 integrateds I am considering? Should I go with the Lyngdorf and A3 or KEF Ref 1, though I have never heard the Lyngdorf?

2) Will the Magico A3 work in this small room at moderate volumes WITHOUT room correction or will I subject myself to headaches and fatigue?

I am going to ask the dealer selling the A3’s this question when I am ready to buy but i wanted to ask on A’gon first to get some feedback. I doubt I could get the A3’s into my room for a trial but I have not asked the dealer yet.

I think (not 100% sure) the KEF Reference 1 with a non room correcting amp should work in my office space but I would prefer to buy the Magico A3 for the office. I have plans to buy another KEF model once my kid is a bit older and I can kick him out of the big room.
yyzsantabarbara
gdnrbob
4,444 posts
 
@yyzsantabarbara .
I have never heard of the Kaya until now. Thanks for posting that, now I have something else to try listening to in addition to MBL and German Physics.
Bob
yyzsantabarbara OP
4,811 posts
 
@gdnrbob That Kaya line is rather impressive, at least the Kaya 90 that I heard.

I am going to demo another speaker his Friday that I heard demoed by the same store reps a few years ago in a really bad (small) hotel room. This time the demo will be at their shop. It is the Paradigm Persona 5F driven by Simaudio. I am really only interested in the Persona 3F because I think it should fit my room and also comparable to the 2 other speakers I have under consideration and already heard, the Magico A3 and Vandersteen Treo CT. They only have the 5F for demo. It could be more coherent than the Magico A3 since the materials in the mid and tweeter are the same on the Persona line.

Should be interesting since this is such a polarizing speaker on this forum and with some reviewers. I was reading an online review on the Persona B and the reviewer stopped it half way and said I hate it no need to continue. Never seen that before. When I heard it in the bad room a few years ago I thought it had a lot of potential and I should listen to it again.
justanotherhifiguy
17 posts
 
I’ve decided to get Coherent gr12 speaker. They will mate wonderfully with low watt tube amplification.
yyzsantabarbara OP
4,811 posts
 
@justsntherhifiguy Congrats, is this going to be your arrangement, but with the gr12?

"enter the coherent line of speakers. he is local and i have had an opportunity to hear his speakers. they are very nice sounding. i am probably going to purchase a pair of his gr10 speakers. they will be placed on my wall that measures 9.5 feet wide and I will try to get them placed as far apart as I can, most likely 6 feet apart with 1.5 feet from side walls and 4 feet away from front wall. i will sit 6 feet away and 4 feet into the room. this will be a nearfield positioning for sure."

How about posting a photo of your system on the virtual systems section and giving some feedback. I find the systems in the small rooms are the most interesting for me to read about because you have so many issues to deal with. It is interesting to see how folks solve these issues.


BTW - are you in Stoney Creek, Ontario? I went to McMaster University.
yyzsantabarbara OP
4,811 posts
 
I added some more photos as requested by A’gon member.

Today, I did some more exploring in Canada for the Yamaha NS5000. Canadian dealer will find out if there are any legal reasons why this speaker cannot be imported into the USA. Dealer has no issue getting me the speaker to my home. He will take care of all the paperwork.

GIK Treatments were delayed shipping last week and were only shipped today. So sometime next week will be when I should have them.

List of speakers that I think will now work with acoustic treatments and DSP.

1) Vandersteen Treo CT (heard it but need 1 on 1 demo this time)

2) Vivid Kaya 90 (heard it but only Kaya 45 or Kaya 25 will work in my room. Not really interested in the 25, need 1 on 1 demo this time)

3) Magico A3 (Heard it and liked it)

4) Harbeth SHL5+ (Have not heard it but will call local dealer in 2 weeks)

5) Paradigm Persona 5F (Will hear it again tomorrow with DSP though the Persona 3F is what I would want for the room)

5) Yamaha NS5000 (Have not heard it, but very interested in it, classified as a bookshelf but it really is not).
https://www.avhub.com.au/product-reviews/hi-fi/yamaha-ns-5000-loudspeakers-review-test-488372
" I am surprised at how effectively you are able to tune the NS-5000’s bass response with the bungs—Yamaha has obviously put some very serious design effort into ensuring these alignments are truly effective in adjusting the low-frequency response."


6) KEF Reference 1, TAD ME1 (Will work in my room but lack of enthusiasm for them)

My understanding of the sound characteristics of my list from musical-to-detailed sound (left to right): Harbeth, Vandersteen, Yamaha, TAD, Magico, KEF, Paradigm. Some rounding error likely present.
More to discover