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Can speakers be both "big" and "accurate" ?

I've got a small dilemma on my hands and I think I need some outside influence. I've been upgrading my old college stuff (you don't wanna know), and now have a Sonic Frontiers Line1, Bryston 4BST, Rega Planar25, etc, etc. Don't want to get into a discussion about interconnects, please. I've got a 14'x18' room, firing down the long end, and am in the market for speakers. I have auditioned various different types and brands of speakers- I'm not hung up on a name as long as it works with my Line1 & 4BST. In all of my attempts, I haven't yet heard a set of speakers that can do "BIG", as in "fill-the-room-with-sound-big" (or "stupid-loud", as I've sometimes heard it described), while AT THE SAME TIME be "accurate", "detailed", etc, etc, like a mini-monitor. I've got a set of B&W CDM1-NT's in another system, and while I like their clean, accurate sound in that smaller space, they just don't do it for me in the main system. I'm thinking larger floor standers to get the "big" sound thing, but I also want the details and "there" there when I listen to accoustic jazz. Are these two things mutually exclusive, and if not, suggestions? I'm budgeting around $3k. Is this realistic? I really appreciate your time reading this! Thanks!
subcoolman

Showing 1 response by gregm

gregm
3,411 posts
 
I'm not sure what you mean by "big" sound, but I suspect you're targeting lower mid-range warmth and reasonably clear and "spacious sounding" upper end (usually upper-mids onward).
For the latter, a lot depends on speaker placement: as you're firing along the long side, reflections from side walls could easily smear the imaging (i.e. the precision) -- so not a speakers problem.
For the latter, a subwoofer could do the trick -- if you decide to stay with small speakers. Models like the JMLab mini Utopia or the small B&W Signature or the small Sonus Faber (Cremona line) are nice and project a sound that is far "bigger" than their size would suggest.

As to recommending specific larger speaker models, hints regarding your musical preferences would be useful: there are VERY many speakers that could (or not) fit your bill... Cheers
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