Changes in my life, new system, need new speakers

amazing sounding speakers for my ears: Dynaudio

some good used deals lately on online markets 

Get these. They’ll blow you away. Seriously special speakers and $1000 below your budget, and my guess is you’ll end up preferring them to your Utopias in many areas…

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisb28a6-joseph-audio-rm7xl-monitors

soix no they wont mini  utopias.sound amazing 

@audiotroy are you thinking that the Mini Utopias are still going to server me best?

@audiotroy I didn’t say the Mini Utopias don’t sound amazing. Have you even heard the JA RM7XL monitors? I have heard both. You can’t say anything if you haven’t heard the speakers.

I've had many standmount speakers in my second system/home office. For the price, the Fritz Carrera BE speakers offer a lot of bang for the buck. They are truly versatile as they handle different genres of music from classical, jazz, and rock with equal aplomb.

all you will get is name dropping

@grislybutter I get that but when the same name is dropped a few times then I know there is something interesting there.  Also I get stuff I have not heard before and that is fun to research 

@justinrphillips

Yes, you are right.... it’s fun. The only thing I dislike is when the same people plug the same exact speakers brand and model, often with a used link

I thought when you wrote this "I am not looking for you to make a decision for me. I am looking for amazing sounding bookshelf speaker" it was refreshing, and then the usual "your best option is...." type comments came in.

I will build a speaker selector app or at least spreadsheet :)

@grislybutter some days I wish audio was easier and not subjective like, hey here is a speaker that costs $1000 a pair bout sounds better than an $10k speaker out there.  

that's why I am here, I have a very limited budget (more like 0) and as I understand there are many things we can do to improve the sound that doesn't cost much, and the opposite is true too, we can shove 10s of 1000s into new gear and if not done right, it can sound terrible. 

The cool part is that there are so many beautiful speakers out there and the trickle down effect is real, where mid-fi  models get the technology of their expensive high-end siblings. 

But yeah, that makes the selecting part hard

@justinrphillips I'm in the same boat as you in terms of finding something better than what I have but as speakers are more obscure or get older, it's hard to find comparisons with what is currently available. 

For example, I went to go a local audio store to test out the Proac D2Rs which seem to be really great speakers. While they sounded pretty good in the treated audio room with a decent front end, they still did not beat the SB Acoustic Ara that I've been using over the past year. It's possible that the synergy is much better in my system or it could just be that the value of DIY is 2-3x. 

If you're looking for something interesting and good value for the money, I'd recommend something DIY or from a smaller company like the Fritz or SB Acoustics or BMR, etc. Those are gonna be great and within your budget. I'm willing to bet that an SB Acoustics ARA at the current discounted price will run circles around an LS50.

@driftingbunnies thanks for your post.  Never thought about the DIY route.  There are some nice drivers and crossovers out there.  Honestly I want something that looks cool too.

Focal Kanta 1s

Justin,

I can whole heartedly recommend Buchardt Audio S400 MkIIs. I've had them for 9 months, and I've not regretted the purchase. Great sound stage (deep and wide), excellent instrument separation, vocals are lush and sweet, highs are clear and revealing but never sibilant or irritating, and very easy to place.

Must be aware of: need to be able to be place nearer the wall....18" or so, 88db efficient at 4 ohms so you need some power (your NAD should have no issues, and if you're a bass head....you'll need a sub.

$2,200 a pair, free shipping, and 45 return policy.....highly recommend, and there are loads of reviews for you to go through

I had an NAD M33 with Monitor Audio Gold 100 speakers and they sounded and looked great!

I am a big fan of the Buchardts, Zero Fidelity, New Record Day and Darko love them too. I corresponded with Mr. Buchardt  a few times and he seems very cool.  

Good luck in your hunt.  I would get out and audition a few of the speakers that have been mentioned.  I have had the opportunity to hear most of them and the only ones I would scratch is Focal. 

I will say the Monitor and Fritz would be on the top of my list. 

The Fritz are hard to find.  I am very curious about them though. 

Haven’t heard any of the other speakers mentioned but I have been rocking Monitor Audio Gold 200 floor-standers for the last 5 years and have been extremely pleased. Love the balanced, yet detailed sound. Often listen for hours on end and never suffer any fatigue - just want more. 

YMMV

+1 on Fritz.  He’s a nice guy on top of that.  Email him and he will get in touch.  I love my Fritz Carrera BEs

Look at PSB Synchrony B600, they are PSB’s flagship bookshelf speaker, every revlew I’ve read on them is great.  Right now they are 20% off their normal price of $2799, 60 day return.  

Perhaps we can do better than Monitor Audio Gold which didn't receive 5 stars in WhatHifi magazine like their Bronze and Silver line. I tend to agree with the reviewer but the front end setup was just a Home Theatre 5.1 receiver and as we all know, PM's NAD will blow away, so they might sound okay but there are better than simply okay sounding for the mullah (especially used).

I am enjoying B&W 805D - I mention this since your taste in music leans towards classical and Jazz - as we all know, B&W sounds good with classical with the right front end. They have rounded back to their cabinet which handles the standing wave issue to give a clearer sound...Stereophile magazine gave the best rating to them.

Try to hear them if you live near a dealer, and you might be hooked on the rounded back design like me.

One question: A NAD M12 is a preamp with optional BluOS. The M32 is an integrated amp. Maybe you have an M22? That was a great sounding kit when we had it in our store, Especially with Focal Kanta 2s. For speakers, Can you stretch for the new MoFi coincident 10”?

Bose 901's

Underwood HiFi has quite a few new speakers in your budget. As they have them made for them, there is no middlemen needing a piece of the MSRP. Also, most include shipping

@tweak1 it didn't quite work out for me with Underwood but others seem to have more luck... 

very high restocking fees

All the speakers mentioned are quality and probably sound great, but you mentioned your new family room is "very very small." I think it's best you attack this problem by focusing on what kind of placement and layout you can manage in your room.

A couple of placement friendly options:

1. Ohm walsh tall 1000 ($2700) - Great in corners

2. Focal Dome Flax/stands ($2000) - Very curious about these myself

Most people in small/multi-use spaces are better off buying speakers they can place properly. The great thing about mini monitors on stands is you can easily pick them up and bring them a few feet into the room for serious listening. Add in a sub or two (also properly placed) that have time alignment dsp, and it will always sound better than $$$ speakers poorly set up.

As someone mentioned, the DIY route (probably in flatpack kit form is best for you) will net you WAY better drivers and crossover components than is practical for a commercial brand to offer because of the cost! I won’t suggest my DIY speakers because they are way outside your budget and must be built from scratch. I would suggest you check out CSS 1TDX. Jay’s Iagi reviewed them (YouTube) and he liked them better than his SF Electa bookshelf’s!

I have a pair of Ohm 1000s and really like them. Ohm also has a 120 home trial period with a full refund (though you'd be out shipping.)  The other speakers I use in a small room off my bedroom are Spendor 4/5s. These are Spendor's current incarnation of the BBC LS 3/5a, but with better bass, dynamics and treble, but no loss of the incredible midrange vocal qualities for which they are famous.  List is just over your $2.5K budget, but I found a one year old used pair for $1K off that.

A bookshelf on a stand takes up just as much space as a small-ish floorstanding speaker. Since you are already familiar with Monitor Audio, you might consider the Silver 300 7G for about the same money as the Gold 100s. I did, and bought a pair of the S 300 7Gs to replace my LS-50s. Loved the LS-50s, but they are a small-room nearfield monitor, and simply didn't give me the soundstage dimension I wanted. Since my room/SAF won't accommodate Magnepans (I have a set of LRS for fun in another room), I decided on a dual 6" 3-way that could be located within 18" of the rear wall. The S 300 7Gs are designed to do exactly that, and the dual rear ports can be tuned by plugging on or both. In my room, plugging the bottom port killed the tubbiness on voices that usually occurs when speakers are too close  to the back wall. The mids and highs are extremely clean, and the bass reaches the low 40s at any level I care to listen. I am very pleased as well with the sound-staging  and imaging on a variety of material. They may not be a 'forever' speaker, but they are a lot close than I would expect for $2500. 

I think he means NAD M23 

@iseland yes I did mean the M23

Really nice looking Dynaudio Evoke 20 over on Usaudiomart for $1.8K. I have the Evoke 10 on a 2nd system and like them very much. Also a Quad S-2 over there and thats another speaker that punches above its weight class. If you could find a Quad S-3 you still be way under budget.

Focal Aria 906 open box for <$2K at listenup.com

Totem Signature Ones!

+1 Focal Kanta 1! 

You might want to check out the Harbeth P3ESR. It is one my favorite stand mount type speakers . You can get a used pair for under 2 grand. BTW, I just pulled the trigger on the larger Harbeth HL5 and I will be listing the P3 soon!

 Buy two, stand upright on stands, allow a couple hundred hours of break in for the woofers and tweeter. They will blow your mind with their clarity, soundstage, and overall frequency response. 
 

don’t let the price deter you, because they are,not a 2000K well known brand.

I’ve owned these in the past, as a pair of L and R mains, allow break in, the woofers will soften up, and the tweeter will relax, and you will fill your room with open airy sound with a great wide soundstage. 
 

for the price to be had, give a try for a few months, and let them break in a while, you will be shocked and may have found your new speakers.

on stands or upright on a shelf, once they break in, they will surprise you. 
 

hope you try them, they are a little kept secret.

I’m still digging my Wharfedale Lintons driven by NAD amplification.

You have REAL good speakers. Just cause they are a little older does not matter. Top of the line. The KEF you mentioned would sound like toys compared. Need to get out and listen. My bet is it would take at least 5k to top them unless you just want a different flavor. 

+1 Totem Signature Ones

ProAc .. Response DB1.. There's a pair on Audiogon right now for $2500

I’m thinking of changing course myself and have been intently perusing anything about the new Revival Audio Atalante 3 monitors.

Reviews are hard to come by as it’s a new entry but some one preferred it to his Dynaudio Special 40 which gets fatiguing for him after a while. The North American rep tried them with a 15wpc Leben CS300 and a Sudgen 30wpc integrated and loved the sound so don’t let the 87db rating steer you away. Here’s the first full review I could find

:

Oh, and they go for $2399.00

All the best,
Nonoise

The winds of change…. If I were looking at compact speakers I would be looking at Falcon.

@nonoise

very intriguing and more than decent looking. I am not crazy about the Special 40s (too much and bright treble), but of course they rarely have any competition in their price range.

@grislybutter , The more I read about them and the man behind it all, the more I'm closer to pulling the trigger. New drivers, not off the shelf, designed in house and take a look at this crossover:

They appear to have their own branded capacitors and use Van den Hull Skyline Hybrid cables made of OFC copper with carbon coating for all internal wiring. Who does that at this price point? 

And not that this means much to some here, but the asian reviewers seem to be impressed over on YouTube. I'll know by Sunday if I'm going to order a pair. 

All the best,
Nonoise

@nonoise

totally, looks like high quality (not that I know much), good specs

soix of course we have heard the speakers you mentioned have you heard the utopias?

@audiotroy I really love my mini utopias.  The more time I spend with the NAD M12 and M23 though hooked up to the mini utopias the more I am hearing some flaws in the M23.  I would say the m23 is a bit cold through the mids and over bright a bit on the highs.  After a bit a listening with the JM Lab tweeter my ears start screaming! I listen to a lot of Jazz so a trumpet will just kick in fatigue so fast!  

So to refine my original post.  My Mini Utopias are never going anywhere!  But I am looking for something with a soft dome tweeter that is not bright and warmer mids.  I thing it will make the setup I have for now ( I will have two setups soon) really sing.  There have been some great recommendations, but some of them have gotten out of my price range.  Also I am not going to a Kanta with a Beryllium Focal tweeter I will have no ears left after that. 

So my search continues specifically for a soft some warm mid bookshelf.