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Changes in my life, new system, need new speakers

So I have moved into a new place, and have a very very small family room. Also got hit by a power surge and were taken out. I am working with insurance (slow) and manufactures (ever slower). But for now I have gone from an Audio Research LS5 MK III and Odyssey Kismet mono blocks. To an NAD M12 and M32 which I have 0 complaints about even coming from tubes and Class A’s the NAD Masters series just sounds amazing to me. But this new sleek looking system in my modern family room is kind of an eye sore with my current JM Lab Mini Utopia speakers. Now by no means am I giving up my Mini Utopia’s they will go with the Audio Research and Kistmet’s when I get a bigger place. For now I am going to the NAD stuff because I really like it and I want a small sleek amazing sounding bookshelf to go with the setup.

I was looking at the LS50 Meta initially but I do have the budget for more. Then I was looking at the Monitor Audio Gold 100 5g which used is right in my $2500 budget.

I listen to everything but mainly Classical, Jazz, and Rock and whichever bookshelf I pick will be matched with an SVS 3000 Micro

I am not looking for you to make a decision for me. I am looking for amazing sounding bookshelf speakers in my $2500 budget (used speaker budget) or if i am better off keeping the Mini Utopias for now.  If I do find something it would be nice if they were a step up from the Mini Utopias.   I will do my own research and testing, just looking for speakers people recommend and the reason why. Then this summer when I get a house I will have two amazing systems.

128x128justinrphillips
tweak1
3,642 posts
 

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

grislybutter
2,803 posts
 

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

very high restocking fees

thehybridvigor
3 posts
 

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.

 

boostedis
92 posts
 

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!

mlsstl
1,428 posts
 

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.

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