Down sizing

I have a similar problem. I am currently in a temporary home while our new home is being built. My large system is in storage and I downsized quite a bit. I'm currently using my CD source equipment (my turntable is in storage), my preamplifier, but also decided to go with tubes for a small system. I'm using Cary 40M Signature monoblocks with Red Rose R-3 speakers. I listen to mostly jazz, classical and vocals. It's a very satisfying system, but obviously doesn't and never will have the authority that my larger system has (I'm looking forward to getting it back). It is however very impressive how well and how large the soundstage is given the small size of the Red Rose speakers. You may also find it interesting that the bass drivers are made by Dynaudio (2 per speaker isobarik loaded).

My room is almost the exact same dimensions. I run my Wadia 860x directly connected to an Audio Research VT-50 (50 watt tube amp) balanced which drive small ProAc 1SC monitors. This is really quite an amazing little system that doesnt take up much room and is very satisfying musically. I too listen to the same styles of music. I would also recommend setting your system up against the long side of the room for the best near-field listening. This will increase your soundstage and in most cases works much better overall in such small rooms. Good luck.....

I would recommend the Audio Physic Step SLE speaker, if you can find a pair used. I just got a pair and am listening to them on my long wall from about eight feet away. They are amazing little speakers! Bass is quite satisfying. Sound is very transparent, yet non-fatigueing. I might sell my pair, as I have found another pair in Yew finish that goes better with my decor (oak). My pair now are the Macassar Ebony.

I would trongly suggest Legend Starlet integrated amp and Legend monitor speakers. Fantastic sound for reasonable amount of $$! Simply amazing set-up, and you can also hear similar feedback from people that visited this year, CES show.

I've been in your situation in almost the EXACT same size room. Lots of good advice so far. I did a lot of trial and error, but the best results that I achieved were with a pair of Aerial Acoustics Model 5s on the long wall. I used the Audio Physic speaker positioning suggestions and the results were nothing less than stunning. I drove them with a Classe DR-9/DR-5 combination. Ported speakers and/or those with any significant amount of bass will drive you nuts. I believe that this is why the Aerials worked so well...sealed enclosure with not much bass below 70Hz. My musical tastes are also similar to yours and it was very satisfying. The second best speakers that I tried were the Magnepan MMGs. The 1.6s (which I also tried) were just too big.

Best of luck. It can definitely be done, but you'll have to be very careful about speaker selection. Luckily, you've got a great resource here on AudiogoN.

If you don't mind SS and you realy want to use as little space as possible, maybe you should look at the Linn Classik integrated. It also has a CD player and tuner built in as well as several available inputs. I have only read reviews, but that have all been positive. Sometimes I am tempted to get one and forget about my disease (audiophilia).

Mike

Dear Xmore, Just move your equipment including the wonderful Dynaudio 1.3 MK II speakers into your new room. I'm confident that you will be very satisfied with the sound even with less-than-optmum speaker placement. If you could place the rest of your equipment in an adjacent room and have the speaker wires going to your 1.3's this could make your listening situation even better. cordially, Richard...audiophile since 1953....

I want to thank everyone for their suggestions. So far I have rearranged the room and place my system on the long wall. This works much better. Pop and rock is still a little bass heavy but my jazz sounds great. I will probably still make some changes in my system, but now I don't feel as desperate. Thanks again for the suggestions.

I would think that the 1.3 is a good speaker for a small room, but in any event I wanted to add that you should not overlook tubetraps or some other serious acoustic treatment. Small dedicated rooms (I have one) pose a big challenge with all their nodes, but have great potential because if setup right the nearfield can be an absolute teleporter to the musical event of your choice. But you have to acoustically eliminate the room as much as possible. The advice to use the long wall is good, and you should check out the placement information on the Audio Physic website, as my experience leads me to think that the 1.3 in the nearfield, well in to the room, with your chair close to the rearwall and enough room treatment, would make the walls melt away.