Fantastic discussion here – Please keep it coming. I kept the topic broad, so I can hear multiple opinions. I find that speakers tested through the Canada's National Research Council (NRC) or Stereophile gives great insight into flaws and solid designs. I tend to ignore the glowing review and just go right here. It is my opinion that speakers that do not test well, do not sound well. BUT, speakers that do test well, don’t necessarily sound good (getting into people’s personal opinions). I have ruled out ribbon tweeters because of dispersion issues and I do generally buy into to the Harman approach that is, if a speaker is designed well, and has a general flat and downward slope from low end to high end, along with a broad and flat off axis response, it “should” sound very good. As I had mentioned, and others commented on, I am still concerned about the low midrange impact. This is why ATC became interesting. They have 3-way monitors in their SCM40s and SCM50s (but they seem very “old school”). The Revel M126 Be seems to have everything but the ability to generate this low end response. The Kii and Dutch and Dutch both seem very interesting, but neither are in my area to hear. A little history of my prior speakers for a baseline – Aerial 10Ts, to Avalon Eidolon Visions to Focal Sopra 2s. With my vaulted ceilings, DSP has helped fined tune all off these – more a function of the room than the speakers. These are all excellent speakers so matching my Focals or even surpassing them in a monitor/sub configuration may not be possible.
Floor-Standards to Monitors?
I am always tempted to try a good pair of monitors/bookshelf speakers mated with my two subs and see if I can equal or surpass a good pair of floor standing speakers ($15k to $30k) in my 20 x 16 (vaulted ceiling) treated room. The thought of being able to move and set up things without help is very appealing as I get older. Also, with much of the price of floor standing speakers going into the large cabinet, I am thinking that that an equivalent, or better sound, less the low end should be achievable at “reasonable” prices. With the application of DSP/room correction, does this eliminate the gap between most of these products? Once you get to a magic price point, are we just paying for company name, exotic materials that may or may not have an impact, and aesthetics?
There are so many monitors out there and the price range is staggering – I have named a few below. The magazines say they are all wonderful and clearly there is no place to hear them all. Where there are measurements, it differentiates them somewhat. I like dynamic resolving speakers (Magico/Vivid) and concerned about mid/bass impact between 80 Hz and 250 Hz when you crank them up where the subs do not help. I would also like a US presence and a company that builds more than 25 copies a year. What do you think? Can I get there? Is paying more than $5k just crazy for monitors? Does room correction level the playing field? Any thoughts or recommendations?
ELAC DEBUT 2.0 B6.2 and AS-61 – both sounded very good at AXPONA
ATC – Never heard them / multiple options
Kii – Great reviews out there but all seem to point to a small room
Revel –M126 Be
TAD – ME1 – sounded great in small room at AXPONA. Likely too small for my room and very expensive as you move up the line
Dynaudio – New Confidence 20 monitor coming out and Contour 20
Focal - Diablo Utopia Colour Evo (expensive) and Sopra 1
Dutch and Dutch – Not highly available in the US but supposed to be exceptional
B & W – 805 D3 – Would need a very treated room
Paradigm – Persona – I have found the entire line bright and lean on bass
Fritz - Carrera 7 Be- A small company but sounded excellent at AXPONA
KEF – A laid back.
Raidho – Expensive
Magico – Very Expensive and old Q design
Harbeth –Cabinet resonance built in - odd
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- 20 posts total
- 20 posts total