Help Deciding On New Speakers For Small Room, $10k budget


Hello everyone! A brief background. For the first time in my life, I have a dedicated room for listening! šŸ™Œ Iā€™m very excited about it. However, itā€™s not very big. Something is better than nothing though. Previously I always lived in apartments and had to primarily listen on headphones. The room size is 10 feet by 11 feet with 10 foot ceilings, almost a perfect square. It has already been professionally sound treated with many panels from Gik Acoustics. So despite its tricky sizing, it should be all set up for a proper experience! And I already have a nice chain, a McIntosh MC52 Preamp and Primare Power Amp and CD Player with a Holo Audio May KTE. Oh, I also have a Rel A7X subwoofer.

I unfortunately have a disability that makes it very difficult for me to travel. I cannot easily just go to a hifi store and try things. I also live kinda in the middle of nowhere. But Iā€™m a former professional musician and music is my life, and I want to feel connected to my music as much as I can, so Iā€™m willing to invest into it. I have a budget of about $10k give or take $1k or so. I donā€™t mind looking at used options in like new condition.

A little about my hearing preferences: I am very sensitive to high frequencies, specifically around 7k-10k. For reference, every hifi headphone Iā€™ve ever used made me wince because the high frequencies are too pronounced. I just put up with it because I didnā€™t have a choice, but Iā€™ve noticed that with speakers Iā€™m usually not so sensitive to them so Iā€™m excited to go down this journey and enjoy my music listening more. I like powerful, punchy bass, and generally prefer a warmer sound signature, however, even though my ears are sensitive to higher frequencies, I love a nice crisp and realistic cymbal sound. In general, as a musician, I think Iā€™d love something that sounds ā€œtrue to lifeā€ because I have obviously a lot of experience hearing instruments live. I mostly listen to jazz (because Iā€™m a jazz musician) but I also love music of all genres like rock, electronic, pop, soul, alternative, and occasionally K-Pop too, Iā€™m pretty open minded. So something that is a good all-rounder might also be nice. Writing this all out, I now think I might be asking for the moon though, so letā€™s just say jazz and realistic instruments is my main priority šŸ˜‡


So with all that said, I would greatly appreciate your suggestions. Iā€™ve been looking at Focalā€™s line of Kanta and Sopra but Iā€™ve heard they are bright. Iā€™ve heard B&W but I donā€™t think their house sound is for me, again too bright. Ā Also debating between bookshelves and small floor standers for a smallish room. Iā€™ve been looking also at Canton, Dali, Tannoy and Wharfdale, but Iā€™m not as familiar with the speaker world as I am the headphone or IEM world, so Iā€™m quite open to ideas. Thank you so much and best wishes on the evening of this crazy time Iā€™m in the U.S.!

cookiecurls

Ā  I think a pair of Spendor Classic 3/1's would put a big smile on your face & keep several thousand $ in your bank account...

Do you have any placement limitation; such as, the speakers need to be near a room corner or a wall, etc.?Ā  Does the speaker have to be small in size?Ā  More detail is helpful.

There are some fairly large speakers that work extremely well in small rooms, so don't assume you need tiny speakers.Ā  For example, speakers from Volti, though on the larger size, will work in a small room.

If you can place speakers near the corners of the room, or at least along the front wall, the Audio Note line offers great sounding speakers that are not very bright yet they remain lively sounding.Ā  If you can place speakers somewhat away from the side walls, then something from JM Reynaud and ProAc fit your description.Ā 

Good luck on your search.Ā 

I also forgot to say that the Spendor 3/1 recommendation above is a good one too.

Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 or a smaller model of the same series. The Amp will matter! Go high quality over high quantity watts

Congratulations! I have more than one friend with a small room systemā€¦ they can be fantastic. Great that it is already treated. Your price range is high enough to achieve great things.Ā 

I am not a fan of trebly speakers. Leaving out a lot of brands.. like B&W, Focal, etc.

Your description, to me would definitely point you towards Sonus Faberā€¦ definitely stand mounted. Olympic or better. Also,Ā Franco Serblin speakers.


Then tweak

Worth considering the German made Canton Reference series. Bought the Ref 7ā€™s on an impulse last year and am enthralled with their performance (Hegel H390). Very neutral with dynamics far beyond their size. Very high WAF as well. Not so common in the states but quite popular high-end in Europe.

Plus one for Sonus Farber. Ā Check out the Electa Amator lllā€™s. Ā Theyā€™re are beautiful two ways that can be bi-wired or bi-amped.

All the best.

Yamaha NS-800A is stand mount you might like. As a musician you may have encountered Yamaha pro audio equipment.Ā 

Just make sure whatever you buy shows you the crossover components and back wave management technology. Beware any that do not.Ā 

Do you have any placement limitation; such as, the speakers need to be near a room corner or a wall, etc.?Ā  Does the speaker have to be small in size? Ā M

Ā 

nope! No limitations, itā€™s an empty canvas.

We import the Jern monitors from Denmark they might be perfect for you

they can be placed right next to a wall, they have incredible imaging, and are very liquid sounding, and they work really well with your Rel

https://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0721/JERN_11S_Compact_Loudspeaker_Review.htm

https://jernspeakers.com/review/hardware-review-jern-12xf/

we can send you a pair to demo

Dave and Troy

Audio Intellect NJ

Jern Importers

@cookiecurls - I recommend checking out the Buchardt line of speakers. They are Danish and sell direct to the consumer. I own the Buchardt S400 Mkii and use them in my office which is pretty small. They recommend at least 50 watts to drive them.

The sound of the speakers leans towards the being warm. And the bass on the speakers is incredible given their size. I highly recommend them. They just came out with a new E50 speaker which is a more premium version, but Iā€™ve not heard them. R

There are plenty of reviews online to check out. By the way, they are easily in your budget!Ā 

Based on your listening preferences, Harbeth should be right up your alley. The C7es should work great in your room.

Joseph Audio pulsar2 graphine. Would be an absolutely perfect speaker for what youā€™re looking for!

PureAudioProject open baffle speakers are an interesting recommendation made above. Ā The smaller models, like the Trio 15 with something like the horn midrange/tweeter module might work. Ā I have not heard these speakers in as small a room ss you have, which is why I said ā€œmightā€ work. Ā Open baffle speakers need at least two feet of space behind then, and ideally, more than that. Ā The Trio is a fantastically good speaker well within your budget.

Charney Audio makes some extremely good sounding speakers that work well in small rooms. Ā Iā€™ve only heard several versions of their Companion model, which is beyond your budget, so I donā€™t know how well their lower-price models work, But I am hopeful.

My best bet would be Audio Note speakers. Ā Their big speakers, the AN-E are actually quite compact and fit in the corner of the room, but they are probably too big in terms of bass response, so look at the smaller AN-J or AN-K models. Ā Within each model type, there are many options that can take one well past your budget, but, there will be something within budget. Ā There is nothing harsh or bright Ā about any of their speakers. Ā These speakers are normally used with low and medium-powered tube gear, but they sound good with almost anything.

Ā I would go with standmounts or small towers with twin subs to give you the bass you want. Ā I Also am sensitive to sibilant sound with my old guy ears. Ā Consider beryllium tweeters. Ā I have a pair of Revel M126Be on stands with a pair of subs in a similar sized room and it sounds great. Ā Revel has 226 towers too that are smaller towers if you want to avoid stands.Ā 

TAD ME1 second hand would fit your budget and are amazing speakers. I have niched preferred them to Joseph Pulsar. Not sure McIntosh amp would be an ideal match though.Ā 

With your room well treated Focal Kanta 2 should do well without sounding too bright. A corner set up can also work well to mitigate room modes. Good luck !Ā 

I believe someone already mentioned Franco Serblin. They have a new stand mounted I heard this year at Axpona called the Goldberg. Very even sounding and has that beautiful Italian look as well.

I use Borresen X1 with a T9X rel sub. You will be delighted. This is in my office set up and it plays all day with no fatigue!!

Look at ATC. They are very accurate and ATC are used by many recording engineers for monitoring. Imaging is amazing.Ā 

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I agree with a previous recommendation. Consider auditing Joseph Audio Pulsars. At $10K, I would definitely try to demo your top 1-3 picks on your system or something very similar at your local dealer. Keep in mind, the demo room, cables, etc, make a difference. Unfortunately, demoing speakers may require a few road trips. Your local shop may not sell any of your top picks. Iā€™m currently using B&W 805D3 paired with a Conrad Johnson amp and preamp. The Pulsars are at the top of my list when I get the upgrade itch. Take your time and have fun.Ā 

Any speakers from the BBC family would fit nicely, I have the Graham Audio LS 5/9, can listen to them all day without fatigue, I am very sensitive to upper middle and treble, another brand is QLN, great speakers.Ā 

You should definitely look at the monitor audio platinum 100 G3 or G2 if you can find them still very three-dimensional airy and spacious and excellent bass.

If you prefer a more detailed, transparent, yet full-bodied, minus the fatigue, great dynamics, great bass, huge soundstage, high resolution, great value for the money sound, I would highly recommend one of the smaller Revel PerformaBe speakers.Ā  If you prefer a more lush, softer, more romantic sound, then Sonus Faber would be a great choice.Ā  Happy listening,Ā  Ā 

I have really been enjoying the Vivid Audio Kaya S12 speakers.Ā  They are small speakers with matching stands ($9,700 with stands).Ā  I have to say they are a slice of pure heaven.Ā  They have an uncanny sense of presence and amazing imaging with "reach out and touch" focus.Ā  Their tonal balance is spot on and just when you are wondering if they have bass, it shines through with detail and articulation and the proper quantity.Ā  A very special speaker with some obviously amazing technology.

I have a Yamaha NS5000 "bookshelf" in a decent sized room, but it is too big for a small room. To solve this for people Yamaha introduced the NS3000 which are true bookshelf speakers (use stands). The NS3000 is not sold in the USA but can be bought from Canada (I know a store in Toronto).

I have heard the TAD ME-1 and the NS5000 is at a different level to the BE drivers on the TAD's. The NS3000 would be the same as the NS5000 since the Zylon drivers are essentially the same.

I recently moved into a smaller office from another small office. In the larger office I had a Magnepan LRS+. It was not the utmost in detail and dynamics, but it was a great listen with the wall of sound it produces. You need a lot of power for this speaker.

Now in my new smaller office I sold the LRS+ and got the Magnepan Mini. The mini is used in near-field but I think it would work in a room 12x11x9. It is a bit more detailed and smoother than the LRS+. This speaker also needs a lot of power. (I tried lower 70 watts and it was not enough). I use a Sanders Magtech which give me 500 @ 8Ā and 900 @ 4. The Mini can be bought used for $1000 and a used amp in the range of $5k (like mine would be perfect)

Remember a small room is not a great friend to great sound.

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Joseph Audio still uses the Infinite Slope Crossover Technology of Richard Modafferi, the most amazingly distinct speakers you will ever hear, I loved my JSE Model IIā€™s in a larger room, they still sound awesome in my friendā€™s even large space, I went back to my vintage family heirloom horns and 15" woofer.

you need a 2 way for your space that is not lacking ......

hereā€™s a used pair at $1,200. local pickup. You would need to use UPS Pack and Ship, just have seller drop them off at UPS unpackaged for you.

note: if sand filled, have them drain it, you add play sand after you get them.

Used Joseph Audio

stereophile review rm22si

excerpt

The improvements in the RM22si Signature Mk.2, while not as dramatic as those I found with theĀ Mk.2 version of the RM7si Signature, were significant.

only sensitivity 86, you need a decent amount of power and wonā€™t need a lot of volume in that space,

...........................

OR, hereā€™s a pair that will take your whole budget

https://nowlistenhere.net/speakers/joseph-audio-pulsar2-graphene

I would prefer the larger rm22si box sand filled, and having most of my money still in my pocket

Ā