For that room Iād seriously look at Audio note UK AN line of speakers. They are designed to be placed in the corner of the room. some of the very best for a musical presentation. None fatiguing, excellent detail levels, excellent bass depth and detail, not harsh on top but all the detail you could ask for. Also, quite efficient so it opens the doors to a wide range of amps.
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! š Iām very excited about it. However, itās 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 Iām a former professional musician and music is my life, and I want to feel connected to my music as much as I can, so Iām willing to invest into it. I have a budget of about $10k give or take $1k or so. I donāt 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 Iāve ever used made me wince because the high frequencies are too pronounced. I just put up with it because I didnāt have a choice, but Iāve noticed that with speakers Iām usually not so sensitive to them so Iām 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 Iād love something that sounds ātrue to lifeā because I have obviously a lot of experience hearing instruments live. I mostly listen to jazz (because Iām a jazz musician) but I also love music of all genres like rock, electronic, pop, soul, alternative, and occasionally K-Pop too, Iām 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 letās just say jazz and realistic instruments is my main priority š
So with all that said, I would greatly appreciate your suggestions. Iāve been looking at Focalās line of Kanta and Sopra but Iāve heard they are bright. Iāve heard B&W but I donāt think their house sound is for me, again too bright. Ā Also debating between bookshelves and small floor standers for a smallish room. Iāve been looking also at Canton, Dali, Tannoy and Wharfdale, but Iām not as familiar with the speaker world as I am the headphone or IEM world, so Iām quite open to ideas. Thank you so much and best wishes on the evening of this crazy time Iām in the U.S.!
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@cookiecurls wrote: "The room size is 10 feet by 11 feet with 10 foot ceilings, almost a perfect square". This makes me think that a somewhat unconventional set-up geometry might be worth considering: Perhaps with the speakers and listening position oriented almost, but not quite, along a diagonal. This would help to smooth out the in-room bass in your almost-cubic room. @cookiecurls again: "I also have a Rel A7X subwoofer" and "No [placement] limitations, itās an empty canvas." I would suggest main speakers whose low end overlaps the subwoofer somewhat, such that the subwoofer is augmenting the low end rather than being the sole source of low end energy. And, I would suggest elevating the sub so that it is closer to the ceiling than to the floor. Combined with not-quite-diagonal speaker placement, this approach would result in your three in-room bass sources each being a different distance from the nearby room boundaries, with good distribution of your bass sources in all three dimensions.Ā Does your subwoofer have a phase control?Ā A phase control is often useful when there is overlap between the sub(s) and mains. @cookiecurls: "[The room] has already been professionally sound treated with many panels from Gik Acoustics." Which types of panels, and can you relocate them if you wanted to try the almost-diagonal setup geometry? One final question, which has to do with spatial quality preference: Are you more interested in a "they are here" presentation (it sounds like the musicians are in your room), or a "you are there" presentation (it sounds like you are in the musicansā room)? Thanks! Duke |
Especially since your room size and sensitivity to highs, I would recommend Electricic Solution rebuild of Quad 57s. They are a bit rolled off in the highs but donāt have very strong bass, But for what they do it is clear why they top most lists of best ever. Also seems you have a great amp for them, And if you want similar mids with good bass and more highs and an overall more dynamic and real sound, the new Quad 2812X. They are a steal at $10K. The 57s are just $6500. I replaced mine with the new Quads. I miss the sublime 57 sound but am enjoying the more exciting sound of the new Quads, I am also a musician and love the real and transparency of Quads. Would never have any other! |
@cookiecurls you already have received some very good recommendations. I agree with those who suggest one of the BBC models. When I moved nearly a decade ago into a home with a small dedicated listening room, I had opportunity to build a system specifically for the space. Like you, Iām sensitive to high frequencies and lean toward warmer presentations of music. After an exhausting and exhaustive review of every stand mounted speaker at AXPONA, I decided to bring home a pair of Reference 3A MM de Capo BE speakers to audition. At the show, I thought they offered a more perfect balance (to my ear) of accuracy and warmth than any of the others I auditioned, many of which are suggested above. Reference 3A is not well known, but they have been around a very long time and are well regarded. The last I looked, they were less than half your budget. By the way, I recently added a pair of REL T7x subs to my system; they play beautifully with the Ref 3As. |
Given your requirements especially in the treble: Ā odyssey audio Lorelei. $2900 and add a Rythmic sealed sub or two, if needed.Ā https://odysseyaudio.com/lorelei-floorstanding-speaker/ Ā Ā |
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