Another Monitor Audio Supporter. I have Pass Lab equipment playing a pair of Platinum 200 3g speakers and enjoy them tremendously. Classical, jazz, rock.
I’m totally pleased with their musical presentation
Looking for my End Game Speaker
I'm looking for my end game speakers. My system currently consists a digital streaming front end with the Mola mola Tambaqui DAC and Grimm MU1 streamer along with Magico A3 speakers. For amplification, I recently acquired on the used market, the Audionet Humboldt.
I live in a small 960 sq ft condo in a highrise. My system is in the great room (living, dining, and kitchen all in one). Given the room configuration, my speakers have to be located close to a side wall (unless I radically change the room and block my balcony doors with my stereo). Room dimensions are 12' x 16' (not including kitchen).
The following speakers are on my list to auditon:
Marten Parker Trio, Acora (SRB, SRC1, SRC2), Magico S3 - 2023, Magico M2, Joseph Audio, Franco Serblin, Rockport, Vivid Audio Giya G4,
I have already heard the Acora SRC1 and thought they were amazing, however, perhaps a bit bass shy.
Given my room constraints, I'm concentrating more on the models that have a sealed box design. Given that, I am very interested in the Magico M2 and S3 - 2023. Has anyone heard these two models? A used M2 would cost about the same as a new S3. How do these two models compared? Which would you choose?
Can anyone recommend any other sealed box design speakers.....or any speakers that would fit into a relatively small room (close to the walls)? I should also note that I would like a speaker that performs well with lower listening volumes....
I have booked my ticket to AXPONA 2025, so I'm making a list of speakers that I should audition.
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I have a relatively small room and selected Joseph Perspective 2s. I love them. Relatively small footprint and not towering, they are sensitive to placement, but not overly so. Great soundstage and reproduce all types of music well, to my ears. I have a Boulder 866 driving them. I listen primarily to rock, jazz, with some acoustic, classical and funk thrown in for good measure. I usually listen to CDs, but am puttering this morning and streaming Spotify right now — some acoustic stuff. For some reason, Spotify just sent YYZ my way — each instrument is clearly presented, delineated one from the other; I don’t have the feeling the speakers are laboring in any way to present the bass and kick, the toms, crash or Lifeson’s guitar. It’s all there. |
Know you said sealed box, but Why not look at Sonus Farber? I just switched to the Amati G5’s and am very pleased. I usually listen at lower volumes and the Amati G5’s midrange and bass are definitely there without being overwhelming and the high end blends in nicely. The Serafino G2’s are really easy to listen to as well. All the best in your search. BTW, ports can be tuned or just plugged. |
@goose +, Precisely....although I've gotten to the point of approaching the room 'speakers 1st' and letting the equipment adapt to the space.... Had to. Too many implausible spaces to tame makes one mean....*L* ;) Besides, I'm in the process of DIY'ng my 'end speakers'...and then it won't matter. Have to. Enjoy, J |
@danbro I just updated all the prices, but have not posted them yet. I enter the prices and data I find. In 10% of the cases, there is no data to be found. |
I would be looking at Franco Serblin speakers and thinking about whether I wanted to do stand mounted or full tower. Looking for end game, I would be thinking about natural and musical speakers the kind that satisfy the deep rooted desire for rich musical sound and less on flashy or incredibly fast technical feats. The kind that you will want to listen to on quite Sunday mornings while contemplating with coffee as well as late Saturday night after a bit of scotch. Given neighbors… I would consider stand mounted. |
https://speakerchoices.com/index.htm 95 sealed speakers |
Calgarian5355 That is a great list of speakers, and a great idea to spend time at Axpona.....I live in Chicago and go every year. Definitely spend a good amount of time with the Joseph Audio speakers, they almost always demo well. I would also put Fyne Audio speakers (they're usually at Axpona), something like the Vintage 10 or Vintage 12s. They are hand built in Scotland, by most of the old Tannoy artisans.....and are stunningly beautiful to look at. |
@calgarian5355 - yes, one can often negotiate a discount price to purchase the demo component. Yes, the Vimberg has the diamond tweeter upgrade. When I heard the Vimberg Mino D at AXPONA, it sounded great but was unaffordable with the Diamond upgrade. I love high notes from bells, violins, etc so I love excellent highs. After explaining to my trusted audio dealer, he managed to negotiate a great price but I blew my budget significantly. I’m very happy where I landed with a clean neutral speaker. Subsequently, I auditioned the Gershman Acoustics 30th Anniversary Grand Avant Garde. Audio Bacon reviewed then purchased a pair here. I was surprised how much bass these smallish floorstanders produce. They sounded fantastic. If I found this speaker first, I’d likely purchase this and save some cash. It’s worth a demo. |
@calgarian5355 - I have the model with the ceramic tweeter; that about topped my budget out right there. I was first going to get the Oscar Duos but then auditioned these Parker Duos along side of them and thought they were worth the extra $$; love that lower midrange! You are right about those custom Isoacoustics feet! |
@zuesman I'll definitely put Monitor Audio on my list! Thanks! A local dealer is doing a special listening session with the new Monitor Audio Hyphn later on during the month, so I'll probably drop by if I get a chance to hear them! @laaudionut @jdavis234 Thanks for your recommendation. I'll put the TAD on my list to audition. I'll do some research ahead of time! @larsman Do you have the model with the Diamond tweeter or the ceramic? Yes, I've read great reviews about the whole Marten lineup...and I'm a big fan of the custom made isolation feet by Isoacoustics. @stringreen I haven't listened to Vandersteen in years! I'll have to check out their new lineup; I see they've totally redesigned their Carbon model....looks very similar to the Quattro wood..... @p05129 The Magico A3 that I have now don't seem overly large in my room currently. The Magico M2 (used) is very similar in size to my existing speakers...so I think they would be a good choice (although, even in the used market, is one of the most expensive options). The Vivid Audio Giya G4 would also be a good fit size wise.... |
@kennyc Thanks for your response! I think you did really well going with the Vimberg Mino D (that's the Diamond tweeter upgrade correct?); the Vimberg are on my audition list as well. My big concern is that they are rear vented. I'm hoping to speak to some of the reps there to pick their brains on room placement. So the new S3 compares to the M3....That's impressive! Do the exhibitors offer show specials during Axpona? Tony |
I spent a couple years in search of my last pair, as I knew once retired, the funds would never be there again. Unless I won a lotto etc. I made a CD of songs that I felt were 1) familiar 2) offered both male and female vocals 3) offered bass heavy as well as overly bright 4) rock, jazz, orchestral, piano and acoustic guitar, I found that by using this disc as well as other music streamed at the dealer, I could get a real feel for the voice of each speaker. Also I always made sure no sub was in play, although I was surprised that some dealers would tell me the sub was off, but when they left the room it was indeed active. Most dealers were very accommodating to my request in leaving me alone to Audi on the speakers. Although there was one dealer that wouldn’t leave the room and continued to push his setup as the only way to maximize the speaker’s performance. That was a red flag to me, in that his exit strategy of my dissatisfaction that they weren’t setup correctly. In short believe your ears and your ears only. Your ears, your money and the rest of your life to listen to your end choice. One last thing I will mention is, listen at lower than normal listening levels. As we get older, our ears are more subject to damage and speakers that only satisfy you when loud will disappoint your when they are not. Good Luck it can be equally fun and frustrating but rewarding overall |
Of course speakers from audiotroy are amazing and he just happens to have them in stock. |
the focal diablo utopias are amazing and when used with a good sub woofer rival the performance of the much larger focal models
We have have them on display with the unique MJ acoustics Kensingtons this is a very compact narrow tower subwoofer that uses two ultra fast 10 inch woofers one top firing one bottom firing the woofer is only 12 wide by 14inches deep so it can reside right next to the diablo, and with a separate subwoofer you can tune the bass to match the roon and taste. this is a world class combination. Dave and Troy Audio Intellect NJ focal and mj acoustics dealers https://mjacoustics.co.uk/kensington/
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Hi @calgarian5355, I loved my Haileys. Fast, tight, super imaging, very resolving. But I like the Giya G2s even more. Much more lower midrange and bass. And even though they are ported, the bass is very controlled. Just deeper, richer and still very resolving. A little friendlier on the ear... The Giyas are amazing in that they do not vibrate. It is the way back pressure and distortion is eliminated behind the drivers due to the tapered tube design. I never thought I would change from the Haileys. But.... Go to GTT audio. It is worth a visit. |
Thank you for the input… It shows on your profile that you had YG acoustic speakers previously. Were you not happy with them? Do you have the vivid audio speakers close to the wall? I heard the Kaya series at a local dealer… and was not that impressed. They did not have the Giya in stock. I had heard the oval speaker from vivid years ago at the Rocky Mountain audio festival.… and I loved them! |
I would look at the Wilson Benesch speakers. Using carbon fiber cabinets specifically designed to eliminate the rear energy from the drivers they work extremely well in smaller areas. They also are 2.5 way with minimum crossover's. Extraordinary design and execution. Aaudio imports carries them and you might have a dealer close by. |
Suggestions and recommendations from others are always welcome, and can be helpful to a certain extent. However, in this instance, you're just going to have to take your time and figure this one out for yourself. You have to listen and audition, listen and audition, till the cows come home. That's the only way to figure out which speaker will be best for you and your room. In the process, you may be surprised to discover a totally new speaker that wasn't on your original list of speakers under consideration. Happy listening. |
Hello @calgarian5355, I have had my Vivid Giya G2s for a week now and they are fantastic! Imaging, depth, resolution, a true sense of involvement with the music. We share the same streamer and DAC... |
I heard both. After demoing many speakers at audio shows and stores, Magico and YG were my favorite. I was hoping to get to maybe M3 level used, but my budget was more A5 level. I also went to an AXPONA to demo my final speakers: Magico A5 vs Rockport Atria - both sounded subpar due to room conditions, but my dealer got me a deal on the Vimberg Mino D show demos. The S3 2024 had that Magico sound that seemed to easily compete with their M3 - I was surprised how full it sounded. Looking forward to demoing the new S5 2024. |
