Pubul57, Checked out your Merlin VSM's. They look remarkably similar to full range speakers. Your disqualified! |
Raidho Ayra C1. Simply brilliant. |
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Well, then I stand I my belief that the Merlin VSMs are the best monitors ever made, though the "stand" is integrated into the speaker. My second choice would be the Harbeth HL5s which are wonderful indeed, but not quite is resolved and communicative in microdynamics as the Merlins. I can see someone liveing with either one for a long time with a great big smile on their face and not thinking twice about whether or not their speakers are "good" enough IMHO. |
I would simply say, typically two-way system that requires a pedestal or stand. |
What is a monitor speaker? How are we defining it? Another wrod for bookshelf, or something else? |
As far as Monitors go, I dont see myself leaving the harbeth line. |
After I posted my response. I gave it some more thought and since Nyctc7 mentioned the Krells I will mention a speaker that I though about yesterday. It's the speaker I think would end the quest if you were on a budget. It's the Polk LSi9. Uses the same tweeter as the above Krell and is a darn fine speaker. I had them for a bit when I had my TSMs and I have to say they were not shamed by the Merlin's. The Merlin's were more better, but the Polk's are all people that are not totally sick like us need. I could live with them and be happy.
Will they end MY quest? No, but they will end many peoples. At $500 used they are IMHO were diminishing returns set in. |
Krell Resolution 3. Not cost-no-object speakers, but not inexpensive either, they were $4,000 (not including stands) when I purchsed them in 2005. Now it is almost five years later and I am still happy with them. While I am not prepared to say that I will have them for life, they are good, satisfying speakers that also look good. |
Revel Gems or anything active. |
Spendor SA1. Small box of magic.
Neal |
I meant Lenehan Audio ML1. |
Lenhan Audio ML1. I have never experienced such attention to detail and quality in any product that I have purchased. Everything from the the crossover to the cabinet material to the grills to the flight cases they came in is first class; and they sound great. |
Rebbi,
I am not a professional reviewer -- only a music lover, but was asked to do a review of Fritz Carbon 7s after posting a few comments on audiokarma.org. My review appeared in the December issue of http://www.affordableaudio.org/.
In short, for the money, I do not think you can do better. I am sure there are better speakers out there, but I suspect they would cost substantially more money.
At least that's my take on it!
-Tim |
Hales Revelation One's in the Sapele finish mounted on 24" Sanus "Ultimate Foundations" stands (the stands from the late '90's with the three fillable steel uprights on the triangular fountainhead base.. very stout!). Too bad neither are in production anymore.. I had originally bought the One's to use as surrounds for my other Hales but after listening to them at home I couldn't relegate them to mere surround duties.
Although these are monitors and over ten years old, I still have not met a standmount speaker that makes music like the Rev. One. They have terrific bass and "play large" on demanding material. On most music, they give up very little sonically compared to my larger pair of Revelation Two floorstanders.. |
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Not sure the quest will end as long as I can lift a new pair of monitors on to the stands. That being said, Soliloquy 5.0s are here to stay. |
Tim_j_thomas,
Tell us more about the Fritz Carbon 7. I was almost ready to order a pair but then bought a pair of LSA1 Statements, on sale, instead. Thanks in advance! |
Sonist-"Concerto 2". These replaced Reference 3A MM De Capo's in my system and I don't feel the need to look any further! |
Mer;in VSM-MXe - should stop the quest no matter what type of speaker you are looking for, unless you have a very large room and you want the presence of a orchestra; for most music in most domestic settings, I think they are the very best speakers available. The TSMs are also superb, if not with the same scale of the VSMs. You may want to look up the reviews in AudioReview and the review in Bound for Sound. Reviews may not mean everything, but I think you will be surprised by the number and consistently of assessment from hundreds of owners. |
Second the Refernce 3a MM De Capo & De Capo i's , best with tube amps . |
I'll only go so far as saying my Focal-JMLabs BE Micro Utopia monitors have helped to "slow down the quest". The build quality of these is such that it has to be seen to be believed. Coupled with my JL Audio F112 Sub, it's hard to imagine replacing these any time soon... ... ... although those Gemme Katana's look pretty interesting. |
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