Thanks! The Dynaudio are nice and small. And a Chicago-based company. Will have to check them out.
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Thanks everyone! I have heard the R300s and like them too. Will try to check out the Harbeths (never heard of that brand!) and Technics and others mentioned. I do think 20" is too big.
FWIW, my original title really meant "looking for small speakers that don't sound like small speakers." I'm not sure what "big" implies on audiogon -- it's been quite a while since I hung out here -- but I just would like a good sounding speaker. I listen to a lot of Grateful Dead and related, as well as other classic rock (Neil Young, Steely Dan, Rolling Stones, Doors, Bob Marley, etc.....), if that matters. |
Wow, thanks for all the recommendations! FWIW, in a couple of coincidences, I went to Holm Audio to hear the KEFs. While I was there, I also was advised to listen to PSB Imagine Minis, which I liked, but seemed to need a subwoofer to fill out the sound. So I wonder if the slightly larger PSBs would be a good all-in-one alternative.
I also listened to a pair of Tannoy floor speakers there, although my wife decided she liked the "lighter" look of smaller bookshelf speakers on stands, than taller floor speakers. Appearance is very important to her, and I think I can find speakers that sound good to me if they fit her "blend into the woodwork" eye. Lots to check you. Thanks for the ideas! |
"Check out the Harbeth P3ESR or the Spendor 3/5r2. I have owned and enjoyed both ! The fit and finish on the Harbeth's are outstanding!"
and then
"Forget the speakers that I recommended, not for the type of music you listen to!!"
Are you sure they wouldn't be appropriate for rock music? They looked nice online and got very good reviews.
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I am fine with finding good speakers, and then deciding if I want to upgrade my amp. I'd rather buy good speakers and then decide that my 20 year old amp needs to be replaced rather than trying to match new speakers to a 20 y/o amp. |
Ryan R10s are pushing the size envelope a bit, I’m afraid. As are the de Capos. |
Freediver, I stumbled upon the Virtual System forum and found the Done For Now section, but couldn't figure out how to search for your uploads. Sorry, I am new here. |
:-)
You just want to see me divorced. |
I think 18" high is too big, but thanks. |
Thanks everyone for all the ideas. I will resume looking in a couple of weeks and let everyone know what I come up with. I appreciate all the good advice. |
Thanks everyone -- lots to consider. FWIW, I don't mind internet shopping although I'd like to have a pretty good idea that something is going to work visually and sound-wise before being on the hook for shipping stuff back. Speakers, I imagine, aren't cheap to ship.
I'd much rather get a used set of good $2500 speakers for $1300 rather than a new pair of $1300 speakers...
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I was out of the country for a couple of weeks but am now back and ready to get into this again.
I looked back through all the responses and it seems like, when considering my size/appearance requirements, the popular suggestions were:
Dynaudio Excite 14 or Excite 18
Harbeth P3ESR
KEF 300
Ascend Sierra 2
and possibly:
Dali Ikon2 Mark2
Tannoy DC8
Joseph Audio Prisms RM22 or RM7
mm de Capo's
B&W CM6 S2
Totem Model-1 Signature
Rega RS
I will look around here and elsewhere, but if anyone happens to stumble on a nice deal on a pair of used speakers on the above list, kindly let me know. I hope to hear before I buy, but imagine most speakers suggested here will make me more than happy, given my size/location issues and the fact that I've been listening to headphones and whole house speakers for the last 5+ years. So I may just take my chances, if necessary. :-)
Thank you all for the ideas! I am very excited to find speakers as well as stands (and probably interconnects). |
I mentioned my Adcom amp and tuner in the very first post. I mentioned the classic rock music I mainly listen to in subsequent posts. The room size is the issue. It's kind of a family room and living room in one open area. And that is open to the kitchen as well. That is why the speakers have to blend in visually and be more traditional looking than the LS-50s.
The area, excluding the kitchen side of the house, is about 13' wide and 28' long, with about half the length of the room being the family room area with tv and stereo, and the other half being the living room.
I am zeroing in on the Harbeths, but haven't yet seen them, heard them or pulled the trigger. ;-) |
I should clarify that the total price of the speakers/stands/cables was not less than the cost of used Harbeths here. Just the cost of the speakers. :) |
Well, I ordered a pair of Harbeth P3ESRs, sight unseen, woofer unheard. I appreciate all of the responses here. With this being my first set of posts here, it was very helpful and somewhat surprising to get so many good, well thought out ideas.
I ended up with the Harbeths because I felt that they were about as compact and nice looking (and traditional looking) as any of the suggestions, and the reviews were overwhelmingly favorable. I was able to get a deal through a friend's connection that was cheaper for a new pair than any of the slightly used pairs of Harbeths here or on eBay. The deal includes speaker stands and cables, so I should be good to go.
Perhaps this will encourage me to replace my vintage Adcom amp and tuner and start spending way too much money on a sound system. We will see!
Thanks again for all the thoughtful comments and ideas. |
Thanks. I did get the Harbeth P3ESR speakers quite a while ago. For me, they're perfect. Sound is neutral and excellent. The speakers are very, very small and very traditional looking. Fit and finish is very good and attractive. My wife can live with the size and look, and I love the sound. |
Thanks! I really appreciate all the advice in this thread and spent a lot of time googling pictures, hunting down demos, and reading reviews. I made the right decision for me, and if looks and innocuous appearance are on your list, the Harbeths are a great way to go. I loved the sound of the KEFs, but the appearance (orange tweeter looked like an orangutan's sphincter) were a bit problematic for the spousal unit. lol |
