NHT 3.3 vs Mirage M3si


Assuming similar price and physical condition, which speaker would you choose given:

1. Listening area: 1400 sq ft carpeted basement area, speaker location will be adjacent to brick wall. listening will be enjoyed from seated position central to speaker focal point, but will also be appreciated as ambient sound throughout the location.

2. Preferred music: is diverse, from rock to jazz to classical. Hard hitting bass is appreciated, but so is a great sounding tenor saxophone or violin.

3. Current setup: Adcom 5800 amp (2 x 250wpc @ 8ohm), matching adcom pre amp, adcom cd player

4. House contains small children and I am slightly concerned about one of them toppling a mirage m3si due to its seeming high center of gravity and narrow foot print.

Please let me know your thoughts, as i would like to have context from you knowledgeable and experienced folk as i will have limited audition time and in listening areas that are quite different from mine.

Thank you!
sm_76
You got some really bad advice here. Hope you sought out the NHT 3.3's and upgraded your gear. 
No such thing as being able to watch kids 24/7 .
One chance in a million is one too many .
"Sounds like consensus is for the mirage m3sis. Considering they go for 700-1000USD these days, what other speakers should i be looking at?
Sm_76 (Threads | Answers | This Thread)"

That's a really good price for those speakers. The NHT's will wear on you. They're smaller and easier to place, but they can be hard to listen to for long periods. As for other options, I'm partial to Vandersteen. The Model 1 & 2's compete favorably with the NHT and Mirage. The Monitor Audio Silver S8's and the Spendor S5's, are excellent as well.
Schubert, thanks for your concern. We will use active parenting to manage that risk. We will not let anyone get hurt.

Any other experience to share?
Why are you even asking ?
If you have the slightest doubt it is possible young children could turn them over, do NOT buy them !
@Shakey, yes I was embarrassed about that but am learning to roll with it!

Sounds like consensus is for the mirage m3sis. Considering they go for 700-1000USD these days, what other speakers should i be looking at?
Ain't that some s&*t? You made this same post in the appropriate forum, and not a single reply. You post it in the wrong forum, and you get five.

Shakey
I was driving M3si with a Krell FPB600 but SQ is average at best.
The Gallo was superior in every way except doesn't go as deep.

Also they are dipole so need distance from front wall ... just wasn't happy with them. I think in 2015, you can do much much better IMHO.
Thanks for responses

Would your recommendations for the M3SI change to favor the NHT if my amplification were upgraded? I could possibly swing a nice pre-owned bryston 4b or similar.
I have heard and liked both ... in my friends room the Mirages needed to be placed FAR out into the room to sound good. The NHT's are designed to go against the wall but then stick out nearly 3ft into the room.

If you have cats, get the NHTs

:)
I had a pair Mirage MS3si bought new many moon ago and NOT recommended. I replaced them with Gallo Nucleus Reference... ones with 2 bowling balls and a can for tweeter.

Not familiar with NHT so can't comment.

Google the new ELAC speakers designed by Andrew Jones. You can buy a pair under $600.

http://elac.us/speakers
I would definitely go with the Mirage.

"he Mirages are by today's standards dark sounding, but I think of them as very natural sounding"

They addressed that issue with the si series.
I once owned a pair of the NHT 3.3s and thought they were excellent, but based upon your post I would recommend the Mirages. A few random thoughts -- the NHTs are not inherently bright, but they can be pushed over the edge with the wrong electronics. The Mirages are by today's standards dark sounding, but I think of them as very natural sounding. They are the better choice for listening outside the sweet spot. Bass is very good with the Mirages, but exceptional with the NHTs.