The absolute best sounding near field speakers are Wilson Audio Tunetots. You just need to find a pair at an auction where nobody else knows about good speakers, or find a pair that have "fallen off the back of a truck" but the actual drivers aren't damaged despite the cabinets appearing destroyed. You also never know what amazing things go up for police auction or home insurance auction. So keep an eye out for a pair of Wilson Audio Tunetots and bid $100 while everyone else wonders why you would pay so much for tiny no name speakers. To let you know I'm serious, I bequeath to you upon my passing my secret method of covertly listening to music at work without headphones nor disturbing your nearest cubical neighbor, yes, get some Wilson Audio Tunetot near field speakers and stash a 5 watt amp under your desk. |
Rbstehno,
What Hitman_hifi said. With all due respect, I was driving my Arros with a Unison Unico hybrid integrated, with a Music Hall CD 25.2 for digital and a SOTA Sapphire for analog, etc., etc., and yes, they sounded pretty bright out of the box. They are very good speakers, but they do lean toward the bright side, at least (so I'm told) until broken in, for which Totem recommends over 100 hours. |
i have never heard or had a pair of totem speakers that were bright. if the arros sounded bright, there must have been some cheap hardware before the speakers. I don't consider a Quad 99 CDP and Copland CSA-29 amp as "cheap" hardware. Fact is, as good as the Arros are (and I definitely recommend them!!), they sound bright with certain hardware. |
i have never heard or had a pair of totem speakers that were bright. if the arros sounded bright, there must have been some cheap hardware before the speakers. |
My friend has a pair of Arro's and he mentioned that they were rather "bright" when he first got them. He attached a DIY damper to the tweeter of each speaker (consisting of a straw and hockey tape) and was satisfied with the sound. I listened to them and they offer an outstanding dynamic range for such a small, narrow speaker, especially in the bottom end. |
Tabascocat,
I've never spent any real time with the Mites. The Arros are rather bright out of the box, in my experience, and my pair didn't have that many hours on them when I sold them and kept the Ohms, but I'm told they settle down with time. |
I read that Mites were less bright, fatiguing than Arros. |
if you've still got any energy for the hunt, check out the monitors from NSM/Role
first order crossovers and acoustic suspension cabinets meaning no ports which greatly simplifies placement - they do need some juice but the Vincent should take care of that
I have a pair of the NSM 10S
very sweet stuff - great imaging and quite nice with the volume down (I agree this has a lot to do with the amp) - they are billed as minimonitors but play much bigger then that
first rate service and customer support too |
just curious, why would you think the mites or staff's would be a better fit? the arros will actually give you a more full sound than the mites. for a smallish bookshelf speaker, the mites are very nice, but the arros are just better all around. the staffs are in the middle of some outstanding totem speakers: arros and the hawks. if i wanted to save $$$, i would get the arros. if i wanted a pair of speakers that are fantastic for little $$$, get the hawks. also, once in a while you will find a pair of model 1's for < $700. buy them. i have owned them in the past and were excellent! |
Onemug, I will check out the Omegas that you suggested.
Dwhitt, I will check out the Eras that you suggested.
Rebbi & Rbstehno, I will also look at Totems, but I have read that Mites/Staff may be my best choice.
Thanks |
I have a feeling you might be happy with the Omega speakers mentioned above mainly because they have no crossovers. Some 2 way/3 way don't sound as balanced at low levels. |
I have never bought near-field speakers, so I may be confused, but I do not think that this is the right situation for them. Would near-field speakers, whose name implies speakers positioned close to the listener be appropraite for an office which is a medium/large room. The speakers will sit 10'+ for me.
Regardless, my amp is set (I love it), so switching to a new amp or a completely new NHT system is not an option. |
For what it's worth, I had the Arros for a few months and they're fine speakers and a good deal, used. They come up for sale regularly here. Very detailed and open sound, good imaging, amazing bass for their size. A little bright and potentially fatiguing out of the box, so try to get a well broken-in pair if you can. (I ultimately went with a pair of Ohm Micro Walsh Talls, which have a more neutral sound to my ears, along with a 120-day he trial period... But at $1000 a pair they're a little over your target price.) |
Building on Saki70's comments...the NHT PRO system is just that....two nearfield speakers and a specially designed matched amplifier that allows you to move the boundary...an integrated system designed specifically for your intended use.
You might want to read:
http://mixguides.com/studiomonitors/Reviews/nhtpro-a20-monitor-699/
which describes some of the problems that this type of system can help avoid...and tell you what the A20/A10 might be able to do for you in your environment.
The entire system is also within your price range....and you can keep the SV-236.
I am not sure why you would listen to the classic threes when you are looking for a completely different design point. That's sort of like listening to today's JBL's and saying I don't like any JBL's (and they made some truly outstanding speakers a while back). The NHT Pro has little in common with the NHT Classic Threes other than the company name which has now been sold at least three times since the A20 was offered.
I'm not trying to sell you on the NHT's....there are many solutions. However, I always prefer a total solution rather than putting together individual pieces that each have good reviews and then having to deal with all the integration and room issues that an integrated near field monitor system avoids. |
Saki70, I choose the Vincent amp due to a number of reasons:
1. I got a good deal on a integrated amp which has received great reviews (TAS--award)
2. It has a loudness button which helps at low volumes
3. I wanted something warm, and not fatiguing
4. I wanted something with sufficient power to drive any small cabinet speaker and get decent bass
5. I wanted something that would be versatile in case I bring it out of the office
I love SV-236 for this purpose (and beyond)
Rbstehno, I think the Arros are leading my list. However, have you tried Rainmakers? How do they compare?
Ghstudio, I have no interest to change my whole system for NHT speakers. I was unimpressed with the Classic Threes--the only NHT which I have heard. |
What made you choose the Vincent amp ?
As someone who has put some effort into building a nearfield system , ie. low volume , I have found that the amp is just as important as the speaker and its efficiency . I have demoed many amps that did not fit this criteria on speakers rated at 90db. eff. or more . Sort of like the first watt theory .
Just curious . |
the totem arros would be an excellent choice. i used to own them for my den setup in my last house. i sold them andwent with the totem taw in-wall speakers in my new den. |
NHT A-10 or A-20 used would be perfect..but use their amps and sell the one you have. Used they fall into your price range.
Note: if you buy one of these, make sure they come with the special cables that run between the amps and the speakers...they have orange cable covers. |
For low volume work I assume you don't need a lot of bass. Consider the less expensive full-range drivers from Omega loudspeakers. |
era speakers from peachtree....era are good on the eyes, ears and pocket,dwhitt |
