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Quad 12L2 or 21L2: Detail vs. Fullness?

I posted a question about warm monitors for a hearing loss and due to all the great help here, I have narrowed my search down to the Quad 12L2 or 21L2, Dynaudio 52, Spendor 3/5 or possibly Vandersteen 2. I included the Quad floorstander because there are deals here on Audiogon but I have not heard it. I have found with some floorstanders that the the fuller bass seems to muffle the highs at even medium volumes. (This may be true for me specifically because of my hearing loss.) Does the 21L2 lose some of the detail I heard on the 12L2? I would also be interested in general comments on floorstanders vs. monitors on this subject. Thanks!
lalo23

Showing 3 responses by lalo23

lalo23 OP
5 posts
 
Thanks for the detailed response. The Totems sound like a great choice but I need a small bookshelf to act as a center for dialogue from films. The Dynaudio 62s were one of those floorstanders that seem a bit muffled (compared to the 42s). I think the Contours are out of my price range.

BTW, my living/listening room is medium large - about 13 feet by 22 feet and there is a 7 foot opening at the side that leads to a 12 by 13 dining room.
lalo23 OP
5 posts
 
Well, if they are more lively than the famously bright B&Ws, then that is not the speaker for me. (See above where I am looking for a warm speaker.) So you helped me decide against the Totems :- ). Seriously, Totems are well regarded but they are tough to find to audition and apparently, there is no "Totem sound." But I do love the names of their speakers and their cool website.

Actually, I pulled the trigger on a pair of used 12L2s from a vendor here on Audiogon. Thanks everyone for the help!
lalo23 OP
5 posts
 
Thanks! Actually, the more we converse,the more I think we (and some others here) have in common about speakers in this price range. I liked the 685s and thought them very detailed but found the bass not very full and after listening to them for 10 minutes, their highs were just too accentuated for me. Of the 685, Paradigm 20, KEF IQ30, Dynaudio 42, Silverline Prelude and even wonderful Spendor SA1s, I found the 12L2s to have the most lively yet warm presentation. Sounds like maybe the Dreamcatchers are in that world too. Hopefully, my 21L2s will be too!
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