"Best" bookshelf/monitor for low-power amp?


I'm looking for recommendations to mate to a low-power 30wpc Red Wine 30.2 amp.

I was thinking moderately priced (no more than $5k used) high-efficiency monitors, for probably near-field-like listening. For a home-office application, so space is an issue and big ol' floorstanders will be too much. Digital audio only (via a DAC). Mix of music, jazz, classical, lots of female vocalists. Some rock for good measure. Okay, so, a little bit of everything. :-)

Room is 12x10x9 with glass on 3 sides (windows on 2, french doors on 3rd). Speakers will be able to be 2-3 ft from wall, bracketing french doors, shooting down longest axis at windows (with me and desk directly in front).

Currently on the chart, Zu Tone, GMA Callisto or Eos III. After that, I'm kinda stuck. I'd love to do something like a Harbeth SHL5 or Focal 1007 Be, but I'm worried that they'll just be "okay" with such a low powered amp (they're pretty inefficient).

Suggestions and input welcome. And yes, I know this is similar to other threads, but the caveat here is that I'm looking for "high-efficiency monitors" not just "best ever".

Thanks in advance ....
socrates7

Showing 1 response by wrm57

Have you considered Merlins? For the last year, in my living room system, I've been using Merlin TSM Mmi with Master RCs and a Manley Stingray II. The room is 28x16x8, with another room attached in an L-shape. The Manley can be run in triode (18-20 watts) or ultralinear (36-40 watts). In this large room, triode is not quite enough--good at low volumes but loses gas at higher SPLs. Ultralinear powers them with ease. So I think your Redwine at 30 watts would be fine. The Merlins are very coherent, tonally true, great timbre, and outstanding imaging, and full, tight bass as low as they go, to around 50 hz. But with sealed cabinets they drop off gradually and blend easily with a sub. I use a small Von Schweikert with great results. They're a tube-friendly 6 ohm load. For years I was skeptical of the Merlin "cult" but these little monitors really are quite good. They can rock the room or play with exceptional delicacy. Worth considering.

Before the Merlins, I was using Omega Grande 8R, which are 96 db single-drivers, along with the sub. The Omegas are good, too, and more efficient but the Merlins are in a different league. The newer Omegas with the hemp drives are supposed to be better, so they're also worth considering if you want the coherency and efficiency of a single driver, which has a lot going for it.