2. speakers
  3. 189586-114280

Seeking Bookshelf Recommendations

Looking for some new bookshelf speakers for a second system in a small bedroom.   The room is pretty well treated with 6 broadband absorption and 9 diffuser panels. I’m running Audio Mirror Reflection 45 mono blocks with a Canary preamp. Source will most likely be a Gustard R26 as both dac and streamer. I also have a pair of Rel t5i subs and Aperion dual firing super tweeters.  
 

Soundstaging and imaging are king for me. I want the biggest most dimensional sound I can afford.  My amp pairing is really smooth so I’m not looking for anything too warm.  I’d like something that is neutral but full in the lower mids and upper bass but also extended and airy in the treble.  My current Totem Arros do the soundstaging/imaging but are a little weak for me in the lower mids and upper bass.  Also I really value clarity and resolution as long as the magic isn’t lost of course. Basically I’m looking to have my cake and eat it too. My budget is around 3k and right now tops of my list are Fritz Carreras and Kef R3 metas. Also, Joseph Pulsars would be at the very top of my wish list but I’m trying to spend less unless it’s truly worth it.  Others that are lower on the list are Nola Boxers, Totem Signature Ones, Merlin TSM MMM, and maybe even one of the smaller Thiel floor standing speakers
 

As always I’m looking forward to everyone’s thoughts and hopefully there is at least a couple great speakers I’m missing. 

brylandgoodman
helomech
1,673 posts
 

You might contact Ty of Tyler Acoustics and inquire as whether he could build you a pair of his older Taylo Reference Monitors—the version with the Seas Millennium tweeters. They are essentially a slightly larger Joseph Pulsar, and very well built. 
 

On the used market they can sometimes be bought for between $800 and $1100, which makes them one of the best values in all of audio. They can do some things better than some $15K speakers IME. Supplement them with subs and you have “end game” performance. 

soix
9,456 posts
 

You might contact Ty of Tyler Acoustics and inquire as whether he could build you a pair of his older Taylo Reference Monitors—the version with the Seas Millennium tweeters. They are essentially a slightly larger Joseph Pulsar

No, they’re not.  Just because they may use similar Seas drivers doesn’t make them “a slightly larger Pulsar.”  The magic in the Pulsars (and all JA speakers) is in the infinite slope crossover that’s patented and can’t be replicated.

wjt3
204 posts
 

Bache Audio Sonata-EX

 

 

tubehead120's avatar
tubehead120
35 posts
 

I was thrilled for years with my KEF LS50s (bought when they first came out) driven by a Pass XA30.5.  I never got the amp out of class A (Pass needle never moved), even when old pals came over and it got loud...  I would recommend them to anyone.

It takes a lot to beat them.  I only upgraded last winter, when fortune allowed me to find a pair of MBL 126s within driving distance and a pair of Pass XA100.5s to drive them. 

BTW the MBLs sounded absolutely wonderful with the XA30.5, but the needle was moving.  With XA100.5s, the needles don't even twitch, and bass is noticably tighter.

desktopguy
367 posts
 

In a small room you’ll get the best results/least room boundary interaction with a sealed/acoustic suspension speaker. They are few and far between, but well worth seeking out. I’ve had 4 or 5 pairs of sealed speakers in my small home office and got good results each time.

The pick of the litter in the manageable size options has to be the ATC SCM11s. I had the studio monitors, SCM12 Pros, which have the same drivers as the SCM11s in a slightly larger box. This is impeccable, dynamic, musical sound.

They’re ~$2K new, and there are always a few used pairs circulating (example below).

 

More to discover