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Truly High Efficiency, High Quality, Nearfield Usable, Affordable Speakers, Do They Exist?

Trying to help a friend who loves music realize a lifelong dream. He finally has a room all to himself for listening, and wants to put together a SET system. He has acquired, in barter for work, a wonderful 2a3 based SET amp (3.5wpc) and has everything else necessary but the speakers. His room is 10 x 10 x 8, with the limitation that it must also house his desk to operate his business from. So the speakers will be in the nearfield, no more than 5-5.5 feet or so from his listening position, and within a foot to a foot and a half of the front wall, depending on speaker depth His budget requires these speakers to be reasonably affordable (bought used) to maximize his spending. He will be listening to music while working, and also purely listening for pleasure, a good fifty hours a week, so this systems performance is very important to him. 

I'm aware of larger designs, and expensive speakers, though not any that can be used in the nearfield for his needs. Any recommendations, suggestions or expertise in this matter would be immensely appreciated. Thanks.


nightfall

Showing 1 response by emailists

emailists
923 posts
 
Normally I'm not a fan of whizzer cone single driver speakers, but that is often what is paired with SET's.  

The thing is, for near field listening, you want a point source speaker.  And these single driver speakers are that, so he's in luck in a way.

You can find lots of info from SET zealots on what speakers would be good candidates.  Theres even a brand where you can swap to a better driver in the future.  

The thing is I'd try to get the speakers further away from the wall.  If he could set his desk up so the speakers were 2-3 feet off the wall I think he'd find better sound, even though the speakers would end up being closer to him.  I just personally can't stand hearing the coloration from having speakers near a wall.   
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