i actually just auditioned the kefs along with some psb synchcrony and imagine monitors. the kefs look good and have a nice, liquid midrange but a slightly tinny treble, not much bottom end and a quite narrow soundstage--compared to the psbs they sounded "small". to my ears, the psbs, along with the revels and some of the other recommendations above are superior to and a better value than the kefs.
1K used monitor with wide/uniform dispersion
My wife and I are moving, which means a new listening room and the need for a new set of speakers.
I'm looking for a monitor that will meet three criteria: 1) a very natural, lifelike midrange with a sweet top end; 2) the widest and most uniform dispersion, so the speaker will have not only a wide sweet spot but sound good all over the room; 3) good dynamic capabilities.
My short list right now includes the Totem Model 1 (which I owned very briefly with a weak amp and shrill CD player; I've heard it in other contexts and liked it a lot) and KEF XQ20 (my first speakers were cheap KEFs, so I have a sense of and like the KEF sound). What else am I missing? What else is out there? I don't know that I'm interested in Ohms, and planars wouldn't fit the space.
The new room is 13x18, and the speakers will be on the middle of the long wall (so side-wall reflections won't be a worry). I'll be able to follow the rule of thirds for speaker and listening position, and so will be listening in the near-field. My current Vandersteen 2ce sig IIs will be too big for the room--too much bass with our proximity to neighbors, for one thing, and I won't be able to sit far enough away for the drivers to integrate. I'm bummed that they'll have to go. The rest of my system is an NAD C372 integrated and Rotel 1072 with Tributaries and Signal cabling. I listen at low to moderate volumes, usually in the 60-75dB range. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
I'm looking for a monitor that will meet three criteria: 1) a very natural, lifelike midrange with a sweet top end; 2) the widest and most uniform dispersion, so the speaker will have not only a wide sweet spot but sound good all over the room; 3) good dynamic capabilities.
My short list right now includes the Totem Model 1 (which I owned very briefly with a weak amp and shrill CD player; I've heard it in other contexts and liked it a lot) and KEF XQ20 (my first speakers were cheap KEFs, so I have a sense of and like the KEF sound). What else am I missing? What else is out there? I don't know that I'm interested in Ohms, and planars wouldn't fit the space.
The new room is 13x18, and the speakers will be on the middle of the long wall (so side-wall reflections won't be a worry). I'll be able to follow the rule of thirds for speaker and listening position, and so will be listening in the near-field. My current Vandersteen 2ce sig IIs will be too big for the room--too much bass with our proximity to neighbors, for one thing, and I won't be able to sit far enough away for the drivers to integrate. I'm bummed that they'll have to go. The rest of my system is an NAD C372 integrated and Rotel 1072 with Tributaries and Signal cabling. I listen at low to moderate volumes, usually in the 60-75dB range. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
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- 31 posts total
- 31 posts total