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Reference 3a Grand Veena for a small room?

I have a relatively small listening room, about 10 wide by 12 deep with high vaulted ceilings. My setup is near field, sitting about 6 feet from the speakers, with a large overstuffed couch on the back wall.  I have always had small monitors (ls3/5a, kef, reference 3a, proac) and now have proac tablette anniversary., partly due to the room size and partly due to my love of soundstage and imaging, and no need to go loud in the small room.

I listened to a pair of reference 3a grand veenas (the older ones and not the be tweeter version) recently, loving them. Desire for ownership started to sink in.  But I began to wonder if my room is too small for them. 

and home editioning a pair likely to be impossible, partly due to my desire for the older non-be tweeter versions which would have to be purchased used.

certainly a small room limits the ability to play around with speaker positioning to find the perfect location. But this has not been an issue with the monitors, as I still have plenty of room to move them around to find the sweet spot.  Wondering if this would be an issue with the grand veena, with the rear facing bass port. Or any larger, floor standing speaker.

driving the speakers with el34 tube amps, the prima luna HP premium.

any advice is appreciated.

Bill
meiatflask
meiatflask OP
141 posts
 
SOunds like the consensus from all four of you at my small room in nearfield is not ideal for the grand veenas.  I kind of suspected that, which is why I have had stand mounted monitors forever.  It was probably 25 years ago I owned my last pair of floor mounted speakers and came to the same conclusion.

i have not heard the de capos, but it sounds like you all agree that I should give them a listen and serious consideration.  Three questions to that end:

First, have any of you compared them to proac tablette anniversary (my current speakers) or any of the other proacs? 

Second, I used to own reference 3a royal masters (about 20 years ago) - so any of you know that speaker and how do the de capos compare to the royal masters?

Third, Be or soft dome?

and I live in Illinois- are you aware of a reference 3A dealer in Chicago- Milwaukee area where I might listen to the decapos? Or where did you buy yours? Their website does not list USA dealers.

Bill
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tubegroover
2,320 posts
 
Meiatflask, to answer part of your question, while I have not directly compared the Proacs to the Decapos I expect that if may be a matter of preference. I generally stay away from recommending one thing over another but suffice to say I much prefer the Ref 3a presentation. 

DEFINITELY the beryllium tweeter over the soft dome. I do agree that in a showroom they can sound a bit bright but assuredly when fully broken in there really is no comparison. The extension and added air can sound most lifelike, present and transparent, no stridency or brightness whatsoever. A listener acclimated to the soft dome may not be won over but I feel quite adamant about the BE. Tash wouldn't use it if it wasn't better. It might be better to get opinions of those with a pair properly broken in rather than brief listens. My initial response was a bit of brightness as well. I've had experienced listeners comment repeatly. Unfortunately it does take some hours for them to settle in. 
meiatflask OP
141 posts
 
d2girls- I had not heard of (or heard) the reflectors. Tell me more?
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