Minimonitors


Hoping to get input of fellow members to help with speakers. The most challenging part of my search for audio bliss has been speakers. I've had Thiel 1.2, Monitor Audio Gold, Cary Silver Oak, Zu Essence, Ref 3A MM deCapo BE, Magnepan SMG, and Harbeth SHL5, to name a few. Most have shortcomings but the Harbeths and Magnepans gave me the fondest listening sessions because of their liveliness and imaging. I'm basically looking for something that will just put out what its fed, play well, and basically disappear. I listen primarily to vocal and acoustic music and enjoy 60s and 70s rock and R&B recordings. System consist of LP12/Origin Live/Lyra MC, Esoteric SA-50, David Berning ZOTL Pre One, VAC Renaissance 70-70/Lamm ML2.1/JA Burgess SE45 with Chord and Siltech cables. Hoping to keep the cost below $5K. Any input is appreciated.
128x128bananaslug
p05129
Which ones did you own?

Slug,
It looks to me as though you should get a short term lease on
whatever you choose. Your system for deciding on a new speaker
made need a careful review. 

My money would be on the Joseph Pulsars. Graphene not needed.
The Elac Navis speaker is a direction you may want to try. Your Rock music will like them. 
I have proac tablette 10 signatures which are ls3/5a style 86db 10 ohm.

The image fantastically and are very good with folk, jazz and rock. I have a very similar room but I like to run a subwoofer crossed in at 68hz for those bottom octaves.
I second the above.  I have ProAc Tablette 10 Signautres too with SVS sub, running through Naim XS3.  Perfect for me.  I have a room similar in size and listen at similar volume levels.  I run full bandwidth to ProAcs with sub contributing at about 70 and down.
I found a pair of used Magnepan 20.1s on Audiogon for $5500 and absolutely love them. For home theater, I added the B&W MT-60D Mini Theater system which I got for $2000 ($1000 off retail). The PV1D subwoofer adds some punch to the Magnepans for music listening and the M-1s don’t take up a lot of room. Really enjoyable for either music listening or home theater.