A bookshelf on a stand takes up just as much space as a small-ish floorstanding speaker. Since you are already familiar with Monitor Audio, you might consider the Silver 300 7G for about the same money as the Gold 100s. I did, and bought a pair of the S 300 7Gs to replace my LS-50s. Loved the LS-50s, but they are a small-room nearfield monitor, and simply didn't give me the soundstage dimension I wanted. Since my room/SAF won't accommodate Magnepans (I have a set of LRS for fun in another room), I decided on a dual 6" 3-way that could be located within 18" of the rear wall. The S 300 7Gs are designed to do exactly that, and the dual rear ports can be tuned by plugging on or both. In my room, plugging the bottom port killed the tubbiness on voices that usually occurs when speakers are too close to the back wall. The mids and highs are extremely clean, and the bass reaches the low 40s at any level I care to listen. I am very pleased as well with the sound-staging and imaging on a variety of material. They may not be a 'forever' speaker, but they are a lot close than I would expect for $2500.
Changes in my life, new system, need new speakers
So I have moved into a new place, and have a very very small family room. Also got hit by a power surge and were taken out. I am working with insurance (slow) and manufactures (ever slower). But for now I have gone from an Audio Research LS5 MK III and Odyssey Kismet mono blocks. To an NAD M12 and M32 which I have 0 complaints about even coming from tubes and Class A’s the NAD Masters series just sounds amazing to me. But this new sleek looking system in my modern family room is kind of an eye sore with my current JM Lab Mini Utopia speakers. Now by no means am I giving up my Mini Utopia’s they will go with the Audio Research and Kistmet’s when I get a bigger place. For now I am going to the NAD stuff because I really like it and I want a small sleek amazing sounding bookshelf to go with the setup.
I was looking at the LS50 Meta initially but I do have the budget for more. Then I was looking at the Monitor Audio Gold 100 5g which used is right in my $2500 budget.
I listen to everything but mainly Classical, Jazz, and Rock and whichever bookshelf I pick will be matched with an SVS 3000 Micro
I am not looking for you to make a decision for me. I am looking for amazing sounding bookshelf speakers in my $2500 budget (used speaker budget) or if i am better off keeping the Mini Utopias for now. If I do find something it would be nice if they were a step up from the Mini Utopias. I will do my own research and testing, just looking for speakers people recommend and the reason why. Then this summer when I get a house I will have two amazing systems.
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@iseland yes I did mean the M23 |
Really nice looking Dynaudio Evoke 20 over on Usaudiomart for $1.8K. I have the Evoke 10 on a 2nd system and like them very much. Also a Quad S-2 over there and thats another speaker that punches above its weight class. If you could find a Quad S-3 you still be way under budget.
Focal Aria 906 open box for <$2K at listenup.com
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