OP- I’ve owned Harbeth P3esr, M30.1, and KEF LS50. I now have Fritz Carrera BE in my second system and in my opinion it’s a better speaker than the aforementioned. I haven’t tried the LS50 Meta though. If you contact Fritz, he can send you a pair for auditioning. He has a really good return policy. The speakers are hand made in the USA and imo provide the best value for bookshelf speakers up to $5k
Great Small Room Speakers for $3-5k
Hi all, I'm looking to upgrade from my current speakers (Zu Audio Omen) in my small room (13x10x7: WxLxH) and willing to spend $3-5k. I'm looking for a slightly more transparent speaker than the Zu's and also a smaller speaker. I'm open to new and used speakers. So, I've turned my attention to bookshelf speakers and small footprint floorstanders. I have a Rel subwoofer to buttress low end. Most of my listening these days focuses on blues, soul and R&B, classic rock, and alternative hip-hop.
My system is: Rogue Audio Sphinx v3, Bluesound Node 2i, Rega P3 TT, Rel T7/X sub.
My nearest Hifi shop focuses on Harbeth, Spendor, and KEF. So far, I've liked the Harbeth P3ESR and Compact 7s and the Spendor A4. But, I'm curious to get other suggestions. I've been interested in the Devore Fidelity O'Baby but are just above my price range and can't be demoed right now.
Does anyone have experience with those aforementioned speakers in a small room? What else should I consider for a smallish room in this price range?
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+1 to @joey54 for recommending the Vandersteen VLR CT. It’s an excellent bookshelf size speaker designed to go close to the wall, so you get more space in your room. I think the Mofi will be too big for that room. I have the KEF LS50 Metas and it’s an amazing speaker that just gets better as you upgrade your system. If anything, budget for another REL sub. Stereo subs are a big step up and will actually help to improve bass in a smaller room. |
The problem with tiny speakers like this is that the sub crossover needs to be high. I had the regular LS50 with SVS sub and they were unsatisfying for all but the lighter stuff. No Zep for you! Even though your room is small, choosing speakers that extend lower in the bass will increase your odds for successful sub integration. You have to consider what the subs are doing above the crossover frequency. If the crossover is too high, the subs will affect frequencies well above that and you will hear the sub trying to play stuff it shouldn’t. ie. if you set the sub to 80Hz, the sub does not stop on a dime at 80Hz...it messes up what’s above that. You can see that for yourself by shutting off your main speakers and playing music through the sub at the loudest levels you listen at. Do a frequency sweep and you may be surprised at what the sub is doing when it isn't being masked by the main speakers. Also you can have a very dynamic sub but if the speakers are small, the dynamics of the sub don’t match the dynamics of the speaker which is another problem. Go big or stay home! Try to find standmounts that extend -3dB to 40-45Hz or lower. If you do, you might find you don't even need subs for music. |
@ddd1 - I appreciate that response. That's what alluring about the KEFLS50 Meta and KC62 option - it feels easier to dial that in. And, what's also alluring about getting a slightly bigger speaker such as used Harbeth 30.1. There's a pair on Audiogon for ~$5k with Tron Traegar stands. Buying a new P3 (used pairs seem rare) plus nice stands reaches that amount anyways. Does anyone have an opinion on the new P3 vs. used 30.1 given my size room? Also, thanks to those with the continued suggestion of Vandersteen book shelf speakers. I'll look to see if they have a home trial. |
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