Monitor selection


I hope you guys can help me out with my dilemma. My system consists of:
Ah! Njoe Tjeob CDP with the Burr Brown OPA627 Op-amp upgrade
Van Den Hul The Bay C5 IC
Parasound HCA 750 power amp
Acoustic Research speaker wire (to be replaced soon)
Magnepan MMG

The problem is that I don’t get much clarity and detail from the MMGs, so I plan to sell them and buy some used monitors. I need some monitors that are bright and have really good midrange, bass is not really critical because I have a subwoofer. I’m in a cramped dorm room measuring 14 x 21, and I can only spend about $700, maybe $800. Here is a list of used speakers that I found in my price range.

Totem Model One
Meadowlark Audio Vireos
B&W CDM1NT
Vienna Acoustics Haydn
PSB Stratus MINI
Omega TS-1 R
Angstrom Legato
Silverline SR-11
Soliloquy 5.0
Linn Katan

I need some help in deciding which one to buy, also let me know if there are better monitors out there.

Thanks
lawbadman
I'm sorry if you feel that way Duddley, but I'm not sorry for what I wrote, which to me is not nearly as bad as you make it out (I mean, I wound up with a joke, fer Pete's sake, and there's a difference between being 'snide' and being terse). But what were we supposed to think? I asked you an honest question about your experience, and you still haven't answered it. It seemed like you were offering advice about something you were unfamiliar with, and from what you've written in response, I'm still not sure that you've ever actually heard MMG's, which is *not* the same thing as having heard other Maggie models. If this is indeed the case, then it is probably you who should apologize, and your touchiness about being questioned on it makes me wonder. I did not set out to attack you, but please make it clear for us whether or not you've ever heard the same model of speakers that Lawbadman owns. If so, you are certainly entitled to your own take on the matter. When speaking of the anonymity of the web and the need to feel superior, the temptation to comment authoritatively on topics where we may not have specific knowledge is something about which I feel we all must be ever-vigilant, and it can be tough to refrain.

As for my being more constructive, this particular thread in large part exists because of a suggestion I made on Lawbadman's previous thread related to this topic. If you want to read my advice - and especially if you want to see what I write when I'm *really* calling people out - click on his threads and go read that. (Yes, what I wrote there is also just my opinion, but I've even gotten a couple of congratulatory emails on taking the unpopular hard-line stance that I did in that thread, FWIW - I would be curious to know what you think after reading it, but please believe me when I say that I'm not *always quite* such a jerk :-) You will see there why I feel a bit of a need to be somewhat protective concerning the accuracy of info posted here about the MMG's - it's a matter of personal responsibility, and I'm further out on a limb with a relative neophyte's system on the line than I would normally care to be. The reason I'm not making specific suggestions here is because, as I alluded to there, I lack enough experience with recent speaker models in the catagory I'm recommending to him to be of much help, something I can honestly state is not the case concerning the speakers he presently owns.

I've only been seeing you on the forum since pretty recently from what I can recall, but you are obviously a well-written and intelligent poster. I hope to be able to not only read what you've written, but to engage in constructive dialog with you in the future, no apologies necessary. (And if you ever feel like you want to continue this discussion offline beyond whatever you may post, by all means do not hesitate to get in touch.) Sincerely, Z.
Lawbadman,
The impressions I shared are regarding "Maggies" as a breed, and not specific to any one model. I have heard them on several occasions and in different venues and simply don't recall which models in the alphabet soup they may have been at the time. I apologize if I wasn't clear on this point, and, again, for the subsequent side line conversation it provoked.

I any case, I still encourage you to experiment with sources and cables before making a final judgment on your MMGs. You may find the time well invested regardles of the outcome.
The B&W can cause fatigue. They sound great at first and then begin to grate on you. Totems are nice but can sound a little closed in. Play with placement on them. The Vireos are very musical and detailed. They sound best off the wall and 6-7 feet apart. PSB are not bad for the money, but are dark. I would take them off the list. The Silverline are sweet and worth more attention as are the Soliloquy. Sorry, but I cannot comment on the others.
Lawbadman, the Kinimas are easier on the ear compared to the B&W. With what I have, Audi Aero Prima int, cdp, Cardas wires and Van Den Hul cords, the Kinimas really sing. You can spend hours with these without any listener fatigue or ringing in your ears afterwards. I work nights and come home to an empty house where I can relax and chill. The only problem with the Kinima's is they take a long time to break in. Go to google, search Kinima G1, select Wondermill Eclectics and call to speak to the designer. He will answer you questions. Good luck.