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Small room speaker recommendations


Dumont

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4 hours ago, Dumont said:

 

Actually I steered toward the KEFs also, the LS50s!  So Ive suggested those three, all of which can be ordered from Crutchfield and returned.  

As I mentioned, we really are in a Golden Age of high quality bookshelf/stand mount speakers. A person can quite often afford a higher level series (from whichever manufacturer) going this route. If you are going to be using a sub anyway, the best bang for the buck is buying the speaker with the best high, mid-range available.

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11 hours ago, YK Thom said:

As I mentioned, we really are in a Golden Age of high quality bookshelf/stand mount speakers. A person can quite often afford a higher level series (from whichever manufacturer) going this route. If you are going to be using a sub anyway, the best bang for the buck is buying the speaker with the best high, mid-range available.

 

He's pretty set on not using a sub.  

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I like Rogers LS series from the 80's for smaller room/ near field listening,  or just to switch it up now and then. I prefer the non titanium version tweeters that later came. Old AR speakers are good too. Just some older options to  consider. Just hope you get good ones though Rogers are typically safer bet than AR for used. Just because AR has tweeter pots in the back and issues with aging woofers. Good stuff though if working right. 

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13 hours ago, wheelman said:

I like Rogers LS series from the 80's for smaller room/ near field listening,  or just to switch it up now and then. I prefer the non titanium version tweeters that later came. Old AR speakers are good too. Just some older options to  consider. Just hope you get good ones though Rogers are typically safer bet than AR for used. Just because AR has tweeter pots in the back and issues with aging woofers. Good stuff though if working right. 

Im kinda of hoping he will opt for new, merely because I'll have to help troubleshoot any problems, otherwise I'd be all for older and used.  I'm still running my BA A60s from the mid-80's.

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On 9/16/2024 at 12:38 PM, Dumont said:

Since my Khorns acquisition my brother is now pining for better sound in his smaller listening room.  I'm sure he'd like Klipsch but the price he's at is more like $1500 or less and something traditional looking, so I think that rules out Klipsch.

 

I'm leaning toward having him audition either Wharfedale Lintons or....?  I don;t know what.  Initially I had the Magnepan LRS but he simply doesn't have room behind the speakers (at least not 2+ feet). 

 

Room is 11x14

Any other suggestions?

 

I'm sure there are different opinions, however, you can consider this. One of my rooms is about the same size as the room you mentioned. I have videos of all the speakers in question pretty much along with sound demos and would just make a few suggestions for you. One is that going from any of the heritage line to a Warfdale Linton is a monumental change in sound because the Linton's have a softer, more laid back top end, so in my opinion, it's like comparing apples to oranges. They are just completely different speakers and as such, need to be driven with different amps in order to achieve nice fidelity in my opinion because the mid-range and top ends are so different. I also have the LRS Plus and have videos of all of them, but you're right, it's not enough breathing space and you'll probably experience some phase issues. 

 

The Forte 1's actually take up less real-estate than the Heresy II, but are just taller.  I have set up both my Forte and my Heresy 2's in this smaller room like the one in question and in my opinion, the Heresy would be a nicer match. I have wood floors which makes a big difference with bass, but if you have a concrete floor, only then would I consider the Forte. The Forte in my room with wood floor with reasonably good sound treatment still sounds a bit congested and unable to breath. The bass is a bit much in the room at higher volumes. 

 

I use a REL T Zero in this room with the Heresy's and the combination in this room works nicer than with my Fortes. When I compare the two speakers in the larger front room, the Forte performs more openly and nicely with room to breath. It gives the listener a bit more space to hear the soundstage and it has a bigger soundstage. This is only audible in the bigger room when comparing the two. Each of these speakers are absolutely amazing and I love them both equally. It's just that the room settings matter. The other thing I like about the Heresy is the tilted risers which are truly amazing in the smaller room since the seating position is relatively close. 

 

There's a few reasons why I prefer the Heresy II over the Heresy IV but only in a smaller room setting the one you mentioned and mine. The IV is the biggest change by far compared to any of the previous models as everyone knows. The Heresy IV is less efficient by about 4db and this can be an advantage or disadvantage. The Heresy II at moderate listening levels sounds more transparent and open because they newer IV has a slightly more laid back top end by comparison, but the advantage is it works nicer with modern tube amps because the new Chi-Fi amps are very dynamic compared to old school tube amps. 

 

I have video demos comparing them all if you'd like me to link them. There are quite a few. I have compared the Heresy II to the Heresy IV at my friend Mirko's. His room is much larger and I preferred the Heresy IV more in his room because the bass becomes more audible at higher volume needed to fill the room. This issue with the bass with the Heresy IV in a smaller room like the one you mentioned is you need to turn the volume up higher to get the bass driver to feel some impact when comparing them in a smaller room. I play music at only moderate listening levels, so I prefer the REL T Zeros because I can adjust the bass so it's audible, even at lower listening levels. With the Heresy IV on it's own, I have to turn the volume up higher.

 

The other thing is that Mirko's room doesn't have much if any sound treatment, so the more laid back mid-range and top end of the Heresy IV compared to the Heresy II is a better match because it helps offset the brightness of the room. The room is a serious matter and I don't know what your room is like. It could have carpet, concrete, wood floors whatever. This is my smaller room with a demo. I mostly play jazz, blues and classic rock. Klipsch are my favorite speakers in the world. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THEM!

 

 

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On 10/7/2024 at 7:25 AM, Dumont said:

Im kinda of hoping he will opt for new, merely because I'll have to help troubleshoot any problems, otherwise I'd be all for older and used.  I'm still running my BA A60s from the mid-80's.

 

 The best small speaker that I have found that sounds like a big speaker made by Klipsch, no sub required (obviously debatable and room dependent) is the RC-7 center speaker ran as a stereo pair. They have dual 8" woofers and a 1.75" compression driver and they're not much bigger than the biggest "bookshelf" speaker. A runner up would be the RP-160's. 

 

 

Screenshot 2024-10-13 045744.jpg

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On 10/13/2024 at 5:59 AM, jjptkd said:

 

 The best small speaker that I have found that sounds like a big speaker made by Klipsch, no sub required (obviously debatable and room dependent) is the RC-7 center speaker ran as a stereo pair. They have dual 8" woofers and a 1.75" compression driver and they're not much bigger than the biggest "bookshelf" speaker. A runner up would be the RP-160's. 

 

 

Screenshot 2024-10-13 045744.jpg

Very interesting, I'd never considered using two large centres as a stereo pair. It would be interesting to see/hear a demo of this.

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52 minutes ago, YK Thom said:

Very interesting, I'd never considered using two large centres as a stereo pair. It would be interesting to see/hear a demo of this.

 

 I stood them up vertically and rotated the horns easily bested the 75's IMO

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