Topic: Small Speaker Recs

[cheshirecat]

So, I finally pulled the trigger and made the jump across the river to Manhattan, which means smaller apartment.  My living room is about 9x15 or so, and my listening position will have to be on the narrow side of the room (ie less than 9' away from the speakers).   As much as I dig my Large Advents (they're classics) to go along with my vintage motif (running modified Eico HF-85 (1.5 12AX7s per channel) pre into a modified Dynaco Stereo 70 amp (EL34 based)), they are quite 'large' and I need something with a smaller footprint.  I'm looking probably around $500 used, mostly because my apt is less than ideal for listening and I realize these are a stopgap until I actually have a house (several years off).

Any ideas, I saw the M22's mentioned in a previous post, any ideas how these match up with an all tube system?  Anyone have anything that pairs up particularly nicely with an EL34 based amp?  I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks all.

[Nick's Picks]

Just missed a pair of Von Schweikert VR-1s on agon for $475.
deal of the century.

those would be my pic.
others to consider, or read up on (as I hear nothing but great things)
Epos M5...a pair on agon now for under $500.
NHT (not sure of the bookshelf model)
Soliloquy 5.0 (lots of raves here and elsewhere)
Green Mountain Europas get a lot of fluffing.

You'd have to look into the specs though.  I think some of these might prefer SS power (I have heard as much about the Epos line of monitors).

[BC]

Some small speakers that were well received in Stereophile in the recent past were

Klipsch (RB1?) little 2 way speakers, few hundred $$ price range.

Polk audio (unsure of model #).

might be able to find old reviews at www.stereophile.com

Happy shopping!
Ben

[BC]

paradigm line comes to mind too, atoms are very small, ~2 bills I believe. Some bigger models in their line too, should be a decent selection at the sub $500 range.


www.paradigm.ca I believe.

[MattD]

Just missed a pair of Von Schweikert VR-1s on agon for $475.
deal of the century.

Damn, now I feel like I got ripped off! I wonder why the resale is so low? I bought mine used as well, but for about $300 more!

Green Mountain Europas get a lot of fluffing.

I could never find anywhere to demo them and they're freaking HEAVY. Knowing that I'd be moving at least 3 more times in the next few years, I decided to take the lighter VR-1s. Without even hearing the Europas, I have no regrets.

[Diamond_D]

Just missed a pair of Von Schweikert VR-1s on agon for $475.
deal of the century.

there's another pair for 515 obo on there now

[Nick's Picks]

I'd never pay more than $600 for a used pair of VR1s.  $500 is nice , but they are not common..until this week.

[twoodruff]

Just missed a pair of Von Schweikert VR-1s on agon for $475.
deal of the century.

Damn, now I feel like I got ripped off! I wonder why the resale is so low? I bought mine used as well, but for about $300 more!

Green Mountain Europas get a lot of fluffing.

I could never find anywhere to demo them and they're freaking HEAVY. Knowing that I'd be moving at least 3 more times in the next few years, I decided to take the lighter VR-1s. Without even hearing the Europas, I have no regrets.

indeed, the europas are heavy and very fragile, find out the hard way shipping a pair to someone on this board and they broke into pieces

[Thom Joad]

indeed, the europas are heavy and very fragile, find out the hard way shipping a pair to someone on this board and they broke into pieces

That would be me!  +T to Trey for handling that situation very smoothly.  It actually worked out for the better, since not one week after that debacle was over, I found another pair of Europa's that were newer, cheaper, and within driving distance to me.  Funny how things work out sometimes.

I sold my M22's (to someone on this board) to get the Europa's.  I really liked both speakers a lot.  The M22's are very transparent and throw a great soundstage.  Although I never had them hooked up to tubes when I had them, I think it would be a great match.  I ran my with an Audio Refinement Complete (on the warmer side of SS) and it sounded really nice.

The Europas are time-aligned and have a great tone to them.  They image like crazy, even in my small listening room (11 x 18).  I haven't hooked them up to tubes, but the guy I bought them from had them being fed by a tube amp. which I think he called the "six pack"  If I remember correctly they looked a bit like EL34's.  When I went to pick them up, he played a few things through them to allow me to listen to them and get his last listen before I took them home.  I remember a Bill Frisell track in particular as sounding like the perfect mixture between SS and tube sounds.

I haven't heard any of the VR series, but they do recieve a huge amount of praise from everywhere.

I'd also look into the Triangle Titus line.  I did have a chance to hear these through a DIY EL34 based integrated, and they matched up really, really well.  The Titus's were on the S'Phile recommened component's A list a couple of years ago, and go for cheap on the used market.

[MattD]

I'd never pay more than $600 for a used pair of VR1s. $500 is nice , but they are not common..until this week.

Well, to be fair, I did get mine 2 years ago, when they were first released. The seller decided his room needed the VR-2s so I bought them as "like new, but broken in." I'll use them as surrounds whenever I get a house and can get 2s or 4jrs up front.

[Daryan]

Onox Ref 1's if you can stick in another hundred or get someone to split the deal going on right now.  Honestly, you won't find anything better in this price range.

[cheshirecat]

Wow, thanks for all the suggestions guys, i'll have plenty of reading to do...

+Ts all around

Onox Ref 1's if you can stick in another hundred or get someone to split the deal going on right now.  Honestly, you won't find anything better in this price range.

Whats so good about them, likes, dislikes?

[Diamond_D]

since I haven't listened to them yet, you can take this for what it's worth, but I've been doing a lot of reading all over the net, and these are the three I've narrowed it down to (for now! ) in the "Bang for your Buck" category

Ascend Acoustics CBM-170
Axiom M22ti
Epos ES12

[Daryan]

Wow, thanks for all the suggestions guys, i'll have plenty of reading to do...

+Ts all around

Onox Ref 1's if you can stick in another hundred or get someone to split the deal going on right now.  Honestly, you won't find anything better in this price range.

Whats so good about them, likes, dislikes?

For the money, they cannot be beat.  The sound is extremely detailed, the top end crystal clear and well defined, and the midrange is round and warm.  What more could a person want from a bookshelf speaker.  Match them with a onix sub and tube amp and it is probably the best sounding, "budget" rig I have heard.  People compare them to vmps 626r's, do a search for them!