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Looking for new monitors - $300-$600 budget

Hello, all.

New here (first post), and I'm sure this topic has been done to death, so if there are are any "greatest hits" threads on this topic, please feel free to direct me there.

I'm currently using a pair of KEF Q10s I picked up at an estate sale with my setup (Rega Brio 3 and P1, unremarkable Sony single disc player). This is the living room setup so we listen to the occasional movie, podcast, etc... over the system too.

The KEFs were a definite improvement over our old speakers, but not quite my taste. They seem to have a bit of a bump in the low end that I'm not wild about. I'm looking for something a little more honest.

In terms of listening habits, I'd say:

65% rock
15% acoustic/folk
15% jazz
5% classical

Listening levels tend to be pretty moderate. Below a list of what I've listened to so far, as well as a list of others I'm curious about. I'm just curious to get some input. Maybe there's a pattern to what I like that might suggest some others to listen to?

liked:

Morel MLP-202 MKII (current front runner) Balanced-sounding, nice imaging qualites, extended but not fatiguing high end. Extreme low end stayed musical and under control.

Rega R1 - (new version) Fairly neutral-sounding to my ears, but not boring with rock. I just can't seem to get that excited about them though.

B&W 685 - a little sizzly I guess, but I actually liked them better than the larger model in the line.

Vandersteen VLR-1 I liked these quite a bit but at $600 EACH they are way out of the budget.

did not like:

Usher S-520 Too lean/clinical sounding.

Quad 12L2(?) Low mids seemed a bit wild n'wooly. A little too hyped-sounding overall.

Rega R1 - (old version) Too "cardboard-y" if that makes sense.

Snell Acoustics Type KII - Fatiguing treble, bass seemed overly reigned in.

curious about:

Tekton 4.5 and 6.5 I definitely find the idea of a single, high quality full range driver appealing, but I've never actually heard this type of speaker design.

Linn Kan These seems to be in my budget when they pop up used. There seems to be some debate about the relative merits of the different versions. Somehow I think these are probably all wrong for me.

Dynaudio Audience 52 - There's currently a pair up on my local craigslist.
marqueemoon
br3098
660 posts
 
I use a pair of Dynaudio Audience 42Ws in my office w/ my Luxman integrated amp, and they sound great. But the new Rega R1 speakers are supposed to be just the thing with the Brio amp, but I haven't had a chance to audition them yet. I'm thinking of using that setup for my daughter's college dorm room.

What is your room size and placement limitations? Do these need to go against or near the back wall, or can they come out into the room a bit? If the latter, you might see if you can find a used pair of Von Schweikert VR-1s - one of the most musical monitors I have ever heard. But they do need to be placed carefully for the best sound.

Good luck.
guycom
20 posts
 
Find a pair of Infinity primus 150 speakers and buy a small sub with the change.
thomp9015
79 posts
 
well i'd have to say that with a smallish, not necessarily tiny, room, the tektons with the fostex 167e really does rock more than i thought it would, pressurizing the room to give you that presence while retaining that nice rich midrange, especially for the money ($350 on his site)and non-fatiguing level of detail that these speakers do so well. of course, these aren't speakers for large scale presentations of orchestra and a six inch driver can only sound but so "big" reproducing marshall stacks and double kick drums but i was usually surprised by how big they could sound (I was using a trends 10.1 t-amp). mine are boxed up because i got some mirage omni 550s, but i can't seem to let them go, even though they were too small for this room, partly because with the better midrange and detail, they sound bigger than they really are, not that much smaller than the 550s with two 6 inch drivers, though that is not fair to the mirage speakers, since i haven't heard them with a proper amp yet.
marqueemoon OP
26 posts
 
Thanks for the suggestions so far, everyone. I might see about listening to the Dynaudios.

This has done nothing to reduce my curiosity about the Tektons. Sigh. I've also been wondering how the 4.5 model with the FE127 driver compares. I like my bass on the light side for a rock listener. On my old Denon tuner I usually left the bass down a notch.

I love my Brio 3, but the lack of tone controls is part of the deal. One of the appealing aspects of the Morels is that I was able to hear them with a Brio 3 at the shop.

Re: Placement limitations, these will need to be pretty close to the wall. 5 or 6 inches from the wall is probably the most I could get away with. Current speakers are on either side of the TV, which is on a wide-ish entertainment center. They're sitting on Auralex Mo' Pads to try to decouple them a little. Arranging the furniture in the room was a bit of a challenge, so unfortunately the spacing of the speakers is not really optimal (on the close side). The basement system will be set up more properly in this regard.

Hopefully the household decision maker will be up for some listening this weekend. This whole thing was partly her idea. I guess I've been good or something.
johnnyb53
3,490 posts
 
PSB Image B25. Smooth, full-bodied, detailed, very linear, and mfr' list price $479/pair. Usable bass down into the 30's.

Stereophile review and measurements.

Even when compared to similarly priced offerings from Epos, NHT, and Alon/Nola, overall it appears that the PSB was a better all-rounder, with excellent bass extension and articulation, less dynamic compression, and better detail while sounding natural.
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