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***Advice Needed***Choosing Between Mini & Midi Monitors

Downsized/up grade amp ordered I need to make a decision & order speakers.Current room size is roughly 12’x14’x8’ but that will probably get even smaller next year so this IS a factor in my decision.
Amp will be 25wpc.tube & music styles include classic rock,acoustic/electric blues,reggae,smooth jazz,baroque & chamber at low to moderate levels with an occasional cobweb clearing session now & then...Room is treated & really lets speakers do their thing without much interaction..
Current speakers are Dali Zensor 1’s & I REALLY love the physical size but they could use a touch deeper bass & better resolution.I don’t want to add a sub because this system needs to play as big as possible but have a SMALL form factor.With the current room my choice of speakers has come down to either the Focal Aria 906 or something from the Dynaudio Focus/Excite lines(160’s,140’s or X16/14),all of which I consider Midi Monitors as they are fairly large for stand mounted speakers.Choosing any of these speakers will no doubt give me a wonderfully balanced sound with bass that should be just right in my current room.The problem in my mind is if the room size does shrink next year they will be hard to keep balanced in the bass & I’ll be stuck trying to sell & replace them,not to mention they would be moving to a desktop/dresser top environment were their physical size would not work.
The other option is a mini size monitor like the PMC DB1i/DB1Gold or smaller Dynaudio Focus/Excite like the 110’s or X12’s.These speakers all have a reputation for playing bigger than they are but that is in small rooms & I worry they might sound lite in the bass(as the Zensor 1’s do) in the current room.
So what to do?Get the midi size monitors,have killer sound for a year or so & then deal with downsizing AGAIN(which I REALLY would like to avoid) or go with a true mini monitor & live with less bass impact  in the current room but easily transition to a smaller space were they would be juuusssttt right?
freediver
smittyjs
33 posts
 
" I don’t want to add a sub because this system needs to play as big as possible but have a SMALL form factor."

So why not get a small sub. A sub will far outperform any speaker you're considering in bass extension and output. And you like your current speakers, so you get to keep them. One of my requirements is an unobtrusive sub. I have two Paradigm Seismic 110 in my main system. And two Sunfire True Super Jr (9" square) in another. No one even notices them. You don't need a subsonic sub for music, even though the Seismics are plenty powerful enough for movies. Heck, I've got a Velodyne MicroVee (another 9" box) in my bedroom and that's powerful enough for me. It's tiny. Goes well into the mid-30Hz +/3 range. The other advantage is you get to place them in an optimum position for your MLP. 
glennewdick's avatar
glennewdick
702 posts
 
I'd also look at the AudioNote UK speakers they can be very nice and they have an assortment of stand mounts that do lower frequency's
 well. also as they are designed to be corner or wall positioned
 you can get more floor space using them as they do not need to be in the middle of the room to sound great. Look at the AN line they are fantastic speakers. AN-K,AN-J And the AN-E's E's may be a little big though. also they are all over 90db mostly in the 94db range and up so the 25wc will be great.
chesterdad
7 posts
 
Sorry for the late post, but I have had a number of audiophile monitors, but recently purchased some Focal SM9s for use in my home studio.  I thought they would be too revealing for general audio use, but in fact, they sound awesome with commercial CD releases with tremendous bass extension.  For others, something to think about as an alternative.  Since they are powered, you wouldn't need to budget for an amplifier.   Highly recommended.  I recommend Sound Anchor stands for them.
jond's avatar
jond
3,400 posts
 
So I was at Deja Vu Audio yesterday and saw this new system from Nola called the Brio Trio, the link wasn’t working so cutting and pasting some text...

NOLA introduced its Brio Trio satellite/ subwoofer loudspeaker system at CES 2016: a compact, high-end three-piece package featuring NOLA’s hallmark open baffle design and a novel "1½ way" enclosure for the main speakers.

The Brio Trio lives up to its name with sonic vitality and dynamic realism that far exceeds its compact size. It’s ideal for use as a desktop monitor system or a top quality 2.1 channel system in smaller rooms or where space is limited yet uncompromising sound is desired.

Measuring just 5½ by 5½ by 12 inches, the Brio main speaker employs two identical 3½ inch (90 mm) drivers, with the upper driver operating in an open baffle as a dipole and the lower driver mounted in a ported chamber. This configuration combines the natural imaging and expansive soundstage provided by the open baffle mounting with the dynamic presence and impact of the enclosure-mounted driver.

The matching subwoofer utilizes an 8-inch, long-throw, highpower- handling bass driver in a sealed enclosure, powered by a Class A/B 250-watt amplifier. NOLA chose Class A/B rather than the more typically used Class D subwoofer amplifier topology because of the A/B design’s superior sound quality. The amplifier is a smaller version of the one used in NOLA’s T Bolt subwoofer. The subwoofer provides continuously variable level and crossover frequency controls (from 40Hz-180Hz, 24dB/octave), 6dB at 35Hz switchable EQ, a phase switch and line-level and speaker-level inputs, enabling it to be seamlessly matched to the Brio main speakers and deliver optimum performance in any system and room.

Performance achieved is far beyond expectations for this type of system.

The Nola Brio Trio satellite/subwoofer system will be available in early 2016 in Piano Gloss Black finish at a suggested retail price of $2,700.

I didn’t get to hear it but Vu, who’s ears I trust more than anyone, was really enthused about the system and it’s design and sound. A great match with a low to mid power tube amp and you would not believe how small the monitors are, really cool looking and fantastic WAF. They also look like a good deal at $2700 I never asked Vu the price but mentally assumed it was in the $3-4K range.


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