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Floor-Standards to Monitors?

I am always tempted to try a good pair of monitors/bookshelf speakers mated with my two subs and see if I can equal or surpass a good pair of floor standing speakers ($15k to $30k) in my 20 x 16 (vaulted ceiling) treated room. The thought of being able to move and set up things without help is very appealing as I get older.  Also, with much of the price of floor standing speakers going into the large cabinet, I am thinking that that an equivalent, or better sound, less the low end should be achievable at “reasonable” prices.  With the application of DSP/room correction, does this eliminate the gap between most of these products? Once you get to a magic price point, are we just paying for company name, exotic materials that may or may not have an impact, and aesthetics?

There are so many monitors out there and the price range is staggering – I have named a few below. The magazines say they are all wonderful and clearly there is no place to hear them all. Where there are measurements, it differentiates them somewhat. I like dynamic resolving speakers (Magico/Vivid) and concerned about mid/bass impact between 80 Hz and 250 Hz when you crank them up where the subs do not help. I would also like a US presence and a company that builds more than 25 copies a year. What do you think? Can I get there? Is paying more than $5k just crazy for monitors? Does room correction level the playing field? Any thoughts or recommendations?

ELAC DEBUT 2.0 B6.2 and AS-61 – both sounded very good at AXPONA

ATC – Never heard them / multiple options

Kii – Great reviews out there but all seem to point to a small room

Revel –M126 Be

TAD – ME1 – sounded great in small room at AXPONA. Likely too small for my room and very expensive as you move up the line

Dynaudio – New Confidence 20 monitor coming out and Contour 20

Focal - Diablo Utopia Colour Evo (expensive) and Sopra 1

Dutch and Dutch – Not highly available in the US but supposed to be exceptional

B & W – 805 D3 – Would need a very treated room

Paradigm – Persona – I have found the entire line bright and lean on bass

Fritz - Carrera 7 Be- A small company but sounded excellent at AXPONA

KEF – A laid back.

Raidho – Expensive

Magico – Very Expensive and old Q design

Harbeth –Cabinet resonance built in - odd


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cdj123's avatar
cdj123 OP
57 posts
 
jperry, That is the type of feedback I am looking for.  I definitely do not want to move backward.  Have other experience the opposite?
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
2,678 posts
 
I’ve owned many floorstanders and many monitors. I always prefer the boxless sound of a monitor type speaker!
mindlessminion
57 posts
 
I find monitors sound better at lower volumes and much of my listening is done at lower volumes. Moreover, I have never had much luck integrating a sub to my liking.  However, if you want to crank it up, the monitor might have issues in that space.  

I too liked the Fritz, but heard them in fairly small room.  I wanted to hear the new Dynaudio Contour 20, but it didn't work out.  They have the Esotar2 tweeter and a newly design mid/bass if I am not mistaken.  However, many of the reviews seemed to indicate these to be very analytical - that might be to your liking (warm vs detailed).
mountz's avatar
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mountz
47 posts
 
I have always had floor standers and have had the same thoughts about going to monitors with a good sub mix in my small room.  I tried the sonus faber Guarneri and loved them but missed the low end.  I understand for floorstanders, the Von Schweikerts E3 MKII are great all around with good bass.  I will be interested to follow this thread. 
jperry
1,408 posts
 
I have had ProAc Response 2, Joseph Audio Pulsar, Fried, Rogers LS35A, Harbeth Compact 7 as well as some others and IMO none are as good or as cohesive as the ProAc D-40r I currently have in service.

Additionally using a stand mount plus subwoofers takes up more floor space than a floorstander.
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