I still think that you should do what everyone should do and that's to go listen. I remember getting my Proacs when I went in to the store to buy Vandersteens. That was a few years ago. Proac gave me legit soundstaging and imaging. The whole speaker sounded like it was worth thousands more than I paid and it made the Vandy's sound dark and not that great.
Fast forward 15 years or so and I went to Audio Connection to buy the new Proac D series. I listened and LOVED how they sounded. They just did everything a bit better than the monitors I'm selling as well as my main speakers, the Proac Supertowers. Then John put on the Vandy Treo's. I told him that i had no desire to hear Vandy's, but I did because he made me listen. I was in shock and awe! Vandys??? Vandys????? Really? really? Really???
They just sounded real. They did everything the Proacs did and did them better. They were just more REAL. I was blown away, but I was glad I kept an open mind. This is the only reason I'm selling off two more pair of my Proacs. It's all about listening as your ears may have liked the Proacs better or you may like the B&W's better. I personally have heard all the PSB's that have been 'reveiewed' and raved about. I didn't like them. They weren't alive or real like other speakers I've heard going against them.
What most folks just don't get or want to believe is that MOST reviews are not real. There is so much free stuff given to these reviewers that you just can't believe them. Also, their ears and equipment is totally different from what YOU have. That's the reality. Do most know that Sam Tellig from Stereophile is actually Tom Gillet? Tellig is Gillet backwards ;)...... Lot's of garbage out there for reviews. I'm not discounting all of them, but nearly any reviewer will tell you that you need to use their words and make a list of products from the reviews. I will give nearly all reviewers that. I love reading reviews and it makes me want to go listen or not.
In this thread you've been given a few speakers to listen to:
Proac Studio 100 or Supertowers (both have new updated drivers)
Nola Boxer
KEF L50
Gallo Strada 2
Audience One
Magi Mini's
Since you are nearfield, I'd say you should listen to true monitors. That's the reason I have the Proac Studio's as well as the Supertowers. I needed a true nearfield speaker that was revealing as well as still being able to stage and image. I'm sure the guys who own the other speakers got them because they heard the same things.
What do you need in a speaker? Does imaging matter to you? Do you need a speaker that it tonally perfect? Midrange? Highs? Bass? Does the speaker need to be placed perfectly or you lose their magic? Set up is so important in nearfield listening. How easy are these speakers to set up?
We all will tell you that what we own is best or what we want to sell is best, but what's best for us, isn't best for you. I can promise you that if you set up all the above speakers and critically listen, that you'd knock out most of them for one reason or another. Heck, I've heard some Paradigm monitors sound pretty darn good with top electronics also. I like them better than PSB, but many like PSB better.So many choices and if you just take other's suggestions and buy off of them, you could be selling them here within the next year.
Sorry to drone on and I'm not preaching, just sharing MY feelings. Please let us know what you're thinking and what you end up doing? Thanks.
