Small Floor Standers


I'm looking to create a short list of speakers for music only. The room is 15x28 with 9' ceilings and hard surfaces, except a few padded chairs and light fabric window covers. The main listening area is 15x18 and the rest of the room is my kitchen which opens up to it.

Musically, I listen to rock, jazz, and a variety classical but no hip hop or electronic to speak of. The ideal speaker will provide smooth tonal response, good dynamics and importantly freedom from stridency which the live room will only accentuate. High SPL's and subterranean bass are not required but I don't want something that gets lost in the space. The speakers must be compact - 35" or so tall and not more than 8-12" wide and deep. I prefer floor standing designs because of the room volume and as protection against a 6 year old. My budget is around $1k used, maybe a bit higher for the right choice.

A few of my early thoughts are the smaller Spendors and Quad L series as well as Totems and Dynaudio.

The source will be a Squeezebox playing lossless digital and the amp is TBA, but will be matched to the speakers which I think should be picked first.

Any and all comments are welcome. Thanks in advance.
wdrazek
timrhu and petland speak truth. sub issue IMO depends on sub and settings... if waf is met with original kestral looks and they indeed do sound equal to K2's you should consider those. i bought nearly new K'2 for about same price so i too think price is high. UNLESS a monitor is firmly mounted to $$$ lead/sand filled stands they will topple easier than kestrals. 6 yr old will get 'safety' lecture in either event. placing MOST speakers close to wall will generally present warm sound anomoly. less so with front ported design as with kestral. what made you give up on floorstanders or have you? $1K monitors with flat low bass in big space, sounds great to me!;)
Haven't given up on floor standers and I agree that small boxes on stands are more likely to get knocked over. It's all about WAF. OTOH, once she sees the Target stands I will want for mini's she might change her mind. She rules the living room which is OK since the den (and kitchen) are 100% mine.

The #1 spouse choice is a pair of 4" round Gallo's but that won't cut it.
My wife's thoughts exactly. "Why can't we get the little Bose speakers in our living room?" I moved my system into a vacant bedroom after hearing that question.
tyler freedom f-3. A little over your budget but Ty will probably work with ya.

http://tyleracoustics.com/freedom.html
time to go clint eastwood man! if this gal does not approve of K2's looks i question this whole relationship! even the nib originals in mahogoney are furniture grade finished. get a bose wave cd radio and hide the kestrals behind the bigscreen when not in use. she must be a helluva wife ;). italian by chance? mine WAS. seriously tho, don't buy sound gear to satisy well intentioned but occasional listeners, you will live to regret THAT purchase long after you have upgraded your wife. speakers make or break systems. get her a gift cert. to Vic's secret and satisfy her in another room. audiophiles are behind you.... let us know what you do.