which monitor isn't lacking in the bass dept.?


I will be using audio refinement cd player, and the audio refinement integrated 65 watt amp. I listen to a lot of female voice along with electronic, jazz, blues and even the likes of rage against the machine. I might put on diana krall and the next minute listen to radiohead, so it really runs the gammut. So for the heavier stuff I like good deep accurate bass, but I have to use a monitor because of room size, 15x11x8ft. Or a small floorstander with good bass that won't overwelm the room, I don't want to spend more than 2000$ new or used. Thanx
sean34
Are you thinking you need a monitor because you don't have the physical space for a larger speaker or because your're concerned about too much bass ? If it's the latter then I'd say that your room looks amply big to accomodate small floorstanders wihtout overdoing the bass.

So now to recommendations. I would seriously consider monitors and a separate powered subwoofer. For your budget you could get a Rel Strata 3 (used) and a pair of GMA Europas, or Spendor S3/5s, Proac 1scs etc etc. By getting a separate subwoofer you can have all the bass you need and tune it to the room, using positioning and crossover settings. The monitors can then be placed for optimum midrange and stereo soundstage. This is a more flexible setup than floorstanders. I have this type of setup and I like being able to turn the sub up on recordings that sound a bit thin and turn it down (or off) on recordings that are a bit bass heavy. My room is 11x11 ! Yes .. this is a crude tone control, but it makes all of my CDs and LPs very enjoyable since I never get too little or too much bass.

One floorstander that comes to mind would be an older pair of audio physic virgos, but these are supposed to be well out into the room, which may not work for you.
I would highly recommend looking at the Usher X-718 or X-719 monitor. Not your average stand mountspeaker as it weighs in at about 35 lbs each.
I now use the X-718 for a lot of my modification testing or when bring in a new product. The bass in these speakers is unheardof for the price (under $1k new!!) The rest of the presentation is everything you would expect from a high end speaker system. The midrange is articulate and lifelike with the upper end having an exceptional sense of air. The build quality has to be seen to believe.
I second the recommendation for ProAc's. While I am not familiar with the 1scs, I recently heard a pair of Tablette Reference 8's, which had incredible low end for their size (10.5" tall). Their price is quite good, too, and at $1,200 list per pair, you could still afford a decent subwoofer. However, for $500 (list) more, I ordered a pair of the Tablette Reference 8 Signatures, which go even lower (38Hz, versus 40Hz) and supposedly sound much more than $500 better. Also in your price range would be a pair of used Thiel SCS3's, which are rated to 46Hz, but sound even lower, and have great detail and imaging.

And I agree, that to get good deep bass, and still have main speakers to fit the size of your room well, monitors and a powered sub are probably the way to go. Most floor standers that are properly scaled to your room are probably going to need a little help in the low end to meet the goals that you are stating, so they could use a sub as well. For floor standers, new Thiel CS1.6's or used CS.5's (or 1.5's), Totem, Meadowlark, and ProAc come to mind.

Tom.