Good sounding, full range speakers that are small?

[Gary]

Any recommendations?

After all, one can't have too many speakers, can one? :D

[Steve Hoffman]

Good sounding, full range and small?

Unless Prof. Einstein has revised a few of his formulae, this is impossible, Gary.

Sorry. :(

[Gary]

Oh well.... "shrug" . There's always hope, right?

Thanks, Steve.

[Dan C]

Unless you want to hide a sub somewhere in the room, maybe?
Dan C

[JMCIII]

Gary, define "small"?

[Gary Freed]

Hi Gary,

Have you tried the Paradigm Reference Studio 20's, 40's or 60's. Made
in Canada by Sonic Frontiers.

http://www.paradigm.ca/Website/CommonMain/Newaboutus.html

http://www.paradigm.ca/Website/SiteReferenceProduct/RModels/StudioSeries/StudioSpecs.html

:)

[Jamie Tate]

Try these out. I've been listening to them everyday for 12 years now and I still love them.

Genelec (http://www.genelec.com/products/1031a/1031a.php)

They're powered monitors that sound MUCH bigger than they are. Great imaging, detail and fidelity. I bet a local music store has a pair.

[indy mike]

Paul Klipsch weighed in on that idea, and kinda noted that until the laws of physics could somehow be altered, you can't miniaturize a 30hz note. No free lunches, unfortunately - big, ACCURATE, natural non-boomy musical bass has to come from a large box and a big speaker cone. You can cheat (acoustic suspension boxes being the most famous example of trying to get big bass from a small box, vented boxes using Thiele-Small parameters have made trade offs in box size or cut off frequency possible), but a little box can't do deep bass without high distortion, massive inefficiency (which caused the transistor amp horsepower race), or one note boominess - I know this will cause some heat, but full range speakers that are musical gotta have a good sized box...

[Dave]

Anyone,

What would be considered a minimal size where you can still get full frequency reponse? Manufacturers please.

[Gary]

JMCIII, a "small speaker" is defined by me as one that can easily balance on a tall speaker stand. No more than 2 ft high and 1.5 ft wide.

Gary, I have the Paradigm Micro speakers and they are presently serving as a sub and center channel for the DVD-V and A room (ok, I really mean to say my Home Theatre set up - although the set up is far from complete!). BTW, I can't see the need for a sub since my full range R and L front speakers can get down pretty low!!!

I was not aware that Sonic Frontiers made them! This could explain why the Paradigm Micros are suprisingly good sounding for their size! SF makes some very, very nice equipment! I want one of their DACs one day....

Dan C, I've not brought myself around to consider a sub. These small speakers are to be in the listening room where the main speakers are. Am I crazy? Yes. :eek:

Thanks for the link, Yesman!

[Gary Freed]

Hi Gary,

A subwoofer is almost a necessity to use with any speaker that does not have a bass driver which goes below 34hz (din).

[Jetsons]

Hi, Gary:

A few months back I was looking for something just as you described. The answer for me was the Dynaudio Contour 1.3SE. With the right amp, its really amazing what these little guys can do.

For less cash, the 1.3MKII is also a great little speaker but lacks some of the air and low end extension of the SE model. You can find these advertised for 50% off at audiogon.com.

An additional small monitor with kick is the Silverline Audio SR17. These are very nice looking speakers using all Dynaudio drivers.

Have fun.

Jet

[ashe]

Norh speakers are quite small and quite nice sounding, especially for the price. Check out the 4.0s.

http://www.norh.com

[reb]

Originally posted by Jetsons
Hi, Gary:

A few months back I was looking for something just as you described. The answer for me was the Dynaudio Contour 1.3SE. With the right amp, its really amazing what these little guys can do.

For less cash, the 1.3MKII is also a great little speaker but lacks some of the air and low end extension of the SE model. You can find these advertised for 50% off at audiogon.com.

An additional small monitor with kick is the Silverline Audio SR17. These are very nice looking speakers using all Dynaudio drivers.

Have fun.

Jet


My what a small world it is. That was what I was going to recommend as well. As soon as the store gets in the Dynaudio special 25 I will compare to the 1.3 se. I have owned big speakers for the past 15 years, but the Dynaudio's have changed my mind. Have not heard a better small box than those.

[Steve Hoffman]

This thread has turned into:

"Good sounding, almost full range speakers that are small."

[Jamie Tate]

Well, wives find many problems with full range, full sized speakers.:laugh:

1. They're loud
2. The plants on top of the speakers are too high to reach.
3. The plants on top of the speakers will vibrate off the top and fall an incredible height when listening to music at an appropriate volume.
4. Wives tend to turn into pernicious psychopaths when you listen to music at an appropriate volume.
5. There's just too much speaker to cover with a speaker cozy.

[audiodrome]

Originally posted by yesman
Try these out. I've been listening to them everyday for 12 years now and I still love them.

Genelec (http://www.genelec.com/products/1031a/1031a.php)

They're powered monitors that sound MUCH bigger than they are. Great imaging, detail and fidelity. I bet a local music store has a pair.

Jamie

These are the best. I have a pair of S30Cs (with the ribbon tweeter) in one room and 1031s in another and they are the truest speakers I have ever heard. When I close my eyes and listen to these speakers, it's as if the speakers disappear and the sound is just coming "out of the air" in front of me. The detail and stereo imaging is that amazing! In the last ten years, I have never had to second guess a mix or do a remix because of too much high end or too much low end - I can totally rely on these babies...

[Togo]

If it is accurate and detailed sound reproduction you are after, you could do worse than the Linn Katan's...although I can only vouch for their sound with my Linn Classik CD receiver...superb IMHO.

I also hear very good things in the UK hi-fi press about the latest baby Quad speakers (11L's I think) with "piano wood" veneer finish. These can hack it with high end systems if you believe what you read...but I usually try to believe my own ears first! :cool:

[Gary]

Originally posted by yesman
Well, wives find many problems with full range, full sized speakers.:laugh:

1. They're loud
2. The plants on top of the speakers are too high to reach.
3. The plants on top of the speakers will vibrate off the top and fall an incredible height when listening to music at an appropriate volume.
4. Wives tend to turn into pernicious psychopaths when you listen to music at an appropriate volume.
5. There's just too much speaker to cover with a speaker cozy.

I'm lucky as my full size living room speakers (well, they are 3' tall) are at the far end of the living room (away from the seating area). Combine that with my wife liking music playing in the background.... and disliking sappy music.... I'm pretty lucky. On the other hand, she did not like me playing Cricklewood Green on Sun night.... :sigh:

Thank goodness she's not thought of a speaker cozy... yet. :hurl:

Lots of interesting suggestions on this thread! Thanks everyone...!