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Best small "full range" speakers?

post #1 of 14
9/24/07 at 12:27pm
Thread Starter 
I am helping my parents in their new house and my dad finally gave up his 20 year old JVC receiver and his 50+ year old AR2 speakers.

I am looking to get 2 pair of small, attractive, "full range" speakers.

They just need stereo sound and we don't really want to be adding a subwoofer.

Any suggestions?
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post #2 of 14
9/24/07 at 12:54pm

Re: Best small "full range" speakers?

How small is small? Price range? How about the small X-series towers? X-SLS or X-MTM? They are relatively small and attractive and you can get them in basic black or in some nice finishes if needed.

http://www.av123.com/products_catego...akers&brand=55
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post #3 of 14
9/24/07 at 1:13pm

Re: Best small "full range" speakers?

I'm not certain what your budget is, but for a wonderful 2-channel audio system I highly recommend your father audition Totem Arro loudspeakers. Diana Krall owns a pair herself. Absolutely beautiful to listen to, and elegant to boot. My own speakers are based on a very similar two-way design, and one of my best friends has his Arro's matched with a Cyrus integrated amp, cd player and phono stage, very musical and transparent.

Review: http://6moons.com/audioreviews/totem/arro.html
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post #4 of 14
9/24/07 at 2:41pm

Re: Best small "full range" speakers?

The Totem Mani-2's are actually the first speaker I thought of when I read the thread title. They go substantially deeper than the Arro's. Extension of +/- 3dB to 29 Hz is nothing to sneeze at for a full size tower, but the Mani-2's are bookshelf speakers! Still, they're a bit pricey and have some major drawbacks. (e.g. Low sensitivity)
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post #5 of 14
9/24/07 at 7:51pm

Re: Best small "full range" speakers?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Alon Goldberg
I highly recommend your father audition Totem Arro loudspeakers. Diana Krall owns a pair herself. Absolutely beautiful to listen to, and elegant to boot.

Yes she is. (beautiful to listen to, and elegant to boot)

Do you suppose she would demo her speakers for me? I'd love to hear them!

And, Adam, is there anything wrong with your dad's AR-2s?
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post #6 of 14
9/24/07 at 7:56pm

Re: Best small "full range" speakers?

In fact I think I'll sit back and throw on my favorite Diana Krall CD
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post #7 of 14
9/24/07 at 7:59pm

Re: Best small "full range" speakers?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Alon Goldberg
In fact I think I'll sit back and throw on my favorite Diana Krall CD

Or DVD-A or SACD (if you got 'em)! She's the best.

Honestly, if her name was attached to a loudspeaker, I think I would sincerely give it a listen (if I was in that price range and in the market)! She is one talented lady who inevitably produces great-sounding music.
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post #8 of 14
9/24/07 at 8:06pm

Re: Best small "full range" speakers?

If you're in the market, also take the opportunity to audition a Naim Nait5i integrated amp along with Naim CD5i. It's absolute musical bliss. I have Diana Krall, Love Letters on my CD5i now, I'm grinning ear to ear.
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post #9 of 14
9/24/07 at 10:04pm

Re: Best small "full range" speakers?

Hmm. He's used speakers for 50 years that had some of the most accurate/deepest bass (for music) for speakers their size & which held that distinction for several decades. And now needs a *small* pair of modern speakers that - I'll bet - he would like to get close to that type of sound.

How about Definitive Technology's PowerMonitor bookshelf series. They won't exactly have that warm sound of the ARs (few if any modern speakers will anyway) but their built-in powered woofers should get pretty close to being fullrange in a small enclosure. As others have also mentioned here, Definitive's printed frequency range specs seem a little bit on the optimistic side, but I've heard the PM700 and it DOES sound like a much larger, floorstanding speaker.
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post #10 of 14
9/26/07 at 7:38pm

Re: Best small "full range" speakers?

I can say that I loved the sound of the PowerMonitor speakers I heard at a nearby Ovation store. They're capable of room-rattling output with low distortion - really an excellent concept, and nicely executed. The bass really packs a punch if you want it to, or you can dial it back if you're not into the hippity-hop culture. I'd put them at the top of your list.
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post #11 of 14
9/27/07 at 9:18am

Re: Best small "full range" speakers?

I will give you the speaker recommendation that I always give - Paradigm. They have a wide range of speakers that will fit almost all budgets. I have been a happy Paradigm owner for 10 years, and will purchase Paradigms again when I decide to upgrade my speakers.
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post #12 of 14
9/27/07 at 11:21am

Re: Best small "full range" speakers?

Again, how small is small, and what is your budget?
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post #13 of 14
9/27/07 at 11:52am

Re: Best small "full range" speakers?

Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisWiggles
Again, how small is small

That's why I wonder why he's giving up on the AR-2s. Just for size?
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post #14 of 14
9/27/07 at 3:09pm

Re: Best small "full range" speakers?

Check out the new Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1. It isnt full range in the strictest sense but will easily go below 40Hz in most rooms. Additionally they are supposed to be amazing for the price. I have a less expensive Ascend Acoustics model and I can vouch for the quality of their products.
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