[Blooze]

I'm finally starting to build a decent system after 40 years and am beginning to find pieces of gear to investigate. My room is quite small at 12.5' (W) x 13' (D) x 7.5'(H). It is shared with my guitar equipment as well.

I'm currently listening to a set of Polk Monitor 5B speakers I bought new in 1984, but recently refurbed with upgraded tweeter and rebuilt crossovers (Clarity, Mundorf, new inductor) = TL mod, steel bracing rings, BH5, Dynamat, new binding posts, etc... I also am experimenting with some Lii Audio F15 in the smaller Caintuck size/style baffles on 10" stands using Pass ACA amps bridged, which do better with classical, jazz, and acoustic.

Both of these speakers I'm listening near-field with them about 36" (Lii), 45"(Polk) from the front wall and 36"(Lii), 40"(Polk) from the side walls. Toed in crossing in front of me (Lii) or to each respective sides ear (Polk). Listening position is 9' from front wall (~6' from speakers).

I listen to a mix of everything from rock to classical string quartet. Digital and analog sources. I plan on finishing building my Baby Huey EL34 PP monoblocks and a Hagerman Clarinet preamp that I currently have on the bench to start with.

Realize I've not upgraded any gear yet and am just starting to gather info. So what GR speakers should I consider given a roughly $3K max budget?

I've attached a doodle of my room that is fairly close.

[JCarney]

I'd go with the NX Studio from GR, and look at the Rythmik FM8 dual 8" sealed servo sub at $985, or a GR servo 12" sealed at $1171 with flat pack. Then the NX Studio with all the upgrades at $1345 and flat pack at $379 with the FM8 at $985 for a total of $2709 less shipping. Or with the GR 12" sealed at $2895 less shipping.

Good Luck,
JCarney

[Danny Richie]

What JCarnet said...

Also, you might want to consider the LGK 2.4's with a single servo sub. It is an incredible combination.

[WGH]

What those guys said. I recently heard the NX-Studio in Mick Wolfe's 10'x11' room and they sounded great, the NX-Studio sounded better in the small room than in his big room. The speakers are driven by 845 based Line Magnetic 218ia rated at 22 watts per channel.
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=181562.msg1907839#msg1907839

Mick has a couple of small sealed REL subs that handle the lows. A sub with a 8" driver will integrate better in a small room because the crossover can be set higher (70 Hz with the NX-Studio) and the bass won't overload the room. I have a REL sub with a 12" driver and it definitely would not work in a small room plus it is not designed to be crossed over that high.

[jmimac351]

This is like trying to pick out your favorite piece of spaghetti.

I would suggest a few things:

1) Ported speaker (woofer) vs Sealed speaker.  I would opt for a sealed speaker and play with "tuning" by how close / far they are from the front wall.  Treat front wall, as necessary / able.

2) As narrow baffle as possible.

3) Listen to it before buying a sub (you may like it as it is)

4) Go read the description / purpose of the NGK 2.4 speaker.  (I just re-read it).  It appears that speaker is designed for a small room and the ambiance tweeter helps give depth that is hard to get in a small room.  That speaker appears to be designed for exactly what you're trying to do.  Plus, you won't need a pair of stands.

[Blooze]

Thanks for the suggestions. It's going to be a crap-shoot to some extent as I live in the middle of nowhere SW KS with no real good way to audition anything without purchasing first unfortunately.  I really like the sound of the staging of the OB's, but considering I'm listening at such a close distance I really only get a taste of that.

I may be premature looking at speakers without upgrading my sources and amps first, but I want to get a feel of what's available. This is going to be a good 3 year project to start with.

[mkrawcz]

The NX-Studios are the obvious choice for that budget. They remain the best 2 way monitor I have ever heard at any price.

[Danny Richie]

Check this out: https://youtu.be/pTtcMr7PmL4?si=v5B3dWX_6z-vCkYR

Take the challenge and compare the files. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14armN1-5lrGTlBVPwdXgkh1sC9hPR8ob

Then the reveal: https://youtu.be/VdsaowXRxpE?si=7iVIniTPjrWhWyY1

A was the original audio file.

B was the LGK 2.4's with Dodd Audio tube amps.

C was the LGK 2.4's with some custom chip amps.

These are the way to go if on a budget and you are looking for the best bang for the buck.

The NX-Studio Monitor (as already mentioned) are a step up in several areas, but is over twice the price. It is the speaker of choice if price is not a factor.

[Tyson]

The NX-Studios are the obvious choice for that budget. They remain the best 2 way monitor I have ever heard at any price.

Agreed!  NX-Studio's are game changers.

[Blooze]

The LGK’s look interesting. One of the best speakers I’ve ever heard in a small room were Duke LeJuene’s DreamMakers. Similar in the respect that he had a driver on the rear causing a huge open ambience to the sound. Much bigger cabinet though.

[KTS]

I am running the NX Studios in a room just a bit larger than what you have, they work very well even in near field. I have not had the pleasure of listening to the LGK’s. I have the Studios sitting on dual OB subs, that works well in my room. I also have guitar gear in my listening room, the only change
 I made when getting into the 2 channel hobby was keeping the guitars in their case when cranking up the volume, they definitely want to sing along with the music.

[Presb4]

I am running the GR Brutes in a room of the same size as yours. IMO you can move them a little closer to the front wall than you have in your drawing and not sacrifice much. I have mine dang near touching the front wall in my den, around 8" off the wall and they sound great and image very well. My older Polk 6" ported towers I had in the same room were way more bass heavy then the Brutes are today. Dont be scared by that big bad ass 12" woofer the brutes have.
 
It would be a more cost effective option and a one and done option at that vs. the NX Studios and a Sub. It would also provide more of a rock and roll look to your room with the guitars on the wall 

Something to consider.

[mlundy57]

I’ll add another endorsement for the NX-Studio Monitors with one single servo plus subwoofer. This is one killer combo.

[fado]

I would suggest taking a very close look at the Daedalus Audio Muse or Muse Studio speakers. They are designed to work well in small to medium sized rooms. In addition, Daedalus speakers are absolutely beautiful to have in any room. Lou Hinkley is very knowledgeable and easy to talk to about optimum solutions for your particular situation.

https://www.daedalusaudio.com/muse-speaker

https://www.daedalusaudio.com/bundle-muse-lta

I just read your post more carefully and noticed your $3000 price point. These speakers new would exceed $3000 but you might find them now and then in the used market. Talk to Lou about the bundle offer. Good Luck - sounds like you are doing what I did in 2011. I started shopping the used market ~2 years before retirement.

[JLM]

JBL 708P, active monitors - no need to have a power amp, just XLR connectors.  I owned them for a year in my 8ft x 13ft x 21ft room which they easily filled but didn't overload.  Probably the best all around speakers I've ever owned.  A little over your budget but power amps included.

Even the desktop 305 Mk2, also active are killer for $300/pair and very nicely filled my room.

[Blooze]

The NX-Studios are the obvious choice for that budget. They remain the best 2 way monitor I have ever heard at any price.

What other small monitors have you compared it to?

[Blooze]

I am running the NX Studios in a room just a bit larger than what you have, they work very well even in near field. I have not had the pleasure of listening to the LGK’s. I have the Studios sitting on dual OB subs, that works well in my room. I also have guitar gear in my listening room, the only change
 I made when getting into the 2 channel hobby was keeping the guitars in their case when cranking up the volume, they definitely want to sing along with the music.

Good to know. I have 12 guitars in the room. I only have 2-3 cases as that fits everything and I quit playing out 20 years ago. Really I need to pare it down to just 3-4 and a couple of amps as I really don't play much anymore even at home, but I'm a hoarder on that front. I have three hanging on the wall, but the others are in a 9-slot stand I built that sits on top of a short cabinet. Being this room is in the basement I try to keep everything up off the floor at least 12" due to the potential of flooding (no reason to replace gear if I don't have to).

[Blooze]

I’ll add another endorsement for the NX-Studio Monitors with one single servo plus subwoofer. This is one killer combo.

Would the servo sub be better in the sealed or a single H-Frame OB configuration?

[Endo2112]

I’d be tempted by the  Otticas myself, Jay ran his in almost exactly the same size room with a slight bit of eq and was flat to 40, so it depends on how much low end you like?? Can honestly say I miss those even compared to the 7’s, they do the lower mid bass extremely well, and subs can always be added later if you feel the need.

Don

[mkrawcz]

What other small monitors have you compared it to?

B&W 805d3 and Focal Utopia Diablo are the highest end I compared to directly. Wasn’t close. Danny doesn’t mess around.