Small Floor Stander or Monitor For Largish Room

zapper7 · « **on:** 10 Aug 2007, 06:19 pm »

I currently have a pair of Silverline Sonata II that are doing an excellent job, love the warmer sound and dynamics they provide.

I recently installed an IB sub system that takes care of the bass to about 65hz or so. I listen to it for movies and music.
With the bass now taken care of with the IB, I was wondering what may be available in a smaller floorstander or monitor that would be equally as warmer sounding while keeping the dynamics of my Silverlines for around $1500 or less new or used.
I would like possibly better image/soundstage and midrange, able to disappear more, while keeping the dynamics and ease of listening.
I have seen/listened to Silverline's monitors & Totem Arro-Hawk-Forest that seem to be in the running.
I have a Wadia 850 GNSC going into Acoustic Reality 1001 monos with Wegrzyn silver wires.
I listen to all types of music, classical and jazz not as much, and of course no Country.
What is the opinions of the masses?

bpape · « **Reply #1 on:** 10 Aug 2007, 06:28 pm »

Take a look at the Nomad Sentinels. Very open and relaxed sounding, exceptional imaging even way off axis. I hope to have a pair in my home for eval in my system next week sometime.

Edit: Sorry, they're going to be out of your budget. Carry on.

Bryan

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 Aug 2007, 06:49 pm »

Here's the secret to Silverline's warm sound

That's the sonatina III, not your sonata II, but all silverline speakers I've seen measurements for (speakermeasurements.com) have that big dip built in to one degree or another. For this reason, it will be hard for you to find other speakers that match that silverline sound that you dig, unless you use EQ.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #3 on:** 10 Aug 2007, 07:08 pm »

Quote

monitor that would be equally as warmer sounding while keeping the dynamics ....I would like possibly better image/soundstage and midrange, able to disappear more, while keeping the dynamics and ease of listening.

You might check out the new SP Tech Mini-TP's.....their new and in your price range....and if all follows as other SP Tech speakers...they will be dynamic with good image/soundstage,very full sounding....IMO. I would not say the SP Tech speakers are "warm" sounding....just "more real" sounding. Good luck....

Link...

Imperial · « **Reply #4 on:** 10 Aug 2007, 07:19 pm »

This might be right off the mark, barking up the wrong tree, and so on..
But I have to tell you guys about one day I visited my dad, and right off the bat
he said: I've got new speakers! Come listen!

He had gotten a pair of these for free: (from my uncle, his brother.)

They are called Pioneer HPM 40...

So he put on a Swedish Gospel Artist called Carola...
And I almost fainted!!! I ALMOST FAINTED!!!

Ok, they don't image to perfection and so on and so on...
But as the song was playing I could not believe the presence and the ambience and the FREEKIN DETAIL
that came out of these 30 years old speakers!!!

I dare not tell you what was driving them, but rest assured, it does not cost much...

Anyway... these are the warmest sounding speakers I have ever heard that still came across as neutral...
Go figure! And no, my dad did not want to part with them...

I understand him..
Anyway! On with the thread, as you were dudes...

Imperial

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #5 on:** 10 Aug 2007, 07:55 pm »

There's a pair of those Pioneer's on eBay..... Link...

Imperial · « **Reply #6 on:** 10 Aug 2007, 08:08 pm »

Quote from: lonewolfny42 on 10 Aug 2007, 07:55 pm

There's a pair of those Pioneer's on eBay..... Link...

Yeah, they are great! And you can drive them with flea power tubeamps as well.
You know, I just now read something on 6moons... about old speakers.

That is intriguing stuff!!! The roadtour 13 story you know.
I can imagine that a pair of restored JBL L300's (Also known as JBL 4333) would fit the bill very nice for zapper7...

They are not small, hehe, rather LARGE, but they do sound very nice!!!
And could very well be cut off at 65hz I guess. More punch that way!

Imperial

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #7 on:** 10 Aug 2007, 08:10 pm »

A lot of those vintage JBLs sound great and warm, too. Resale on them is higher, though.
I would go with the sptech taht lonewolf mentioned, myself

Imperial · « **Reply #8 on:** 10 Aug 2007, 08:18 pm »

Yeah, go for a pair of new ones, I agree! They come with warranty and all that.
You know, a VERY good tip would be MBL 311 (zapper7 amps will drive them nicely..)

They are rather warm as well as really room filling! (they don't have a sweetspot.. they just fill the room!)
Heavy to drive though...
If one could find a pair for 1500$ that would be a bargain!
Maybe unknown to you Americans then? Well...
They aren't a lot worse than their really big brother...
Dynamic little buggers!

Imperial

zybar · « **Reply #9 on:** 10 Aug 2007, 09:21 pm »

Quote from: zapper7 on 10 Aug 2007, 06:19 pm

I currently have a pair of Silverline Sonata II that are doing an excellent job, love the warmer sound and dynamics they provide.
I recently installed an IB sub system that takes care of the bass to about 65hz or so. I listen to it for movies and music.
With the bass now taken care of with the IB, I was wondering what may be available in a smaller floorstander or monitor that would be equally as warmer sounding while keeping the dynamics of my Silverlines for around $1500 or less new or used.
I would like possibly better image/soundstage and midrange, able to disappear more, while keeping the dynamics and ease of listening.
I have seen/listened to Silverline's monitors & Totem Arro-Hawk-Forest that seem to be in the running.
I have a Wadia 850 GNSC going into Acoustic Reality 1001 monos with Wegrzyn silver wires.
I listen to all types of music, classical and jazz not as much, and of course no Country.
What is the opinions of the masses?

I will be getting in three Salk Song Towers next week.

They are certainly within your budget and will look as nice or nicer than the Sonata II's.

Since I know the Sonata II's quite well, I can let you know if you will get that warm and enjoyable Silverline sound with the Songs.

George

zapper7 · « **Reply #10 on:** 10 Aug 2007, 09:30 pm »

Thanks Wolfy, I am intrigued at the SP, and they look really nice, would be killer in the room, surprise everybody. I see you are getting a pair, if that happens before I plunge, I will look for a review/opinion when you post 1.

I will wait to hear on the Salks from you george, I will also look at his site to get acquainted(

) with them.

Keep em coming guys and thanks for the suggestions already.

Z

zapper7 · « **Reply #11 on:** 12 Aug 2007, 01:33 pm »

SP Tech's website doesn't seem to have the new minis, are they that new and is the thread Wolfy gave the only place to visit?

THanks Z

opnly bafld · « **Reply #12 on:** 12 Aug 2007, 01:41 pm »

Quote from: zapper7 on 12 Aug 2007, 01:33 pm

SP Tech's website doesn't seem to have the new minis, are they that new and is the thread Wolfy gave the only place to visit?
THanks Z

The link is the only place for info on the new minis.
You can ask questions there and Bob will reply.
SP Tech is in the process of updating their website.

Lin

doug s. · « **Reply #13 on:** 12 Aug 2007, 11:42 pm »

forget about the totem arro's. i had a pair in a large room, & they completely fell apart with any loud music, even when crossed over to a pair of vmps larger subs. amazingly enough, a pair of absolutely tiny proac tablette 8 reference signatures, (10.5h x 9'd x 6'w, w/4.5" woofers), would fill the same room (26x38x8.5) w/ear-splitting clean sound, when in the same system. these are fantastic sounding speakers, soundstage like crazy; retail for $1800, & show up used every once in a while for ~$1200. now, if you're willing to up the ante a little, i have a nice pair of diapason adamantes lll's listed f/s here, that will also do the job. excellent sound & imaging as well. i am looking for offers...

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=43417.0

doug s.

JLM · « **Reply #14 on:** 13 Aug 2007, 12:01 am »

Standmounts will of course require the purchase of stands, so if you go that route the actual budget is more like $1100 -1300. By the time you add stands, standmounts take up the same amount of floor space as floorstanders, they just look less massive. The ACI XL monitors would very juicy and are currently on sale (but still a bit out of your range). For that matter, what's wrong with the Silverline SR11 standmounts for $1500/pair?

Hmmm, warm and dynamic. By warm, do you mean a midbass emphasis? Seems like you're talking about classic rock monitors that have a 60 - 120 Hz boost and (hopefully

) rolled off highs.

Small speaker and large room won't seem to go together, OTOH you have a sub for the heavy lifting. The orginal Omega speakers that used extended range Fostex drivers were both efficient and had a warmth to them. Even new they were well within your price range.

zapper7 · « **Reply #15 on:** 14 Aug 2007, 05:38 pm »

The speaker stands are either figured in or I will make them myself.
I read a review saying the SR11 were a bit bright, and the reviewer noted it was not normal for the Silverlines.
By warm I mean not bright/beaming/harsh/etc. in the high mids and tweeter protion. I don't know if that explains it or not, easy to listen to.

doug s. · « **Reply #16 on:** 14 Aug 2007, 07:30 pm »

Quote from: zapper7 on 14 Aug 2007, 05:38 pm

The speaker stands are either figured in or I will make them myself.
I read a review saying the SR11 were a bit bright, and the reviewer noted it was not normal for the Silverlines.
By warm I mean not bright/beaming/harsh/etc. in the high mids and tweeter protion. I don't know if that explains it or not, easy to listen to.

you owe it to yourself to hear a pair of proac tablette 8 reference signatures... tons of air & detail, with absolutely no trace of being overly harsh, bright, etc...

doug s.

JLM · « **Reply #17 on:** 14 Aug 2007, 07:59 pm »

"I mean not bright/beaming/harsh/etc. in the high mids and tweeter"

Seems like you want to avoid forward sounding speakers (like front loaded horns) or thin sounding speakers (those that have a recessed midbass). And as you stated above, metal domes.