[dburna]

I am researching a future small (second) system and am looking at smaller bookshelf/monitor speakers.  I will have time to "get this right" before I need it.
 
The setting: wife wants to move to a smaller home when we become 'empty nesters'.  It WILL happen, just not right away.  Read: bungalow with small living room (10-12)' x (10-14)'.
Needs (hers): minimal cabling/mess, minimal footprint, very little "stereo gear" showing.  NO subwoofers.
Wants (mine): (at least) 40-ish (OK, may 50-ish) to 20k Hz, 2-3 inputs (probably will use only 1), good sound (= good detail/tonality, relaxing and/or maybe slightly warm, definitely not etched/analytical), small size is definitely preferable (will provide maximum flexibility for placement)
Existing components: use existing equipment where possible = low-footprint Ampino amp, Sound Anchor 12" high speaker stands that can tip up the front of each speaker)
Cost guideline: At/under/around $2k for speakers, new or used
 
Thoughts:
1. Existing Ampino and passive speakers.  Was considering either Harbeth C7ES-3 or Fritz Carbon 5/7 SEs.  Maybe the smallest pair of Audio Notes since they can go in a corner.  Open to alternatives, but these speakers provide an example of the sound that would work for me.
2. Active studio monitors: the right pair seems like it could meet all the criteria above and be a very tidy solution.  My only reservation is to find an active speaker that is: compact, reasonably full-range, and NOT analytical.  I heard some small Genelecs at AXPONA last month that sounded decent, but they were augmented by subwoofers.  No idea if there are better brands out there.
 
Questions:
1. For passive speakers, would anyone recommend something ELSE that fits the Harbeth/Fritz mold?  I can research those two vendors myself.
2. Does anyone have suggestions on powered (pro?) monitors that are $2k new/used that might fit this bill?  I am aesthetically sensitive to speakers where the tweeter "stands out" from the rest of the sound.
 
Thanks for any suggestions you can offer.
 
-dB
 
P.S. Anyone want to sell their bungalow?  )))

[Phil A]

No bungalow to sell.  I have Ohm Microwalsh Talls in a small secondary bedroom system.  About a 6 inch footprint.

[Phil A]

Another consideration if you want stand mounted speakers is - http://philharmonicaudio.com/

[dburna]

No bungalow to sell.  I have Ohm Microwalsh Talls in a small secondary bedroom system.  About a 6 inch footprint.

Phil, that might work well.  Certainly the footprint is excellent.  Can you explain more about how they sound?  And what they would need to drive them?  Can you place these up against a wall....or near thereto?  I heard a pair of Ohm Walsh with a vintage Marantz SS integrated at AXPONA and it sounded darn nice -- surprised me, frankly.

I have also considered some ACI Sapphire XLs.....if I can ever find a pair that goes on sale.

Thanks,  -dB

[dburna]

Another consideration if you want stand mounted speakers is - http://philharmonicaudio.com/

Do you have first-hand experience with these monitors?  If so, how do they sound?  Easy to drive?

-dB

[Phil A]

Do you have first-hand experience with these monitors?  If so, how do they sound?  Easy to drive?

-dB

I've heard their speakers at the Capital Audiofests (missed 2014 but prior years and will be going this year and if I end up selling a pair of speakers in a third system I could end up with a pair of them).  Here's a pic of their room from the 2013 Capital Audiofest:

[Phil A]

Phil, that might work well.  Certainly the footprint is excellent.  Can you explain more about how they sound?  And what they would need to drive them?  Can you place these up against a wall....or near thereto?  I heard a pair of Ohm Walsh with a vintage Marantz SS integrated at AXPONA and it sounded darn nice -- surprised me, frankly.

I have also considered some ACI Sapphire XLs.....if I can ever find a pair that goes on sale.

Thanks,  -dB

I would not place them up against the wall.  Mine are not terribly far out.  About 2 inches max in front of the audio video furniture and that furniture is not horribly deep (it's hard to tell from the pic but the Odyssey Audio Candela on the bottom shelf sticks out a bit - have the same unit in the bonus/guest room and had to move a receiver to a different room and get another as with the wiring in back it stuck out a couple of inches) and only a couple of inches from the wall in the back.

If you look closely at the equipment, you won't see an amp.  That's because it is behind the TV (along with the music server and a couple of hard drives).  Due to space limitations needed an amp that is of shallow depth and have a Bryston 3BST driving them.  Yes I do have a sub (Rel Strata III) only because I had it already and it is nice.  See this review - http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/walsh/micro.html

This is the website - http://ohmspeaker.com/speakers/mains/microwalsh-tall/   As you can see from the pic I had limited wall space (diagonal doorway) and had to go with a smaller footprint on the A/V furniture too (I think it is 48 inches wide).  Right before I closed on the house, I saw a used pair on here locally and gobbled them up for $850.  Really like them.

[Phil A]

For powered monitors, you might want to look at Emotiva (not heard them but have owned a couple of their products and they are good value for the money).  When I reconfigure that third system, I may move my current desk top speakers and may consider them.  No experience with these powered speakers but I may consider them as well - http://www.chanemusiccinema.com/swan-multimedia

[poseidonsvoice]

Look into the JBL LSR 305's or 308's. There is a nice thread on Cheap & Cheerful forum...


Best,
Anand.

[Phil A]

If you can live with one input for an amp - I'd recommend this - http://www.odysseyaudio.com/products-cyclops.html

Certainly appropriate for a minimalist system.

[mcgsxr]

A set of Tofem Rainmakers would do wonders for what you describe.

I run Model 1's these days but they are a little more amp dependent to deliver excellence.

[GentleBender]

If you can live with one input for an amp - I'd recommend this - http://www.odysseyaudio.com/products-cyclops.html

Certainly appropriate for a minimalist system.

I second that! I love my Cyclops, it disappears and has a nice warm sound that I can hardly believe is Solid State. The cost is insanely cheap too. Klaus is also fun to work with and gives a 20 year warranty to boot that is transferable to a second owner. 

[JLM]

Suggest a DAC/pre with active monitors.  Just add 2 interconnects and 3 power cords.  I'm in potentially a similar domestic situation, have listened near-field for years, and the desktop/small room scene (for home mixing or "rightsizing") is heating up.

Several small DAC/pre units are available in half rack, 1U size (1.75 inches tall x 8.5 inches wide) with a variety of digital inputs and even analog inputs for legacy sources.  Check out Benchmark, Mytek, Oppo, Hegel, and Emotiva.  Prices start at $500 and even include headphone jacks (useful in a small place).

Active (or even powered) monitors are designed for desktop use and can reach 50 Hz.  Hopefully caught the Vanatoo powered speakers at Axpona that would meet your criteria in cherry for $550.  I managed to squeeze into the Genelec room, but was not impressed (expensive, with their house "forward" mid/high emphasis, but try the M040).  Shopping for speakers can be a very soul searching buying decision.  Apparently you're aware of the dry/fatiguing and frankly boring aspects of many studio monitors.  But do you want to listen to your system (like most audiophile gear is oriented towards) or to the music?  Not having all your music sounding alike is an advantage of accuracy over colorations.  While I like the Fritz Carbon 7, it squarely falls into the warm coloration camp IMO.  Search for active speakers that the professionals use at home.  Some ideas to get started:  Event 20/20 ($900/pair, largish but F3 = 30 Hz); Dynaudio BM5 ($1260/pair, cheaper and a move up from the home version Excite 14A, were at Axpona but didn't hear them); Focal CMS50 ($1200/pair, CMS40 well reviewed at AudioStream); Neumann KH120A ($1500/pair, the gold standard of studio monitors at this size/price range); Quad 9AS ($1300/pair, cherry finish, DAC included).

[Kenneth Patchen]

I just bought the AudioEngine A2+ and I'm not as impressed as I wanted to be. I wanted something small enough to take with me when I head to the vacation cottage. They're ok but nothing special.

Here's an interesting review of the Vanatoo by AC member WGScott:

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/blogs/wgscott/vanatoo-active-speakers-my-experiences-417/

[jpm]

I thought I was alone in being underwhelmed by the AudioEngine A2+, so I'm happy to second the "meh" finding.

Since a basement flood last year made me buy all new home office furniture, I've had space to set up gear I had set aside for a second system. I've been enjoying a Rega Apollo with PS Audio P-200 pre-amp into Quad 12L (active) studio monitors and a REL T2 sub and it works very well in my smallish (12' x 14') room.

Yesterday I received my Oppo BDP-105D that is destined to go into my HT setup, but I've been running the Quad's and REL direct from the Oppo all morning. Result - I'm rethinking everything!

[Tyson]

Maybe a small integrated system like the iFi - everything all in one and great sound - capable of pure DSD up to 512, tube driver stage, wireless streaming, and very cool retro looks with matching (small) speakers - http://ifi-audio.com/products/retro/

[Phil A]

I second that! I love my Cyclops, it disappears and has a nice warm sound that I can hardly believe is Solid State. The cost is insanely cheap too. Klaus is also fun to work with and gives a 20 year warranty to boot that is transferable to a second owner. 

All Odyssey products are basically unbelievable for the money, including the speakers, audio furniture, etc.  I love my Candela preamp I have in a spare system.  I'd have to spend at least $4k in a store for something of similar sound quality.  I love my audio rack as well they built for main system.

[Kenneth Patchen]

All Odyssey products are basically unbelievable for the money,   I love my audio rack as well they built for main system.

Sire,
What is this Odyssey audio rack of which you speak? I see no furniture on Sir Klaus' site. Got a link or any pics?   (Perhaps a pm would be better so as to not hijack this thread.)
Verily,
KP

[Phil A]

Sire,
What is this Odyssey audio rack of which you speak? I see no furniture on Sir Klaus' site. Got a link or any pics?   (Perhaps a pm would be better so as to not hijack this thread.)
Verily,
KP

Klaus has admitted that the site should be more up to date.  When I went to the 2013 Capital Audiofest I was in need of a rack for the new place and woodsyi informed me Klaus was building a rack for him.  I was in the Odyssey room but had not focused on it and then went up to talk to him and mine was designed to my specs.  There is a thread here - http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=120406.0

This is a pic of what Klaus brought to the 2013 Capital Audiofest:

[Phil A]

Below is a pic of the initial draft I did of the design and final product (pardon my poor drafting skills - used Word and then had dimensions I furnished to Klaus.