i own two pairs of minimonitors that are hard to top at
any price, imo. i really should sell a pair, but cannot bring myself to do it. one retails for <$2k, but do not let the price fool you - these are killer, & w/subs, can fill even the largest rooms w/sound. (or at least 26x38x8.5!
) i am referring to the diminutive proac tablette 8 reference signatures. presently a coupla pairs f/s on agon. (asking $1200?) but they do not stay f/s long... these are airy, detailed, dynamic, smooth, excellent soundstaging, etc... even better, imo, than the also excellent & more expensive proac 1sc's.
the second pair i am referring to, you will only make your price-point if you shop used - these are the diapason adamantes lll's. drop-dead gorgeous, and all the adjectives that apply to the proacs aplpy here, except, at 91db-efficient, (as opposed to the ref 8 sig's 86db rating), you do not need as much grunt. and, they go a little bit lower, but not an issue in a smaller room. the diapasons are perhaps a little more on the warm side of neutral, as compared to the proacs, but i haven't run the proacs in a while - i really need to hook 'em back up, to compare to my recently acquired diapasons. and, re: efficiency, in defense of the ref 8 sigs, i once heard them in a 14x22x10 room, driven off the 25wpc triode setting of a manley stingray, & they were still awesome, w/decent low-end, & all the loudness you would want, except for serious headbanging. then, just flip the manley's switch to ultralinera, & you're in biz!
you cannot go wrong w/either of these monitors, imo...
now if you are wanting floorstanders, & can spend $2k-$2.5k, check out a pair of used coincident victory's. even better detail & soundstaging than either of these monitors, & they won't take up any more room than monitors properly placed on stands. and, at 14 ohms, & 97db efficient, you can really have fun playing w/amps... aa
