Favorite mini-monitors?

vinyl anachronist · « **on:** 8 Apr 2007, 08:25 pm »

This might be a very different thread than the "under $1000 speaker" thread, since there are many higher-priced mini-monitors out there. So what are your favorite small bookshelf or mini-monitor speakers, the ones that make you forget about deep deep bass? I spent my audiophile salad days using mini-monitors, and I still love the sound of a great yet small speaker. Some of my favorites are:

Any LS3/5a
Spendor S20
ProAc Response 1sc
Enigma Oremus
JM Labs Micro Utopia
Harbeth HL-P3

What are some of yours?

PhilNYC · « **Reply #1 on:** 8 Apr 2007, 08:32 pm »

I'm biased because I'm a dealer for them, but I am a huge fan of the Focus Audio FS-688...

crossroadazn · « **Reply #2 on:** 8 Apr 2007, 08:56 pm »

Here are the ones I've owned:
Celestion SL6si
Spica TC-50
Silverline Audio Reference SR-12

denjo · « **Reply #3 on:** 8 Apr 2007, 09:03 pm »

Linaem LX series in corian! The ribbon tweeters give one of the sweetest midrange I have ever heard in a mini-monitor.

IronLion · « **Reply #4 on:** 8 Apr 2007, 10:43 pm »

I haven't heard many monitors myself, but I just got a great deal on a pair of used Onix X-LS', and for the money, I couldn't be happier.

JLM · « **Reply #5 on:** 8 Apr 2007, 11:54 pm »

Fried Model C5 (6.5 inch woofer, truncated pyramid shapped cabinet with transmission line loading) was a most wonderful speaker and a big step beyond the LS3/5a genre. The kit (bits plus cabinet plans) was $500 in the early 90's.

BTW do active monitor qualify?

IMO they can kick serious butt and can truly make you forget about needing a sub. The Paradigm Active 20's were such a speaker.

TONEPUB · « **Reply #6 on:** 8 Apr 2007, 11:59 pm »

Peak Consult Princess
Rogers LS3/5A
ACI Sapphire XL
Penaudio Charisma

Have to think a little more....

I seem to remember a gorgeous little speaker
from Sonus Faber too...

Zero · « **Reply #7 on:** 9 Apr 2007, 12:07 am »

There are monitors, and then there are mini-monitors. In a thread such as this; one naturally must confront the differentiating lines between a large bookshelf speaker and a compact, or mini - speaker. Typically it is up to each individual to determine where that line rests. For me, compact starts around the Von Schweikert VR-1 size and works its way down. That means that a speaker the size of a VMPS 636 can hardly be called 'mini'! With that said, here are my votes taken directly from the products I currently own or have owned;

Affordable monitors that are somewhat compact;

Spendor SP3/1P
ACI Sapphire XL
Totem Acoustic TABU (discontinued)
Onix XLS (for the price)

Affordable compact monitors:

Dynaudio Focus 110
Stone Image Audio Rothschilde A2
Totem Acoustic Model 1 Signature

Affordable ULTRA compact monitors;

Totem Acoustic Mite
Tyler Acoustics Mini Linbrook

Products I would LOVE to bring home;

Sonus Faber Guarneri Memento

WEEZ · « **Reply #8 on:** 9 Apr 2007, 01:58 am »

Among the ones I've heard; and feel stand above the 'crowd':

Silverline Reference 15
ACI Sapphire XL
Proac Studio 100 & Sig. 8
Dynaudio 1.3
Merlin TSM
Sterling LS3/5a V2

What I would like to hear:

Focus 688
ACI Emerald XL
NSM Model 10S

Well implemented 2-way small speakers are 'it'...IMHO

WEEZ

TaiPan · « **Reply #9 on:** 9 Apr 2007, 03:10 am »

Great picks so far . . .

My offerings based on what I've heard and now own -

2nd Phil re: the FS-688s (have these)

;
ProAc Response 1sc;
AAD PMM1 (have these),
Aurum Cantus V3M (have these);
Micropure Kotaro (have these)

.

Cheers,
Garry

The_KiD · « **Reply #10 on:** 9 Apr 2007, 11:36 am »

Sonus Faber Concertino
Proac Response 1SC
JM Lab Mircos
Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor

KiD

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #11 on:** 9 Apr 2007, 11:47 am »

Kef 101
Rogers JR-149

and my DIY Jordan JX-92S in stainless steel

Thebiker · « **Reply #12 on:** 9 Apr 2007, 11:59 am »

Currently considering a set of Totem Model 1 Signatures. I have heard them in the shop on a Cary SLI-80 (my main integrated) and now I need to bring them home for a demo.

Any other suggestions in that price range? Sorry, I shouldn't hi-jack the thread. Obviously the other small monitors named would be the recommendations

.

jkelly · « **Reply #13 on:** 9 Apr 2007, 12:19 pm »

Proac Super Tablettes
GR Research Paradox One

Jeff

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #14 on:** 9 Apr 2007, 12:29 pm »

Quote from: Thebiker on 9 Apr 2007, 11:59 am

Currently considering a set of Totem Model 1 Signatures. I have heard them in the shop on a Cary SLI-80 (my main integrated) and now I need to bring them home for a demo.

I too was quite impressed with these when I heard them in the shop; however I thought they were horrid when I brought them home. If you find them to be your cup of tea, buy them used and save a lot of $$ while not having to endure the lengthily break in. They come up used quite regularly on Canuck Audiomart and rightly so... Totem IMO is one of the most over rated products out there.

You do much better for less than what used Model 1 Signatures will cost.

Psychicanimal · « **Reply #15 on:** 9 Apr 2007, 02:10 pm »

Here's some very special little speakers:

Modwright Swans M-1

Four Bybees, Jena Labs internal wiring, all 4 x-over boards cryo treated, new resistors & Auricaps, Deflex panels (all white stuffing removed ).

Try beating them for the money...

***

Derockster · « **Reply #16 on:** 9 Apr 2007, 02:24 pm »

I'd go with the totem model1(not the signatures) or the proac 1s Derockster

vinyl anachronist · « **Reply #17 on:** 9 Apr 2007, 07:55 pm »

Quote from: A6M-ZERO on 9 Apr 2007, 12:07 am

There are monitors, and then there are mini-monitors. In a thread such as this; one naturally must confront the differentiating lines between a large bookshelf speaker and a compact, or mini - speaker. Typically it is up to each individual to determine where that line rests. For me, compact starts around the Von Schweikert VR-1 size and works its way down.

I'd agree with that. If I had wanted to talk about bookshelf monitors in general, I would have included the Harbeth Monitor 30, which is perhaps my favorite stand-mounted monitor. At 18" x 18" X 11", however, I feel that it's a little bit too big for what I had in mind for this thread. I also would have listed the Snell Type J, which is even bigger, because it was the first audio purchase (in 1981) that I felt defined me as an audiophile.

I did list the Micro Utopia, however, which may be around as big as the Monitor 30, however...I'm not sure.

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #18 on:** 9 Apr 2007, 08:53 pm »

Rogers LS 3/5A
Dynaudio Compact 25

Imperial · « **Reply #19 on:** 10 Apr 2007, 09:17 am »

Mini monitors are "it" yeah, I do agree.
Even the ones that don't really need power really love power!
I've had say Infinity Signature 1 (cheap little boxes..) driven by a 300w levinson design.
Quite spectacular...

The Proac Response 1SC's really like huge power, they really come alive when given 300+ quality watts!
The Hansen Audio Elixir (a bit big..), Dali Menuet II, B&W 805 (series).
Intuitive Design Summit (PSL 624) ... a big big monitor, but really amazing!

But if we are talking about crazy good, we must mention Peak Consult.
But there is also another gem from the Nordic planes of existence.
It's the Respons Loudspeakers Baby Grand:

That one is really incredible!!! It may be the equal of the Peak Consult, maybe even better.

Imperial