looking for small, high db, high WAF monitors ?

Mariusz · « **on:** 20 May 2008, 03:05 pm »

Hi everyone,

I am new to AudioCircle ,so go easy on me......

I am looking for small monitors for my second system.
Amp from Red Wine Audio-sig.30 Omega version (30wpc)
CDP- Consonance Droplet
Preamp- Dodd audio battery preamp as well as Decco Peachtree integrated/dac
TT- Lenco replinthed, MMF7 replinthed with Moarch up4 arm and Denon 103R cart.
Phono- Consonance ref.40 tube and Creek.Cables are mostly by Morrow Audio and Granite PCs.

Role Audio Sampan FTL , M&D mini or Omegas are just a few that would fit the bill.

What do you think????

Thanks

Bemopti123 · « **Reply #1 on:** 20 May 2008, 04:16 pm »

This might be off from the left field, but I have similar looking set up...I favor the Neat Motive 3s...very small 2 ways from England. Distribution is spotty, but I have seen pairs sometimes going for about $1250. They retail around 2K and sound incredibly transparent and the bass is staggering for a pair of 5" midbass drivers. They sound glorious with small integrateds as well as large SS amps that output 200 watts or more. In all aspects, incredibly fun, if you can find them.

Another natural pairing, if you want to go the used route, are the older Epos monitors... ES11 as well as ES14, totally incredibly well engineered and makes the newer Epos line made in PROC, look dull in comparison.

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #2 on:** 20 May 2008, 04:43 pm »

I'm surprised to see reference to the ES11. This is one of the few speakers whose sonic fingerprint I will always remember.

At the time I attributed it to the fact that the bass/mid was direct connected. What I heard was a somewhat colored sound that was emotionally compelling. A very special speaker, but I would be curious to hear how it would sound now after 15 years in comparison to the obviously-more-accurate SP Tech Timepieces.

I recommended this speaker to a few people over the years as being a bargain.

Bemopti123 · « **Reply #3 on:** 20 May 2008, 04:57 pm »

I agree with Russell, the Epos, is more like the Neat Motives I have, but with a little bit more spice, I would not call it very colored, as I remember the review from Stereophile calling its midrange, one of the purest. In terms of comparison, I guess there is always a little more clarity to be had, with the newer designs. The purest, being the live performance as echoed in a CD, Record or tape track, somewhere

PS: The Epos ES11 was the only piece of audio that I bought sold and bought and sold again. I should not have sold the last pair I had. Always have a found memory of its sound and its aw, so lovely walnut speaker box.

mcgsxr · « **Reply #4 on:** 20 May 2008, 08:05 pm »

The Omega/Red Wine combo is a well worn path, and with the advent of the hemp and alnico drivers, I would say you are in for a treat.

The other speakers mentioned are good, but I am not clear that they would sing on the 30wpc that your Red Wine amp is pushing.

You might consider the Horn Shoppe Horns too.

griller · « **Reply #5 on:** 20 May 2008, 08:28 pm »

ACI Sapphire XLs. I own and love them dearly. They are an incredibly musically involving speaker that just keeps sounding better and better then longer I own them. Personally have not heard with the RW amp, but read this thread:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=52466.0

TONEPUB · « **Reply #6 on:** 20 May 2008, 10:45 pm »

The Sapphire XL's are great speakers, I own a pair myself. However, while they will sound great with the RWA 30.2, they won't play terribly loud, so if that's a criteria, you might think of something else. I'd give the WAF a 7 on the scale of 1-10, and love the black best myself.

I've used the 30.2 with a lot of speakers, just not a lot of small ones.

By the way, how small is small to you?

hdspeakerman · « **Reply #7 on:** 20 May 2008, 11:13 pm »

http://www.selahaudio.com/id46.html
Look at SA1 and monitors.
Howard

JLM · « **Reply #8 on:** 20 May 2008, 11:27 pm »

Don't know your musical/audio preferences or your budget, but small/high dB needs point towards active speakers. For about what you could clear from selling the Red Wine amp, you could buy Mackie HR624 or HR824 active studio monitors. Don't knock active speakers until you've heard the highly dynamic presentation, ruler flat frequency response, and unbelievably deep bass output. They won't be looksome, but losing a component should help with wife.

Randy · « **Reply #9 on:** 20 May 2008, 11:33 pm »

Think about Morrow. http://www.morrowaudio.com/morrowaudio.htm

I am sorely tempted to try the larger model with my 30.2

ecramer · « **Reply #10 on:** 21 May 2008, 12:36 am »

Give these a look Selah Audio Tanzinites

ED

http://www.selahaudio.com/id53.html

RodMCV · « **Reply #11 on:** 21 May 2008, 12:41 am »

No question the SP-Tech Mini Time Pieces are up that alley!
I don't know how to link, but there are Great Reviews on the Factory site
and the sound and imaging are to die for; I've been told.

ecramer · « **Reply #12 on:** 21 May 2008, 12:45 am »

Yea but he won't be listening to those any time soon theres a little back order

Quote from: RodMCV on 21 May 2008, 12:41 am

No question the SP-Tech Mini Time Pieces are up that alley!
I don't know how to link, but there are Great Reviews on the Factory site
and the sound and imaging are to die for; I've been told.

sabes · « **Reply #13 on:** 21 May 2008, 12:57 am »

based on feedback on the RWA site, and srajan's 6moons review of the sig 30.2's, i don't think you need to worry much about a mid- to high-efficiency speaker:

"The mention of Usher's 84dB Tiny Dancers was the most intiguing to me. It suggested that my jaw-dropping experience of the Signature 30.2 driving the proverbial piss out of my 82.5dB 4-ohm Mark & Daniel Maximus Ruby (with the help of ModWright's LS-36.5 preamp) wasn't an isolated fluke. The bass I'd gotten was better damped and controlled than the 180-watt Abbingdon Music Research AM-77 hybrid managed. These compact SLA batteries clearly do current just as claimed. In a 16' x 20' room, most all high-performance 2-way monitors should probably be well within their grasp."

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/redwine8/302.html

RodMCV · « **Reply #14 on:** 21 May 2008, 01:01 am »

Quote from: ecramer on 21 May 2008, 12:45 am

Yea but he won't be listening to those any time soon theres a little back order

Quote from: RodMCV on 21 May 2008, 12:41 am
No question the SP-Tech Mini Time Pieces are up that alley!
I don't know how to link, but there are Great Reviews on the Factory site
and the sound and imaging are to die for; I've been told.

What is Great comes to those who wait.
If you're in a hurry get something else, but nothing and I mean nothing has the reality of SP-Tech.
Fogedaboudit.

Mariusz · « **Reply #15 on:** 21 May 2008, 04:52 pm »

First of all, let me thank you all for great suggestions, links and interest in my post.
Second, let me share some of the characteristics that are somewhat important to me but not crucial:

a) small ( as small as possible but with lower frequency extrime reaching in or around 30-40Hz regions)

b) WAF is a must. I enjoy sleeping in the house and would like to keep it that way

c) my music preferences are.........non. I love music period. However ,Jazz, Classic Rock, Blues, Pop is played more then anything else.

d) use of the sub is not out of question but it would be in use only for watching the Hollywood crap and such.

e) My speakers in the main rig are Vandersteen Quatro and I am kind of spoiled by the sound they produce. Of course I realize that it can not be obtained with tinny monitors but I would like them to be somewhat accurate in the middle frequency , open, transparent with punchy upper bass and OK lower frequencies.

Yes, I know it is a lot to ask from the mini monitors .......is it possible with speakers you mentioned. How about M&D R.... ???

I have auditioned those yesterday with 30wpc new integrated from Luxman which but a way is very nice class A piece on its own and I must say......that I did not noticed any stress or under power symptoms. It might be due to the quality of the amplification I guess. At 11 o'clock mark on the volume controle they played fairly loud and clean.

My RWA sig30 is also 30wpc and I thing it MIGHT be able to handle M&D well....not exactly optimal scenario but plausible.

What do You think????

bpape · « **Reply #16 on:** 21 May 2008, 05:04 pm »

ACI Sapphire XL's? Small, play pretty much anything, not overly efficient but 86db. Great bottom end for a small monitor yet still disappear like a monitor should.

Bryan

griller · « **Reply #17 on:** 21 May 2008, 07:38 pm »

Quote from: Mariusz on 21 May 2008, 04:52 pm

First of all, let me thank you all for great suggestions, links and interest in my post.
Second, let me share some of the characteristics that are somewhat important to me but not crucial:

a) small ( as small as possible but with lower frequency extrime reaching in or around 30-40Hz regions)

b) WAF is a must. I enjoy sleeping in the house and would like to keep it that way

c) my music preferences are.........non. I love music period. However ,Jazz, Classic Rock, Blues, Pop is played more then anything else.

d) use of the sub is not out of question but it would be in use only for watching the Hollywood crap and such.

e) My speakers in the main rig are Vandersteen Quatro and I am kind of spoiled by the sound they produce. Of course I realize that it can not be obtained with tinny monitors but I would like them to be somewhat accurate in the middle frequency , open, transparent with punchy upper bass and OK lower frequencies.

Yes, I know it is a lot to ask from the mini monitors .......is it possible with speakers you mentioned. How about M&D R.... ???

I have auditioned those yesterday with 30wpc new integrated from Luxman which but a way is very nice class A piece on its own and I must say......that I did not noticed any stress or under power symptoms. It might be due to the quality of the amplification I guess. At 11 o'clock mark on the volume controle they played fairly loud and clean.

My RWA sig30 is also 30wpc and I thing it MIGHT be able to handle M&D well....not exactly optimal scenario but plausible.

What do You think????

Yes, the Sapphires will do all you want and I think you'll be stunned by their overall natural presentation. The midrange is some of the best I've ever heard at any price, I;ve heard the Quatros and I think you'll be very impressed. These are a lot easier to drive than most under 90db speakers I've ever played w/ BTW, the Piano finish is stunning.

Mariusz · « **Reply #18 on:** 21 May 2008, 08:00 pm »

Griller,
do you think RWA 30sig. will be able to drive my Quatros......?????
That would be really great since my new preamp (DODD Audio battery powered) is on the way and I should get it in a week or so.
I am happy with my modded Consonance Cybers 800 driving my Quatros but if RWA30sig can handle the load.....well, I could use them ( Cybers that is) with M&D Ruby which I am picking up next week and Sig.30 with Vandersteens.

Any thoughts??????

Thanks

Mariusz

sabes · « **Reply #19 on:** 21 May 2008, 08:11 pm »

if you're truly interested in a "mini" monitor, check out the tyler acoustic linbrook super mini: sean fowler at affordable audio loved them (http://www.affordableaudio.org/aa2007-05.pdf "if you...want a killer pair of ultra compact monitors, you've reached the top of the mountain"), they are tiny (11x9x8), handsome and go down to 60hz (ok, maybe 80). i've got 2prs of them in different settings, both driven by audio refinement alpha integrateds, and they are terrific (esp if you're open to the concept of a sub). just a thought...