need help with speakers | Stereophile.com

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Submitted By: edg29

member

Location: CA

Joined: Jul 20 2011

Posts:

need help with speakers

Posted: July 20, 2011 - 4:34pm

Hello people

My very first post!!
Please help.

I am looking to buy a pair of entry level bookshelf speakers under $750 for my living room(roughly 10ft x 20ft).

I will be using Yamaha A-S500 for an amp, and Pro-ject debutIII for a source. I also have a cheap CD player but this will be upgraded soon.

Though I listen to all different kinds of music, this system will be mainly for

-Classical (mostly Violin and Piano - Milstein, Pollini...)
-Jazz (Bill Evans, Bill Evans, and Bill Evans)
-vocal (both male and female)
and little bit of Trip hop

I hate it when the bass is too strong or overpowering.
I want clean, clear sound with good detail.

The speakers I am considering are

-B&W 685s
-Canton GLE 430.2
-Epos Epic 1
-Kef Q300

I know I need to listen to them myself to know what's right for me, but I'll have to go to 4 different places to do that, and they are all quite far apart.
I would like to narrow it down (or pick which I should audition first).

I would appreciate your opinion or suggestion.
Thank you.

Submitted By: jackfish

senior member

Location: Western Wisconsin

Joined: Dec 19 2005

Posts:

Magnepan MMGs

Posted: July 20, 2011 - 5:52pm

if you have the space.

Submitted By: Retro Pauper

member

Joined: Jul 16 2011

Posts:

I second that

Posted: July 21, 2011 - 10:23pm

The MMGs are indeed an excellent choice in that price range, although I wonder if your amp is quite up to driving them. If you meant "bookshelf" in the literal sense, there are quite a few worthy choices (although they'll all sound better away from the wall, on stands). Besides the ones you mentioned, there are models from Paradigm, PSB, Polk, and Wharfedale worth considering.

Welcome, btw (from another newbie).

Submitted By: jackfish

senior member

Location: Western Wisconsin

Joined: Dec 19 2005

Posts:

A 10'x20' room is not particularly large

Posted: July 22, 2011 - 9:20am

and the Yamaha A-S500 can output about 115 wpc into 4 Ohms, which should be adequate for all but the loudest listening levels the MMGs are capable of producing. The MMGs do take up more room than bookshelves on stands and like to be into the room somewhat, but the listening for most is worth it.

Submitted By: edg29

member

Location: CA

Joined: Jul 20 2011

Posts:

Thank you

Posted: July 29, 2011 - 1:11pm

Thank you.

Though, making space for the MMGs is not going to be easy, I'll definitely check them out.

If I like them enough, I will just have to rearrange my living room a little.