Question Speaker Requirements - Help!

Hi Everyone!

Long time lurker, first time poster.

I have some speaker requirements that I've finally settled as "allowable" with my significant other and could use some help. Upgrading from a set of B&W DM601 S3's and LCR60 S3.

1. Will be paired with an Onkyo A-9050 in a 15x20 room, with the listening stage on the 15ft side.
2. Must fit close to the wall
3. Gloss Black Lacquer (no wood grain allowed)
4. 2.0 system (no subwoofer), so I need to get some low Hz out of whatever I'm getting
5. Under $1500
6. Good with both music and movies
7. Relatively small

So far, I'm looking at the Dali Zensor 3, KEF Q350, and Monitor Audio Silver 2. They're all so wildly different and none completely meet the requirements.

Thanks in advance! I know it always comes down to preference, but maybe there's something I haven't considered.

 

The q acoustics 3050 often get recommended on here.

Q Acoustics 3050 review

In terms of small, a floorstander typically takes no more room than a stand mount and stand but will give you the extra bass performance.

Another I wouldn't look at is a set of second hand kef reference model one if sh is acceptable.

 

The price is certainly right on the 3050s and the rave reviews put it on a short list. Not sure I like the look of them, though.

I would love to have the KEF Reference 1's... They're a little price-prohibitive though, don't ya think?

Edit: Realize you meant Reference Model One - which are pretty old now...

 

That is a fair sized room by UK standards, and I'm going to assume the dimension are in FEET.

Why? And what do you mean by close to the wall? Is 1 foot close enough?

Black finish is easy, but Gloss Black is a premium finish, cost extra, and limits the number of speakers available to you.

Deep bass, generally speaking means large speakers, which are not likely to work well against the wall or in the corners.

A decent price, you should be able to do well for that money, once you get your priorities sorted.

OK.

You can have deep bass or your can have small speakers ...but...not both. Pick one or the other. Though what you mean by deep bass is relative.

Bookshelf with a Sub will give you deep bass, and a still reasonably compact size. And with an amp that does not have Electronic Bass Management, which is about 99% of all Stereo Amps, Bookshelf and Sub can still be reasonably blended. And at times when the deeper bass is inconvenient, you can simply shut the Sub off and use only the front speakers.

Floorstanding alone will generally give you good bass, not as deep as a Subwoofer, but deep enough. Depending on how you define deep.

Those are all bookshelf speakers, and as bookshelf speakers go, the bass is pretty good. But it is not Floorstanding speaker deep or Subwoofer deep.

In speakers like this, the best you can hope for is bass in the 40's (40hz to 49hz). In floorstanding you can expect bass in the 30's (less than 30hz up to about 39hz).

Some speakers have good perceived bass, even though the specs don't go that low. The Q Acoustic 3050 seems to have fantastic bass, nothing at all seems to be lacking, and an overall good sounding speaker, but the rated bass is not that low. In fact the bass is just high enough, that if one so desired, it could be made to work the a Sub using a common Stereo Amp.

One larger than average bookshelf speaker might be the Monitor Audio Silver 2 with a single 8" (200mm) bass driver. Bass rated down to 40hz, priced at £499/pair -

Silver 2

Monitor Audio Silver 2 Black Oak Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) - Monitor Audio - AudioVisual Online - UK Home Cinema and Hifi Specialists

The Monitor Audio Silver 1 has a 6.5" (165mm) bass driver and response rated down to 45hz, priced at £495/pair.

Silver 1

Monitor Audio Silver 1 Gloss Black Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) - Monitor Audio - AudioVisual Online - UK Home Cinema and Hifi Specialists

Both listed in Gloss Black.

40hz in a bookshelf is about the best you can hope for.

The Onkyo A-9050 is a pretty reasonable amp with 75w/ch, Phono-In, Sub-out, Pre-Out, and Digital Inputs.

Onkyo A-9050 Black Integrated Stereo Amplifier - Onkyo - AudioVisual Online - UK Home Cinema and Hifi Specialists

So, no problem there.

As to speaker positioning, if the speakers, any speakers, are too close to the wall you are going to have a problem with muddy midrange. Though bookshelf speakers need a lot less space than floorstanding speakers, they still need space.

In my case, I simply move my speakers forward so they are in-line with the front of my TV/equipment cabinet, and that gives me the space I need behind the speaker. I'm guessing if you are somewhere in the 8" to 16" range, you will be OK. Though it depends on how bass dominate the speakers is to start with; the more bass heavy it is, the most space it will need.

Steve/bluewizard

 

Steve,

Responses like yours are the reason this forum is so great. Thank you for your time and knowledge.

If our requirements were straight forward, I would have had a new set hooked up yesterday.

Floorstanders just got the go-ahead (as long as they're "classy") and I've found a demo set of R500s for a great price at a local dealer that I'm going to check out today. I'm not opposed to buying second-hand (actually prefer it), so if there's anything I should be considering, I'd appreciate the guidance.

 

Demoed the new Monitor Audio Silver 200s, next to the KEF R500s and the MA's blew them away. They weren't even on the same sonic playing field, despite the MAs being $1000 cheaper. Even sat for the older MA Silver 8's and it was clear the R&D that's gone into the new Silver 200s is completely worth it. Thanks for the help all, but MA Silver 200s are on the way!