"Wife Friendly" full range speakers


Hoping I could get some recommendations on a "Wife Friendly" on a full range floor standing speaker that doesn't need to be placed an excessive distance from the wall. My system includes:

McIntosh 2102 tube amp (100w/ch)
McIntosh 2200 tube pre
Naim CD5
Alon II (now Nola)
Black Orpheus Bi-wire
Nordost Red Dawn (CD to pre)
Audience AU24 (pre to amp)
Foundation Research LC-1 with Naim
TG Audio HSR II with McIntosh

My room is 12 x 12 and has a large opening at the back and one side. Alon II's are located about 20" from the back wall and 36" from the sides. I enjoy a variety of music types - especially quality female vocals (Alison Krauss, Ella Fitzgerald) and instrumental piano and guitar. I'm not a bass freak, but would like a decent bass response - no less bass response than with the Alons IIs.

A key element here is the speakers cannot be placed more than 2 feet from the back wall. My listening room is also my family's music room and is incorporated into our home's main level. My lovely wife will not allow the speakers to come out any further into the room!

After having a solid state system (Threshold) for the past 12 years, I've really enjoyed the change to tubes with instruments and vocals. Please give your thoughts/opinions on a speaker upgrade that mates will with tubes and doesn't need to be placed too far from the back wall without a tremendous amount of sound degredation.

Thanks!
encyclopediabsh

Showing 2 responses by budrew

The Nola's need a lot of space. Consider the Audio Note E's. They go well with
your music preferences and are intended to go close to the wall/corners. I will
be able to tell you after next week how they sound with the Mcintosh 2102/
2200 : )

While you're at it check out an Audio Note DAC!
I just received the Audio Note E's yesterday and I already love them! They are far batter than the Tannoys I was using and they work very well with the mcintosh components. They are wife friendly as the finish is nice (mine are walnut) and they are placed against the wall and out of the way of the room.