Afraid to buy new speakers


I'm stuck with hideous acoustics that simply couldn't be worse, and I have to place speakers close to a concrete block wall. There's no getting around it. I have decent CD player and integrated amp recently bought new (NAD 365BEE) as well as a Parasound P3 and PS Audio HCA2. Given my sorry room configuration I fear any speaker I buy will be a mere shadow of itself in a different environment, and I cannot change this environment. I'm finding that a set of small monitors and a sub seems to work, but these speakers have their own limitations. I've got a max $3K budget for a pair of speakers, but read time and again how any speaker will sound like crap when their back panel is placed close to a wall. If true that kills anything and I might as well stick with my monitors or if I want to play really loud when the wife's out put my old Advent 2s on and launch the cones. Is there ANY speaker in the 2-3 thou range that is designed to function well close to a wall save an in-wall unit? I look at these long ribbons of 3-4" drivers and can't help but think they'll sound horrible, but who knows. I'm probably going to be here for some years, so I have to make the most of it.
rg500g

Showing 2 responses by johnnyb53

This thread started on 3/5/14 and the OP resolved it on 3/26/14 (9 mos. ago) with a pair of Focal 926s that do exactly what he was looking for.
In this case, the OP had a challenging set of factors which--to his satisfaction--were satisfied with a pair of Focal Aria 926s, NINE months ago. Then the thread was revived by a post that didn't like the Focal 906s, while never hearing the 926s. No qualifications, no system parameters. That doesn't add to the discussion, nor did anything that followed.

Seems to me the logical direction would be for the spectators to check out the 926s and see what they can do. I find the more affordable Focals to be impressive. They're fast, musically engaging, throw a soundstage like a mofo, and have a realistic, musical tonal balance with very low cabinet coloration.