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Help chossing a good speaker. $ 3-5 K

Hi guys: Need some help. Trying to buy a good pair of speakers. I listen mostly to Classic, Jazz and some Rock from the 60-70's. The room is small (13 * 10 * 9). I have a Mc MC 352. I have looked at Harbeth (M30, SHL-5), ATC (SCM 19, 35 and 40) and Dynaudio Confidence C1. I'm looking for clear, non congested sound. I do have a REL strata III on hand that I could use to extend the lower frequency if a feel I need it. I usually listen at no more than 75-80 dB. Thanks in advance.

PS: this is a review/opinion based blind purchase. Dallas is an underserved City and the ones I have auditioned are too expensive or I did not like.
ebenai

Showing 3 responses by dodgealum

dodgealum
1,398 posts
 
Ebenai:

How did you like the Harbeth M30's? Given your room, equipment and musical tastes I think you will be hard pressed to do better. I ran a pair of Compact 7's in a 11 X 11 room some years back and they had plenty of bass for that space. I think with the M30's you could sell the sub and invest the cash elsewhere in your system to really bring out the best in your speakers.
dodgealum
1,398 posts
 
If choosing between the ATC and the Harbeth M30 I'd go Harbeth. The ATC is really too large for your space and, going on my memory of the ATC 35 from which the 40 is based, is nowhere near as good a speaker as the Harbeth, particularly through the midrange.
dodgealum
1,398 posts
 
You really cannot go wrong with the M30's. There are many, many speakers out there and a large number of monitors that would "fit" in a small space like yours. However, there is only one speaker that I can recommend without reservation given the parameters you have shared--the M30. ATC makes some nice speakers--the larger active monitors are capable of producing an extremely convincing portrait of large orchestral music and can rock like crazy. However, IMHO, the SCM 40 is 1) going to be too large and move too much air for that space (I wouldn't even recommend the smaller SCM 35 in your application) and 2) the Harbeth is simply a better speaker--regardless of the room limitations. The ATC will sound like hifi in comparison to the Harbeth which will sound real and alive. The Harbeth is also less fussy about what you put in front of them and where you place them. If the choice is between these two speakers, given your room, system and taste in music, it is a no brainer. Now, are there some other small monitors that you might like better? Perhaps--I can't account for your taste. But your biggest issue is the room. I've set up in a lot of small spaces and the one thing that I can recommend to you is that you NOT try and go too deep. Your room cannot sustain frequencies below a certain level--say 45hz--and if you overload the room with bass from a larger speaker (or your subwoofer) you are not going to be happy in the long run.
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