Just moved to an apartment need speaker suggestions


my better half and I just moved into an apartment need speaker suggestions, current speakers are Magnepan 1.6qr with Rythmik f15hp subs x2, need something as engaging as the Maggies but able to play softly, will be driven by a Classe CAP 2100 integrated.  thanks in advance.
pkrbkr999

Showing 4 responses by larryi

If you have the room to allow the Maggies to be placed correctly (well away from the wall behind the speaker), it would be a very good apartment speaker.  As a dipole speaker, the bass energy from the back and from the front are out of phase with respect to each other and cancel at the sides.  A LOT less energy spills into the room and much more seems concentrated in the listening area where the speakers are aimed at.  This is not just theoretical.  When I went from dipole panel speakers to dynamic speakers, I was shocked at how much louder the sound was in other rooms.  You will be able to play the Maggies louder than most conventional speakers without disturbing neighbors.

If you have to go with smaller speakers and/or placement closer to the wall or corners, look at Audio Note speakers.  These do well in such placement and sound reasonably lively at lower volume levels.  ProAc and Harbeth are also good candidates.


Mapman makes a very good point.  Use a platform that is designed to absorb vibrations and turn that energy into heat.  Avoid carpet piercing sharp-pointed feet that couple the speaker to the floor.  This causes the floor, particularly if it is a suspended wood floor, to become a giant sounding board.

I also like the suggestion for trying an LS3/5a speaker.  There are several current models, by different manufacturers that try to get a very similar sound to that old BBC classic design.  I have not heard these so I don't know how well they manage to copy that sound.  Not too long ago, I heard an original Rogers 15 ohm version and it sounded really good; it would make an excellent apartment speaker, although, ideally, it would not be place too close to the back wall.
I seriously doubt, even at hypothetical "used" prices, the Magico S1 is what the OP is looking for.  It is funny how this line of speakers always sneaks into the conversation even when it is SO NOT in the conversation.  At less than 1/3 the price, I think the Raidho X-1 much more fits the bill, and even this price ($6500) is probably WAY out of the OP's consideration.

The Gradient Revolution is another speaker that is probably out of the price range, but, if not, this is a terrific speaker for someone that has to put the speaker near a back wall and/or the corners of the room.  It also sounds decent playing at lower volume. 

The Totem Arros is another good recommendation.  It sounds nice at lower volume and I have heard it work well with  a subwoofer (which is something the OP already has).
A lot of good advice in this thread.  I think the Reference 3a would be an excellent choice and so would Neat speakers (talk about an under-rated line of speakers).  On the higher efficiency side, the Tyler Acoustics PD15 is another candidate.  Never heard the JansZen, but, some electrostatics would also be quite good.  Personally, I like the old Quad 57 because it can play soft and the limited bass response would be apartment friendly.

I know that it is very much a rough generalization, but, a lot of high efficiency speakers ARE very dynamic sounding, particularly at lower overall volume levels.  I find the full range single drivers to be extremely dynamic, but, most have very limited bass and a very pronounce upper midrange peakiness as part of the bargain.  The more reasonably balanced high efficiency horn systems have the big negative of being very expensive and impractical because of the room that they take up.  Because of the ability of horn systems to sound amazing at low volume, you can find crazy pictures of huge systems taking up almost all the space in Japanese audiophiles' tiny apartments.