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Monitor with sub or Full Range Speakers

I have a budget of $3,000.00 for a pair of used speakers. I am buying used so that I can maximized my choices. My listening is mostly jazz, old R&B, and contemporary Christin music.

I have seen speakers in this range for monitors like JM Lab Micro Utopia for $2,000 and then I would add sub-woofer. Or Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Sig System 2pc for $3,200.00 shipped. Is there a big difference in sound between monitors and a good sub or a full range. I have only owned full range speakers and thought I might try something different.

Looking for comments from those who have owned both and why they preferred one or the other.

My room is about 18 x 14 with 9ft ceilings.

Equipment:
CD player is Cary 306/200
LSA Signature Integrated Amp
Verastarr Cables and interconnects
BPT ac conditioner

Thanks.
revrob

Showing 2 responses by richlane

richlane
167 posts
 
"I have a budget of $3,000.00 for a pair of used speakers... My listening is mostly jazz, old R&B, and contemporary Christin music."

"Looking for comments from those who have owned both and why they preferred one or the other.

My room is about 18 x 14 with 9ft ceilings."

Hi Revrob,

I have also had both types of setups. I think it will cost you well over $3000 to buy Monitors, Stands, and 1 or 2 Subs. That aside, it is very difficult to mate Monitors and Subs, however with more money, patience, and skill, the sound could be very rewarding.

However, with your budget, room size, current equipment, and the types of music that you listen to, I think you will do better with floor standing speakers. Now, with that being said, you could always add a Sub to the floor standers, down the line.

Rich
richlane
167 posts
 
Hi Revrob,

I think it's great that you found the sound that you've been looking for, within your budget. I've never heard of this company, but I did check out their website and I am familiar with some of the drivers that they use which I believe are very good and their cabinetry work looks top notch too.

Certainly the key to unlock this discussion, is less about price shopping, and more about coherency of the drivers, location of one sub in the room, as well as crossover integration and volume matching of the sub to the monitors so that the sub does not stand out. As I mentioned earlier, if you can achieve this, than you will be rewarded with a wonderful sound.

Now, with that in mind why don't you also take a look at what is available in the used floor-standers market for around $3000 I suspect you may be looking at an original retail price of around 5-6 thousand new. If you are still interested in a sub, which may not be necessary based on the types of music that you listen to, you could always add a sub to the floor-standers later, and in my experience it is a little easier to match a sub to a floor-stander speaker that has deeper bass, than it is to match it to a monitor which has less bass, because you will be able to select a lower crossover point with the larger speaker.

Happy Listening,
Rich
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