There are many excellent speakers out there. Given your description I would stay away from ported speakers (although some are very good) - it is safer to go for a sealed box; this usually gives you the least problems relating to bass masking the lower mid range. Unfortunately bass sells, even in the high end, as copious amounts are impressive (but tiring in the long run). British speakers tend to be less bass heavy and there are many good ones. North America market tends towards more bass as AC/DC once said "knock my out with those American..."
New Speaker Purchase
Hi All,
I am thinking of purchasing a new pair of speakers. I am looking to find something that really brings out the detail,ambience and nuance of recordings. My system currently consists of Sony XA7ES cd player running direct to a Bryston 4BST power amp. The speakers i now have are Monitor Audio MAG 903s. Overall the sound is excellent except for the bringing forth of the finer detail in some recordings. One example of this would be the song Lovely Rita on the Beatles Sgt.Pepper cd. At one point in the song where the words say "Took her out and tried to win her,had a laugh and over dinner" you here a cork pop from a bottle being opened. With the Monitor Audio 903s you can barely here this cork pop. On a pair of headphones and on smaller speakers it is more pronounced! I reason i believe you don't here this very well on the Monitor 903s is because the bass overides the finer details as explained above, although the bass is not boomy or overly strong. This song is just one example of the detail loss. I am looking to purchase a pair of high quality bookshelf speakers that will bring out the finer details. I understand that there will be some loss of the lower end in regards to using a smaller bookshelf system rather than a floor standing speaker system as i have now, but this is ok. Again The Monitor Audio 903s have great soundstaging, depth and imaging, but lack that of what is explained above. I have been thinking of maybe the Totem Model One as a possible candidate. Would this speaker be ok with a Bryston 4BST 250 watt per channel amplifier? Also how would they be in a room size of 15 x 19? Any thoughts on the Totems or any other suggestions for speakers to consider would be appreciated.
Thanks Frank
I am thinking of purchasing a new pair of speakers. I am looking to find something that really brings out the detail,ambience and nuance of recordings. My system currently consists of Sony XA7ES cd player running direct to a Bryston 4BST power amp. The speakers i now have are Monitor Audio MAG 903s. Overall the sound is excellent except for the bringing forth of the finer detail in some recordings. One example of this would be the song Lovely Rita on the Beatles Sgt.Pepper cd. At one point in the song where the words say "Took her out and tried to win her,had a laugh and over dinner" you here a cork pop from a bottle being opened. With the Monitor Audio 903s you can barely here this cork pop. On a pair of headphones and on smaller speakers it is more pronounced! I reason i believe you don't here this very well on the Monitor 903s is because the bass overides the finer details as explained above, although the bass is not boomy or overly strong. This song is just one example of the detail loss. I am looking to purchase a pair of high quality bookshelf speakers that will bring out the finer details. I understand that there will be some loss of the lower end in regards to using a smaller bookshelf system rather than a floor standing speaker system as i have now, but this is ok. Again The Monitor Audio 903s have great soundstaging, depth and imaging, but lack that of what is explained above. I have been thinking of maybe the Totem Model One as a possible candidate. Would this speaker be ok with a Bryston 4BST 250 watt per channel amplifier? Also how would they be in a room size of 15 x 19? Any thoughts on the Totems or any other suggestions for speakers to consider would be appreciated.
Thanks Frank