I have about the same size room with a pair of Aurum Cantus V7F in there which do just fine for me. Previous was 6/8 inch full range, LSA bookshelves and Fyne F501. None of them stack up
Smallish room speakers
I have a small room (12 by 14feet) dedicated to 2 or 2.1 channel sound. I went through a few vintage configs but finally went with an NAD M22 amp with a McIntosh vintage preamp using some vintage speakers. I was looking to upgrade speakers and I visited a great shop in Bensalem PA to audition some vintage speakers on sale and owner showed me KEF LS50s. I bought them on the spot (had to wait a week for them to be ordered). I added a compact sub SVS. I really enjoyed this setup but after reading about Tekton I contacted company and spoke with owner Eric - was told impact monitors would be a significant upgrade over what I was using. I bought them and I would disagree. There is something quite special about the LS50s. In my home theater I have Pioneer S 2EX monitors (6K$). I swapped them in for my KEFs and was disappointed and they went back into my HT. Tektons pretty much same. I decided to simplify things and bought the NAD M33 integrated with room correction EQ. Brought Tektons somewhat to life. This was very recent and I haven’t tried with the KEFs. I plan on auditioning the KEF Reference 1 which I’m told would be significant upgrade to my LS50s and I would imagine to the Tekton Compact Monitors. For some reason the KEFs put a smile on my face and I don’t get that with the Tektons.
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Speakers are really a matter of personal taste. Certainly room acoustics play a big part how a speaker sounds. Your room is plenty big for a great system. It sounds like you are jumping around a lot… maybe not… but from what you said. Listening to what manufactures say, or advice from folks who you do not understand their values can lead to unhelpful advice. I would recommend you keep the speakers you like the best and then slow down. One person’s better is another’s worse. Your room acoustics and system components are unique. Learn what you have inside and out. Spend a few hours learning how to optimize your speaker placement. Jumping around switching things can take you no where but to confusion. Once you have optimized your system, then you need to determine where you want to go. Any component change will impact the sound. I would spend some time listening to high end systems to determine what you like. Then research, read Stereophile, The Absolute Sound. Do you want to assemble a high end system? If so read: The Complete Guide to High-End AudioBook by Robert Harley. These things should set you on the right path. Unless you have unlimited funds it is a lot of work assembling a great system, but it can be really fun and rewarding. |
The KEF Reference 1 eliminates the muddy bass of the LS50. All two-ways (using a tweeter) have some type of low frequency compromise. If I remember correctly, it also has port hose thing that helps change the "damping" of the bass. If you like the LS50 that much, I can only imagine you would really dig the R1. I didn't care for the Tektons I heard, either. People are different. |
ghdprentice Due to WAF, location of closets, bathroom, entry door and windows, etc. my speakers are located within a foot of where they will have to remain - lol. I have settled on my amp/server with the NAD - happy with my Cary and Oppo CD/SACD (and their DACs) setup. I’m very happy with NAD. I’m trying to optimize what I have with better speakers. So I’ve tried 6K Pioneers, the KEFs and the supposedly world beating Tektons (which are at the size limit my other half will allow). So far the little KEFs are the only ones that make me smile - I haven’t had a chance to get back to Quest to audition the KEF Reference 1 but owner thinks that if like the LS50 I’ll love those. So that is my next step. Unfortunately no unlimited funds either - lol. phcollie - no, 1st gen LS50 and I haven’t been back to his shop. Reference 1 lists for about $8K aren’t the Reference 3s more expensive? bryhifi - I’ll make sure I check out the JAS and compare noromance - I was happy with the SVS sub - have you compared SVS to the REL? Both are well reviewed and reasonably priced Thanks for all the good opinions and advice |
There are a bunch of speakers that you may like better/worse than the Kefs. The Ref1s are a brilliant option though and one you should consider. Alternative that are worth checking out as they : Focal Kanta No 1 and Sopra No 1. They are both brialliant, great sounding speakers. Incredibly detailed with good bass. They will work with that amp. I have a pair of Sopra No 1s in stock in black. The Perlisten S4b is priced similarly to the Kefs. Super flexible in terms of placement as it is a sealed box. Is easy to integrate with a sub and is a good match for that amp. I have these on display and a pair in stock and they are just awesome sounding. The Vivid Kaya S12 is an interesting speaker and again, is a sealed design and is very easy to place. Easy to drive with a massive sound for such a small speaker. You have a VERY good amp for the money and sticking with it is a good choice for now. It will drive a lot of great speakers and sound fabulous. I find the obsession with REL confusing, especially in small rooms. The passive radiator creates an interesting challenge for placement and I have multiple customers who have reported real challenges in rooms that size. A pure, sealed sub like the SVS is often easier to place and work with, especially in a small room. |
verdantaudio thanks for the recommendation - I suppose I should take a road trip up to see you - do you have a store? I’m very satisfied with the SVS 1000 Pro - again I have about 1 cubic foot where I can/am allowed to place a subwoofer in my room - lol. Going to go listen to the KEF Refernce 1 and go from there. My LS50s are so small I can take them with me to compare. I appreciate all the cordial and helpful responses. After reading the ‘best of Audiogon’ every Friday I was expecting snark and ridicule. |
For now I'd stay with your LS50 and SVS 1000Pro combination and work to position it the best that you can. Sometimes a little digital equalization can help a lot. I have 3 sealed SVS subs & 2 RELs. Both are good. Your SVS is great for those speakers. Sad to hear you were talked into Tekton with the most biased person out there. I've heard them plenty at shows and they never floated my boat. Seemed homemade to a very large degree, and I get nervous about 'one-of' designs that no one else has thought worthwhile to emulate. Those LS50s have been reviewed far too positively to have been discounted so easily. Sell the Tektons. Good luck!
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I have had my LS50’s for the last 9 years. I can see another decade of use. They work best in the smaller rooms and having room correction is ideal to fix those first reflections. Accoustic panels also the trick for the LS50’s in a small room. I use mine with an all Benchmark stack. The LS50s are a speakers than I will never sell.
BTW - If you are looking at the Reference 1 (which may be coming down in price soon with the META upgrades) you should also conside the Magico A1 which maybe even easier to place in the small room. |
Warfdale 4.1 are very nice speakers for small rooms. Get some cheap stands from Monoprice. They are great for abuot $150. If you ar up to building a pair, CSS Audio P215 speakers are very good. About $600 built. Easy job. Glue wood, solder crossover which is foolproof. For more money you can get the enhanced crossover parts. Surprisingly good. I have built three sets of their speakers and all have been very to my taste. If you can handle it, for not much more the Criton X will give you more bass with a seven inch woofer. I selected these after testing a dozen smal speakers in the last two years. |