Pick 2... Ohm WMT,ML Source,Zu Druid,Gallo Ref 3.1


I've got my short list down to four speakers, and I need help narrowing these down to two. My plan is to buy the two of them used and sell the set I do not like. I may get one or both of the others down the road, but I only want to start with two.

I've got a Dussun v6i 150w amp with a NOS DAC fed by FLAC files on my Mac Mini in an 11x11 room. Yes an 11x11 room. That's going to be part of the problem. I listen to all sorts of music, but not too much really hard rock or rap.

I'm coming from a pair of Totem Arros and Silverline Minuets before those. I liked the Arros. I found them to be a little too 'boxy' for me, and they never really disappeared. I always had to be in just the right spot to get the big soundstage and even then I could hear the 'box'. Pretty good detail, but they got a little bright when I was in the sweet spot. overall a very good speaker, but they just didn't do it for me.

So this led me to my current quest. The reason I have narrowed my search down to these four speakers is as follows. Not every speaker in the four fill every item I find important.

1) My Small Room - don't want to do monitors, and I'm limited in space and placement.
2) The Box Sound - I hate it. I have craved a room filling, airy sound ever since I heard my first set of Martin Logan Monoliths 20 years ago.
3) Crossovers - the lack of them getting in the way of the music in these speakers.
4) Time-coherence - I still dream of my Dunlavy SC-1s from many years ago.
5) Price - they are all below $2000 used; which is the upper extreme of my budget.

I know the speakers are all unique. The Zu is probably my last choice, but the dynamics, lack of a rear port and wide cabinet may help in my small room (I don't know).

The Martin Logan's concern me with the super narrow listen area and the high crossover frequency.

The Gallos concern me that it might overwhelm the room with bass, and I don't really have room for sound treatment beyond a quilt on the front wall. Everything else about these sound amazing (lack of box, lack of crossover above 150, ESL like tweeter, psudo-omini tweeter and presentation).

The Ohm Concerns me that it will lack detail and have a sloppy presentation. I have heard such great things on the board about these though I'm very interested.

Any help I can get considering my room situation would be great.

Thanks
mailman199
05-31-09: Mailman199
Would the Gallos be a pseudo-omni as well?
The last time i checked their cylindrical tweeter has a dispersion of 330 degrees, yeah, pretty much. That's why they throw such an enormous soundstage.

Personally I like the Mirage OMD series. They throw a sort of mushroom-shaped soundfield tilted 60% to the front. Their research indicated that this pattern creates an in-room power response much like live singers and musicians do.
I use Druids (thanks to Audiofeil for the recommendation) at close range (4 feet) in a room that is 9' x 13' with excellent results. The ceiling is about 14 foot high and has a slope and the room is a triangle shape so that helps. I drive them with a tube amp. I tried all different types of audio sound panels and absorbers and nothing made any difference. So, I ended up with no room conditioning. I guess it is so near field that reflections are not really an issue. I tried a pair of Gallo Due and they were horrible in this room. Mark and Daniel Ruby's were too harsh I stopped at the Driuds becaue they were so right.
We've played the Druids in a variety of situations. It does help them to have some power behind them, even if you don't use it. They work quite well on solid state too (I am partial to tubes of course :)

Sounds to me like you will need to do some auditioning in your room!
11 x 11 is too small for the Gallos. You will have major bass problems. Granted, you'll have major bass problems with anything in that room, especially with no real treatments.

I also wouldn't put an electrostat (ML) in a small room. You wouldn't have the space to set them up right, and would be unsatisfying.

I haven't heard the other two.

Good luck.