After two weeks of tests I need to say that such big speakers as JBL 4367 sound excellent even in my small room (13x18x8). Much better than previous B&W 803 Matrix S2. Of course after full acoustic adaptation of the room.
Big speakers in small room at moderate volume levels
My office is 11’W x 10’L x 9’H and is where I can listen to music for the next few years. I have a toddler and, for now, he has commanded the big spaces in the rest of the house. I have auditioned the Magico A3 and wanted to buy it but that was before I was relegated to the smallish office (I was expecting to move to a bigger room). I have removed the closet doors in this office room. The removal of the closet door gives me another 4 feet of depth to this room, though for only 1/2 width of the room. I can sit unobstructed 8 feet away from the speakers before I hit the area where the closet ends (so near field listening).
I currently I have KEF LS50 with Peachtree Nova 150. It is good and I can listen for the whole day without fatigue. I listen to FM, digital files on ROON, and my Sony SCD-1 SACD player. I want a bigger sound so I am looking at bigger speakers. I also do not want to use a sub since I am not a fan. I will also upgrade the NOVA 150 to the NOVA 500 in Spring 2019 and use with the LS50’s in a bedroom.
I came to the conclusion that my tastes would be best served by one of KEF Reference 1 or Magico A3. I was thinking that I would use the Lyngdorf 3400 in this room but I am having seconds thoughts on this now (some A’gon comments that it maybe a little dry). I am interested in solid state AB units like the Hegel H590 and Mark Levinson 585 to drive the speakers. I have heard the ML 585 and it is a fatigue free sounding unit that was a joy to listen to. I have not heard the Hegel H590 yet (but have heard other Hegels with KEF) and I am in the process of getting an audition of the H590. I have also discounted the class AB Micromega M-One 150 (with MARS room correction) because I do not want a cooling fan blowing in the room.
I must mention that I do not listen that loud when I am working and when I am working very late at night the volume is very low. The Mark Levinson and A3 combo was very good at low volumes during my demo but that was in the dealers perfect large room.
1) Am I making a mistake foregoing room correction with the 2 integrateds I am considering? Should I go with the Lyngdorf and A3 or KEF Ref 1, though I have never heard the Lyngdorf?
2) Will the Magico A3 work in this small room at moderate volumes WITHOUT room correction or will I subject myself to headaches and fatigue?
I am going to ask the dealer selling the A3’s this question when I am ready to buy but i wanted to ask on A’gon first to get some feedback. I doubt I could get the A3’s into my room for a trial but I have not asked the dealer yet.
I think (not 100% sure) the KEF Reference 1 with a non room correcting amp should work in my office space but I would prefer to buy the Magico A3 for the office. I have plans to buy another KEF model once my kid is a bit older and I can kick him out of the big room.
I currently I have KEF LS50 with Peachtree Nova 150. It is good and I can listen for the whole day without fatigue. I listen to FM, digital files on ROON, and my Sony SCD-1 SACD player. I want a bigger sound so I am looking at bigger speakers. I also do not want to use a sub since I am not a fan. I will also upgrade the NOVA 150 to the NOVA 500 in Spring 2019 and use with the LS50’s in a bedroom.
I came to the conclusion that my tastes would be best served by one of KEF Reference 1 or Magico A3. I was thinking that I would use the Lyngdorf 3400 in this room but I am having seconds thoughts on this now (some A’gon comments that it maybe a little dry). I am interested in solid state AB units like the Hegel H590 and Mark Levinson 585 to drive the speakers. I have heard the ML 585 and it is a fatigue free sounding unit that was a joy to listen to. I have not heard the Hegel H590 yet (but have heard other Hegels with KEF) and I am in the process of getting an audition of the H590. I have also discounted the class AB Micromega M-One 150 (with MARS room correction) because I do not want a cooling fan blowing in the room.
I must mention that I do not listen that loud when I am working and when I am working very late at night the volume is very low. The Mark Levinson and A3 combo was very good at low volumes during my demo but that was in the dealers perfect large room.
1) Am I making a mistake foregoing room correction with the 2 integrateds I am considering? Should I go with the Lyngdorf and A3 or KEF Ref 1, though I have never heard the Lyngdorf?
2) Will the Magico A3 work in this small room at moderate volumes WITHOUT room correction or will I subject myself to headaches and fatigue?
I am going to ask the dealer selling the A3’s this question when I am ready to buy but i wanted to ask on A’gon first to get some feedback. I doubt I could get the A3’s into my room for a trial but I have not asked the dealer yet.
I think (not 100% sure) the KEF Reference 1 with a non room correcting amp should work in my office space but I would prefer to buy the Magico A3 for the office. I have plans to buy another KEF model once my kid is a bit older and I can kick him out of the big room.
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- 260 posts total
https://www.harbeth.co.uk/usergroup/forum/the-basic-facts-about-harbeth-owning-use/77421-model-choic... I was reading the Harbeth forum and came across this thread (includes a post by the designer Alan Shaw). Seems the front port on the Harbeth does not really make placement of the Harbeth any more flexible closer to the rear wall in a small room. It does not matter whether front or rear port. I am no expert just the messenger here. Anyways, just doing some research on Harbeth while I get ready to demo these speakers. |
Yysantabarbera man you are all over the place. Please consider that you have a difficult room most of your demos will be in stores with much larger spaces then what you have. A dual concentric speaker is your ideal remedy for less then optimal positioning and work like magic for nearfield listening. The Kef ls 50 versus a Kef Ref 1 vs a Tad Me 1 Is like comparing a Ford Mustang vs a Ford Gt vs a Ferrari. The Ref 1 are amazing speakers that are a huge improvement over the Ls 50. I wouldn't worry that you may have a pair of Blades in your future as they are a huge improvement over Ref 1 or Tad Me 1. If your baseline is Thin Lizzy live then you need a system that will scale and punch with great extension in the treble unless you want a dead electric guitar We have a client with the Ref 1 with Naim Nac 272 250Dr combo and it is exactly what you crave. The Naim gear has tremendous punch., Consider first room size and postioning Kef, Tad, and Atc scm 19 are three speakers that are derived from the concepts of what makes a professional monitor. Wish you could fly out to our shop we could make it so easy for you to see where we are comming from. Dave and Troy Audio Doctor NJ |
On the subject of the 30.2 being much better than the Graham 5/9, I respectfully totally disagree, heard the 30.1, bought the 5/9. To me the Harbeth projected the midrange too much, too much in my face so to speak, the Graham seam better as a hole, with better bass and for me the voices sounded more realistic, but they have to stand half a meter or more from the walls. |
- 260 posts total