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Very small room systems and synergy

I have been trying for 20 years to put together a system for a very small (10' x 12") listening room and still haven't gotten it right.  I am currently using KEF LS50's with a NuPrime IDA8 integrated with moderate success.  I realize I really don't like metal dome tweeters and I've been drawn to class D amps.  This is probably due to my budget constraints of $2000 - $2500.  Does anyone have any input for me on this?
gmc56
reven6e
44 posts
 
I have never taken Q Acoustics very seriously but on occasions I did demo some of their speakers. They are not the most transparent or detailed but they have a pleasing sound and I think you might have something there.

Have you thought about giving some of their bookshelves a try, say the Concept 20s for instance? A stand floor will never work in a small room but, if you like their warm sound signature, I think one of their smaller speakers is definitely worth demoing in your room!
glennewdick's avatar
glennewdick
1,500 posts
 
I had good success with AudioNote UK AN series (ANk, ANj, ANe) in a small room. my old room was only 11' x 12 and I managed to get the AudioNotes to work quite well in there. Only speaker I could find that did with out them in the middle of the room. 

The AudioNote AN series  speakers are designed to be placed into the corner so you make better use of the whole smaller room size you already have. 
the ANE's ( largest but most expensive) go low too like mid 20hz . 

Your going to look for used as new I believe are a little out of your budget ( maybe the ANE LX) but worth looking for if you can find a set. 

They are also easy to drive so no need for big horsepower amps. I drove mine with 8wpc probably could use 25wpc though to be honest. 

I think you'll find a million reviews online

https://www.audionote.co.uk/loudspeakers

oh you can get all their models in kit form as well if your handy you can save money that way. 
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,838 posts
 
Audio Note speakers always sound wonderful set up in the corners when I hear them.

Worth pointing out that pretty much any speaker can be set up similarly with corner placement. Corner placement merely boosts bass levels. So trying any otherwise bass shy speakers in the corners is always a worthwhile proposition. 
bongofury1956
12 posts
 
Bose 901's. Let it's EQ tune your room. Sound is not the amp. It is the speaker. Cars stick to the road on tires, not horsepower.
To all Bose haters, I get it.
This is just my opinion, that was asked for by the OP.


audiokinesis
2,715 posts
 

gmc56 wrote: "...all my systems have sounded screechy and lacking in mid bass to bass."

Imo "screechy" implies excess energy in the 2-4 kHz region. This is where many speakers have a crossover from midwoofer to tweeter. The tweeter typically has a very wide radiation pattern in this region. In a small room (in particular), this excess off-axis energy bounces back quickly and correspondingly skews the frequency response and can contribute to listening fatigue. Ime this sort of problem is best addressed at the speaker design level rather than trying to fix it with absorptive room treatments.

Regarding lack of midbass and bass, perhaps there are significant nulls at the listening position. Multiple small subwoofers distributed asymmetrically around the room can often alleviate this kind of problem, as each sub’s room-induced peaks and dips will be at different frequencies, so they will tend to fill in one anothers dips, and their peaks not be as prominent either.

Unfortunately I have no handy suggestions for a simultaneous solution to both issues within your price ballpark.

Duke

speaker designer

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