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Minimonitors

Hoping to get input of fellow members to help with speakers. The most challenging part of my search for audio bliss has been speakers. I've had Thiel 1.2, Monitor Audio Gold, Cary Silver Oak, Zu Essence, Ref 3A MM deCapo BE, Magnepan SMG, and Harbeth SHL5, to name a few. Most have shortcomings but the Harbeths and Magnepans gave me the fondest listening sessions because of their liveliness and imaging. I'm basically looking for something that will just put out what its fed, play well, and basically disappear. I listen primarily to vocal and acoustic music and enjoy 60s and 70s rock and R&B recordings. System consist of LP12/Origin Live/Lyra MC, Esoteric SA-50, David Berning ZOTL Pre One, VAC Renaissance 70-70/Lamm ML2.1/JA Burgess SE45 with Chord and Siltech cables. Hoping to keep the cost below $5K. Any input is appreciated.
128x128bananaslug
vinylvalet
836 posts
 
Find a pair of Merlin TSM monitors (almost always well below $2k, original retail was $3530). The last two revisions before the company closed were the MMM followed by the Black Magic.

They would match up very well with your VAC.
sifter
69 posts
 
On a budget? Go find  a pair of Gallo CL-1, pretty amazing for the size of two toasters each. I don't believe their "39 Hz in-room" rating but I can tell you they go lower than my old NHT 2.1 SuperOnes, and lower than Linn Tukans. Probably mid 40s. Wide soundstage, second ONLY to an old pair of NEAT 3S's, that were phenomenal , probably should've kept them. But the top end on the Gallo's is definitely better. Under $400 for the pair, 60 watts per side more than enough, can't turn them up past 9 o'clock in a 20 x 18 room without starting to get painful. YMMV. 

bananaslug's avatar
bananaslug OP
18 posts
 
Thank you all for your insights and suggestions. Most speakers mentioned here have something good/great to offer, but there's good likelihood that I'm gonna go with Raidho X1. We'll see where this journey takes me but will probably require a sub to supplement the bottom registers. Again, grateful for your inputs.
atomjohan
1 posts
 
I had the X1 for about 4 years before recently upgrading to XT1. That is by far the longest I've lived with a couple of speakers. Started with MA GS10, then MA PL-100 and then Focal Diablo before buying the X1. I was quite surprised that I liked the X1 more than the Diablos regarding the price tag but they just felt more natural and less analytical than the Diablos. The Diablos had of course better lows than the X1 but that was it. The only minus with the X1 are obviously the lows (you can't beat physics) but for a cabinet so small they still do a heck of a job. I'm using a Velodyne DD10+ that IMO matches them perfectly. The Raidhos have a HUGE soundstage, a glorious mid and treble and never given me listening fatigue (that ribbon tweeters usually do). And you have the opportunity to upgrade to the XT1 but honestly as good as the XT1 is, the X1 really is a brilliant monitor. The XT1 gives you a tad more detail (though I didn't think it was possible) and sounds a bit more organic. Also the lows are a bit better, but nothing that matters using a sub. 

Happy listening with the X1,  I'm sure you will be very satisfied!
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