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Very small, warm and dynamic speakers

I am setting up the bedroom/office system. This will be mostly for Spotify when not attending meetings, and for late night music such as jazz, indie folk, lo-fi etc. Ideally I wanna get a Totem Model 1 Signature, but I can't find good, used ones. My Budget for this is $1000, and the speakers will be powered by a Leak Stereo 130.  The speakers have to be placed on my desk, close to the walls, so they shouldn't be huge and rear ported. Size matters in this case, but should still be highly resolving and dynamic speakers. But I am ok with them being warm and musical, essentially it's OK for them to be colored. I am actually looking for that British style of sound.
nitewulf
dougsat
367 posts
 
Cambridge Audio - Minx XL

https://www.audioadvice.com/cambridge-audio-minx-xl-bookshelf-speakers-pair+color-White

Small / Dynamic / warm / with a large soundstage for a smaller speaker.

These are not talked about much but they are the real deal.
dougsat
367 posts
 
The Minx XL are rear ported but come with foam plugs if you need them. 
garyalex
116 posts
 
Sound Artist LS3/5A:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMPnTmEZaZw
arcticdeth's avatar
arcticdeth
1,549 posts
 
Energy rc- lcr pair. 
Energy rc-10 bookshelf pair. 
Martin logan - bookshelf’s. 
 
nitewulf OP
419 posts
 
After a lot of searching, I was able to setup my bedroom/office system.

https://imgur.com/ShhbnpO

https://imgur.com/nqQjoty

https://imgur.com/Rc5K1nN

https://imgur.com/7LoFAOG

I wasn't able to find the Totems in the condition/color I wanted. I wasn't able to get any of the British stuff within budget either: Harbeth, ProAc etc.  

I was always intrigued by Audio Physics, and heard a pair of Joachim Gerhardt Sonics Arkadias when I stepped into the audio world. The Arkadias sounded amazing but I was influenced by a dealer into buying Dynaudios, which was a mistake. 

So I searched out his recent designs, currently he collaborates with a furniture builder who builds the cabinets and Joachim Designs the speakers. These are essentially the current versions of the Sonics Anima speakers. I snagged a pair in Zebrano finish. But initial setup wasn't proper, just by the monitor on my desk. Too close to the walls and to each other. They sounded too boomy, I definitely needed to put them on stands. 

Fellow Audiogoner Terry built me the wonderful stands to my specification. Not only do they look beautiful, they complement the room, the speakers and now I was able to set them up more properly. Not perfect positioning mind you, as typically I would give them more space on the back, but that's just not possible in my bedrom. And this is a work meeting, conference calls and listening to music while working setup, so practicality applies.

However, they sound amazing now. Completely disappear. Amazing nuanced, details just emanate from them when all is quiet, at night. They are a bit warm, just like I prefer, and these small speakers do not go down super low. But boy do they sound good, and fill up the space. And they are driven very well by the 45 WPC Leak Stereo 130, which itself is a great kit for this kind of setup. Spotify -> Bluetooth -> Amp -> Speakers. Done.
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