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Smallish room speakers

I have a small room (12 by 14feet) dedicated to 2 or 2.1 channel sound.  I went through a few vintage configs but finally went with an NAD M22 amp with a McIntosh vintage preamp using some vintage speakers.  I was looking to upgrade speakers and I visited a great shop in Bensalem PA to audition some vintage speakers on sale and owner showed me KEF LS50s.  I bought them on the spot (had to wait a week for them to be ordered).  I added a compact sub SVS.  I really enjoyed this setup but after reading about Tekton I contacted company and spoke with owner Eric - was told impact monitors would be a significant upgrade over what I was using.  I bought them and I would disagree.  There is something quite special about the LS50s.  In my home theater I have Pioneer S 2EX monitors (6K$).  I swapped them in for my KEFs and was disappointed and they went back into my HT.  Tektons pretty much same.  I decided to simplify things and bought the NAD M33 integrated with room correction EQ.  Brought Tektons somewhat to life.  This was very recent and I haven’t tried with the KEFs.  I plan on auditioning the KEF Reference 1 which I’m told would be significant upgrade to my LS50s and I would imagine to the Tekton Compact Monitors.  For some reason the KEFs put a smile on my face and I don’t get that with the Tektons.  
jimman2
sunshdw's avatar
sunshdw
299 posts
 
I have about the same size room with a pair of Aurum Cantus V7F in there which do just fine for me. Previous was 6/8 inch full range, LSA bookshelves and Fyne F501. None of them stack up 
ghdprentice's avatar
ghdprentice
9,530 posts
 
Speakers are really a matter of personal taste. Certainly room acoustics play a big part how a speaker sounds. Your room is plenty big for a great system.

It sounds like you are jumping around a lot… maybe not… but from what you said. Listening to what manufactures say, or advice from folks who you do not understand their values can lead to unhelpful advice.

I would recommend you keep the speakers you like the best and then slow down. One person’s better is another’s worse. Your room acoustics and system components are unique. Learn what you have inside and out. Spend a few hours learning how to optimize your speaker placement. Jumping around switching things can take you no where but to confusion.

Once you have optimized your system, then you need to determine where you want to go. Any component change will impact the sound. I would spend some time listening to high end systems to determine what you like. Then research, read Stereophile, The Absolute Sound. Do you want to assemble a high end system? If so read: The Complete Guide to High-End AudioBook by Robert Harley. These things should set you on the right path. Unless you have unlimited funds it is a lot of work assembling a great system, but it can be really fun and rewarding.
ohlala
1,279 posts
 
The KEF Reference 1 eliminates the muddy bass of the LS50. All two-ways (using a tweeter) have some type of low frequency compromise. If I remember correctly, it also has port hose thing that helps change the "damping" of the bass. If you like the LS50 that much, I can only imagine you would really dig the R1. I didn't care for the Tektons I heard, either. People are different. 
noromance's avatar
noromance
10,513 posts
 
You might consider adding a pair of REL T5x to your KEF LS50 set up.
bryhifi's avatar
bryhifi
375 posts
 
Jimman2,  did you listen to any of Stephen’s JAS Audio speakers while you were there?  I have the Orior and love them.  If he still has the next model down, Orsa,  I would give them a listen as well as the Oscar.  
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