@chuck wrote:
I currently have Magnepan 3.7i's. I love their transparency and inner detail but they do not play in the low registers. I do not want separate subs....
I would recommend you keep your Magnepans and challenge your stance on subs by acquiring them. Otherwise you give yourself a rather convenient "getaway" from the Mag's that makes me wonder if it's really about their lack of LF-prowess and something else instead; maybe you just want something new/other, which is perfectly alright in this endeavor of ours. Just trying to get a bearing at where you're coming from.
Why don't you want subs? Should you want to give it a go with subs nonetheless, the stacked approach (i.e.: two sub towers with 3 subs each) advocated by REL in particular could be an great choice with your existing mains and how to augment them smoothly into the lower octaves - with benefits other than bass alone. From my chair that build upon what you cherish already and turn it into something much more complete. Otherwise you're reshuffling the cards entirely with new mains that try to do it all (in addition to the hassle of finding the ones you like), but likely with more severe compromises - one way and the other.
My room is mediums sized. I listen to mostly soft pop, classical and some light rock. I am trying to walk the thin line of tranparency vs musicality. I would enjoy some suggestions and some sound reasoning behind members choices in speakers.
Do the hard work now with above subs recommendation and keep your Magnepans for a dynamite combo. If not now you'll just be faced with the challenge further down road eventually. Trying to put myself in your place at least that's what I would do. What I would do with my own set-up for me only is hardly relevant, but I would go with subs, not skimp on physics and choose main speakers with more narrow/controlled dispersive characteristics.
