Best speaker firing across short dimension of room


Hi 'goners.

I need help deciding what type of speaker (floorstanding, stand mount, physical dimensions, diver configuration) would work best "midfield," firing across the short dimension of my 13' x 30' room.

The best practical setup for me in this particular room is to arrange the speakers on either side of my fireplace, as a 9-10' equilateral triangle between speaker and listener. Speakers will have a clearance of up to 18" from back wall - but the more I pull them out into the room, the less distance between speaker and listening position.

The sonic characteristics I cherish most are great tone, imaging, soundstaging, plus charging the room with bass.

I've tried both small and large monitors, floorstanders, and subwoofer combinations over the years but my aural memory is short and would like to know if anyone has experienced particularly good results employing the same type of room setup.

FYI, I'd be driving the speakers with a Karan KAi180 Mk2 180 watt SS integrated amp, using Meridian CD as a source.

Any sage advice will be much appreciated.

Thanks,
bob_rodgers
My room is pretty similar to yours (approx 12' X 26.5') and I have the speakers on the long wall. I just traded my Dyn C1 Sig's which IMO worked best at 6-7' apart with almost no toe in. Great sound stage - imaging and very impressive bass for a 7" driver (I do use a Rel B3 sub for the lowest octave). Nice wide sweet spot for listening. Very musical sounding.

That being said I traded them in for Raidho D1's. Completely different. Much more detail with a great tonal balance (much blacker background). Per the Raidho setup they need to be 9' apart and aimed at your shoulders. The D1's don't go as low as the Dyn C1's (but I do have the sub). The sweet spot is very focused and narrow. Like one reviewer wrote "Outside the sweet spot they sound good, in the sweet spot all I can say is Good God". Best imaging and sound stage I've ever heard in the sweet spot.

I'm driving them with an Octave V110 with a Naim music server and Naim Dac which replaced my Meridian G08.
I have Vienna Acoustic Mozart Grand. I might recommend these or the Beethoven Baby Grand. I have a similar space, 12'x22'. What I like is I can have my speakers separated wide, now 14' and I still get some of the best centerfill of any speaker I have heard. If you use CD, which I think robs centerfill a little and where analog doesn't and this makes analog in this important area superior to me, this is a great speaker. The center sound is where it all starts and for me that has to be very good. If not what is built out from there wanes. Also it is a fantastic all around speaker. By that I mean it does imaging, tone, timbre, density, 3d, prat, expression, transparency,micro and macro dynamics all in a very well rounded out fashion, not really lacking much in any of those areas. It is very well balanced. It will let you boogie and sing you in the the finest fashion a lullaby. Works very well with both solid state and medium to higher power tube amps. Good speakers to be on the list to listen to. Give them some time, at first they may not seem the most exciting of the bunch to hear but as time goes by that will probably change. Have fun on your search.
Thanks for the great responses - keep 'em coming! From my limited knowledge, the Raidho D1 and Magico Q1 are both pretty steeply priced - aren't they?

Xti16 - Are the Dyn C1 Sigs the second generation of C1s? I heard that they sound better now at low volumes, which is also one of my priorities...
Bob, The Shelby+Kroll Nano Monitors and (2) Woofer Monitors
would work very well in your space. There is a very positive review of them at Stereo Mojo. The speaker have life like imaging that is spooky real and near perfect tonal balance.

Good luck,
Chris Rodgers