Again, thanks to everyone for the continuing comments and recommendations. I appreciate all of the advice and perspectives being offered.
Several people have mentioned the possibility of changing speakers and thats a fair question. I do really love the sonics of Atma-Sphere S30, and higher efficiency speakers would allow it to remain. Here is the challenge of going in that direction. The Silverline 17.5 are very good speakers, though granted, not an ideal match for the S30, as Ralph so accurately pointed out.
Replacing them will not be easy, for a number of reasons.
Martin G. DeWulf, editor and publisher of (Bound for Sound in / issue #181 / Sept 2007) said this of the 17.5's:
"Let's pretend: If someone were to ask you, "If you could have any 2-way bookshelf speaker on the market today, what would it be?" What would you say? I think my response would be the Silverline 17.5, Yes, the competition is heady, and it would include the Wilson Audio TinyTot and the Magico, amongst others. But I think I would stick with the Silverline."
One of the primary reasons I chose these speakers is the fact that they can play any kind of music very well, and I listen to acoustic music, singer songwriters, rock, female vocals, and even Gregorian Chants at times.
The small room they are in, and physically unchangeable aspects of it, also requires a bookshelf speaker, and one essentially no larger than the size of the 17.5's (14 x 9 x 15) and that are very effective in a somewhat nearfield configuration. The seating position of the listener is no more than seven feet from the speakers.
I'm not aware of any speakers of high efficiency, that are this small, which would also work optimally in the described nearfield setting, with all types of music (excepting large scale classical. That does not mean there arent any, and you may know of some.
Does a suitable replacement for these exist within the budget I have that meet my needs?
Several people have mentioned the possibility of changing speakers and thats a fair question. I do really love the sonics of Atma-Sphere S30, and higher efficiency speakers would allow it to remain. Here is the challenge of going in that direction. The Silverline 17.5 are very good speakers, though granted, not an ideal match for the S30, as Ralph so accurately pointed out.
Replacing them will not be easy, for a number of reasons.
Martin G. DeWulf, editor and publisher of (Bound for Sound in / issue #181 / Sept 2007) said this of the 17.5's:
"Let's pretend: If someone were to ask you, "If you could have any 2-way bookshelf speaker on the market today, what would it be?" What would you say? I think my response would be the Silverline 17.5, Yes, the competition is heady, and it would include the Wilson Audio TinyTot and the Magico, amongst others. But I think I would stick with the Silverline."
One of the primary reasons I chose these speakers is the fact that they can play any kind of music very well, and I listen to acoustic music, singer songwriters, rock, female vocals, and even Gregorian Chants at times.
The small room they are in, and physically unchangeable aspects of it, also requires a bookshelf speaker, and one essentially no larger than the size of the 17.5's (14 x 9 x 15) and that are very effective in a somewhat nearfield configuration. The seating position of the listener is no more than seven feet from the speakers.
I'm not aware of any speakers of high efficiency, that are this small, which would also work optimally in the described nearfield setting, with all types of music (excepting large scale classical. That does not mean there arent any, and you may know of some.
Does a suitable replacement for these exist within the budget I have that meet my needs?