Permanent Waves
Digital Man
In that price range, from your list, I'd go with the:
Spendor S3/5R2 (keep in mind these can be a bit "proper" however, or lack a sense of "large/spacious" sound imo)
or the:
Harbeth P3esr (which do lack very good dynamics imo).
Another option (I think in the same price range, or you should be able to find them for $2000ish) would be the Usher Be-718 (Tiny Dancer's) which I find better/much better than either of the above speakers. They need good amplification, but once that is achieved they sound truly "large/dynamic" and can rock out or play subtle nuances with equal aplomb at any volume level. The best thing about them is that they are neutral/transparent, yet also engaging and involving without being "hyper" or too colored. Excellent speakers in that price range, ones I recommend to anyone looking in or around the price to at least audition. In fact, if I had not decided to "go beyond" that price bracket, I could have kept mine and been very happy (but now I am even happier with my newer choices, even well knowing about the very steep diminishing returns curve, which, imo, starts at about $3,000 for monitors and $5,000 for floor standers and basically stops at $10,000: it just doesn't get much better after that--and yes I've heard speakers up to and over $100,000). Keep in mind that my first "real" speakers were the Usher 520's (still a great pair of bargain speakers) when I still didn't want to spend "big bucks" on anything audio, so I do have a soft spot for all things Usher. However, I did pick out the Tiny Dancers blind once compared to other speakers in their price range (including the Harbeths).
Note that I did not read through this thread to see what your listening/music preferences are so different speakers will match different tastes here better or worse, although imo a truly good speaker can play any kind of music at any volume level very well, from a single lute (or any single instrument) to metal to rap to a full symphonic orchestra. The only thing that should lack is the recording (which will shine through as well if it is a good production).
Personally I'd stay away from Monitor Audio, they always sound too bright/brash for me (and I'm not one to be easily fatigued). I've also never been very impressed with any PSB or B&W I've heard at any price level (though I have not yet heard them all). The ones I've heard sound just kind of "flat" and unrefined or too colored to me...kind of "mid fi" in sound and fit/finish/overall impression.
Tannoy, Snell, Revel, Dali, Tyler Acoustics, ProAc, Dynaudio, Krell, Sonus Faber, and even Totem and Epos are all good brands that make great speakers at this price level as well (at least afair; I haven't looked or heard in this range for awhile since I "transcended" it). I'd check out the reviews/forums on Audiogon for user-reviews from those that know their high end speakers imo. You can even buy used or new speakers on there for some great prices (I did once). I'd even go so far as to advocate a $3000 to $5000 retail speaker used or heavily discounted for a better buy than new in your price range, but that's up to you.
Congrats on deciding to go with newer speakers (post 2000's); imo they really trump anything before in terms of price and quality on average (i.e. speakers that cost $5000, adjusted for inflation, pre 2000's now are easily bettered by those costing $2500 or even less today). Older speakers may look "cool", but they didn't start to really sound that good until the 80's at least. There are exceptions of course, but overall, especially for the average hi-fi consumer, go with post 2000 imo. Better technology/design and cost to performance ratio.
Also, you could put floorstanders in that sized room, however you will be kind of "cramping" them if you will. And, imo, it's not a matter of monitors or floorstanders being better or worse, it's your preference. I have the room to put any kind of floorstanders in several rooms, but I prefer monitors overall (they just image so much better) and that's what I have in all my systems and in my main (with a sub that blends very well into the integrated sound scape which I only use about 20% of the time when the music calls for it or I really want to "rock out" however: the monitors are more than enough for me usually) in my 15 x 20 study/office with 12' high ceilings and they easily fill the space and get to concert level decibels if I want (I do have thousands of books on built in solid cherry bookshelves that line 3 walls of the room from top to bottom that do absorb a lot of dead space or would be echos however; but I don't have any proper room treatments--can't stand how that would affect the aesthetics of the room--and hard floors as well...a thick carpet covers about 1/3 of it however).
Finally, if at all possible, try to audition speakers in your home/the room you will be using them in. It is no myth that the most important aspect of the sound quality you get from your system is the room itself. Speakers that sound bad at a store or even in someone's else's home may sound great in yours and vice versa. If I moved any of my speakers to the unfinished part of our basement and set them up, even well (i.e. proper distance apart and from the walls) they would sound horrid; in fact they do as I have done this with some. Put them into a well furnished room however with the same proper setup, and they sound superb. Same speakers/equipment and ears.
All the above is jmo of course. :thmbsp:
If you desire any more help/opinions, feel free to PM me and I'll get back to you when I can. Good luck! :thmbsp:
Spendor S3/5R2 (keep in mind these can be a bit "proper" however, or lack a sense of "large/spacious" sound imo)
or the:
Harbeth P3esr (which do lack very good dynamics imo).
Another option (I think in the same price range, or you should be able to find them for $2000ish) would be the Usher Be-718 (Tiny Dancer's) which I find better/much better than either of the above speakers. They need good amplification, but once that is achieved they sound truly "large/dynamic" and can rock out or play subtle nuances with equal aplomb at any volume level. The best thing about them is that they are neutral/transparent, yet also engaging and involving without being "hyper" or too colored. Excellent speakers in that price range, ones I recommend to anyone looking in or around the price to at least audition. In fact, if I had not decided to "go beyond" that price bracket, I could have kept mine and been very happy (but now I am even happier with my newer choices, even well knowing about the very steep diminishing returns curve, which, imo, starts at about $3,000 for monitors and $5,000 for floor standers and basically stops at $10,000: it just doesn't get much better after that--and yes I've heard speakers up to and over $100,000). Keep in mind that my first "real" speakers were the Usher 520's (still a great pair of bargain speakers) when I still didn't want to spend "big bucks" on anything audio, so I do have a soft spot for all things Usher. However, I did pick out the Tiny Dancers blind once compared to other speakers in their price range (including the Harbeths).
Note that I did not read through this thread to see what your listening/music preferences are so different speakers will match different tastes here better or worse, although imo a truly good speaker can play any kind of music at any volume level very well, from a single lute (or any single instrument) to metal to rap to a full symphonic orchestra. The only thing that should lack is the recording (which will shine through as well if it is a good production).
Personally I'd stay away from Monitor Audio, they always sound too bright/brash for me (and I'm not one to be easily fatigued). I've also never been very impressed with any PSB or B&W I've heard at any price level (though I have not yet heard them all). The ones I've heard sound just kind of "flat" and unrefined or too colored to me...kind of "mid fi" in sound and fit/finish/overall impression.
Tannoy, Snell, Revel, Dali, Tyler Acoustics, ProAc, Dynaudio, Krell, Sonus Faber, and even Totem and Epos are all good brands that make great speakers at this price level as well (at least afair; I haven't looked or heard in this range for awhile since I "transcended" it). I'd check out the reviews/forums on Audiogon for user-reviews from those that know their high end speakers imo. You can even buy used or new speakers on there for some great prices (I did once). I'd even go so far as to advocate a $3000 to $5000 retail speaker used or heavily discounted for a better buy than new in your price range, but that's up to you.
Congrats on deciding to go with newer speakers (post 2000's); imo they really trump anything before in terms of price and quality on average (i.e. speakers that cost $5000, adjusted for inflation, pre 2000's now are easily bettered by those costing $2500 or even less today). Older speakers may look "cool", but they didn't start to really sound that good until the 80's at least. There are exceptions of course, but overall, especially for the average hi-fi consumer, go with post 2000 imo. Better technology/design and cost to performance ratio.
Also, you could put floorstanders in that sized room, however you will be kind of "cramping" them if you will. And, imo, it's not a matter of monitors or floorstanders being better or worse, it's your preference. I have the room to put any kind of floorstanders in several rooms, but I prefer monitors overall (they just image so much better) and that's what I have in all my systems and in my main (with a sub that blends very well into the integrated sound scape which I only use about 20% of the time when the music calls for it or I really want to "rock out" however: the monitors are more than enough for me usually) in my 15 x 20 study/office with 12' high ceilings and they easily fill the space and get to concert level decibels if I want (I do have thousands of books on built in solid cherry bookshelves that line 3 walls of the room from top to bottom that do absorb a lot of dead space or would be echos however; but I don't have any proper room treatments--can't stand how that would affect the aesthetics of the room--and hard floors as well...a thick carpet covers about 1/3 of it however).
Finally, if at all possible, try to audition speakers in your home/the room you will be using them in. It is no myth that the most important aspect of the sound quality you get from your system is the room itself. Speakers that sound bad at a store or even in someone's else's home may sound great in yours and vice versa. If I moved any of my speakers to the unfinished part of our basement and set them up, even well (i.e. proper distance apart and from the walls) they would sound horrid; in fact they do as I have done this with some. Put them into a well furnished room however with the same proper setup, and they sound superb. Same speakers/equipment and ears.
All the above is jmo of course. :thmbsp:
If you desire any more help/opinions, feel free to PM me and I'll get back to you when I can. Good luck! :thmbsp:
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