whats the best sounding "small" speaker you've ever heard

[1973BuickGS]

For 3 Way speakers, I'd go with my Yamaha NS-AP4400M. Maybe not the best, but for $60 new, they're great!

 

[sealy]

Totem Mani-2. Only 3db down at 30hz. Tremendous dynamics, imaging, sound staging. Superb sound. Can be yours for only $4700(Cdn), plus tax.

 

[sealy]

Totem Mani-2. Only 3db down at 30hz. Tremendous dynamics, imaging, sound staging. Superb sound. Yours for only $4700(Cdn), plus tax.

 

[uxwbill]

Anyone suggested the Sony SS-B1000 speakers yet?

I think you'd have a hard time beating them for the price as long as you were buying new. They've got a nice, rich sound that is bigger than they are.

 

[bargain find]

I have to mention a small speaker that I briefly heard at best buy.I forgot their name but they are a new bargain line box speaker from Martin Logan and utilize a electrostatic or quasi-electrostatic tweet that sounded very clean and pure.I thought the highs and mids were exceptional in that price range(around 200$) but weak in the bass( but they were positioned on a high shelf about a half mile from each other).

 

[tiga]

These seem to be getting some attention lately. I haven't heard them myself. Has anyone heard the the next larger speaker in this line - the B3000? It's a 3-way with an 8" woofer. Seems to be a vintage throwback to me for some reason (just needs walnut laminate cabs). They are very cheap too and the reviews all seem strong.

I'm curious where they fall short.

Anyone suggested the Sony SS-B1000 speakers yet?

I think you'd have a hard time beating them for the price as long as you were buying new. They've got a nice, rich sound that is bigger than they are.

 

[ProAc_Fan]

I have to throw in a vote for the ProAc Supertablettes. They haven't made them in a long time and u rarely see them for sale. There's a good reason for that too.

Mike

 

[RamblinE]

Haven't met too many audiophiles in my travels and the Bose fans don't count. Best I have on my crap college student budget are my Minimus 7s. I also have a pair of Optimus Pro LX-5s but they muddle the bass too much with most rock music. It's a shame because they're stellar for dance music/jazz/classical etc, but they lack the M7's consistency I think. Now if only I can find a pair of the woods.

 

[uxwbill]

These seem to be getting some attention lately. I haven't heard them myself. Has anyone heard the the next larger speaker in this line - the B3000? It's a 3-way with an 8" woofer. Seems to be a vintage throwback to me for some reason (just needs walnut laminate cabs). They are very cheap too and the reviews all seem strong.

I'm curious where they fall short.

I've got a set of the SS-B3000s that I've driven from a Technics SA-929 and a Sony STR-DH100 receiver. I didn't know it was still possible to buy a set of those new. I bought mine (2003 vintage, seemingly) for $15 at a public radio/TV "vintage" audio stuff sale. I hadn't planned to buy any speakers, but the guy supervising the equipment sales was pressing me hard to buy them, along with a Sony PS-LX520 turntable that looked like a writeoff.

I finally couldn't say no. I even got that turntable playing perfectly, although it still taunts me by blowing a fuse on the power board after a few months.

My attitude is that they're OK if not very acceptable, but I like the SS-B1000s better in the end. To me they sound "warmer" than the SS-B3000 speakers do. I wouldn't consider the SS-B3000 speakers to be "small", and the grilles don't really protect the drivers much (they're open on the sides).

Given the choice, I would go for the 1000s every time.

 

[AR4x]

To me... as a matter of course... as my nick name implies...

 

[Rangefinder]

Klipsch Pro Media Ultra 2.0

 

[alandro]

Small: I thought the Dynaudio Contour 1.1 was the best small speaker I ever heard until I sold them and bought the Totem Mani-2's. Pretty much my favorite ever. Too much money though until I found a used pair on eBay at about half price, was the only reason I have them though.

Sorta small: I picked up a pair of Smaller Advents at a rummage sale for 5 bucks a couple of years ago, re-foamed them and I like them a lot, although they're really small in name only.

Really small: I don't like using subwoofers too much, but I do when I want to listen to the Optimus Pro-LX5 with that Linnaeum ribbon tweeter (the original version). But a subwoofer always seems like cheating to me. They are sweet and smooth though.

 

[dshoaf]

M&K S1-Bs. These things threw a large soundstage across a living room-sized space.

Wish I still had a pair.....

For coaxials, there's nothing like a pair of UREI 809s. Look 'em up.....

Cheers,

David

 

[Keessie]

I would say the Yamaha NS-333's are the best little speakers that i've heard.
A friend bought them today and tested them at my house.
They sounded better than my much bigger Technics SB-R4's:sigh:

 

[usedto]

The ones in the back seat of my '55 Chevy.

 

[laspada]

Design acoustic ps6's with recapped crossovers

 

[trhee]

When I think of "small" speakers, I think of small stand mounted speakers. Obviously there are many larger speakers that require stands like some Vandersteens, Harbeths, Spendors, Audio Note AN/E, etc...

However, I don't consider any of them small by any means and I'll limit myself to speakers that are around 24" in height or smaller.

- ProAc Response 2 and Super Tablette
- Sonus Faber Guarneri and Auditor
- Harbeth Monitor 30
- Spica TC-50
- Sequerra Metronome 7 Mk.2
- Audio Note AN/J and AN/K
- LS3/5 (Harbeth/Spendor/Rogers)

 

[Bottleflow]

Another vote for the Proac 1sc's. Wow!!

 

[giantnutz]

Totem Dreamcatchers.

 

[guitarjunkie]

Speakerlab .1 satellites :thmbsp: I have had them since 1978 and still use them. Ugly after all these years... As far as BIG speakers are concerned, my EPI 90s are wonderful (especially in new big enclosures)

What are the dimensions of your larger cab for the 90's, and how did you arrive at that size?
Mike