Floor Standing Speaker Recommendations

[cscs]

I'm in the process of researching floor standing speaker options for a 850 sqf room with 12' ceilings. Its quite a big room so I'm looking for a big set of floor standers to match. They will be used for music listening (70%) + home theatre (30%) with music being the absolute most important usage. If you have any insight or recommendations please let me know!

My goal is to find speakers that can do a good job in the lower frequency range so that I can get by without a sub. I listen primarily to dance/electronic, disco, and indie, so low end is important but a sub will cause issues with my neighbours. So my primary considerations have been speakers with 8" woofers.

Please assume I will get an appropriate amp to match the speakers.

These are some speakers that I'm considering:
- Monitor Audio Bronze 500 6G
- Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G
- Paradigm Monitor SE 8000f
- Dali Oberon 9
- Any other ideas?

The Dali's were the front runner until this week based on all of the glowing reviews I've seen online. I was able to listen for a few hours at a local shop. I liked how massive the sound stage was but I was very surprised with how lean the low end was in comparison to what I currently have at home. To make sure it wasn't just the room I ended up A/B testing them with a pair of Bowers & Wilkens 603 S3's (which are similar enough in size + speaker configuration to what I have at home). It was essentially a night and day difference that was hard to believe. The B&W were offering significantly more low end. I got a little more out of the Dali's when I cranked the volume but playing music that loud isn't realistic at home. I left the shop wondering if thats something that would improve after the recommended 100 hours of break in but it seems like too big of a risk to bank on that.

The Paradigm's were an interesting listen. I wasn't able to get a detailed listening session because it was in a big electronics store but I was impressed with the weighty low end. I could not get a proper impression with how the mids/highs sounded though. I can't seem to find enough reviews to give me confidence in that choice. They seem to be marketed as a home theatre speaker and and sold at big electronics stores that aren't known for end products (at least in Canada). Is there even a difference between home theatre speakers vs hi-fi? or is it just marketing hype?

Another local shop has the Monitor Audio Bronze 500 so I am looking to do a thorough test in the coming week. Is there a big difference between the Bronze and Silver line? I can't seem to find any head to head reviews.

Thanks in advance!

 

[staticV3]

Check out Spinorama.org for a collection of loudspeaker measurements and rankings. These are based on data, not word of mouth.

 

[EdW]

!

My goal is to find speakers that can do a good job in the lower frequency range so that I can get by without a sub. I listen primarily to dance/electronic, disco, and indie, so low end is important but a sub will cause issues with my neighbours. So my primary considerations have been speakers with 8" woofers.

I think that you will find that any speaker with a good LF response will be just as annoying to neighbours as a setup with slightly smaller speakers plus subwoofers. If the LF output is generated it matters little whether it comes from a subwoofer or a floor stander - it will penetrate thin walls, floors etc.
As for mandating 8” speakers look for speaker reviews where they show distortion vs frequency at various output levels - this is what really matters

Also - not sure what your budget is but consider KEF speakers

In general speakers don’t break in but your ears learn to live with them!

Room acoustics are just as important as the speakers and will significantly influence your impression of speaker. So @staticV3 suggestion to look at spinorama.org measurements of just the speaker gives you objective analysis.

 

[Laagman]

I think most LF annoyance from neighbours come from bad placed or bad integrated subwoofers. And people that play a lot of bass heavy music.

But on topic: what’s your budget?

 

[JohnnyNG]

I think that you will find that any speaker with a good LF response will be just as annoying to neighbours as a setup with slightly smaller speakers plus subwoofers. If the LF output is generated it matters little whether it comes from a subwoofer or a floor stander - it will penetrate thin walls, floors etc.

Yep. In fact, one can place a sub in the nearfield and consequently set it at a much lower volume for a given level at the seat, thereby generating less bass overall.

 

[kolestonin]

I recently bought a pair of Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G and I am very satisfied with them.
My room is half the size of yours and my ears completely different though.
I had 2 subwoofers which I sold one month after the purchase of the speakers cause I didn't need them anymore. Note that I still can't believe how easily I took the decision to sell them cause there were my favorite pieces of gear. Till the purchase of the Monitor Audios I was only thinking of adding some more or upgrade them to bigger ones.

Try to give a listen to these speakers or/and send inquiries to some dealers as the new series is out and you may find some really good deals on them.

 

[DVDdoug]

I can't make a specific recommendation...

So my primary considerations have been speakers with 8" woofers.

I'm an old-school "big speaker" guy and I consider 8" to be "small". But it's cone area that counts (ignoring everything else) and the trend is toward multiple-smaller mid-woofers, and of course separate subwoofers are popular.

I left the shop wondering if thats something that would improve after the recommended 100 hours of break in but it seems like too big of a risk to bank on that.

Burn-in is nonsense. Your ears & brain adapt, not the speakers (or electronics). Hopefully, the design is "stable" and if burn-in helps the manufacturer should do it at the factory, testing and confirming the specs afterwards. I work in electronics (not consumer electronics) and we test everything, burn-in for 48 Hours at elevated temperature (previously it was 7-days), and then re-test. That's NOT because we expect the performance to change, which it usually doesn't. It's to weed-out any early failures. The burn-in obviously costs (almost) nothing but it doubles the testing costs.

 

[Dj7675]

Revel F208 would be a very good option.

 

[cavedriver]

if you want room filling bass and your budget isn't limited to 2500 you get a lot more options at 5k, such as the SVS ultra evolutions (which didn't measure all that great though at EAC).

So I guess the question is, what is your budget? The MA's are going to be tough to beat though if it's 2500. I would definitely skip the bronzes if you can afford the silvers, it's a big step up in my experience. The F208's might be better, but again, they are 4k at least.

 

[Matias]

These would be my choice: March Audio Ukkonen with their Purifi 8" woofers.

Ukkonen AWG Floor Standing Speaker (PAIR) - March Audio

The Ukkonen AWG is a floor standing speaker featuring state of the art drivers from Purifi and SB Acoustics with beautiful solid wood or painted cabinets. Class leading technical and subjective audio performance. Please note: As this product is custom manufactured to your aesthetic specification...

marchaudio.com

New March Audio Ukkonen Speaker

March audio just announced a new floorstading speaker. No details or price listed as of yet but looks like a 8" purifi woofer with a SB waveguide Be tweeter and bottom slot port:

www.audiosciencereview.com

If budget allows (~7k USD).

 

[AlexanderM]

I have listened to the Monitor Audio Silver 500 7g and they'd be on my list, also the Revel F208 if they fit the budget.

 

[cscs]

Check out Spinorama.org for a collection of loudspeaker measurements and rankings. These are based on data, not word of mouth.

Thanks for sharing this!

 

[cscs]

I think that you will find that any speaker with a good LF response will be just as annoying to neighbours as a setup with slightly smaller speakers plus subwoofers. If the LF output is generated it matters little whether it comes from a subwoofer or a floor stander - it will penetrate thin walls, floors etc.
As for mandating 8” speakers look for speaker reviews where they show distortion vs frequency at various output levels - this is what really matters

Also - not sure what your budget is but consider KEF speakers

In general speakers don’t break in but your ears learn to live with them!

Room acoustics are just as important as the speakers and will significantly influence your impression of speaker. So @staticV3 suggestion to look at spinorama.org measurements of just the speaker gives you objective analysis.

My main goal is a speaker upgrade that is able to do a great job with 60 - 250 Hz range for improved punch from kick/bass. I'm less concerned with the sub bass range and I think that range is going to be more problematic for the neighbours, especially the unit below mine.

My range is $2-3k USD for the pair.

Thanks for the suggestion about KEF. I'm going to check out the Q11.

 

[cscs]

Yep. In fact, one can place a sub in the nearfield and consequently set it at a much lower volume for a given level at the seat, thereby generating less bass overall.

I think this is a good idea and its something for me to consider if things don't pan out with my floor standing speaker hunt

 

[cscs]

I recently bought a pair of Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G and I am very satisfied with them.
My room is half the size of yours and my ears completely different though.
I had 2 subwoofers which I sold one month after the purchase of the speakers cause I didn't need them anymore. Note that I still can't believe how easily I took the decision to sell them cause there were my favorite pieces of gear. Till the purchase of the Monitor Audios I was only thinking of adding some more or upgrade them to bigger ones.

Try to give a listen to these speakers or/and send inquiries to some dealers as the new series is out and you may find some really good deals on them.

Thats great feedback and essentially what I'm hoping to achieve in my room.

Did you audition the Bronze 500's before choosing the Silver's by chance? I'm wondering what the main differences are.

 

[cscs]

if you want room filling bass and your budget isn't limited to 2500 you get a lot more options at 5k, such as the SVS ultra evolutions (which didn't measure all that great though at EAC).

So I guess the question is, what is your budget? The MA's are going to be tough to beat though if it's 2500. I would definitely skip the bronzes if you can afford the silvers, it's a big step up in my experience. The F208's might be better, but again, they are 4k at least.

Yes thats my basic budget range $2-3k.

What would you say are the main differences between the Bronze and Silver? (from a listener perspective)

 

[kolestonin]

Thats great feedback and essentially what I'm hoping to achieve in my room.

Did you audition the Bronze 500's before choosing the Silver's by chance? I'm wondering what the main differences are.

No, I did not audition any of them. It was a 'blind shot' after reading all possible reviews and users post on forums for a very very long period. I had them under my radar, and when the new series came out I took action by contacting various dealers. I managed to have an incredible deal and I am very happy with the speakers.

 

[RoA]

The MA Silver series (as the bronze, gold and platinum) use high quality, in house designed drive units. MA also know how to package speakers well and I am not talking about the actual packaging.

 

[Doenerkunde]

Yes thats my basic budget range $2-3k.

What would you say are the main differences between the Bronze and Silver? (from a listener perspective)

The MA Bronze are 2,5 way speakers: The tweeter covers the highs. One 8 inch midwoofer covers the mids and lows, the other 8 inch woofer covers the lows.

The MA Silver are 3 way speakers: The tweeter covers the highs. One 3 inch midrange covers the mids. Two 8 inch woofers cover the lows.

There is a problem with the configuration of the Bronzes: The 8 inch midwoofer covering the mids. An 8 inch driver will get directional at it´s upper frequency range (the larger the diameter of the driver is in relation to the wavelength, the narrower it´s directivity is going to be). So in the upper mids the Bronzes will have a quite narrow directivity, that is no good match to the wide directivity of the tweeter. In your room this will probably result in too little energy at the upper bound of the midwoofer („lack of presence“). The Silver on the other hand employ a small 3 inch midrange, that will be a better directivity match to the wide dispersion of the tweeter.

In this class of speakers I would take a look at the Polk R700.

Review by Erin with full Spinorama: https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/polk_r700/

 

[cavedriver]

My experience with the bronzes vs the silvers was that the bass vent port was undersized and there was significant chuffing in addition to significant distortion at moderately high volumes. This was the bookshelf version, but it points to MA's willingness to make significant compromises in the bronze series to hit a price point.