Horizontal Monitor Recommendations

[AlexanderM]

Believe it or not I did look into the Perlistens. Just not sure. They haven't been around for a long time and I don't have as much analytic information to go by. They could potentially work though.

Erin's review on the Perlistens, may not be the exact speaker, but they are excellent.

Perlisten S4b Bookshelf Speaker Review

Perlisten S4b Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

 

[blackiridium]

so it seems like the only two candidates are the KEF and Perlisten

 

[AlexanderM]

so it seems like the only two candidates are the KEF and Perlisten

If it were me, hello Perlisten. Just saying.

 

[blackiridium]

If it were me, hello Perlisten. Just saying.

What’s your thinking?

 

[AlexanderM]

What’s your thinking?

I've never listened to the Perlistens, but I have listened to KEF speakers more than any other in the last couple of years. They measure well, lots of people here love them, but they are just not for me, although I think I would like the Blades or the new LS60's but in Canada even the LS60's are $10K, so not for me. So, given I have listened to the KEF's and Erins's review of the Pelistens, I go with the P's.

 

[AM88]

These might work.

SE-NF-3

SE-NF-3 DRIVERS 1” soft dome tweeter, neodymium magnet circuit 5” woofer, coated paper cone, ferrite magnet circuit Sensitivity 85 dB / 1 W / 1m Impedance 8 Ohm POWER 60 W RMS Frequency range 38 Hz – 26 KHz (–6 dB) Crossover frequency 2200 Hz DISTORTION THD < 0.5 % (85 dB / 1m / […]

straussnorthamerica.com

• Height: 9.45 inches
• Width: 13.78 inches
• Depth: 15.75 inches
They are top ported.
They are USD 3800 each though…

 

[blackiridium]

Another option could be a front ported speaker?

 

[teashea]

Hi everyone,
I was wondering if you had any bookshelf speaker recommendations that could be used horizontally and in a case.
I had narrowed my search to front ported or sealed bookshelves. My thinking was that this would help with them being close to the back of the cabinet. The clearance might be only 2" on the back.
I had originally decided on ATC SCM20 and even put a deposit down. After reading online and doing further research, it seems these wouldn't be the ideal for my use case.
I have a budget of up to $5k but the less the better lol. I'm in the system building stage right now so it's a blank slate. No amps although I'm most likely going to use a Class D either Nilai or something else. It's going to be paired with a MiniDsp DAC used as a preamp.
I've heard good things of the KEF R6. If there are other options, I would absolutely love to hear about them.

Do you want studio monitors or pleasure speakers?
What is the listening distance?


For horizontal studio monitors at nearfield listening distances I can recommend Neumann KH 310's.

 

[teashea]

So here's another issue. The speakers will be in an extremely large room, something like 21ft x 32ft with 15' ceilings. The listening distance might be 15' or so. I think that it would be advisable to get a speaker with a higher max volume something like 114db so that it could reach typical listening distances.

The Focal is an interesting option, I'll check it out.

With that listening distance and room size, the Neumann KH 310's are out. However, I suspect any horizontal bookshelf speaker is out also.

 

[AM88]

Another option could be a front ported speaker?

I think a front ported speaker is a good idea and most are either front or rear. The one I suggested is abit of an anomaly really, the only other one I know of is a ME Geithain monitor. My feeling is a sealed enclosure would be best. The trade off is they generally they have less low frequency output than an equivalent ported speaker but with a gentler roll off.
If you are going to add a sub later, looking for purpose built satellites that don’t extend that low might make it a bit easier as it should give you more options.

 

[blackiridium]

I think a front ported speaker is a good idea and most are either front or rear. The one I suggested is abit of an anomaly really, the only other one I know of is a ME Geithain monitor. My feeling is a sealed enclosure would be best. The trade off is they generally they have less low frequency output than an equivalent ported speaker but with a gentler roll off.
If you are going to add a sub later, looking for purpose built satellites that don’t extend that low might make it a bit easier as it should give you more options.

Yeah the goal is to add a sub

 

[blackiridium]

Too bad, I auditioned the atc scm20asl anniversary edition tonight and it was excellent. These probably wouldn’t perform well horizontally right?

 

[DWPress]

If you are going to use a speaker meant for vertical use on it's side then I'd be looking at the vertical contour plots because that's what you're going to get more or less + room gain and interactions. Check out www.spinoramma.org where you can use the search to narrow down your size needs and see what's out there with verifiable data.

Given the limited size constraints of the speakers, even if you used the full volume of the shelf space allowed, I don't think there's going to be a whole lot of speakers able to drive >80dB at 15' away without getting into distortion. You've got a big room and big rooms need big speakers (or multiple sets) to excite them. Adding a sub in a room this big will be an interesting venture as well.

Have you considered coaxial speakers? At least it wouldn't matter so much putting them on their sides.

Best option: DIY them yourself with high sensitivity drivers and build them directly into your bookcase if that's the only placement option.

 

[blackiridium]

If you are going to use a speaker meant for vertical use on it's side then I'd be looking at the vertical contour plots because that's what you're going to get more or less + room gain and interactions. Check out www.spinoramma.org where you can use the search to narrow down your size needs and see what's out there with verifiable data.

Given the limited size constraints of the speakers, even if you used the full volume of the shelf space allowed, I don't think there's going to be a whole lot of speakers able to drive >80dB at 15' away without getting into distortion. You've got a big room and big rooms need big speakers (or multiple sets) to excite them. Adding a sub in a room this big will be an interesting venture as well.

Have you considered coaxial speakers? At least it wouldn't matter so much putting them on their sides.

Best option: DIY them yourself with high sensitivity drivers and build them directly into your bookcase if that's the only placement option.

Yes considering coaxial speakers like the kef r6

 

[DWPress]

Ah, sorry, wasn't keeping track. Maybe Technics SB-C700? Haven't looked at full specs though...

 

[staticV3]

These might work.

SE-NF-3

SE-NF-3 DRIVERS 1” soft dome tweeter, neodymium magnet circuit 5” woofer, coated paper cone, ferrite magnet circuit Sensitivity 85 dB / 1 W / 1m Impedance 8 Ohm POWER 60 W RMS Frequency range 38 Hz – 26 KHz (–6 dB) Crossover frequency 2200 Hz DISTORTION THD < 0.5 % (85 dB / 1m / […]

straussnorthamerica.com

• Height: 9.45 inches
• Width: 13.78 inches
• Depth: 15.75 inches
They are top ported.
They are USD 3800 each though…

OP needs high SPL capabilities.

A single 60W 5" woofer probably won't do.

For reference, the R6 has two 6.5" woofers rated for 250W.
That's 3.4x the woofer area of the Strauss.

 

[staticV3]

Too bad, I auditioned the atc scm20asl anniversary edition tonight and it was excellent. These probably wouldn’t perform well horizontally right?

Correct.

Also WTF that price!

 

[staticV3]

Ah, sorry, wasn't keeping track. Maybe Technics SB-C700? Haven't looked at full specs though...

Rear ported could be problematic in OP's tight shelf.

The SB-C700's oval sides could make using it horizontal awkward.

Also OP needs high SPL capabilities, where an R6, R5b, or Reference 2c would excel (given the size constraints).

 

[JustJones]

The ATC scm20asl is an active speaker with a height of about 17.5 " so it wouldn't fit in your space and flipping them on their sides who knows. The scm25a mk2 might fit and it's a vertical design but like the Neumann and Focal you're constrained by ventilation issues. They're also about $10,000 in the US.

 

[teashea]

None of these options are going to work satisfactorily. I think you need to be more realistic in what you want. Bookshelf speakers are simply not going to do for that space.