Moving away from monitors after only two years

[robithinker]

I bought a pair of Adam Audio S3Vs in 2023, had to send one of them in for a humming sound about a year later, and now after another year have to do the same again. The sound quality is great, flat frequency response etc, but I'm pretty disappointed that I have to have repairs done twice within two years at this price point. So I'm considering going back to passive speakers and selling my S3Vs and the miniDSP SHD I use as the audio source. I'll likely have to take a bath if I sell them, given active speakers with XLR aren't very common in the market.

In any case, I'm looking at new speakers for the space below. Room is about 45m2/485ft2, with 3.2m/10.5ft ceilings. We have an open floor plan. One wall (left side of picture but not visible), is all glass. To the right (not visible) is the kitchen. Wife was please with the fairly large black blocks (she's a minimalist). I was looking at something like the Wharfedale Elysian 2's in white, but looking for other options that are going to be no taller than 90-110cm (due to the windows). Room treatment isn't really an option, other than maybe an area rung in front of the tv. Listening distance is only about 2m from the speakers.

Anyone have suggestions for speakers between 3-5k range that aren't blocky or overly imposing (hence why I was looking at the Elysians, they are fairly elegant looking).

 

[dfuller]

Honestly this is an Adam problem. They're not very high quality build.

 

[a4eaudio]

...Anyone have suggestions for speakers between 3-5k range that aren't blocky or overly imposing (hence why I was looking at the Elysians, they are fairly elegant looking).

Philharmonic BMR monitor would look nice on those stands

 

[kyuu]

How do the Genelec 8331 strike you? They're certainly not blocky, at least.

 

[Dougey_Jones]

Honestly this is an Adam problem. They're not very high quality build.

Yea, I'd sell the Adam's and get Neumann/Genelec or even Kali.

 

[ddsn]

As for speakers, I've heard that Dani Nenuet is good for small speakers, or maybe Genelec or Elac. By the way, is the room really 45 square meters? It looks very relaxing but it doesn't seem to have that much range.

 

[Digital_Thor]

I've seen used/sale KEF LS60 for around 5k.
Elegant, active+ well proven design and sound.

 

[TheKoC]

How do the Genelec 8331 strike you? They're certainly not blocky, at least.

For that room size an distance, the 8341 or even 8351 would be the better choice.
But since he wants to go to passive speakers, maybe take a look at the Mofi Sourcepoint 8 and 10

 

[Sokel]

How do the Genelec 8331 strike you? They're certainly not blocky, at least.

8331 for about 150 m³ of volume???

Correct Monitors - Genelec.com

A monitor, by definition, observes, checks, controls, warns or keeps a continuous record of something. An audio monitor, studio monitor or monitoring speaker is more than just a good-sounding loudspeaker. It is a device used in the process of recording, mixing or broadcasting audio in any...

www.genelec.com

The smallest suggestion is S360A.

Is there any subs in there somewhere?

 

[DanielT]

I bought a pair of Adam Audio S3Vs in 2023, had to send one of them in for a humming sound about a year later, and now after another year have to do the same again. The sound quality is great, flat frequency response etc, but I'm pretty disappointed that I have to have repairs done twice within two years at this price point. So I'm considering going back to passive speakers and selling my S3Vs and the miniDSP SHD I use as the audio source. I'll likely have to take a bath if I sell them, given active speakers with XLR aren't very common in the market.

In any case, I'm looking at new speakers for the space below. Room is about 45m2/485ft2, with 3.2m/10.5ft ceilings. We have an open floor plan. One wall (left side of picture but not visible), is all glass. To the right (not visible) is the kitchen. Wife was please with the fairly large black blocks (she's a minimalist). I was looking at something like the Wharfedale Elysian 2's in white, but looking for other options that are going to be no taller than 90-110cm (due to the windows). Room treatment isn't really an option, other than maybe an area rung in front of the tv. Listening distance is only about 2m from the speakers.

Anyone have suggestions for speakers between 3-5k range that aren't blocky or overly imposing (hence why I was looking at the Elysians, they are fairly elegant looking). View attachment 485229

So just to clarify. Can you just place the speakers like in the picture?
They can't be higher than , up to the level of the window sill? How high is that?
Can the new speakers be wider than the ones you have now?

Wife was please with the fairly large black blocks (she's a minimalist). What do you mean by that? Do you mean the Adam Audio S3V you have now?
I would consider them regular bookshelf speakers and hardly big. But okay what is perceived as big is subjective.

Any specific requests or requirements regarding the looks of the new speakers?

Is adding a subwoofer an option? Requires some tinkering with getting a good speaker-sub integration though. If you are willing to tinker with it that is.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Neumann KH150

 

[DanielT]

I've seen used/sale KEF LS60 for around 5k.
Elegant, active+ well proven design and sound.

Until we know the maximum height, we don't know if they will fit. If he will have the new ones where the old ones are located and they are not allowed to go higher than where the window frame begins (or as high up as the TV goes, flush with where the window begins), then KEF LS60 is out of the question.Check out TS's picture in the starting post.


Edit:
I missed that TS in the initial post wrote:
... no taller than 90-110cm (due to the windows).

 

[vsch]

If I were in your situation, I’d be thinking along one of these two paths:

Passive route
• Speakers: KEF R3 Meta, or possibly one of the new offerings from Ascilab (depending on availability)
• Subwoofer(s): One or two decent HiFi sub(s) (SVS / Arendal / Rythmik / similar)
• Electronics / integration: A Denon X3800H gives you Audyssey XT32 out of the box, plus access to @OCA 's far superior and free A1 Acoustica — and even Dirac ART later if you want to go that direction.

Active route
• Genelec 8340 + 7360 + GLM
• Neumann KH 150 + KH 750 + MA 1

Both provide robust, automated room correction and seamless subwoofer integration. Genelec in particular has a strong reputation for long-term reliability.

Personally, I would not skip:
• Room correction — especially with challenging spaces / boundaries
• At least one well-integrated sub — for real full-range response and placement flexibility

In my limited experience, these two factors are often more impactful than upgrading the mains themselves.

[Edit: If the above options are beyond the budget, and you're willing to use at least one subwoofer, you could probably also opt for the following without losing much:

• KEF LS50 Meta instead of R3 Meta
• Genelec 8330 instead of 8340
• Neumann KH 120 ii instead of KH 150

Particularly at your listening distance and together with one or two sub(s), these should be perfectly adequate.

If you intent to continue using the miniDSP SHD for room correction and sub integration, why not a pair of Genelec 8030c and one or two HiFi subs? This would deliver full range sound for about 2k, and given Genelec's repuatation, would probably last for a long time.
]

 

[Digital_Thor]

Until we know the maximum height, we don't know if they will fit. If he will have the new ones where the old ones are located and they are not allowed to go higher than where the window frame begins (or as high up as the TV goes, flush with where the window begins), then KEF LS60 is out of the question.Check out TS's picture in the starting post.

View attachment 485482

Didn't he write between 90-110cm in the first post?
Also, LS60 are quite narrow considering the 4 woofers, which could be the least imposing compromise.
If not... Maybe a set of KEF R3 with a slightly lower and/or custom tilted stand.
Listening height is easier with KEF in general due to their coaxial design.

 

[DanielT]

Didn't he write between 90-110cm in the first post?

You're right. Sorry, I missed that : ... no taller than 90-110cm (due to the windows).

 

[robithinker]

So just to clarify. Can you just place the speakers like in the picture?
They can't be higher than , up to the level of the window sill? How high is that?
Can the new speakers be wider than the ones you have now?

Wife was please with the fairly large black blocks (she's a minimalist). What do you mean by that? Do you mean the Adam Audio S3V you have now?
I would consider them regular bookshelf speakers and hardly big. But okay what is perceived as big is subjective.

Any specific requests or requirements regarding the looks of the new speakers?

Is adding a subwoofer an option? Requires some tinkering with getting a good speaker-sub integration though. If you are willing to tinker with it that is.

Apologies, that should have read “wife was NOT pleased…”.

 

[robithinker]

Here are two more photos of the room, with a wide angle zoom. As I mentioned it’s somewhere around 45m2.

 

[Sharkdrive]

I bought a pair of Adam Audio S3Vs in 2023, had to send one of them in for a humming sound about a year later, and now after another year have to do the same again. The sound quality is great, flat frequency response etc, but I'm pretty disappointed that I have to have repairs done twice within two years at this price point. So I'm considering going back to passive speakers and selling my S3Vs and the miniDSP SHD I use as the audio source. I'll likely have to take a bath if I sell them, given active speakers with XLR aren't very common in the market.

In any case, I'm looking at new speakers for the space below. Room is about 45m2/485ft2, with 3.2m/10.5ft ceilings. We have an open floor plan. One wall (left side of picture but not visible), is all glass. To the right (not visible) is the kitchen. Wife was please with the fairly large black blocks (she's a minimalist). I was looking at something like the Wharfedale Elysian 2's in white, but looking for other options that are going to be no taller than 90-110cm (due to the windows). Room treatment isn't really an option, other than maybe an area rung in front of the tv. Listening distance is only about 2m from the speakers.

Anyone have suggestions for speakers between 3-5k range that aren't blocky or overly imposing (hence why I was looking at the Elysians, they are fairly elegant looking). View attachment 485229

Everyone has posted excellent suggestion, personally I would go with JBL 100 with orange grill for a passive speaker, as it will look good and fill a large room like yours.
For active, a JBL 4329p in white would look great and eliminate the need for a subwoofer

 

[DVDdoug]

no taller than 90-110cm (due to the windows).

I can't make a specific recommendation but a lot of floor standers are around 1M tall. And generally, more cone area and more cabinet volume can give you better bass.

 

[DanielT]

Didn't he write between 90-110cm in the first post?
Also, LS60 are quite narrow considering the 4 woofers, which could be the least imposing compromise.
If not... Maybe a set of KEF R3 with a slightly lower and/or custom tilted stand.
Listening height is easier with KEF in general due to their coaxial design.

At about the same height as LS60 but passive then, these Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G seem good. Within TS budget with a price of around $3200 plus an amp of.. well you don't need much power because they have, measured verified, sensitivity of 90.5dB/2.83V/m. In any case a 50-75 watt amp is enough.
Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G: (H x W x D)): 1050 x 230 x 332 mm (415/16 x 91/16 x 135/64")

Measures excellent:

Monitor Audio Silver 500 7g

Nice measurements today from Soundstage hifi…someone get Amir the 100 7g https://www.soundstagenetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2685:nrc-measurements-monitor-audio-silver-500-7g-loudspeakers&catid=77:loudspeaker-measurements&Itemid=153

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