Speaker Recommendations Please

[Martin]

I am looking at state of the art speakers in the $10k per pair range for my main stereo system which is in a typically sized suburban American dining room which opens to the living room.

I know of nowhere I can demo these speakers hence the poll.

Thanks,
Martin

 

[ahofer]

I'd bet on the Dutch & Dutch. You can push them closer to the wall.

 

[theyellowspecial]

Your main $10k stereo system is in the dining room?

I voted for the Mesanovic because it should fill a room with more ambience with its widening dispersion up top, assuming you're using them for ambience in your living space. And because it hasn't been tested by Amir yet.

EDIT: If they're close to a side wall like ahofer indicates, then maybe Mesanovic wouldn't be the best.

 

[MZKM]

I'd bet on the Dutch & Dutch. You can push them closer to the wall.

It’s also more full range and looks much nicer.

 

[dfuller]

The 8Cs are probably my choice if you're space limited and they're extremely forgiving of rooms because of their cardioid behavior. The Mesanovics may behave in an odd way w/r/t room modes though thanks to their side firing woofers (if it's anything like the Barefoots I had, things got weird but when I switched to the KH310s the problem went away).

I would add to this list the Neumann KH420s, though - I just have a thing for dome midranges.

 

[Laserjock]

I’ve only heard the Genelec out of the three so I voted for it but I might opt for the D&D for other reasons.

 

[Martin]

Your main $10k stereo system is in the dining room?

We do not use it as a dining room; it is my music room. We have a large “eat in chicken.” (One of my favorite movie quotes.)

 

[Martin]

Interesting that the early vote is the exact opposite order of @sweetchaos's score based recommendation:

Under US$12,500/pair:

	Recommendation	PS	LFX	Amplifiers
#1	Mesanovic RTM10*	7.6	23	250 & 250 & 100
#2	Dutch Dutch 8C (Erin)	7.4	20	500 & 250 & 250 (Erin=N/a)
#3	GGNTKT M1*	7.1	29	210 & 70
Worthy	Genelec 8361A (Amir)	6.8	27	500 & 150 & 150
Worthy	Neumann KH 310A (Amir)	6.2	30	150 & 70 & 70
Worthy	Kef LS50 Wireless 2 (Erin)	5.8	42	250 & 100 (Erin)
Worthy	Kali IN-5 (Erin) Kali IN-8v2 (Erin)	5.4 5.4	41 39	80 & 40 & 40 (Erin) 60 & 40 & 40 (Erin)
Worthy	Focal Solo6 Be (Amir)	5.1	43	150 & 100
Worthy	JBL 708P (Amir) (Erin)	4.9	38	250 & 250 (Erin)
Worthy	Adam T5V (Amir)	4.3	48	50 & 20

I am currently leaning toward the Dutch & Dutch 8c.

Martin

 

[TurtlePaul]

If it is a dining room that opens into a living room, is there a reason you want monitors and not towers? Are you listening in mid-field only? For a good sized room which opens into another room, I would think something like the F208 with a Hypex amp would be considered.

Those preference scores are nice, but if your room is anything like what I am imagining, it would be nice to have the additional woofer area and watts.

 

[Martin]

If it is a dining room that opens into a living room, is there a reason you want monitors and not towers? Are you listening in mid-field only? For a good sized room which opens into another room, I would think something like the F208 with a Hypex amp would be considered.

Those preference scores are nice, but if your room is anything like what I am imagining, it would be nice to have the additional woofer area and watts.

I listen mid-field. My listening position is about 3m/9ft from the speakers. I currently have Von Schweikert VR4 Gen III HSE speakers. I have an opportunity to buy a pair of Von Schweikert VR5 Anniversary speakers at a very attractive price. I could stretch to $10k for a pair of speakers. I think big monitors may fit the space better. The Von Schweikerts like to be out in the room and I just don't have the space to give them the room they want. I like the fact that this group of monitors are more or less "full range" and offer room correction. I run room correction on my digital source but don't have that capability with my analog source.

Martin

 

[Chrise36]

I listen mid-field. My listening position is about 3m/9ft from the speakers. I currently have Von Schweikert VR4 Gen III HSE speakers. I have an opportunity to buy a pair of Von Schweikert VR5 Anniversary speakers at a very attractive price. I could stretch to $10k for a pair of speakers. I think big monitors may fit the space better. The Von Schweikerts like to be out in the room and I just don't have the space to give them the room they want. I like the fact that this group of monitors are more or less "full range" and offer room correction. I run room correction on my digital source but don't have that capability with my analog source.

Martin

Have a listen if you can: https://www.musicdirect.com/speakers/atc-scm40-v2-tower-speakers
Add a minidsp if you want.

 

[Count Arthur]

The D&D are the least fugly.

 

[HooStat]

I made this exact same decision. I listened to the Dutch & Dutch next to the Mesanovics. But the room was so terrible, I couldn't really make an informed decision. I will say that the Dutch & Dutch could fill the room with bass with no problem and it was a huge room (warehouse, actually). The Mesanovic was the smallest of the 3 and I really wanted to get those. In the end, I opted for the Genelec 8361 without listening to them because of the GLM flexibility to adjust to my room (vs. Mesanovic) and because I thought Genelec would have better support and reliability, and would be easier to resell in the future. I didn't see any benefit to the extra cost of the Dutch & Dutch, and I was bothered by the fact that they still don't have the promised Room support. Having listened to them all, I think it comes down to these sorts of factors and not sound quality. They are all great speakers. It is more about the look, placement flexibility, warranty, cost, etc.

I will say that my wife hates the 8361s in terms of looks.

I will also add that I like the GGNTKT concept a lot, both the M1 and the M3. I am keeping an eye on those.