What are the best, smallest high end speakers?

[Miguelón]

Your reply makes a lot of sense. I would agree to 5" woofers but not any bigger. Do you think the same fatigue rule applies when a subwoofer is integrated?

Not have a subwoofer actually, because of the convalescence period of my bank account after the Genelecs and the stands…

Subs can be connected or not, and generally provide a more coherent bass response, so in general will be more linear on the whole spectrum than 2.0 systems.

On the other side will require some learning curve to know the better place for them, phase alignment and room correction. Some people here have achieved good results in little rooms with the 7040 despite being designed for the 8010 or the 8020. Is a 6,5 inch subwoofer, as little as a sub can be. Buy only have 50 watts and 100 dB SPL, it will be my choice because I don’t give a tremendous importance to the sub bass region on my musical preferences.

I still think that better choose your speakers and after a while listening and enjoying decide if you need a sub or not. Personally I’m not sure, when I want to try something I speak with Thomann about the possibility of try and return, is present on its 30 days Money Back program but I prefer to talk about it to not abuse of the program.

 

[Miguelón]

I mean, a 4" driver with 6" xmax should do the trick? Talk about "pistonic behavior"

It should sound like a race car engine, and possibly one can see the driver passing through the window once the rubber loose some strength

 

[Miguelón]

KEF LSX II seems like a pretty neat little package.

Not as flat on paper as the monitors from Neumann or Genelec, but I doubt it makes much of a difference when simply listening to music.

As long as there's a resonable low end extension with a limiter to prevent over excursion and there's good suppression of resonances, the frequency response becomes less critical. Doesn't mean any wonky frequency response will do, and "cheating" by having an off-axis response that's all over the place doesn't help either, but poor bass response and resonances are far more damaging to the perception of quality.

Very practical speakers, though honestly I found them so invaded by low end, though probably one can refine them by EQ.

The app worked fine also, but considering the price I prefer Genelecs 8020 way more: and you save 500€ more to the 7040 subwoofer

 

[Pancreas]

My dream is to have 8331a but that price is too high, those are endgame speakers for desktop literally

Pair that with REM ucx2

 

[Jannis - Dutch & Dutch]

With what speaker?

The 8C is huge!

Well,
For being a full range speaker, the 8C´s are actually quite small.
For being in the "book shelf" category, yes, they are big in comparison.

 

[Jannis - Dutch & Dutch]

There are a couple in development but not available quite yet.
Keith

I can confirm this.

 

[AlmaAtaKZ]

B&W MM1
(Not a completely serious post)

https://flic.kr/p/26Tjtpz

 

[skcheng]

I just set up my personal office with the KH80s and the KH750 subwoofer all calibrated (with the help of a sound engineer) with the Neumann MA-1. Didn't know a PC setup could sound this great.

Plus I can eq everything and save profiles depending on what I'm listening too. Definitely recommend this setup as an economical setup (considering my audiophile background) for a PC setup.

Previously I was just using the Dell video conferencing monitor speakers LOL

 

[johny_2000]

How's about iLoud MTM MKII?

Type: 2-Way/3-speakers bi-amped, digitally controlled studio monitor
Frequency response: 48 Hz to 28 kHz ± 2 dB, 36 Hz to 32 kHz @ -10 dB
LF drivers: 2 x 3.5", 70 W RMS
HF drivers: 1", 30 W RMS
Full DSP control + tuned bass reflex,
Crossover type: Digital, linear phase
1x combo XLR-1/4" TRS balanced input
Dimensions (HxDxW): 264 mm(10.39") x 160 mm(6.3") x 130 mm(5.12")
Weight : 2.5 kg (5.5 lb)

Fully automatic and built-in digital calibration with ARC microphone:

 

[Old_School_Brad]

While working in the industry, I once asked the manufacturer of a very impressive linear actuator (not originally designed for audio) if they could do this. They stopped answering my emails.

It actually sounds a bit dangerous. Would probably need some safety tether wires.

 

[Killingbeans]

The Powersoft woofers don't have tethers.

Their biggest issue seem to be that they tend to rip apart the point on the cone where the piston is attached.

 

[Miguelón]

How's about iLoud MTM MKII?

View attachment 398342
Type: 2-Way/3-speakers bi-amped, digitally controlled studio monitor
Frequency response: 48 Hz to 28 kHz ± 2 dB, 36 Hz to 32 kHz @ -10 dB
LF drivers: 2 x 3.5", 70 W RMS
HF drivers: 1", 30 W RMS
Full DSP control + tuned bass reflex,
Crossover type: Digital, linear phase
1x combo XLR-1/4" TRS balanced input
Dimensions (HxDxW): 264 mm(10.39") x 160 mm(6.3") x 130 mm(5.12")
Weight : 2.5 kg (5.5 lb)

Fully automatic and built-in digital calibration with ARC microphone:
View attachment 398341

It was very tempting, seeing Amir review, but it “cracks under” pressure as he mentioned. Same problem as 8010A, forcing 3 inches drivers too low will produce a tone of distortion once going up to 80 dB.

Personally I will never go under 5 inches woofer, my recent experience with Genelecs 8020 was deceiving and also Neumann’s KH 80 without subwoofer… and I think I’ve tried all good “compact” monitors.

My redefinition of “compact” begins at 8030C or G Three (are roughly the same), the some centimeters more and 5 kg each worths for the sound

 

[johny_2000]

It was very tempting, seeing Amir review, but it “cracks under” pressure as he mentioned.

He tested first version. This is MKII.
Erin tested the second version.

These are the specifications from the manufacturer:
Continuous, long term SPL free field, 1 m distance, one speaker, ANSI-2034 Weigthed Pink Noise: 97 dB

Peak SPL free field, 1 m distance, one speaker, ANSI-2034 Weigthed Pink Noise: 110.5 dB

Peak SPL, half space, 1 m distance, one speaker, ANSI-2034 Weigthed Pink Noise: 112.5 dB

 

[Miguelón]

He tested first version. This is MKII.
Erin tested the second version.

These are the specifications from the manufacturer:
Continuous, long term SPL free field, 1 m distance, one speaker, ANSI-2034 Weigthed Pink Noise: 97 dB

Peak SPL free field, 1 m distance, one speaker, ANSI-2034 Weigthed Pink Noise: 110.5 dB

Peak SPL, half space, 1 m distance, one speaker, ANSI-2034 Weigthed Pink Noise: 112.5 dB

I tried the MK 2 at home, same problem: is physically impossible to produce good midbass region with 3 inches drivers, adding two of them reinforce the region but not as good as a bigger drive.

The problem is not the noise, but the THD and the directionality

 

[Miguelón]

He tested first version. This is MKII.
Erin tested the second version.

These are the specifications from the manufacturer:
Continuous, long term SPL free field, 1 m distance, one speaker, ANSI-2034 Weigthed Pink Noise: 97 dB

Peak SPL free field, 1 m distance, one speaker, ANSI-2034 Weigthed Pink Noise: 110.5 dB

Peak SPL, half space, 1 m distance, one speaker, ANSI-2034 Weigthed Pink Noise: 112.5 dB

Don’t think they are bad, just the opposite: probably are the best in their range of size. The issue to me is whatever the speaker I tried less than 5 inches it sounded somehow “boxy”.

I’m not an expert in speakers but I think brands should make some “tricks” to solve the problem of midbass: under 120-150Hz should compensate with another driver (creating spatial interferences in mids and poor directionality). Or they should overcompensate with the DSP, which in my subjective experience give this “boxy” taste and transients slightly poorer.

But if the transport is a must, they are the best in their class: Genelec 8010 has nice sound but it totally destroyed at higher volumes.

 

[AnalogSteph]

The issue to me is whatever the speaker I tried less than 5 inches it sounded somehow “boxy”.

This is probably what I call "small speaker sound". A rapid dropoff in the lower bass possibly coupled with a bit of mid/upper bass boost. Look at your -10 dB points. This kind of design preserves excursion so they can play louder but since the 50-80 Hz range is kind of important, results in this unpleasant "boxiness".

But if the transport is a must, they are the best in their class: Genelec 8010 has nice sound but it totally destroyed at higher volumes.

With their stock bass tuning (which IMO is very conservative and excursion-preserving)? Oh wow, higher levels for you must be higher indeed. I was quite impressed how loud my EVE SC203s would play for their size, but I really neeeded to apply some EQ to get rid of the slight midbass hump and and boost low bass for them to be satisfying to listen to, which in turn probably reduced maximum output levels a fair bit. No biggie because these are at my desk in the office where I can't crank it anyway. I do notice they're not quite as clean and transparent as my O110s at home, probably higher IMD. If you want a glimpse of what these 3.5" jobs typically do, take a look at the measurement data for the new ADAM D3Vs. Looks like a Peerless woofer of sorts.

I just set up my personal office with the KH80s and the KH750 subwoofer all calibrated (with the help of a sound engineer) with the Neumann MA-1. Didn't know a PC setup could sound this great.

Congrats. Now if you could still be persuaded to have the KH80s placed further towards you mid/long-term... Your monitor is the single biggest source of early reflections, even ahead of the desk. This tends to cause mushy, unstable imaging. Play a sine test tone like 1 kHz over both speakers, and you may be surprised how inconsistent the balance is as you move around. I can't do anything about it because the best position for my monitor happens to be less than 30 cm in front of my face, but pushing it back does give a noticeable improvement. If you can, please do.

 

[Miguelón]

I was quite impressed how loud my EVE SC203s would play for their size

Humm, this one I didn’t try it… but since we have still the 8030C at home and the G Three, the latest is on the living room (my girlfriend prefers black than grey) and the 8030 on the desk.

I see the specs now on Thomann, quite nice! And with an onboard DAC, seems pretty good for a desktop. I will propose it to a friend who don’t want “all these cables and stuff around” as an all in one…

I see EVE have bigger models also

 

[johny_2000]

If you want a glimpse of what these 3.5" jobs typically do, take a look at the measurement data for the new ADAM D3Vs. Looks like a Peerless woofer of sorts.

Thanks man! I didn't know about this new model of super compact monitors from ADAM. Impressive in terms of specifications combined with an affordable price. Definitely looking forward to my new home setup.

 

[Bob from Florida]

A mini-sub will be a great invention

SVS 3000 Micro - 11 inch cube weighing 26 pounds. Works quite well. Use one or more with your small speakers of choice.

 

[johny_2000]

take a look at the measurement data for the new ADAM D3Vs

I love this comprehensive and detailed guide from ADAM that includes all the measurement data with comments on the best and worst case scenarios for using these speakers.