Hi everyone. I've had a pair of Mini Monitor v5's for about 1.5 years now, and I've started to get upgraditis. The mini's seem a tad too bright for my ears. Not a lot, just a bit overdone there. Overall, I'm still a fan of the open sound they have, but I haven't listened to many other comparable speakers.
I'd like something that's a bit less harsh, with clearer midrange and more midbass (I'd love a bit more punch to the speakers). Better imaging and a wider soundstage would be nice too.
I'd like to stick with bookshelf models around the $1k price point (I'm not a fan of floorstanding models).
Usage is around 50/30/20 music/movies/games. Music is mainly rock, with a little pop and jazz thrown in for good measure.
The speakers will be getting paired to a Marantz SR5003, and a HSU STF-2 10" sub. I'll eventually fill the system out to 5.1 (probably move the Mini's to the rear), but since the receiver has 7 channels, I'd like to be able to passively bi-amp the front speakers that will replace the Mini's.
So far, I'm really digging what I've seen on the new Studio 20 v5's. MSRP on these is $1199; I don't want to spend over this if I can avoid it. So I'm looking for suggestions on what speakers compete with the Studio 20's I guess. Trying to get a list of speakers put together before I go and listen to stuff. I'll dig around on the forums too and see what I can come up with, but it'd be nice to get some fresh responses too. Thanks everyone!
EDIT: I figure I'll keep a list of what I plan on listening to up here. MSRP's are listed as well; yeah, it's a really wide price range. I could probably trim a couple speakers off the high and low ends and be good; say everything above $1300 and below $800, give or take.
B&W 705 $1500
B&W CM5 $1500
Monitor Audio GS10 $1500
Boston Acoustics VS 260 $1400
Usher X-718 $1300
Dynaudio Excite X12 $1200
Paradigm Studio 20 $1200 (for the v.5's)
PSB GB1 $1100
Era D5 $1000
Ascend Sierra-1 $900 (black finish)
Dynaudio Audience 52 $900
JBL HT5 $900
Totem Rainmaker $900
Klipsch RB-81 $800
NHT Classic 3 $800
Polk LSi7 $800
JBL L830 $750
Definitive Technology StudioMonitor 450 $660
Energy RC-10 $600
Kef iQ30 $600
FINAL EDIT: If anyone was curious, I went with the Studio 20's after listening to the speakers in my post below, and I absolutely love them...no surprise, seeing how much I liked the Mini Monitors. I was going to go listen to a bunch of other stuff, but made the mistake of stopping by the Paradigm dealer first that day
. I may still take the speakers around and see how they stack up to stuff, or try some internet direct speakers if shipping isn't too much. I still can't get over the midrange on those NHT's, honestly.
I'd like something that's a bit less harsh, with clearer midrange and more midbass (I'd love a bit more punch to the speakers). Better imaging and a wider soundstage would be nice too.
I'd like to stick with bookshelf models around the $1k price point (I'm not a fan of floorstanding models).
Usage is around 50/30/20 music/movies/games. Music is mainly rock, with a little pop and jazz thrown in for good measure.
The speakers will be getting paired to a Marantz SR5003, and a HSU STF-2 10" sub. I'll eventually fill the system out to 5.1 (probably move the Mini's to the rear), but since the receiver has 7 channels, I'd like to be able to passively bi-amp the front speakers that will replace the Mini's.
So far, I'm really digging what I've seen on the new Studio 20 v5's. MSRP on these is $1199; I don't want to spend over this if I can avoid it. So I'm looking for suggestions on what speakers compete with the Studio 20's I guess. Trying to get a list of speakers put together before I go and listen to stuff. I'll dig around on the forums too and see what I can come up with, but it'd be nice to get some fresh responses too. Thanks everyone!
EDIT: I figure I'll keep a list of what I plan on listening to up here. MSRP's are listed as well; yeah, it's a really wide price range. I could probably trim a couple speakers off the high and low ends and be good; say everything above $1300 and below $800, give or take.
B&W 705 $1500
B&W CM5 $1500
Monitor Audio GS10 $1500
Boston Acoustics VS 260 $1400
Usher X-718 $1300
Dynaudio Excite X12 $1200
Paradigm Studio 20 $1200 (for the v.5's)
PSB GB1 $1100
Era D5 $1000
Ascend Sierra-1 $900 (black finish)
Dynaudio Audience 52 $900
JBL HT5 $900
Totem Rainmaker $900
Klipsch RB-81 $800
NHT Classic 3 $800
Polk LSi7 $800
JBL L830 $750
Definitive Technology StudioMonitor 450 $660
Energy RC-10 $600
Kef iQ30 $600
FINAL EDIT: If anyone was curious, I went with the Studio 20's after listening to the speakers in my post below, and I absolutely love them...no surprise, seeing how much I liked the Mini Monitors. I was going to go listen to a bunch of other stuff, but made the mistake of stopping by the Paradigm dealer first that day
