Revisiting the Idea of Bookshelf speakers.
Hello all,
For years and years I have been wanted to try something new. Get away from Floor standing speakers especially powered Tower models and go with a solid high quality Book Shelf speaker setup.
For a few years now or more I have been digging into Monitor Audio. They are one of those speaker brands that bring excitement, look incredible and don't really have a totally British sound. If you think of Reference Klipsch and B&W N series, Monitor Audio falls in-between those brands. They have a high fun factor like Klipsch but have a really long listening value like B&W does to me anyway.
I have owned my Definitive Technology Mythos system for over a decade and it's the longest running system I have ever used. Over the years I have added subwoofers in as pairs , then took them out back and forth as the subs in the ST's are damn good BUT aren't placed in the best position in my room. I get much better even coverage in my room when running 2 subs one in the front of the room and one in the back. I have tried 2 in front and that isn't much better then the Def Tech's even when I run my 2 best subs DD-10 Plus Velodyne's.
Anyway Right now I have a pretty solid build I think will be the move.
Monitor Audio Silver or Gold, can't decide but the build is basically the same.
FRONTS - Silver or Gold 100's on Stands
CENTER - Silver 350 or Gold 250
SURROUND - Radius 225 or Sound Frame 2.
What's unique about the Sound Frame 2 is you can get custom Pictures as grills. They are remarkable speakers and match both the Silver or Gold hell even Bronze series. You can recess them into the wall or wall mount. They are more likely to be my surrounds.
https://www.monitoraudio.com/en/product-ranges/soundframe/soundframe-2-on-wall/
I'm also considering using the Sound Frame 2's as a complete 5 channel system. Having them perfectly mounted around the TV properly spaced with cool pictures is very attractive. Then I can have a set of Floor standers or Bookies for when I want to listen to music with a nice power amp. I have a very hard time giving up Floor standing speakers for bookies and an even harder time for a full wall mounted system. BUT the quality of the Sound Frame 2's and how damn good they sound , I think over time I could really enjoy them for both duties.
In the very near future I'm gonna do a in home demo of some Monitor speakers. I love them in our show room, I love them in other peoples houses but they have to compete with the Mythos ST's and impress me to the point I will finally upgrade. Seems like a tall order as the Mythos ST's are one of those special speakers. I may not sell them and maybe use them in a dedicated 2 channel room.
For years and years I have been wanted to try something new. Get away from Floor standing speakers especially powered Tower models and go with a solid high quality Book Shelf speaker setup.
For a few years now or more I have been digging into Monitor Audio. They are one of those speaker brands that bring excitement, look incredible and don't really have a totally British sound. If you think of Reference Klipsch and B&W N series, Monitor Audio falls in-between those brands. They have a high fun factor like Klipsch but have a really long listening value like B&W does to me anyway.
I have owned my Definitive Technology Mythos system for over a decade and it's the longest running system I have ever used. Over the years I have added subwoofers in as pairs , then took them out back and forth as the subs in the ST's are damn good BUT aren't placed in the best position in my room. I get much better even coverage in my room when running 2 subs one in the front of the room and one in the back. I have tried 2 in front and that isn't much better then the Def Tech's even when I run my 2 best subs DD-10 Plus Velodyne's.
Anyway Right now I have a pretty solid build I think will be the move.
Monitor Audio Silver or Gold, can't decide but the build is basically the same.
FRONTS - Silver or Gold 100's on Stands
CENTER - Silver 350 or Gold 250
SURROUND - Radius 225 or Sound Frame 2.
What's unique about the Sound Frame 2 is you can get custom Pictures as grills. They are remarkable speakers and match both the Silver or Gold hell even Bronze series. You can recess them into the wall or wall mount. They are more likely to be my surrounds.
https://www.monitoraudio.com/en/product-ranges/soundframe/soundframe-2-on-wall/
I'm also considering using the Sound Frame 2's as a complete 5 channel system. Having them perfectly mounted around the TV properly spaced with cool pictures is very attractive. Then I can have a set of Floor standers or Bookies for when I want to listen to music with a nice power amp. I have a very hard time giving up Floor standing speakers for bookies and an even harder time for a full wall mounted system. BUT the quality of the Sound Frame 2's and how damn good they sound , I think over time I could really enjoy them for both duties.
In the very near future I'm gonna do a in home demo of some Monitor speakers. I love them in our show room, I love them in other peoples houses but they have to compete with the Mythos ST's and impress me to the point I will finally upgrade. Seems like a tall order as the Mythos ST's are one of those special speakers. I may not sell them and maybe use them in a dedicated 2 channel room.
Dan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
Comments
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Getting that itch again I see! It sounds like you have a couple of great choices to compare.
Have some fun & keep us posted."2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
I know you like Monitor audio speakers Dan, and on the used markets today they are going for steal prices. Check your local FB marketplace or craigslist, some darn fine deals on bookies and floorstanders. I was thinking about these myself.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1122945168175569/?ref=search&referral_code=marketplace_searchHT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
They are really nice.Dan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
