Hello everyone, after several years of not being able to enjoy my hifi hobby , I've recently re-entered carefully, but need a little guidance at my start.
I have had a Denon PMA 520 amp for many, many years, paired initially to a pair of B&W DM520's, then a house move required something more compact, and got some KEF Q1's instead. The KEF's soundstage was a revelation compared to the B&W's who's otherwise very pleasant character was a little more withdrawn in the sense of imaging. The Denon was very forgiving paired with either of these. However, it's time has come and it started to have issues like crackling pots, channels dropping out etc.
So I treated myself to a very clean but used Arcam Diva A85. It's not the latest and greatest, but as I'm running a few years behind, and can't stretch to newer 'premium hifi' equipment for a while, this will do nicely.
Now the big question. My smallish living room hasn't really got the shape nor space to even place the KEF Q1's where I'd like them, they are too wide. So my ideal speaker as far as placement would be narrow (10 to 15cm max) , not too deep, but can be tall to make up for volume. In other words a pair of slender floorstanders would be ok. I'd also consider a pair of tiny bookshelfs paired with a subwoofer that I could hide somewhere, but I'd prefer just a 2 speaker option.
Any suggestions on which speakers would fit both the size, and the Arcam criteria? I listen to a wide variety of music, but generally it is m mostly pop and rock (i.e. Coldplay, Robbie Williams, Travis, U2) Bluesrock (Joe Bonnamassa, SRV), and female vocalists like Adele, Norah Jones etc that are on the menu. The odd classical album , and synth driven music will also pass by on occasion.
Many thanks in advance for your helpful suggestions.
I am in no rush, but don't want to drag the search out for months on end.
Most importantly (I'm happy to buy secondhand, preloved) my speaker budget cannot exceed 400 at this moment.
I have had a Denon PMA 520 amp for many, many years, paired initially to a pair of B&W DM520's, then a house move required something more compact, and got some KEF Q1's instead. The KEF's soundstage was a revelation compared to the B&W's who's otherwise very pleasant character was a little more withdrawn in the sense of imaging. The Denon was very forgiving paired with either of these. However, it's time has come and it started to have issues like crackling pots, channels dropping out etc.
So I treated myself to a very clean but used Arcam Diva A85. It's not the latest and greatest, but as I'm running a few years behind, and can't stretch to newer 'premium hifi' equipment for a while, this will do nicely.
Now the big question. My smallish living room hasn't really got the shape nor space to even place the KEF Q1's where I'd like them, they are too wide. So my ideal speaker as far as placement would be narrow (10 to 15cm max) , not too deep, but can be tall to make up for volume. In other words a pair of slender floorstanders would be ok. I'd also consider a pair of tiny bookshelfs paired with a subwoofer that I could hide somewhere, but I'd prefer just a 2 speaker option.
Any suggestions on which speakers would fit both the size, and the Arcam criteria? I listen to a wide variety of music, but generally it is m mostly pop and rock (i.e. Coldplay, Robbie Williams, Travis, U2) Bluesrock (Joe Bonnamassa, SRV), and female vocalists like Adele, Norah Jones etc that are on the menu. The odd classical album , and synth driven music will also pass by on occasion.
Many thanks in advance for your helpful suggestions.
I am in no rush, but don't want to drag the search out for months on end.
Most importantly (I'm happy to buy secondhand, preloved) my speaker budget cannot exceed 400 at this moment.