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Have you thought about in wall speakers, With limited space may be worth a look...? https://improb.com/best-in-wall-speakers/

Story of a Girl

Fair enough!

"Nice! I like their shape, too." These are shapely, solid little ingots. "Do you like Mirages in general as well? I found an MC 2 center channel and M 490 speakers that are in our price range. " Beyond the Nanosats & some unknown Mirage bookshelf speakers at a audio dealer's listening room ('twas years ago) I am not familiar with the rest of the line. I do recall being impressed by a pair up on a shelf along one wall of the listening space plus a Mirage SW ( this was not one of the hi-end-hi-$$ listening rooms with comfy furniture.) The Mirage were the smallest things on the shelf ; however, the sound field impressed me, a bit of a cognitive disconnect. I would look at the models with the upward dispersing Omnipolar driver; I see their floor standing models feature this. They are slim-line, too, a plus. Good luck!

You might want to look at the Cambridge Audio M-80 or the Alesis Monitor Ones, I have both. Very nice as near field monitors and both are considered ‘bookshelf’ speakers. My Cambridge are gorgeous and have great bass extension. Either set can be had in the $75 a pair range. I’ve powered both with my 2011 amps, they should work well with the new amp.

Consider Mirage bookshelf series; I had a Nanosat 5.1 system but they did sound good as 2.1. The fronts were easy to place on a mantleshelf, the rears on anything (desk top, plant stand, speaker stand.) When they went up for sale on CL they went pronto.

A big thank you from those of us lurking on this thread, for all the great info, here. I have to say I love the idea @The Raven has for "streaming white/pink/brown noise and nature sounds." The idea of that through a decent system is very intriguing. There are times I'm watching things online, for work or just working, where having something like that in the background would be great. @The Raven what are you using for source material, if you don't mind me asking?

These might not fit your budget or do they? https://www.whathifi.com/features/11-worlds-most-expensive-loudspeakers Just think those are in pounds. So it would be more iin dollars. That first one says 800 kg speaker. I wonder if thats for one or the pair?

I listen at 9-10, and am listening to Snells and The Who - It's Hard. It is hard for me to stay in the room at anything past 11. If @The Raven likes Classical, Jazz and Opera, cranking it up may not be necessary. @The Raven I have a pair of ADS810s, 710s, 1290s. If the 810s/1290s are too big, consider the three-way 710s.

Those new Snells that LT just aquired were super nice. Of course the Bonzorroized 4000t, tubes and VPI Scout only made them even better. Out of bounds I believe $

With 85W on them they were dark, muddy and nasty. I don't do loud either. (Call me a girl Hash..... If you have the cojones)

Keep in mind Jen is a girl...she doesn't turn it up to 11 like y'all.

#Winning!

Vintage A/D/S/ speakers like L-810's would be an excellent and economical choice.

I like this suggestion! If you go EPI, you might also look at picking up a pair of M400 or the later M400+ mini-towers. They will handle tons of power (I have a pair in my office driven by a Carver M500). These are vintage. I saw a pair go for $50 on CL in Detroit a few months back. Burhoe speaker designs are legendary. And these are built solid - the M400's way well over 50 lbs. Their are designed for giving a great sense of depth, having drivers and tweeters on 4 sides, which when properly placed a couple feet from side and back walls in each left and right corner, you'll create an interesting surround-like sound stage. I have a few CD's of thunderstorms and rain - and these speakers reproduce that sound magically. The picture below is of my pair after I restored them. I put the book-matched walnut on the top - they didn't come that way. ? (They are posing for the photo..., not properly placed).

Any favourites? Just stumbled across this one! LOL