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I need some suggestions for a pair of high-quality, accurate, close-field monitors for sound-design work. By "accurate," I simply mean as faithful a reproduction of the signal as I can reasonably get. Whether that means a perfect impulse response and a phase-aligned system or whatever other design spec, I don't really know.
I don't have a lot of room, so these monitors should be designed to be used at about a meter to a meter+half out. No more than two meters. Preferably, they should have good LF extension, but I don't have a problem with adding a sub or two. They also need to do well at reproducing most any kind of material, not voiced for any particular kind of music. To give you a better idea of what I want, I have a pair of Dunlavy SM-1's off a Bryston 5B-ST and I like that setup. But it doesn't work in the close-field. If I could have something like that, though, which worked in the close-field, that would be ideal. I've considered the smaller SC I/AV's, but I have not auditioned them.

From the RAP archives, I've read suggestions for Quested, Dynaudio, ATC and Spendor (and a few others). But I haven't been able to audition any of those yet. What I'd like to know is, what manufacturers and specific monitors should I go to the expense (shipping costs/travel) of auditioning, based on what I said I wanted?

Also, I'd rather go with passive monitors and prefer not to spend more than about US$2K. I hope that's not unreasonable. Magnetically shielded drivers would also be good, but not a necessity. Pro or consumer hi-end/hi-fi, doesn't matter. They don't have to be road-ready and I won't play them that loudly, especially not in this room.

Please, any suggestions are welcome.

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