Specifically, I'm looking at the Taylo Mini Reference Monitor...mostly because I think the Reference Monitor (non-mini) is out of my range. Brand new, they're $1600, but I know they put them on special from time to time, and used, I've seen them sell for right at $1K. So, they don't seem outlandishly expensive.
Anyone have any thoughts, or experiences with these speakers. I know they're a relatively small brand and truthfully that intrigues me even more...that they're off the beaten path a little.
I can only offer my thoughts on these speakers. I wish I could give you direct listening impressions, but I have never heard these speakers. But I have heard speakers with very similar drivers. The Seas magnesium midwoofers, the W15 (5") and W18 (6.5") are very good and are also expensive, ~$150 each if you buy from a retail source like Madisound. Like all metal midwoofers, they have a different sound than coated paper drivers of similar size and quality. The details of the crossover can have a major effect on how speakers with these drivers sound. Have you ever listened to any speakers with either of these two drivers? In general, I like coated paper drivers better than metal drivers, but I can think of examples of speakers with metal drivers that I think sound good. So try to find a way to listen to these speakers.
The Scan-Speak 1" dome tweeters are also very good, and yes they are also expensive. I have heard these tweeters in other 2-way speakers. As a guess, I think that the Mini Reference Monitors with the 5" midwoofers might do a better job of integrating smoothly with these tweeters than the Reference Monitors with the larger midwoofer. But, as I said above, listen to them, the devil is in the details.
Tyler speakers certainly look good on paper. The drivers are first rate, the cabinets look very nicely finished. I can't say anything about the quality of the crossovers or how well the cabinets are made. At those prices, they'd better be very good.
Have you considered any speakers by
Salk Sound? Salk uses the Seas W18 driver in a number of his models. He does sell the
Ellis 1801, a 2-way that uses the W18 midwoofer along with a Hiquophon OW1 tweeter, a ¾" dome that I personally prefer over the Scan-Speak 1" dome. It has wider dispersion and sounds truly outstanding.
At $1,500 a pair, I also recommend the Salk SongTower QWT speakers, but they are MTM floor standers, and you did say you were looking for small monitors. See the link in my signature below.
If you are up to DIY, I also recommend the Dennis Murphy designed CAOW1 speakers, for roughly $500 a pair. Again, see the link below. You can buy premade cabinets for these if you don't want to build your own. If you look at Salk's site for the MBOW!/CAOW1, he also sells these, but I don't know the price. I personally prefer these small 2-ways to the Ellis 1801 speaker.
