~$3-5k speakers for moderate volume listening: Spendor A4, Fyne 501SP, Focal Aria X no. 2?


Looking to upgrade my 2.1 to potentially a better fit 2.0 system (the sub isnt a MUST go but ideally). I’ve looked at a few speakers online but finding places to demo them is difficult, so looking to see if i should rule some out (or perhaps rule others in im not considering). I live in an apartment, the wall isn’t the biggest issue…ceiling/floors are, related to irritating neighbors…hence concerns about continued dependence of sub.

Current system:
SF Sonetto 1
SVS Micro 3000
Arcam SA20
Schiit Bifrost 2/64
Rega P3

Current experience:
The sonus fabers just have no dynamics at low volumes. They’re enjoyable louder but Its very limiting for me to depend on cranking the volume knob to make the music come alive, which i don't feel comfortable doing most of the time and cant do much of it. 

Looking for something with dynamics and depth at lower volumes, and from what im looking at I’m operating off of a few learnings/assumptions (correct or not):
- Floorstandings may be easier to drive dynamically (absolutely open to learning otherwise on this)
- sensitivity AND nominal impedance will factor into dyanmics at low volumes. Not sure how consistent that is, and to what degree sensitivity matters vs nominal impedance in that regard. NOTE: i can easily achieve volume and dynamics with my amp…when i crank it...but i cannot decouple volume and dynamics with it.

Speakers im wondering about for this:
- Spendor A4
- Fyne 501SP
- Focal Aria X no.2
- ATC SCM40 mkII (out of my range but if i can find a deal it may change things

can’t easily find those in my area (live in San Francisco), so demoing is a problem. I could travel theoretically to demo the above but if one of them is a no-brainer ill jump on it. Conversely, if i can buy a locally sold brand that fits this use-case really well then that’s obviously going to be ideal. Brands Dealers in my area sell that I love the sound of but worry might not work for my low/moderate volume listening case:
- Sonus Faber (love the sound in general but worry as a brand they'll all be bent towards needing some volume cranking to come alive)
- Dynaudio (similar to sonus faber?)
- Harbeth (don't know anything about them regarding moderate volume dynamics)

Lastly…will the Arcam serve me well with an upgrade of the variety i’m looking at? I know amps factor in and it’s the other item in line to be upgraded in relatively short order. I've considered luxman as something that would be a general big step up PLUS has loudness functionality. 

Note: after initially positive stuff about Fyne, I’ve since read some very contradictory experiences on Audiogon here related to them…not sure how to factor that in

Any advice is appreciated

zander024

I purchased the Focal Aria 936 about 5 years ago.  Paired with a 30 watt tube integrated amp...... takes me places my Porsche can't.

FWIW Lavish Audio in Santa Rosa carries Fyne and has some in stock for demo. Steve is a good guy and very accommodating.

T

The new Buchardts E50 will be perfect for you. You can turn then down so low until you hardly hear them and they will still sound dynamic. I’m blown away by these speakers. No sub is needed. They can be returned  if they don’t suite your taste.