Screw the floor standing speaker. At $3500. I heard the PS Audio F5 stand mounted speaker and it’s beyond anything in the $3500. range I have heard. Incredible soundstage, transparency and detail. Just beyond anything one should expect from a speaker priced in this range. All of PS Audio Aspen speakers were the best sound I heard at Axpona 2025. Were there better speakers? Yes, but they cost at least $60,000. and beyond.
$3500 floor standing speakers used. What would be your choice ?
My speakers are 25 years old, working fine for now, but who knows I might have to replace them at some point in the future.
The amp would be VAC Avatar SE 60 watt/ch all tube with onboard phono stage. Nottingham Analogue Spacedeck/Spacearm turntable and couple of tape decks.
I am thinking Proac maybe or whatever.
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Maybe this - on eBay now: Fyne Audio F502 Floorstanding Speakers (BRAND NEW Pair) |
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I would either go for Totem or Sonus Faber. Both are excellent and run for a great discount prices on the used market. Currently I run a Sonus Faber Grand Piano Home and next upgrade will be Sonus Faber for sure. If your music lean to Jazz, Classical and Accoustics they're hard to beat warm and musical never ever I thought it was fatiguing and I play them for hours every day. With your amp I think they'll be a match in heaven. Totem are great for their bass and small foot print and their imaging is wow! something I noticed they didn't do it for me for movies but other than that they're great for all genres playing better for Rock I guess. |
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My preferences are several I currently own like my mains PMC, small garage system Totem, and den system Sonus Faber ,but have quite of bit more power driving them than the 60 watts per channel so that might be a problem. I rotate a pair Monitor Audio also but they are a little bright imo, a small pair of NHT's that still sound good. Had Dynaudio but to me were finicky somewhat so got rid of them and the KEF's were a little bright. Don't like horn speakers at all and sure don't like the looks of Tekton but have never heard them. If I was looking again the Devore's would be on a my list, ATC, different Totem's, always been a fan of English Speakers for some reason. Good luck |
Buying a speaker without auditioning is tough, trying to figure out how it “sounds” by the “words” of others. Maybe look at what speakers others are using with the OP’s amp. Otherwise it’s compile a list of speakers compatible with the amps power then choosing Good luck, hoping you’ll land on something good |
I’ve been using ProAc Response 2 speakers since they were first introduced in the early 90’s. They are a bookshelf model. They are three dimensional with tube electronics. Any changes upstream are recognized through them. They definitely perform best on great stands when placed away from walls. My room is medium sized (14’x18’x10’). Originally my amp was Audio Research D-70 (60 W/channel). I never felt the need for more power. Current amps are CJ Premier 12 (140 W/channel) which are wonderful. |
@inna please do speak French! Tekton c'est de la merde 😂😂🤣 |
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This is quite a range of very different speakers. From British ProAc, Tannoy and Fyne to Italian Sonus Faber and Rosso to American Devore, Silverline, Varndersteen and others to French JM Labs. How do you choose if buying used and can't really audition most of them? And again, no one describes the sound of their recommended speakers in details. Like mulveling, I prefer simpler speakers with as few drivers as possible. And that's what I currently have - 1" silk dome tweeter and 8" woofer, both made by Vifa. |
A lot of advice provided in this thread... Because you have a really nice, clean and simple system - Nottingham into your VAC integrated (love that amp, and I am vinyl based also). I think match the integrated to the speakers (think 93bd and up), and the speakers need to match the room... But my experience says go for something like the Focal 1038. It is as good as the Sopra's 2 or 3 IMHE, with bass more like the 3. Easier to drive with tubes than any Sopra (I have heard them just Rock out (loud) to large Brahms or Miles KOB on as little as a 40w AudioPrism EL34 amp in a 12x27 room). The 1038 is a large speaker system, but small enough for a good match with your integrated, will fit a lot of rooms.
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excellent choices. I have a few speakers and I would narrow down to these 2- both American (I am not). Omega- single driver speakers. I have the Junior 8 XRS. Even new they would be within your budget. For me they are almost the best speakers I have had, besting even stuff more than 2x their price. Devore Fidelity Orangutan Baby. Used they could just be within your budget. Again amazing sound. A third one- which might not come within your budget, used are from Poland. Qualio Audio IQ. |
Speakers are really tough to recommend as they are such a personal choice based on what sounds good to you. The room, electronics play a big role in how the speakers sound with synergy also playing a huge role. The right amp paired with the right speakers can sound very different than an amp that really doesn’t pair well with a particular speaker. That said, based on what you’ve described as the sound signature you like, Sonus Faber, DeVore, Spendor, Legacy would all be brands to look at. Golden Ear though different in design also would likely be a really good fit. Paradogm, Focal are outstanding speakers but fall into the highly detailed, chasing that Hifi sound you mentioned not really liking. BE tweeters are amazing but often are implemented in a way that leans into the Hifi sound as well. I’ve had BE Tweeters, several Focal floor standers and ended up landing on Alta Audio Alec’s which would check most of your boxes. The Seas kit also would be right up your ally, sound like a perfect fit to what you are after. Omega DynaTen speakers also would be worth a look. Good Luck, |
I am not good to explain this, as in the end it really boils down to "I like what I hear with Tannoys". Phase coherence (at the crossover) is only a theory or possibility for why some of us particularly gravitate to Tannoy DC sound - Tannoys are NOT time aligned, and only phase coherent at the crossover point, but this may be enough? Its symmetric, controlled dispersion is another possibility - this can reduce the impact of a room's acoustics on resulting sound. I also like a "mid-field" arrangement with my Tannoys, which reduces the room's impact even further. With large multi-driver speakers you cannot get so close or the image "pulls apart"! Tannoy's image is clean and lifelike at almost any distance. The supertweeters can sacrifice a little bit of this coherence, but that's another topic and set of pros/cons. The key result is that when I listen to something "busy" like hard rock or metal, it has to maintain the musicalilty and a natural "flow", without feeling like it's falling apart or the musical elements are fighting each other. When I do like other companies' speakers, they tend to be simpler, smaller arrangements like a 2-way with the tweeter and smaller woofer close together. An example would be than Magico S1 and Acora SRC-1. These have great, liquid musical "flow" and I really enjoyed listening to them. Sure, I'd love if they had better bass extension and impact, but when you go to larger models - I hated the A3 and did not really enjoy the larger Acoras (including the $200K one) that much. That A3 in particular sounded like it had a Home Theater sub in it (thumpy, out of time, easy to localize), and I hate that - this always punches me out of being able to enjoy music. Yes, room interactions can cause this but I've never heard anything at all like this from a good Tannoy model (to be sure, some are better than others). I did like the S5 (heard it back when it was an Mk 1), but still the S1 may have been more musical.
"Usually" leaves a lot of gray area, and we are all individuals to "some" extent :) |
You have some good options (some already mentioned - ATC’s, Magnepan, Vandersteen, etc.) - but - my choice would be (was) - the following: 1. Linkwitz Orions or LX521s - nothing compares to Linkwitz open baffle speakers (is any better). You can find used Orions for <$5,000 - sometimes for <$4000. LX521’s sometimes for <$5000. And... that’s with the amplifier, the ASP and cables. Believe me - once you’ve heard these in good room - you will find nothing better - and - your search will end for the rest of your life. As noted below: "Linkwitz speakers are known for their realism and 3D sound." 2. Magnepan LRS+ - which comes close to the Linkwitz speakers - again - very few others compare. You can get these new for $1000. And with the right equipment almost nothing is better. The great benefit of these is - that they’re very light weight and are easy to move about to optimize their sound in your room, as well as move out of the way, when not in use. Yet - you still have "World-class" sound... and... you can get a pair for "pocket-change." 3. And... if you’re willing to compromise with a superb stand-mount speaker - almost nothing compares to the Legacy Audio Calibres - which sounds as good as most floor standing speakers and is much easier to manage. Though these are a bit more expensive (around $6500 new). Got all of these and more - and they are all superb. If you’re an acoustic music fan (jazz, classical, blues, country, blue grass, etc. - real music) all of these are great! If you’re into other sounds - the Linkwitz, or Legacy speakers might suit you better - with a wee bit better bass and dynamics than the Maggies. Of the others - my choice would prolly be the Vandersteens, because - like the Maggies they’re virtually an open baffle, dipole speaker - which is superb with "all things acoustic." Because all of these are open baffle, or hybrid open baffle, speakers - as noted - virtually nothing else compares. Far superior soundstage, image, and "life-like" sound. Very much like their ancestor - the Quad ESL 57's - which is the "king of the hill," since the 50's/60's. But, you will find nothing better for <$10,000+++). Some educational links - say it all: "Vandersteen Audio and Linkwitz Lab are both companies that design and make loudspeakers. Vandersteen speakers are known for their natural sound and dimensional purity, while Linkwitz speakers are known for their realism and 3D sound." |
Iʻd put together a SEAS Thor kit from Madisound ($2615.00). They have a number of cabinet makers who can build them and ship them to your door for a reasonable amount. Theyʻre not all that hard to build yourself. You could get help from a friend, or just have a local cabinet maker do them up. |
@mulveling - I am genuinely curious about your post concerning phase errors in multi-driver speakers. I was reading Floyd Toole's book on Sound reproduction and he makes a point in that book that phase errors in normal full range systems are not usually bad enough that it has a noticeable impact on the sound quality. Since you say you can hear phase errors, can you describe what to listen for? I may have noticed it in my listening but didn't realize what it was or what to call it. Please explain so I can benefit from your observations as I audition new speakers for my home that's being rebuilt post-fire. |
All of your problems are solved...I know just the speakers that you need and they are in my spare bedroom packed away. I'm taking about a pair of Paradigm Prestige 85fs, gorgeous piano black finish, very gently used and not a single flaw or imperfection anywhere. They are begging to go to a new home... |
@inna with the risk of sounding self-serving, but you might find this interesting, I have a pair of GoldenEar One.R speakers in like-new condition for sale. Wonderful speakers with built-in active subwoofers (*) and DSP. I’m sure you can find a lot of reviews online. (*) this would also take a lot of load off your tube amp MSRP is $7500 and I’m selling them for $3200, plus if any shipping. I am based in Raleigh, NC but can ship. I have all original boxes and accessories. |
Upscale Audio currently has Tannoy on sale, some are "seconds" that might have undetectable scratches in places you'd likely not see. Apparently, Kevin got in a bunch of Tannoy last year that needed rework and got so mad about it, that he has switched to Fyne Audio and is closing out his existing stock of Tannoy (which other than cosmetic imperfections have no issues). At least that was the drift I caught from his postings. So anyway, you might want to check his prices. You might get "new" for not much more than used. |
Here's maybe a fly in the ointment - https://ohmspeaker.com/ I have a pair of Ohm Walsh Tall 3000s in my factory loft living room listening area. My now favorite speaker, they being omni directional. Great that I only need to get them about a foot away from the brick wall, 11' ceilings, 17' X 30' factory loft setting. And the sweet spot is very wide, tall. Started years ago with Thiel CS series, then to ELACS, KEFs - all good. But Ohm Walsh series really shines. And in your budget range for sure you can get a pair of Walsh Talls that fit your listening room. If I knew how to post a .jpeg of my setup I would. Oh, almost exclusively PS Audio high-high end pieces. Even heard PSA's Paul McGowan, on a couple of his daily podcasts, compliment the Ohm engineering having know Ohm's original creator/engineer (just recently RIP). |
Aerial Acoustics, 10T - not easy to find, big & heavy but for $3-$3500 used, Mike Kelly's masterpiece is still an amazing system.
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everhard, appreciate your suggestion. I have not heard Andra but read about them. How they would work with my amp is something that I can't really know. Yeah, I'll keep my current speakers in any case for as long as they can be kept operational. So far, as I upgrade amps and cables they sound better and better. In fact, they are very sensitive to even very minor changes, and I like this. the entire system is very tunable. |
End of last year I bought a used pair of Eggleston works Andra speakers. Based on their sound I'm guessing any Eggleston works speakers (for what you're talking about you could go with a smaller speaker from them) would foot your bill. Definitely not bright and the mids are exquisite. (Bass is equally fantastic but that doesn't seem to be a driving force for you and more to the point I think likely their other speakers if you find something smaller than what I got will sound equally good in the mid\highs region) On a side note I'd not be afraid of keeping an older speaker if you love the sound you've got. I've got a pair of Wharfedale stand mount speakers I bought new somewhere around 1988 and they still sound great. And without question they've worked hard for many years lol. E. |
