New or used? What sound characteristics are most important to you?
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Same question as @soix , I would add that McIntosh has been known to sound very good with B&W's, a friend has that setup and it's a nice match up, so if you can, take a listen to some B&W's. Sonus Faber has a very good reputation,so nothing wrong there either.
I myself have had Mc and Bluseound equipment in the past, but have never owned B&W's. Just FYI.
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I have listen to Sonus Faber and I like them. Advice?
you've answered your own question, if you like them after hearing them, what advice do you need?
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I am open to either new or used. I currently own a pair of B&W 804 D3. I like them a lot and they are paired with McIntosh and Levinson. I live in Seattle. We seem to have a limited variety in this price range.
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ProAc is a serious contender. When I went from Sonus Faber to ProAc (monitors) I never looked back. They are extremely dynamic, big soundstage, punchy, completely non-fatiguing, smooth. a DT8 will knock your socks off…good luck on your hunt!
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Curious that you like your B&Ws but also Sonus Fabers. They're pretty far apart on the sonic spectrum.
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I’ve compared several B&W speakers to Joseph Audio, and in every case the JA speaker was superior on every level. You can pick up a nice pair of JA Profiles for only $2800, which is a great price. Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they significantly outperform your 804 D3s that I’m very familiar with having worked for Magnolia. If for some reason the Profiles don’t work for you, you may well be able to resell them for no loss or even a small profit. Go for it! You will not be disappointed.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/265698051503
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Nothing wrong with Sonus Faber. If you are looking to compare check out KEF.
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If you liked the Sonus Faber, buy them that's my advice. Otherwise go listen to a bunch of others in that price range and if you like something you hear better buy that instead.
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If you have the room to set them up properly, Magnepan 1.7i.
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A great alternative to Sonus Faber would be Vienna Acoustics.
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If you like B&W (as I do), try to listen to the ATC models in your price range. BTW, I think B&Ws so good, it's hard to imagine anything price-comparable which is "superior on every level". Bass could be better, but subs easily help this.
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Sonus Faber makes a great $3 k speaker , monitor audio Also
myself just bought a used $5 6 yr old Dynaudio 3.4 ,,excellent design,build quality,
and drivers , I spent $1500 on upper end Xover parts and wiring
now the speaker is better then many $10k+ speakers ,add the Svs 4000sb sub you have a excellent full range speaker system for a 1/3 the cost of a new speaker of = quality.
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OP,
Are you looking to replace your 804s or speakers for a 2nd system?
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If you can wait until Sheila Berdan is up and running in her new Seattle-area location, she is an Eminent Technology dealer. The ET LFT-8b has gotten great reviews (especially in the UK, but also by Robert E. Greene in The Absolute Sound, and by Harry Weisfeld of VPI, who declared the $2499/pr LFT-8b to possess the best midrange he has ever heard). Too bad it cost $501 below your minimum budget ;-) .
Brooks Berdan thought (R.I.P.) very highly of the ET magnetic-planar speaker line, choosing it as the planar speaker line over Magnepan for his shop (along with QUAD ESL's, and Wilson and Vandersteen box designs). I have both (Magneplanar Tympani T-IVa, and both LFT-4 and LFT-8b's), buying the LFT-8b after hearing it in the shop. For some reason U.S.A. audiophiles continue to ignore this great speaker value.
Unlike Maggies---whose low impedance characteristics prefer a solid state amp, the LFT-8b is an easy 8 ohm load, the magnetic-planar panel itself (which sits atop a sealed 8" dynamic woofer for 180Hz down) 11 ohms, great for tube amps. Two pair of binding posts---one for the m-p panel (housing a true push-pull magnetic midrange driver and ribbon tweeter, unlike the single ended drivers in the similarly-priced Maggie 1.7i), the other for the woofer---makes bi-amping or bi-wiring easy.
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What sound are you looking for exactly? Sf and B&W are polar opposites as others have mentioned, especially the 800 series B&W. I've owned both and love the older B&W sound, 800 series are just too bright for my liking.
At 3-4k you can get used Sf Sonettos and Sf Cremonas, both are exceptionally smooth speakers that are a bit shy on the bass. They wont be nearly as detailed as your 804s, and with a mac tube pre they might be a little too smooth. Personally I found that combo a bit too smooth for enjoyment. The higher end Olympicas are much more detailed and made for a better match for mac tube gear (I run C47 w/ mc275 monos).
Personally I find Focal to be a great match with McIntosh tube gear. I've heard the Focal Aria 938 w/ a MA252 and it was an excellent combo. Like the B&W speakers, I find the Aria line to be too bright but the tube front end rolled it off just enough to be not annoying. I currently have the Kanta 2s and extremely pleased with them paired to my mcintosh stack.
Now if you want something completely different from the B&W speakers, try Kef. Their R series at that price point as very neutral and produce a huge sound stage. I've heard the R11s on a MA252 plenty of times and it's a great combo.
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You should tell us what music you're listening.
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I don’t want a bright speaker. I like warm, but not muddy. I need bass and detail. I don’t see adding a sub with this system.
I am not opposed moving the 804s and getting a different speaker for the main listening room. I have always wanted a of Maggies.
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I don’t think there are any "best" speakers out there. Some may suit your room and taste better than others.
Other brands you can try is Dynaudio with Emit 50 or 30, Fyne with F502 or F501SP. Canton also has good speakers. Or any used speakers that used to cost $6k to $8k.
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He's going to be pushing the $3-4k budget with any Sonus Faber floor-stander even used.
And a lot of the other high quality floor-standers mentioned above.
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Of course I recommend the speaker I have enjoyed for over a decade... Ohm Walsh 2000. $3800 the pair, IIRC. Does most things really well, and a few exceptionally well.
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Sonus Faber makes great speakers. The problem is that there are so many great speakers out there, it's wise to listen to as many as you can if possible.
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1) Listen to as many speakers as you can.
2) Trust your ears
3) Be open minded. While at an audio dealer, be willing to demo other brands that are not on your list. You just might discover that what you're seeking is not currently on your radar.
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This is the most personal of choices of all the components in our systems. I believe speakers come first and everything follows. You have to travel and listen! Askng for advice here is like asking someone to pick out a girlfriend for you. And like girlfriends, try before you buy! Joe
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This is the most personal of choices of all the components in our systems. I believe speakers come first and everything follows. You have to travel and listen! Asking for advice here is like asking someone to pick out a girlfriend for you. And like girlfriends, try before you buy!
i agree w this but asking for advice is not a bad thing, especially when auditions are difficult to achieve
that said, the asker is best served, while asking, to specify -- in as much detail as possible -- what their current rig and room is, and how they feel the sound quality is currently and the priorities wrt how it can improve ...
otherwise, all 'advice' given are shots in the dark more or less
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Don't forget about Vandersteen. The new model 2 Ce Sig. III is right in the middle of your price range. If you dont mind the looks of the model 2, it would be a good choice. Not bright and very detailed but not overly analytical.
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+1 Focal used Kanta 2 possibly in your budget. Good luck !
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I am in a fairly similar search mode as the OP, and would have seconded @vinylzone suggestion of Maggie 1.7i at <$3k … BUT you can’t drive them adequately with that Mac integrated, and small/medium Maggies are so dependent on listener room constraints and preferences for genre/content (eg lower extension/dynamics)
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In that price range +1 on the Sierra towers with raal recommendation. Had a pair for 8 years, great imaging and depth, wide soundstage, very airy and detailed with yet excellent bass.
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You have not read about Tekton Speakers ?
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I am in a fairly similar search mode as the OP, and would have seconded @vinylzone suggestion of Maggie 1.7i at <$3k … BUT you can’t drive them adequately with that Mac integrated, and small/medium Maggies are so dependent on listener room constraints and preferences for genre/content (eg lower extension/dynamics)
agree with this 100% - maggies at various price levels are capable of some of the very finest sound obtainable, thus are a tremendous value -- but they do put rather severe demands on the rest of the chain, and can be hit-or-miss in the wife acceptance department
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While I realize this would change my budget, Maggies are a consideration- 3.7i. I have a dedicated listening room for my primary system. Thanks to the recommendations from this group. It is 13’ x 22’. The WAF is good to go.
I have heard the 3.7i, but I do intend on listening to them.
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The very best value in a loudspeaker system at your price point is a used set of Linkwitz Orions. They typically sell for about $3000, as a full system of loudspeakers, active crossover, multi-channel amplifier and cabling. Most of the Orion sets you’ll find are homebrew kit built, but they were also custom built by Wood Artistry of Healdsburg, CA. Those sets retailed at $15,000 for the loudspeakers and active crossover. You had to supply your own amplification.
Even at $15,000, they were a good value. I run a set of custom built Orions and they are my "forever loudspeaker." They’re an open baffle system with exceptional imaging, dynamics and detail. They are especially wonderful on voices and acoustic instruments. The LX521 is the current Linkwitz design, but to my ear, the Orion design is still a worthy competitor.
I’ve been to the audio shows and I’d sit my Orions up against any $30,000+ system you’ve got. I do know of a set in the San Francisco area that are going for $3000. Reach out to the seller and work out shipping.
Remember that this is a full system, including amplification. Heck. You can drop $3000 without batting an eye on just an amplifier.
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I know that you want a floor-stander, but you really should check out the Joseph Audio pulsars, which you can get used, often with stands, for about $4K. They are truly excellent speakers, with a silly amount of bass for a stand-mounted speaker. I had a pair and loved them.
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this one is easy. a top $2500 speaker with a $1000 sub. People sell things like a a pair of F206 REVELs, mint, used, for $2500. add a REL, SVS, or JL sub, and you will have a FANTASTIC FULL RANGE system
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For a nominal investment of no more than $1000, look for a pair of PSB Stratus Gold's (not the i's, however). They will sound like a speaker costing far more. I have a pair purchased by me in 2006 and I will never part with them in the event that I put together a non-reference listening room. I have compared them to the following in my system,
Vienna Acoustics Liszt-No bottom end whatsoever
Any B&W product-Far too bright and fatiguing
Focal Sopra II-Great mids, but not enough low end
Sonus Faber-Looks good but not exciting from a harmonic perspective
Tekton-Only if the lights were off, as they are not easy on the eyes
Save some money and hunt down a pair!
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You may be able to land a pair of Maggie 3.7i used or the 1.7i with a good sub would also be worth auditioning.
Good luck happy listening.
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What about used ATC SCM 40s?
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ATC are the most accurate speakers, imo. See if you can stretch to the SCM19s ($4700) otherwise the SCM12s
Later add a Dynaudio 18s sub (~1800)
ATC are a dominating presence in pro recording studios
https://atc.audio
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Your B&W are a perfect match for the McIntosh amplification. However they can be a little stogy in the midrange.
Another excellent match with Mac amplifiers are the Klipsch Heritage.
The Forte IV sound excellent paired with your amplifier. The Forte IV has a lively deep and rich sound and is the more refined than the Heresy.
Be prepared for a more exciting sound and much more life like midrange,
Should be able to find new under your budget.
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