As good or better than Magnepan 3.7i

LFT-8c

Qualio IQ. But I also like @russ69 suggestion. I have the ET speakers on my short list of ones to hear.

Considering you’re coming from Maggies I’d consider dipole speakers like the Spatial Audio X4 P2 that costs $9200 or maybe even the S4 at $5900.  I heard similar Spatials with LTA electronics at a show and it was one of the top systems I heard.  The Clayton Caladans may also be worth a look and would save you $$$.  Best of luck. 
 

So far, it looks like Spatial Audio is not going to be at axpona this year. Too bad.

I'd only buy Caladans if they were in stock and available for immediate shipment.  The wait for lots of folks has been over a year since ordering and that backlog still is being worked through.

Cone speakers would be ok as well.

In addition to Maggies, I also have Goldenear Triton 1s.  Different presentation, but very good.

At CAF 2024, I listened to the "not on the website yet," new model MCRs(?) using the very best Magnepan tech on smaller speakers. Around 7 k$.

NS-5000 - Overview - Speakers & Subwoofers - Home Audio - Products - Yamaha - United States

Since you like planners, could you stretch to Quad 2912?

Also, your room is awfully close to an optimal solution. Record shelves or bookcases along the long wall could do quite a lot for your sound. See the article by the famous acoustician Cox, of U of Salford. No snake oi, just the results of a large scale simulation. Relevant optimal dimension ratios are something like 1:1.42:4, IIRC.

I have worked with this room for 2 years and feel confident the acoustical treatments are finally correct. 
The Ikea record shelf is behind me on the rear wall. 
If I change speakers, especially if they are not dipole, then I'm sure some revisions to the placement of the acoustical panels will be required. 

Also, your room is awfully close to an optimal solution
 

@terry9 

So what you’re saying is that it’s the perfect room?

"I'm looking for suggestions of speakers with equivalent or better sound."

That's a really tall order. I honestly don't think you can get what you are asking for in the 9K range. 

I think the Wilson Watt Puppy 8 is equal or better sound but they are 28K. 

You can probably get 5K for yours taking your budget up to 14K but it's really hard to get the Maggie sound out of similar priced speakers. 

Just my 2 cents......

GR Research NX-Otica...https://gr-research.com/product/nx-otica-2/ 

The kits can be professionally assembled and finished from flat packs or DIY with much reward. Tremendous value and uncompromising sound quality. No affiliation, just personal experience.

@ozzy62 "So what you’re saying is that it’s the perfect room?"

Yes, pretty much. Cox (www.acoustics.salford.ac.uk) did large scale simulations of hundreds of thousands of rooms, and concluded that almost everything that most people have ever written or read on the subject is just plain wrong.

And not just the usual suspects - this includes the chapter in the Electronic Engineer’s Handbook (McGraw-Hill? CRC? - can’t remember). Anyway, he presents a scattergram of good ratios (height to width to length), about 2% coverage, and another scattergram of OK ratios - about 25% coverage, both for small, medium, and large rooms.

To my surprise, I found that one of my rooms was near one of his best dimensional ratios, a small island of sonic excellence centred at 1 : 1.415 : 3.47, so I rebuilt that room to those dimensions, to 1/8" (3mm) tolerance. Screw and elastomeric glue, Quietrock over Baltic birch ply, built-in record shelves, the whole 99 yards.

Most people remark on it as soon as they enter the room, before the music starts. They comment on the quality of the silence. There’s something peaceful and calming about the room itself. Costly? Yes. Worth it? Too right. Best component I’ve ever owned. Thing is - coincidence - that's the same ratio the OP could bill to.

My post of 08:44 reads, "Since you like planners, could you stretch to Quad 2912?"

DAMN that autocorrect. Should read, "Since you like planars, ... Quad 2912."

You might like "Pure Audio Project" open baffle speakers because you can customize them in many ways!

Well I just put my newly rebuilt Quad 63s away and am going to sell. So I am done with any dipole design and the difficulties that arise with proper placement. Now dynamic open baffle are a bit easier to place, but still am not a huge fan.  

Your Maggies are wonderful speakers!

Why don't you wait until you have to downsize and see if they will still work?

Goldenear Triton Reference. They give you back what might be missing at a reasonable price.

https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/2761083
Tom, 

They are actually a little too large for the room they are in. 

Goldenear Triton Reference.

I heard those at AXPONA last year and thought they were pretty good. 

Horns like Avant Garde or OMA and a good SET amp like Phasemation ir Air-tight

@traudio 

It’s difficult to make recommendations as planar panel speakers and unique sonic advantages and disadvantages.  Also Magnepan offer excellent performance to price - tough to beat.  Maybe smaller panel speakers from DIPTYQUE or Final 15 electrostatic.

Volti Razz or Lucera might have the clarity and speed you’ll like, but they’re very efficient so may not match your amplification

Probably your best bet is to review TAS periodic list of components/speakers, then go and demo speakers at audio stores and shows.

GoldenEar Triton is a musical speaker that images well.  Harbeth/Hegel combo, Monitor Audio, KEF…so many choices. 

second recommendation for https://pureaudioproject.com/

What the maggies could do better are better dynamics...

But be careful what you wish for, after living with 3.6’s for 15 years and going to a nice set of semi-conventional cone speakers I now get some songs that are too dynamic. Yes you read that correctly- on some tracks drums hit too hard and feel out of balance with the rest of the instruments, and I wish I was listening to the 3.6’s again. The majority are better though- It’s all about the recording. Tough to have it all for every piece of music.

They are actually a little too large for the room they are in. 

That room is a little larger than the one I had them in. Have you tried a Limage setup? 

kennyc,

Thank for the suggestions. I really like the Hegel, but wittiest be opposed to changing i

mclinnguy

Never heard of Limage set up. Got a link?

@traudio 

There is a link at the bottom of this link also 

https://www.audioasylum.com/messages/MUG/217738/hk-limage-explained-sadie-is-our-in-house-expert-on-this-set-up

OP- ok need smaller speakers. I'm guessing you love the "see through" quality the Maggies do so well. My B&W 803 also do that really well, as did the Vandersteen model 1 and model 2 I've had. The 803 are much more dynamic than the Vandies, and will effortlessly play much louder. For your purposes I would get the Vandies because they are much more affordable than the 803s. I know your budget is 15k but why spend it if you can get a speaker you will love for a lot less coin?

Don't know where I got  the idea your budget was 15k. Must been from another post. 

tomcarr

Thanks for the suggestions. Never been a fan of B&W for some reason. 
My 1st real speakers were Vandersteen 2C back in the mid 80's. They are a nice pleasant speaker, but unless things have changed, I found them to be overly "polite" and lacking clarity. 
I haven't heard the current models, but I hope that's improved. 

bernardo

18 posts

01-15-2025 at 04:17pm 

Serenity Acoustics/GR Research Super 7s.

Planar magnetic midrange and treble; open baffle dual 12-inch Rythmik servo-controlled bass. Similar sound to 3.7s but with better bass and smaller footprint.

I have a pair for sale on Audiocircle Trading Post.

Well done! You basically post an ad without paying for it...AND mention that it's not even on this site!!

You have a big pair!

I couldn't find his ad anyway

Anyone have an opinion on the PS Audio speakers?

I've heard them at axpona but they were in that large lobby area. Kind of hard to judge. The little FR 5 had a ton of bass somehow. Didn't hear the FR 10 since they kept going back to the bigger models.

Aura - Entry level of Estelon but fits the mid-sized room better than the Forza. Heard both in a show. Quite impressive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jcvG_Rr4rE

Unless you need speakers a lot smaller, why not the Magnepan 2.7x?  Same basic design with true ribbon, and higher spec components throughout.  With your subs, it will likely sound better than the 3.7i.

moridunon
I have considered that.

Used Børresens