Attention to detail


I'm looking at speakers in the 1000 dollar range. I want large amounts of detail. Currently I am auditioning the B&W DM 603 S3. What else should I listen to? Anyone have experience with the 603 S3? Amplification will be an Audio Refinement Complete integrated. Thanks.
s7horton
Check out the Totem speaker line. The Arros are $1100 new, the Rokk, and the Mite are close to that price also. I have the Arros and the Model 1's in 2 different systems and enjoy them both.
Spendor S3/5 for $600 used...or better the Spendor S3/1p for $8-900 used: +4dB more efficient, with much deeper bass.
I just built an entry-level system for a good friend from these Spendors and a used Complete Integrated, fed by the new NAD 541i CDP through Nordost Blue Heaven to start.
Should turn out exceptionally well, I trust. The lushness of the ARC and the exceptional coherence of the Spendors should seduce.
Yep. If you really get into this, you'll find yourself likely going through quite a few different speakers ultimately! There are so many different tastes, room set ups, personal music preferences, listening habits, and so on, that it's no wonder EVERYBODY ends up with different gear! In all my years around hi-end audio, I've never met two people that share the same systems! I'm sure they exist, but the norm is definitely PERSONAL CHOICE AND DIVERSITY!
My suggestion would be to try what you have already PLANTED in your mind(or you'll always wonder), and then try something else!! You'll never ever know until you walk down the "trial and error" path! Also, play around with speaker placement and differnt seating locations in your room, and learn about acoustics. This will pay HUGE dividends in the end. Otherwise, when you try gear, you wont' know what you got or what's possible with any given gear if you can't set it up right for best sound! This is critical. How big is the room by the way? This makes a SELECTION QUALIFICATION difference.
I could make a TON of suggestions of other chioces depending, but it's way confusing, and you just gotta try some stuff! otherwise, who's word, taste, or recommendations, are you going to chose? We all have our own favorites and personal tastes.
Good luck....try the little B&W DM601's or 602's for the money used, then you'll know what that sound is like. You can always upgrade later.
If you want detail, you will get a ton more of it with Lowthers, than with anything else mentioned here. You may have to make your own enclosure to keep under $1k, but where would you rather have your money, in YOUR drivers, or in someone elses profit margin? Get a pair of Lowther DX2's for $695. Spend the rest on a pair of cabinets. I recommend the Voigt Pipes. Easy to make, even if you are not a woodworker, and cheap for material. There is no crossover, so you don't have to worry about that. Some wood and binding posts are all you need. Good from 40Hz to 20kHz out of one driver. And they look very exotic and cool! Sound will beat anything up to at least $5k.

If you want to see what they look like, click on my "System" link, next to my name below. These are a "quick and dirty" version that was put together for testing, but if you use nice wood, and take your time, they can look very very nice indeed. They are about 6 feet tall. These were made in 1 day. I am not a cabinetmaker. At all. Super easy.
And I thought Twl was going to suggest a Terres turntable. Only kidding Twl :)