+4 Legacy. Several very nice models in that price range. US made (Springfield, IL).
I saw Tannoy mentioned several times. Anyone interested in Tannoy should listen to a price equivalent model from Fyne Audio, run by ex-Tannoy employees. By all accounts, the Tannoy sound has been taken to the next level. I believe all Tannoy models are now made in China. The Fyne 700 and F1 series speakers are still made in Scotland.
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Avanti1960,
Don't worry what other's say! Your speakers can beat $100k speakers! Only thing big expensive speakers do is sound loud and have deep bass which is not entirely accurate anyways! Enjoy 🙂 |
Second on Magnepan 3.7i add a good sub or 2 and you'll be in audio heaven. |
I love the Dynaudio Evoke, had both the 10 and 20, incredible speakers. |
Soundstage and imaging? Magneplanars, if you have a room that you can place them in properly. Under 200ft2, 1.7s and a REL T/9. Bigger room? 3.7s and a pair of REL T/9s. Give them a solid 100-200 W/ch and happy at 4 Ohms amp.
There's lots of W/M/T options in lots of variations in materials and performance, but at the end of the day, they're constrained by physics to be just another speaker in a box.
A friend just sold his Maggie's, admitting they were the best speakers he's ever had, (and he's had more than a few) but he just couldn't place them well (WAF) in his room. So it's stand mounted minis and sub for him.
Full disclosure: I run KEF LS50s and a sub in the living room, but often swap in my Maggies. I also have a dedicated 5.2.2 theatre with in-wall JBLs and dual bi-amped 2X8" subs. Sonos Beams with handle the rest of the TVs and background music.
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Sorry my Polk Lism707 where only $2,000. |
Dynaudio Contour 20i + Dynaudio Sub 6 + Raven audio tube amps Otherwise just go for modern DSP based speakers. - Dynaudio Focus XD 30 (floorstanding)
- Genelec 8351B
- D&D 8C
- ...
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Stirling LS 3/6 supplemented by a pair of rel subs. Great imaging and soundstage with excellent midrange.
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Soundstage and imaging most important, K.
Revel f52
persona b
meridian dsp 5200 (used)
kef r300
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As @garypennstate noted: Tannoy Cheviot! |
In addition to the above, I'd recommend a used pair Focal 1038Be. I auditioned many in under the $10k range recently and liked them the best (better than Kanta 2 or 3 as well). Liked them more than the Revel F228Be. Look good too.
I'd also recommend twin-subs with them even though they go quite low (ideal placement for low frequency transducers may not be the same as ideal placement for your main speakers).
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Seas Thor and Seas Bifrost both under $2K |
Adding marten speakers to the mix, from sweden. Love the vimberg tonda and mino ?? But they are 30k. |
Im gonna listen to A3. A5 V SOON |
Used MAGICO A3s ASAP!!!!! |
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@steve59 ,
"Sony ss na2es"
Definitely worth a look.
I love it when giants like Sony pull out all the stops.
For something more unconventional the Eclipse TD712z Mk2 are renowned for soundstage, timing and speed.
Let's also not forget that there's more great speakers under $5k than ever before.
The new KEF LS50 Metas are already whipping up a storm, and they're ulp, under $1k!
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I listened carefully to over 20 speakers in that price range over a 3 month period before choosing Spendor D7. Good luck |
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Any further to chime in ?? Do we put magico A1 in this discussion |
Just a tad over $5K+, these Liberty Audio X-VOX are competing with those in the $12K range and built by PBN Audio!
I'm sure most have not even heard of these but they are an exceptional loudspeaker.
Visit 11stereo.com for information and prepare to be amazed...
Wig 🎶 |
Devore Super Nine would probably be my choice. Dynaudio if I had the amp muscle. |
Seriously, still no votes for redbud? |
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Ryan was using Cardas cabling in a lot of their demos. Make of that what you will. |
If you found them a little hot, I'd be looking at other things in the system causing that, such as cabling. |
@essentialaudio I've heard several Ryan demos using Aurilac streamers and Vincent Audi amp/preamp combo at quite a few shows. I spent a lot of time in their rooms because I like their reps and I dig the sound. Most people at the show described the top end a bit extended and a little hot, but in the best way possible. I actually enjoy it. Not strident or shouty in any way.
I have to conclude that this must very system dependent, because some reviewers had called Ryan speakers neutral, while other have commented that they are anything but. All positive reviews on both sides. Many people describe the top end similarly. Not in a negative way, I definitely plan on adding some Ryan speakers and GR research DIY gear into my collection this year. |
Another vote for
Legacy Audio CaliberXD with Wavelet. If you can stretch and find a pair used Aeris with Wavelet or Focus XD also with Wavelet are killer choices!
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Trenner & Friedl ART is spectacular, and right in your wheelhouse. It's a bookshelf, but that means absolutely nothing in this case.
Or, you can look for a second-hand pair of their Osiris or Pharoah (which I currently have and love). Their entire range is absolutely worth your time, and beautifully designed and made on top of it. |
Reefer makes all hifi sound real |
Aerial 7 t’s are very nice in both soundstage and imaging but they became much better when I treated my room. I suspect that may be the most important thing. |
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alexbpm, I have never heard Ryans sound hot on the top end. I strongly suspect the associated equipment caused that. What was in the system?
Former Ryan dealer.
Brian Walsh |
Marten Duke 2's with a Luxman L505uxll
Best Kept Secret |
The Legacy Calibre XD is the best speaker I've ever heard under $7k. It's a true giant killer that crushes $20k-$30k speakers. The same thing applies as you move up the Legacy line. But the Calibre XD is truly something special. Anyone in attendance at RMAF or Axpona can walk in to the Legacy room, listen to the Calibre XD's and walk around the entire show trying to find any another speaker that sounds as good for the price. You probably wont.
Also a fan of the entire line of Ryan Speakers, although it's a different sound. A bit hot on the top end, but in a very very refined way. |
Any love for Audio Note AN-E?😀
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MAGICO A3s used great sound. |
New Larsen 8 speakers ?.. |
Speakers image and sound stage are placement dependent, component dependent, and room dependent.
That said
KII3
Dutch & Dutch
Meridian
Genelec, etc. DSP active speakers will be the easiest to position in any room regardless of parameters or components and give consistent performance. Read a few reviews. When you are finally done shopping, touching, drooling, speaking for myself here, and just want to sit and enjoy all the music, not just the songs tuned to your system, go listen to some dsp self powered speakers and then wonder why everybody isn't using them. I'm thinking of having mine chromed and putting some custom power meters on them. No i'm not related to kenjit. |
I had researched speakers in those range for nearly 6 months: Considered nearly 12 speakers.
I had short listed to Magico A3, Audiosolutions Figaro L, Aerial Acoustics 7T, Revel F228be.
I ended up buying Aerial Acoustics 7T. Love them.
Audiosolutions Figaro L and Magico A3s were very close too.
If you are really serious, audition speakers as much as you can and shorten the list as you go. Else, it will be confusing and hard. Best of luck. |
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Magico A1, A3, Vandersteen Treo, Wilson Sabrina (used), KEF LS 5o with R900 Sub,Fritz Carrera, Legacy Signatures, or Elac Adante series, Maggie 3.7 for planer IMHO. All based on room selection, treatment, and front end, amplifier budget |
+1 for the Magnepan 3.7i.
Even the smaller 1.7i, at just over $2K, makes a bigger, more realistic stage - with fine detail and timber (whether seated in or out of the sweet spot) than anything near it’s price.
Jim
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Have you heard any of the Salk Sound line? I have the SC SongTowers which are under your budget but the Song3 Encores might be right up your alley, and Jim Salk is the best to work with.
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@avanti1960, “How Stereophile called these Class B is mystifying.”
Probably the lack of drama and scale compared to horns for example, which seemed to really bother their reviewer.
In any case, all reviews are far far from the last word. I now laugh at how seriously I used to take reviews and ask myself why?
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