Dynamic monitors for Audio Refinement Complete


After almost a year of living with sub-par speakers, I am finally ready to upgrade my audio system. If anyone could offer me some advice, I would greatly appreciate it.

I've got an Arcam CD-92 feeding an Audio Refinement Complete integrated amplifier. I'll be moving into a smallish Boston apartment and am looking for a pair of monitors to connect to the ARC.

I like the sweetness of my current system, but both the Arcam and the Audio Refinement are a bit smooth and laid-back. So I'm looking for speakers that have a little bit of energy.

My music taste is primarily indie and classic rock with some electronica mixed in, so the lower octaves are important to m.

My budget is $1500 used. I'm currently considering the following (some of which are going to be a financial stretch....):

B&W N805 or CDM1
JMR Trente
JM Lab 926
GMA Europa
ProAc
Joseph Audio RM7si
Paradigm Signature S2

I have not yet had a chance to listen to any of these models, but will do so over the next four to six weeks. If anyone has some thoughts on the speakers and on their compatibility with the Audio Refinement amp, I would really appreciate it.
niravp

Showing 2 responses by ssglx

Soliloquy 5.0's. No question a great combo with the Complete. Very very dynamic and sweet sounding. Very sensitive to stands and fill material and coupling.

You can pick them up cheap right now.

Chris
Sfar and I have "conversed" before about the 5.0's. I have not heard the ProAcs, but I can tell you that the way I have the 5.0's set up its hard to imagine more low level liveliness than I'm experiencing in my room. I returned the Soliloquy custom stands because they just killed the dynamics. My favorite setup so far is Lovan Caliber stands filled with a small steel shot and sand mix with the speakers sitting on cork. With that combination I hear everything on the recording, especially extreme bass definition that was always buried. I'm constantly amazed. Try the 5.0's in your listening room if you can...
Chris