I'd suggest you not get overly obsessed with the plus/minus dB range, whether 1 or 3. Once you put a speaker in any room in a home environment, whatever they measured in an anechoic chamber is changed, even with room treatments. Plus, there are a lot of other factors besides frequency response that affect how a speaker sounds.
I'd suggest you see if you can listen to the speakers in person and see if you like their general voicing. Listening to them in your own home is best, of course.
I've not heard the Tektons, but have heard the GEs and liked them enough to own a pair of Triton 7s in the past. I currently have a pair of their BRX bookshelf speakers in my bedroom, though I have Ohms in my main system.
That said, while my opinion, and that of others who may post a response to you, may give you something to think about, the only opinion that matters concerning a speaker's sound quality is yours.
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You want imaging, real bass and small form factor save up for Salk. |
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The CeLests are now on sale for $3995 as of 1.23.21.
Also, you really can't go wrong with the Spatials. They're pretty amazing in every category.
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The CeLests are now on sale for $3995 as of 1.23.21.
Can you confirm these are rear ported? I'm assuming they are but they only say they're ported and I can't tell where the port is. |
The LSA-20 Statements are still on sale here by manufacturer for $3299/pr and have a 30-day trial period. Ravens also look very interesting. |
Great recommendations - thank you. I really would like to try them both CeLest and LSA-20 Statements. |
You might consider getting a set of Swarm subwoofers (audiokinesis.com). These are compact and will take care of everything below about 60-70Hz down to 20Hz, with evenly distributed bass throughout the room.
Once you have that sorted (bass is the hardest part and usually the most expensive issue with most speakers) its fairly easy to find a 2-way speaker that is highly resolving and easy to drive that can go down to 50-60Hz. Since bass is omnidirectional below 80Hz (unless your room is ballroom sized or larger) getting it all to blend is easy, and the Swarms won't attract attention to themselves.
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Salk Song3. They are really tops at that price. |
@bubba12 Those Song3’s are beautiful - Wow! Curley Maple with Silver Gray Die and Burst Edge really hits the spot. https://www.salksound.com/gallery/Song3%20BeAT/s3-BeAT-silvergrayburst.jpg @atmasphere I intended to do a swarm-like sub system originally (and still might), but maybe not best for a bedroom 2-ch system. Currently using plenty of ATI amp driving LXmini and 4x12" Peerless XLS subs in open-baffle config all running through miniDSP4x10HD. I’m thinking about a simpler system with less of everything (especially less complication). A great set of speakers (that can play full-range flat) and a NAD M33 would be quite simple (only 2 components + phono). At this point (because I’m spoiled by LXmini), I’m thinking Spatial M3 Sapphire (or other open-baffle) are probably the only options that would satisfy. But the cost, is a factor too - is $10k for the ’simple system’ a good value (I ask myself). Has anyone A/B’d LXmini (w/subs) vs M3 Sapphire? Do the Sapphire’s produce the same ’magic’ imaging? My other option is to spend more time with LXmini incorporating the pair of Hypex FA123 plate amps I have (for this purpose). Then I’ll need to change-up the miniDSP situation and either use the (all digital) nanoDIGI (which I already have from when I tried to improve SQ by using stand-alone DACs) or get a DDRC-22D to add Dirac capability. |
Yes, Salk’s are awesome! Salks finishes are really cool. They tend to look even better in person too. Long wait times though. I haven’t heard the song 3’s but with those drivers and cabinet size I’m sure they sound damn good. My speakers use the same tweeter, same with Hilde45. Its a pretty sweet sounding tweeter. Theres a pair of preowned SS6M’s for sale right now too that you might look at...
I’d consider a pair of preowned Joseph Audio Pearls too if you could swing it. Every time I’ve heard them they sounded fantastic and everyone else in the room agreed.
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Salk speakers are interesting. Their response curves are cut off at 200 Hz. Nothing bellow. Disturbing. They use good drivers. Their cabinets look great but there is a problem. They radius the corners and wrap the veneer around the corner. The veneer is only 1/64" thick and is on MDF. MDF is hardest on its faces but much softer in the middle. You can easily see this on a cleanly cut edge. When its edges are radiused it exposes the soft interior which now forms the corner which is the part of the enclosure most susceptible to damage. Although they are using a polyester finish which is the toughest, corners always take a beating. The corners should be made out of solid wood but it is difficult and time consuming to match grain and color. IMHO this is a bad shortcut to take. There is no good way to repair a damaged veneer corner and because the MDF below is a different color and usually lighter it will stick out like a sore thumb. If you get these speakers make sure NOBODY goes near them. One wrack with a vacuum cleaner is all it takes.
If I were making those enclosures I would use a very hard contrasting wood like Ebony (Black) or Maple(white) in the corners. Veneer is fine for flat surfaces but bad news on edges. I would also make them out of plywood not MDF. Many do not realize this but plywood is stiffer than MDF. How do I know these speakers are MDF. You can not radius plywood and veneer it. Plus good cabinet grade plywood is 3-4 times the cost. |
“Salk speakers are interesting. Their response curves are cut off at 200 Hz. Nothing bellow. Disturbing”
Huh? Are you saying that Salks don’t produce sound under 200hz? |
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+1 on the ATC SCM40v2. Another member just bought a pair of those based on my recommendation. ATC is awesome! Possibly the most overbuilt drivers in hifi |
Mijostyn where did you see that frequency response for Salk almost all go to at least 50 hz and some are flat to 20hz check the web page please before spreading false info. |
Along the lines of Fritz, Salk and Tekton in terms of value, you may want to check out Bache audio from Brooklyn. |
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You might even consider something in the Tannoy line. Specs mean very little. A speaker that is well integrated and musical at all the frequencies is really important. |
Huh? Are you saying that Salks don’t produce sound under 200hz? Pe
Perhaps he is referring to the fact that the Salk web site shows a plot of frequency response that only goes down to 200hz. Ruler flat starting at 200hz, but what would the plot show below that?
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Some say spec’s don’t tell whole story, this is certainly true.
However, my perspective is this... we wouldn’t buy other gear that couldn’t reproduce the full audible range accurately, why should speakers be different.
Looking at each component in the chain, why do some people exempt speakers from being fully capable in this regard? Can you imagine a gear manufacurer excusing peaks, dips and shortcomings in their response saying, "frequency response and extention measements don’t matter much". The foundational goal of speaker manufacturers should be complete and accurate sound reproduction - same as with any other gear. Let the user change tone to their liking with gear controls later if they wish; otherwise, the user could be left trying to get something the speaker can’t provide. This is why I look for linear full-range response first, because it seems no less nessessary for speakers than any other gear in the system - shortcomings from anywhere in the chain have equal impact on performance. Why carry perfection through, only to be lost at the final link?
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we wouldn’t buy other gear that couldn’t reproduce the full audible range accurately, why should speakers be different. Cost. Size/Room constraints. This is why the Good Lord created the subwoofer. |
op
you have a good list of speakers to consider - there are many others worth considering too
we don’t know what your room is like... what constraints on set up? what musical tastes? what associated gear?
also, there are many truly excellent speakers that produce wonderful music but not the lowest octave... as soix said subwoofers added to those transform the sound to be absolutely top notch
how do we tell you what you will like? |
When did $3000 become 'affordable'? |
Jump on Spatial M3s ASAP sport. |
+2 on the ATC SCM40v2 (a used pair would fall into the OPs price range). They clearly beat Spatials (can't remember which model) and Salk Soundbeat 3s in a direct comparison.
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