Really need to know what improvements (besides bass) you’re looking for and what sound characteristics are most important to you. Also, how big is your room and are you looking for new or used. Love your amp BTW. Thanks for any further info.
Floorstanding speaker experiences/recommendations in the $12-25k range
I realize there are thousands of options, but I'm looking for strong personal experiences/recommendations for floor-standing speakers in the $12-25k range. I currently have Dynaudio Heritage Special stand-mounts. They really are a great speaker in many ways, but full-range they are not. There's an obvious missing element to the music in the <45Hz range. I listen to 95% vinyl, 5% CD (I stream off a Bluesound very occasionally to get ideas for albums to purchase). My system is comprised of a Rega P10 with Hana umami red cart, Modwright PH150 reference phono stage, Oppo 205 disk player all into an Octave V80SE integrated amp with super black box.
My current "leaders" for speakers are Qln Prestige 5 and Devore Gibbon X based on what I've heard, but have liked the Wilson Sabrina Xs and have heard great things about the newer Borresen X3s. Any experiences/recommendations welcome.
Cheers!
Showing 5 responses by soix
Given your preferences and amp I’d give a very high recommendation to the Verity Audio Otello. Verity flies under the radar a bit, but they remain some of the best all-around speakers I’ve ever heard as they’re supremely natural and lifelike sounding and can image/soundstage with the best out there, and they’re very tube friendly. Here’s a nice used pair you can get at a steep discount and save $$$… https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisb86de-verity-audio-otello-full-range Here are a couple reviews that I think capture their sound characteristics nicely… https://forum.psaudio.com/t/verity-audio-otello-loudspeakers/36213 These Ushers are also excellent but I’d check if they’re compatible with your amp just to make sure. Oh yeah, and they’re drop dead gorgeous. https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisb8a96-usher-audio-be-20-full-range If still available, these Acoustic Zen Crescedos are also excellent and like the others could save you some big $$$. https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650038931-acoustic-zen-crescendo-mark-ii-excellent-condition/ Another top contender that will do what you’re looking for in spades, looks great, and is very room friendly due to its size is the Joseph Audio Perspective 2. I also like your QLN and DeVore choices although I’d check that the QLNs are suitable for your amp. Anyway, just some other choices to consider, and best of luck. |
I’d suggest before making recommendations to take into account that the OP’s amp, while excellent, is a relatively low-powered tube amplifier. As per John Atkinson’s measurements of the amp it’s not comfortable driving speakers that dip to low impedance levels. From his measurements… ”Octave specifies the maximum power into 4 ohms with KT150 tubes as 120Wpc (17.8dBW), and fig.5 reveals that, with both channels operating, the amplifier just reached this power at 3% distortion. At our usual definition of clipping (1% THD), the amplifier gave 43.3Wpc into 4 ohms (13.35dBW) and 79Wpc into 8 ohms (19dBW).” So recommending speakers like Revel, Wilson, Magico, Vivid, Dynaudio Confidence, KEF, etc. that aren’t really tube friendly — and especially not low-powered tube friendly — are likely not a good match for this amp as they’ll push it well out of its optimal operating range and into high distortion and poorly-controlled bass. Just something to consider for future recommendations. |
@metaldetektor I can’t find any info on this on their website or anywhere else. Where did you see it? |
@moto_man While it’s true the Perspectives are not high in sensitivity, if you read John Atkinson’s measurements they don’t drop below 6 Ohms and have very benign phase angles so can still effectively work with tubes. Still a good point to raise though. |