Folded tweeters vs. dome?


Good day, I am searching for main speakers which will replace my Kef IQ5's.  I want them to be a step up in soundstage and transparency, but only have a $1200 budget (family man you understand).  I have a Klipsch 12" sub so the deepest bass is not an issue.  My question is, in the opinions of those posting here, which tweeters will serve my purpose best, folded or dome?  I see a lot of speakers in the price range I'm searching, both 2.5 and 3-way but have not been able to audition any as of yet.  I'm watching used sets of Golden Ear Triton 7's, Wharfedale PI-40's, Quad Classic 23L among others.  My listening is a mixture of music and theater, most genre's.  I have a Marantz AV7005 pre/pro, a Rotel RKB 650 bi-amping the mains and (Kef) center, with a Rotel-RMB 1565 driving the surrounds (B&W and Klipsch). Thanks in advance for your input, so many questions, so little space.
128x128wisciman99

Showing 10 responses by wisciman99

Thank you the insight and added knowledge.  I do mean the AMT as in the GoldenEar.  I would prefer a floor stander as opposed to a bookshelf, but the sound rules.  I am a Kef fan, and have considered extending my Kef inventory, so,,,,,, perhaps.
Thanks, Eric.  I would absolutely agree that the sound is king, but I am looking to gauge tendencies and opinions since central Louisiana has a dearth of high end stores and auditions are complicated if not too expensive and time consuming to get to.  I don't have much to go on but reviews, and I value the opinions of all the AG buyers and sellers. I got lucky when I bought the Kef's unheard, so I'm hoping for another bit of lagniappe.
Thanks again Eric.  My living room is about 25x16, with the speakers about 8-9' apart and 12-13' from my ear on the shorter axis.  Three solid walls, with tapestries hung front and rear on the cathedral walls and I have some foam in the corners, The fourth wall opens into the breakfast area.  I have played with speaker placement until I feel I have accomplished the best imaging and sound stage I can, but it still lacks a little presence and realism.  I understand I am at the 'entry' level with the separates, but I feel there is something to gain with the speaker upgrade.  I would move the Kef's to the surround position for the theater processing, but I prefer to listen in stereo mode much, if not most of the time.  What I would really love is for the mains to 'disappear' and the sound to originate behind the speaker plane with a much larger sound stage.  I would say I tend to lean more toward the realism than the musicality.  I know it's a pretty tall order for a $5k system.
I do like the Kef sound, and as the new Rotel burns in the IQ5's are sounding better and better.  I enjoy it loud now and then, but usually at a moderate volume, IMO.
Eric, the living room has the usual accouterments, the speakers sit about 2' off the back wall and in front of the entertainment center by about 4". There is a blanket chest in front of the sofa between me and the speakers, but low enough that I don't feel it's messing up any imaging. (I can see the bottom of the speakers and 8' of carpeted floor in front of them.)  The speakers are a good 9 or 10' from the sidewalls.
I see The Music Room has some Martin Logan Aerius i's in my range.  Thoughts on the electrostatic?
I must say the the GE T7's have definitely got my attention.  I fear that a bookshelf/stand mount just won't quite fill the bill as mains in a room as big as I have.
Thanks for the input, schubert.  It seems that the Totem Signature
1 may indeed fill the room from what I am reading, unfortunately, it is outside of my budget by several hundred bucks.
Thank you bondmanp, that's more of what I was looking for.  I am not looking to buy based on technology, as some would infer, I am simply seeking opinions based on experiences. ;-)
Thanks to all.  After a lot of reading and careful deliberation I went with some Martin Logan Motion 20's with the Folded Motion Tweeter.  I hope it's not just an expensive audition ;-)

Hey y'all, went with the Martin Logan Motion 20's and have no regrets. They fill the room nicely, warm mids, highs are very accurate, lows are right down there. Nice true phantom center channel with a nice wide sound stage that also has some depth.  Reasonable accomplishments for a $6k system.  Seems to be just what I was looking for at a good price.  Thanks all.