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Great bookshelf or small towers suggestions

I'm looking to upgrade my main speakers for home theater/music setup.

Currently have Sound Dynamic 300 ti's that are about 16 years old. I have a Marantz 5009 AV receiver and some Orbs for side and back channels. I have a sound dynamic center speaker too. The room is 11x15 with a fairly low 7' ceiling. I want to replace the LR main and Center speakers.  Budget < $5K.

floorplan:  http://tinyurl.com/zd68dqf

Soundwise I am after improved brightness and up front treble and mids. I am not the biggest bass nut - a) I have downstairs neighbors and b) I've played drums for 40 years and have heard it all. I hate being bounced out of my seat every time stuff explodes and mainly want to hear dialog better for TV and clearer more sparkly acoustic pianos and spangalang of cymbals like they're in the room with me.

So far from what I've heard in stores, I liked the Magnepan .7's a lot. But they just won't fit the space. Too wide and didn't pass WAF. I listened to a few other speakers - mid level B&W's, Golden ear, martin logan, and so far little compared to the magnepans except maybe the BW 805D3's - which are way over my budget. I thought about looking for used 805d2's. I did like a pair of Focal 714's and could probably live with them. But this is the last pair of speakers I ever want to buy. So I keep coming back to thinking about the new 805's or something close.

I've been interested in a lot of the factory direct speakers like the Sierra Tower & 2's but it bothers me to buy speakers I can't hear first.

Any advice appreciated.

Thx!
wolfernyc
Post removed 
213runnin
914 posts
 
Wolf, I was in your shoes over a year ago, somewhat tired of my existing speakers, but not sure which way to go. I did much research on the net, and kept coming back to the Sierra 2's. For a bookshelf, anything decent from the traditional retail market was well over 2000, and these internet direct companies seemed to be able to offer much better bang for buck.

So a tried a pair on the free trial they offer, and they were so superior in the theater system to my Paradigm Monitor 7 that I moved the Sierra 2 into my high end 2 channel system. Airy highs, detail, lush vocals, they blew me away. I ended up with 3 Sierra 1 across the front of my theater and I'm an Ascend fan for life. If you can feel a little adventurous, it's really worth it. The Raal ribbons are spectacular.

In your cozy room you really don't need more than that, save your coin, maybe upgrade the surrounds if so desired.
laurandy3
5 posts
 
How about the Silverline Minuet Supreme Plus. 
mikirob
955 posts
 
You really do not get it. It is your ancillary equipment, amp, cd, wires, and so on. Not the speakers. If you have $5,000.00 you could put together a well-matched killer system will all the attributes you desire; but it does take a little bit of time, research and work...perhaps you could do a little appropriate reading. There are many stellar articles on putting together outstanding stereo/home theatre systems for $5,000.00 or less. Enjoy the Music, for example, had a great article some months back featuring Coincident amp, Tekton speakers, good cables and power cords, Schiit DAC, etc., this was for 2 channel, but these helpful articles exist in nearly every audio publication. 6 Moons, Stereo Times, Stereo Mojo, Positive Feedback, Wall of Sound, Enjoy the Music, and many more that include Home Theatre. Best of luck, Rob

cjaronica
113 posts
 
Vienna speakers have a small footprint. I heard a pair at a dealer in Rochester NY they sounded very nice with a open large soundstage
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