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Help me with a pairing.....

HI all,

Somewhat new here. I’ve decided that it’s time to up my two channel game. I’ll be moving from Monitor Audio Silver 6’s powered by my Marantz AVR that has served me well for a long time. Initially I balked at the notion of HT bypass on an integrated but now i’m all in. I listened to a few different products but based on what I had read coming into it I sort of knew what would win, and that’s the Luxman 509x. It was exactly as advertised....very precise and powerful with no slowness to speak of and little coloration. We even compared it to 1.2k Mcintosh monoblocks and I felt the Luxman gave up very little if anything, but that’s a story for another thread. I was listening on Focal Sopra 2’s and have to say they did not suck! So while that’s a possibility they are really darned big. I would love to hear other suggestions on where I might look to find a somewhat neutral speaker that supports primarily indie rock (think Wilco, The War on Drugs, even low fi favorites like Guided By Voices) as well as jam bands (Phish, GD) and classic rock. Also if it’s any help we listened to Magico’s the same day and I didn’t care for them nearly as much. A bit warm for my liking.

Ideally footprint is a bit smaller, and has a center channel that isn’t 24w x 12" high since that would be challenging on most racks. Price maybe 10K per pair MSRP but i’m flexible for the right product.  Would considered used.  Brands on my radar include: Revel, Monitor Audio (clear winner last time I did this, but wasn’t shopping quite as upmarket), Focal (maybe one notch down from Sopra?) Kef and maybe Paradigm. I’d really like to get feedback on people’s experience with these combo’s, and knowing what I’m favoring at least start in the right spot. I’m in a big metro area so should be able to find a dealer with most anything.

Thanks very much in advance.

EW
128x128mtbiker29
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Noromance is right. The MTM array is something a lot of people have a hard time understanding. Just read the comments on my system page- fantastic sound stage, awesome imaging, speakers totally disappear, seamless integration, on and on. The comments from people in the room are even better. One who travels around to hear a lot of very high end systems said Steely Dan was the best he ever heard it. This was before putting them on Townshend Podiums. They are much, much better now.  

Oh and at 98dB you can drive them with just about anything.  

Only real downside is having to wait a couple months for Eric to build em. Worth the wait. Well worth the wait.  https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367
erik_squires
16,056 posts
 
My suggestion is, if you are going to audtion at home, do your room first. Then pick.

In general, the MA platinums are technical perfection.  As a result may be a tad more laid back than the Focals, which always have a little extra bite at the top to my ears. When auditioning, pay close attention to what volume you like to listen to each at.

Also, the tone controls on the Luxman are _outstanding_.  Don't be afraid to use them or the loudness switch to listen late at night. :)
basser-x
8 posts
 
The Focal Sopras are nice but will set you back $9500 ea. If you have a chance audition some Dali speakers like the Opticon 8 mkii or perhaps the Epicon 6 line.
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,608 posts
 
Don't forget the lava lamp....

....would 2 be best with monoblocks....or just overkill? 😐
lldd
36 posts
 
+1 for the MA platinums (I have the 300ii model).  Try the IsoAcoustic Gaia footers on them for even better sound and presence.  Robert Deutsch has great reviews of both in Stereophile.  Mine are driven by a Luxman m900u.
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