If you listen to anything other than Classic Jazz, don't read this.


:)  I'm a Jazz only intermediate audiophile looking to improve my system. i ONLY listen to jazz, and i think that matters. If you are of the opinion that great speakers make all music sound good then move on to the next post, because the premise here is that speakers for Acoustic Jazz ( Big Band to Post Bop) have different requirements. My jazz audiophile buddies and i hav A/B'd lots of different speaker/amp/turntable/cartridge combinations as a fun hobby for the last 3 years. i've gone through at least 3 whole systems to get where i am now:
All Rega System - Rega Exex-R, Rega P3, with upgrades, Rega MC Phono Pre,  Rega Apheta 2 Cartridge, Rega RX5 Speakers. 

It sounds really great, but want to get to amazing if possible, and have recently done some speaker comparisons with some Paradigms and Harbeths that show the RX5's could have a tighter, deeper bass and bit more high frequency... 

The challenge is threefold -
1 )information out there is hard to come by, often confusing and  i haven't found much information specifically on what speakers jazz heads prefer.
2) I want to be able to put them up against my current system in my room, which seems a difficult task
3) They have to look good. Aesthetics matter to me. Tektons and Magnapans are cool But Ugly AF, and not going to work for me.

i want someone to tell me this is the best my system is going to get and just enjoy it (which i do 82.5% of the time), or recommend a few things to try, hopefully with recommendation for speakers to try, but i'm open to other suggestions.

I look forward to your comments :)

sincerely,
Eric the Jazz Snob
128x128ericmbass

Showing 2 responses by m-db

I can't help but think we're listening for the same goal so you've provoked my first forum speaker suggestion.
  
My working fiddle is a  3/4 German Benedikt Lang Mittenwald-ish shop Bass circa later 30's. Damaged in 2018, stunningly improved by Gael Mckeon.

All I can say is, after all the time and money I wasted on this hobby these took me right off the merry-go-round. My Wife and Son realized their musicality within the first few minutes of listening. Probably the most copied cabinets in the industry.    

I searched for quite a while to find an affordable standard pair of them used. Today I'm taking a wild guess at under $8K with the worthwhile Diamonds fetching a few $K more? There simply isn't a photo that does the workmanship justice. Beware of purchasing them without their crates and the space to store them. 

https://audiofederation.com/blog/2017/09/18/avalon-eidolon-loudspeakers-sale-mint-trade

All the best with your search. 
M
Absolutly, if your going for that woody Bass use spruce cone footers.

Eric, it seems you've passed your first query by fire with your sense of humor intact or does lugging a giant but delicate fiddle around demand an inherent sensibility? Welcome to Audiogon.   

My Eidolons are indeed Bebop only speakers. Their faceted enclosure are especially complimentary to Thelonious Monk's angular lyric.
When my wife plays everything Greatfull Dead the Avalons sound awful. They make Bobby's guitar sound out of tune and Jerry sounds like he's practicing. What's up with that? The manufacturer suggested a problem with my source which I'm considering as I write this.