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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 mijostyn

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,227 posts
 
Eric, acoustic bass is one of the most difficult instruments to get right.
I always use Dave Holland and or Ron Carter records to evaluate records.
I only wish I could get a good recording of Scott Lafaro.
IMHO the only speaker that will get this right along with the other instruments are full range ESLs. Forget dynamic drivers. There is always a crossover in the way that plays havoc with acoustic bass. Check out the Sound Labs Ultimate 545. They are eons ahead of any other speaker their size and price. 
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,227 posts
 
Sorry for the delay in answering this Eric, I have Waltz for Debbie and Sunday at the Village Vanguard. I can only find that set on CD. Thinking about it. So you have two recs for Sound Labs speakers. Look at the Ultimate 545's. If you can afford them you will never get better reproduction of an acoustic bass. The only speaker that could match them is the old Apogee Diva. Because there is no cross over the bass is in perfect phase with itself. It sounds like one instrument. When you compare it to other loudspeakers you realize that acoustic bass is fractured for lack of a better term. The size of the instrument is right. Other speakers with a few exceptions make the instrument small. Pianos have a similar problem if they are recorded correctly. As one Scott LaFaro fan to another, trust me on this one. You will think you died and made it to heaven.

Mike
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