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Is There a Speaker for Me/Impossible Requirements? (budget: $2000)

Well, I just lost a very long and detailed post. Here’s my second shot:
After years in headphone purgatory I’m finally dipping a toe into ’real’ hifi. Turns out, its not as straightforward as I expected.
My equipment: 320-lossless files into a Moon i-5 in a 9 1/2 x 11 1/2’ room with 7’4" ceilings and a large rug. No issues or concerns regarding acoustics nor any interest in treating. Listen at 60-90 db for 3-8 hours a day- music is all over the map but a strong preference for neo-classical/ambient (Olafur Arnalds, Nils Frahm, Jonsi and Alex, etc), baroque/solo piano, fingerstyle guitar, and ’indie’ (whatever that means nowadays).

After reading a whole lot I purchased the following speakers based on my headphone preferences (HD650):
Wharfedale Denton 80th Anniv: VERY forward, VERY mid-centric, and not at all for me. They seem to have the veil people associate with the Senns, though I’ve never experienced it myself.
Spendor S3/5: These are much more interesting. Imaging is amazing- they do seem to disappear completely on certain tracks. However, the sound is rather unexciting. Perhaps this is closer to neutral but I find the speakers end up falling into the background and don’t really pull me in to the music. Tonally, the 3/5 seems very coherent though the lack of visceral bass is quite evident.
Spendor SP-1: The best of the bunch to my ears. The imaging is maybe a little behind the 3/5 but the sound seems much more balanced with more bass presence. On some songs they sound a bit U-shaped (maybe a little ’thin’ vs the ’non-present’ 3/5) and not quite as unified (lack of mids?) as the other Spendor.

My hope is to find a speaker I can keep for a long time that fits my listening space and music preferences. Given my experience where would you head from here:
A) Keep the SP-1s and spend more time placing them within my space/experimenting with stands and/or upstream gear?
B) Get a sub for the S3/5 and compare against the SP-1 again?
C) Try for another speaker altogether? If so, my max budget would be $2000 with a preference for value. I do have a pair of Meadowlark Kestrels on their way to me, but I haven’t heard them yet. Harbeth, Totem, ProAc, Vandersteen, Ohm, and Revel all sound interesting to me.
Grateful for any thoughts,
NM
joincoolkidclub

Showing 10 responses by joincoolkidclub

joincoolkidclub OP
19 posts
 
@sfar
@millercarbon

Thanks for your responses. I'm very excited to hear the Kestrels (especially at $230!) and will have more context after spending some time with them. I think my major concern is feeling somewhat underwhelmed by my speaker experiences thus far after hearing for so many years that they outperform headphones by a considerable margin. Working to not judge so quickly...
joincoolkidclub OP
19 posts
 
@smrex13 Do you feel like the solve the issues I identified with the S3/5 and the SP1? I suppose, at this point, that's how I would best describe what I was looking for- as a compromise between mid-centric/coherent/holographic (S3/5) and engaging/dynamic/visceral (SP-1)...
joincoolkidclub OP
19 posts
 
Appreciate all the responses:
@loomisjohnson Very excited to hear the Kestrels when they arrive next week. The 3/5 appears to have huge acclaim but, like so many things, its all subjective...
@roberjerman & mrdecibel The reason I indicated I wasn't interested in treating my room is that we may convert the basement into a listening room. Its 12 x 20' and has plastered walls so I'd rather spend time fixing up that space, assuming time and money allow.
@yogiboy Still interested in the Harbeth as they come up again and again in my research. Are you able to speak to the concerns I had about the Spendor vs Habeth?
@jon_5912 Will certainly start reading about the Thiels. Like the Vandersteen, these seem to come up again and again in my reading based on my preferences and environment.
@soix Will do!
@jackd Its hard to find much info on the JMR, but what I had found was all positive. My one concern about the Vandersteen is that some think they don't really open up until you reach louder listening levels- since I'll be spending a lot of time between 60 and 80 db, I want to be sure the speakers won't be compromised at those volumes.

joincoolkidclub OP
19 posts
 
@sfar That's a great thought. I'll certainly be spending significantly more time with the Spendors and Kestrels getting to know them better before making any more purchases. My third option was more future oriented- if I'm not getting exactly what I want out of these speakers, is there something else that might suit me better. The ProAc (Studio?), Harbeth P3ESR, Thiel CS-2.x, and Vandersteen options continue to come up in my reading and so may be options down the road after I become more familiar with what I have now. Thanks again for your response.
joincoolkidclub OP
19 posts
 
@yogiboy My other concern with the smaller monitors is that they may not have as much air and openness as a cab with larger speakers- just using my current references (S3/5 vs SP1). Sounds like tonally they would be more to my liking but it feels like a bit of a risk given the asking price...@akg_ca Will keep that in mind. Some of the descriptions of the Totems sounded interesting but I was initially concerned that they were not tuned to my liking. After having a mixed experience with the BBC style monitors, I may try something from up North. Any chance you have any experience with the Meadowlarks for comparison's sake?@yeti42 Thanks for those thoughts. It sounds like the Thiel 2.3 and 2.4 is easier to place, so maybe that would facilitate things on my end? Your echoing of AKG's comments regarding the Totems is certainly pushing them towards the top of my list assuming the Kestrels don't blow my mind. I've struggled to find the Naim or Rega speakers on the used market over here- Totem seems much more common.
joincoolkidclub OP
19 posts
 
@tweak1 I've heard open baffle speakers sound very 'present', but most of what I was seeing were single driver designs that I'm afraid might sound a bit thin relative to other two way designs. I do listen to a mix of music including a lot of acoustic (which they may excel at?) but also a fair bit of heavily produced electronic music. Looks like the EP are also single drivers?
joincoolkidclub OP
19 posts
 
@tweak1 Unfortunately that would be a bit of a drive from up here in Maine, but I appreciate that generous offer. Might consider trying to visit salons in Boston or NYC at some point though it seems a bit disengenous as I would almost certainly leave and try to find what I liked on here or eBay....

@jon_5912 There seems to be a lot of discrepancy in what constitutes nearfield. I had been listening at distances of ~4-5’ though have moved the smaller Spendors (3/5) downstairs and am now listening at a distance of 11 1/2’. 

If anyone one is following this thread: I’m starting to really warm up to the Spendor S3/5. They seem to work well at all levels where as the SP-1 really needs more power to open up. Listening to Joanna Newsom’s Ys in a larger space with the 3/5 at moderate levels (65-70 db) sounds pretty great. It sounds ‘right’- I stop thinking about the tone of the speakers, or their placement, and can enjoy this beautiful record. I’m a bit disappointed to think that my prev space (the one listed in my op) is inherently problematic. May end up using headphones in that room and using monitors elsewhere... Or one way/open baffle speakers up there to compensate for the lack of air....?? Too much to think about!
joincoolkidclub OP
19 posts
 
I am streaming some material from Spotify Premium as well as playing local lossless files- I can’t tell the difference and never have been able to.

I don’t know that I’m going to continue to search for additional suggestions at this point as I already have a long list of contenders. Still experimenting with the 3/5 while I wait for the Kestrels to arrive. May end up experimenting with the Harbeths, though I’m not sure the jump from the the Spendors would be significant (let alone at 4x the price). May try a pair of Vandys if they pop up locally <500. Plenty of options certainly but I find that most people end up suggesting what they own regardless of others’ parameters- certainly not malicious, but it seems to me as though there’s a very strong drive to justification or validation as with many hobbies/human affairs. Suppose that's what essentially what I was doing (in my own way) from the jump, though my thoughts and concerns have changed since the OP. Think I'll take a step back and just enjoy the music for awhile. Regardless, I appreciate all the feedback.
joincoolkidclub OP
19 posts
 
Still awaiting the Kestrels- supposedly arriving tomorrow. In the meantime, I discovered that the SP-1 sounded so completely different form the 3/5s as the woofers are not original. If anyone is interested in hearing a Spendor with a lot more bass presence send me a PM.... Sold the Dentons and am spending time getting to know the 3/5 and liking what I hear, though I still find the sound a bit compressed and sometimes coherent sometimes a bit woolly. Sounds like the Ohms suffer from a bit of those issues? Now that I'm listening downstairs in a larger space, it seems as though my OP is a bit meaningless though, again, still grateful for all the feedback I've received.
joincoolkidclub OP
19 posts
 
For anyone interested: received the Kestrels and, though they are a pretty unbelievable value, I just don't find them engaging to listen to. After switching over from the Spendor 3/5 the Kestrels sound somewhat more open (or perhaps just less constrained/boxy) and have a bit more bass (both extension and quantity, though it is very controlled)... but that's about it. Vocals don't sound nearly as rich or natural to me and the trade offs for a pinch more extension (on both ends really) and a smidge of air are not worth it to me. I can certainly see what others like: overall the speakers are very easy to listen to, very inoffensive. However, the 3/5 has a wonderful tonality and what I'm starting to hear as a certain kind of truthfulness- presenting just what's there, no more no less- that is captivating. When I first heard the Spendor I was unimpressed- now the same happens listening to anything else... What fickle creatures are we!
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