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Looking for New Speakers - Suggestions

I am finally actively looking for a new speaker setup for use primarily as 2 channel but will also be used for HT. I prefer to build the system around my front to channels.

Here is my story. I have been in the AV biz for 12 years. I have heard 100's of speakers and never really fell in love with them. I have owned the following

B&W 805's
B&W CM4's
Paradigm Atoms
Paradigm Studio 60's
Energy Take 5 (college)
KEF KHT 6000
Monsooon FPF600's
Martin Logan Clarity's

I have actively sold Monitor Audio, Krell, McIntosh, Paradigm, B&W, Sonance, Def Tech, KEF, Vienna Acoustics, JBL Synthesis, Polk, Velodyne.

I really enjoy music loud. Like U2 360 concert loud. I just can't get enough of a dynamic system. I blew the drivers out of our floor model Krell LAT-2's one day demoing them when we first got them in. I listen to jazz, classical, etc. quite a bit but for the most part I listen to indie rock and electronic music.

I really have never found a home speaker that was dynamic and exciting but could also quiet down and let me enjoy some old jazz vinyl I picked up from my father.

I was thinking about going to line array based speakers or Maggies but wondering what other products might be out there.
skent12

Showing 2 responses by shadorne

shadorne's avatar
shadorne
7,477 posts
 
Look into PMC and ATC speakers. Both brands are capable of high volume and low distortion, but also sound good at lower volumes.

Indeed - if you are looking for dynamics and an adrenaline rush but with audiophile sound quality (rather than PA speakers) then set your sights on one of the large three ways made by ATC or PMC (make sure you go for the Active versions).

Larger ATC's will get you 120 db SPL with 10 db of headroom at less than 0.3% THD over the entire frequency range. They are equally good for HT or 2 channel or both. They will make Krell LAT-2's seem like mere toys yet they will probably come at a similar price tag to similar high end audiophile speakers (when you consider LAT-2's need a power amplifier and Active three way speakers have three amps built into each speaker). The only issue is aesthetics - neither of these big bad boxy three ways are much to look at.
shadorne's avatar
shadorne
7,477 posts
 
Budget is $2k for me so nowhere near Marten Design or Dunlavy.

I really have never found a home speaker that was dynamic and exciting but could also quiet down and let me enjoy some old jazz vinyl I picked up from my father.

Well at $2K budget you are still gong to struggle - my suggestion (at this price) is a well cared for but rather old pair of JBL 4435's.

If you think that you can find what you are looking for in small cute looking monitors - you can forget it.
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