My wife weighed in…she wants piano white tower/bookshelf


This is a follow up post to my “Looking for a narrow baffle small footprint speaker.

Price range - below $25k 

In quote “A gorgeous Piano white” - tower or bookshelf 

Aesthetics count as it’s a centerpiece to our new gathering room

.  

aj523

PS Audio just released the Aspen FR5’s and they have received great reviews.  I’m hoping to get to Boulder to hear the whole line in person.

All the best.

I have a pair of monitor audio on my family TV room bc of the depth and white color.

I have not heard them but i have read great things about the Aspen series from PS Audio, so i agree with all those above suggesting that speaker. The FR20 would be the perfect size 

Would that be the YG Carmel 3?  A good choice but not sure about its availability in white.

Then again for a smaller footprint: the Monitor Audio Platinum 200 3G speaker. Go on line and admire their beautiful white finish

This is my narrowed down list:

Fyne Audio 8 (new) or 10 used

Estalon Aura (but too close to wall an issue?),

Reynaud Abscisse Jubilee (beautiful how’s the midrange?)

YG Acoustics 3, (Looks nice narrow baffle)

PS Audio FR20 or 10, (even the 10may be too big)

Focal Supra 3

Perlisten loudspeakers come in piano white.  The S7t model is in that price range, and well worth a listen/consideration.  IMO

Hi everyone. A lot of great ideas - thanks so much. Is there a way to post a pic of the room (I know this has been an issue with this forum in the past and it’s a pain - has it gotten easier ?).   I think options like the borrenson x6  x3 or kef ref5 or vivid kaya 45 would be too big or bulky for the area. I’m leaning towards the fyne audio 8 or 10s and deal with it not coming in white. They are gorgeous.  Other options maybe the Estalon Aura (but too close to wall), Reynaud Abscisse Jubilee, YG Acoustics 3. PS Audio FR20 or 10, or Focal Supra. 

Also, the only source will be a turntable - that’s it and I value mid range the most and the amp is the Rose hifi RS 520 which is 250 wpc. 

Definitely like these 2 picks for you. Either would look and sound Fantastic.  Borresen X-3's OR PS Audio Aspen series......The X-3's are the Best value out there currently.

If its not going to be a primary "listening room" and only a "gathering room" - then - Assumes aesthetics primary + sound quality (in order of priority):

1.  Cabasse Rialto or Pearl - depending upon your design.

     "All in one system" no wires or equipment + great sound - reasonable price        - light & easy to move & position - beautiful!

      https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cabasse+rialto+demo

 

If sound is more important than aesthetics:

2.  Magnepan LRS+ 

    "Amazing sound" with right set up & room - but - wires & equipment -                 light & easy to move / position - reasonable price.  

     https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=magnepan+lrs%2B+demos

 

3.  Qualio IQ Ultra

     "Amazing sound" with right set up & room - but - wires & equipment -                 heavy, difficult to move / position...

     https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=magnepan+lrs%2B+demos

 

How about active speakers that look futuristic, play well, and can adapt to the room (i.e. dsp). These are the Cabasse pearl (I think). I heard them at a friend's house & at shows - they are very pleasant.

I will second (or third) the PSAudio speakers.   I also listened to them at the factory, and was quite impressed with each of the four price points.  I own one pair, and planning to buy the next size up.    

Paradigm Persona 3F or 5F in white (or custom colors!). They are gorgeous and sound great (adjust the toe in to your liking). Well reviewed high value speakers built by a very reputable company in Canada, with a long history. I have the 3F and love it! You may need subwoofers if you have a large room, but those can be hidden.

How about a set of Martin Logan towers? They make em in white and a pair of their top end model is approx 5500. They are said to sound very good and their gloss white finish and cabinet work is rated highly.

Reference 5 Meta

KEF Reference 5 Meta White/Gold... I'm sure you have the electronics to push these around.

FWIW, while I love the looks of the Estelon Aura, keep in mind that it is bottom firing, not bottom ported. The woofer is facing downwards, so it generates a lot of bass toward the floor which also dissipates to the rear of the speaker. It is recommended that the Aura are also placed quite a distance from the walls, or else it will sound boomy and muffled. A number of the reviews cover this. Many of the speakers being recommended are not paying attention to your room and living constraints. 

Depends what components you use with the Devilles. I’m using all Shindo , amp , pre amp and MrT. with 2 Rel S510 subs and believe me you would be quite impressed on the SQ . Everything is cabled with Luna red series and the synergy is just fabulous. Every system takes time to build and believe me I went also through the path of trial and error until my ears were pleased to what I loved to hear. My wife and I just can’t stop listening,absolutely no fatigue but pure enjoyment.

PMC stand mount or floor stander! Great base from very small enclosures. Outstanding WAF!

... hard to Rx any speaker with small info on the final space other than There 
Will Be Furniture....normally a Good Thing within reason, but one's spouse generally will have different views on that subject.....

Good hunting to all on the Endeavour...

@dekay .....Had been to the Qualio site previously, and painted white won't cure the look.....  Gotta like the naked tech, which even mine grits her teeth at my Walsh,,,,

....and at that price point, I'd certainly improve on that....but still keep their quintessential strangeness, on floor, stranded on stands or shelves.

Only your EQ will vary. ;)

Do look at ps audio fr series.i toured the factory have them in my house.they have ribbons very responsive.from small to large in size enough to fit whatever size room you have.customer service will help.i have nothing to do with ps audio.another is tekton speakers many sizes to fit your needs in white.call thier customer service.

If standmounts are also for consideration, Dutch&Dutch 8c are available in white. No subs needed. Full suite: streamer, DAC, DSP, subs, active, of course. Depending on your taste in cabinet design, the Genelec 8351s also come in white. 3-way actives, dual subs in each speaker.

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Hi aj523,

I will humbly suggest considering the PureArtFi LS-6. The in stock unit veneered in spalted hackberry with solid walnut baffle on the white version of the stand is quite lovely in the light color palette. Also the concept of PureArtFi is bespoke this enabled as my partner is a professional woodworker with 40 years of experience delivering custom millwork and cabinetry to high-end clients in Colorado. We would love to discuss a custom LS-6 in whites.

LS-6 listing on AudiogoN.

 

@aj523 will you be doing critical listening in this “gathering room” where there will be a seat for you in the sweet spot where the system sounds the best, and it doesn’t matter if any off-axis listening does not sound that great? Or do you want a more social listening experience where multiple people can enjoy a very good listening experience off-axis and not be fighting for the sweet spot? If you prefer a more social listening experience that sounds good anywhere in the room (but perhaps not as suitable for critical listening), I would consider something like the MBL 120– or at half the price of the 120, I would consider the MBL 126 and then the rest of your budgeted amount on the MBL C51 integrated amp— also available in white and worthy of being a visual centerpiece along with the speakers.

Some gorgeous speakers, for sure. The one thing that I wish more manufacturers would embrace is moving from black grills (for white speakers) or at least offer options in white or light-ish gray. In many instances, white speakers can lessen their visual impact/footprint in a room. However, there’s no greater contrast than black and white… totally attention-grabbing. That might be the point for some, but I suspect there are just as many with limited space or too many other visual elements, where helping the speakers visually recede is both beneficial for the feel of a room as well as facilitating lessened attention from a spouse who’s not quite on board with the household’s investment in audio gear.

Focal Sopra No.2 in Carerra White…$21K per pair.  Easy to drive, easy to love.

 

Wow, I’m currently in a very similar situation with my wife and our new condo. Check out the Canton Referece 7 tower speakers. They come in a piano white finish for $8k. Per my discussions with Canton, the extra thick laminated cabinets avoid cabinet resonance and allow placement right up on the wall without any sound quality issues. Very highly rated by Stereophile, for what it’s worth. I haven’t heard them yet but will be purchasing the next pair my vendor receives off the boat. 

The best "Aesthetics" will be a speaker that your wife and guests and yourself will really enjoy listening to. 

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@aj523 agree about the Fleetwood Deville speakers. Beautiful to look at but VERY limited low end. For the $$ you can do better IMO.

no Deville sounds like a 2k speaker or worse (at the most). How on earth is this lackluster box priced at 20k? (Price it 10 fold higher, Audiophile will think he got what he paid for....strategy by Deville’s daddy, i suppose)

Here’s a Deville slayer....i.e., very different playing field.

 

 

 

 

 

@aj523 agree about the Fleetwood Deville speakers. Beautiful to look at but VERY limited low end. For the $$ you can do better IMO. 

ATC SCM40 in white- listened to them in this color yesterday at CAF. $7000 in passive.

The newspaper sh PS audio speaker line is available in white & they’re very good. Worth a look & listen. 

My wife loves my new PMC Twenty 5.24i’s in piano white. Small footprint and easy wall placement with the transmission line bass. Way below your budget. Getting ready to order a Luxman 509z integrated for new power or a Pass labs Int 250.

+1 Estelon Aura.  It's a no-brainer, but keep in mind that this is a pair of very demanding speakers for your amplifier. They drop to a 2-ohm load in the bass and a 4-ohm load in the mid-bass region. Don't be misled by the single-tone sensitivity rating (90dB/m/W) published by the manufacturer. When powered by a high-current amplifier with stable continuous output down to low impedance, this beauty transforms into a monster.  I was deeply impressed when I heard it at a hi-fi show in Taipei.

@vicdior 

i had them on my short list and even listened to them but they seem so overpriced esp in a custom color over $20k and sounded beautiful but not a lot of low end.