Need recommendations on stand mount speakers

@kenjit 

" But are they custom tuned to your ears? Because if they are not, they will be like buyIng a pair of shoes in the wrong size"

And yet you started a thread the other day asking for recommendations for warm sounding standmounts that you want. Gee are they going to be customed tuned to your special audiophile ears? How about those custom tuned dyi's that are being worked on by or for you that you mentioned with the possible "industry secrets" built in, maybe you can just line him up for a custom tuning on those.

As far as I know, no manufacturers has called me to set up an in home design charette to design speakers tuned to my ears. But hey, the day is young.

also, shoes wear out. 

But are they custom tuned to your ears? Because if they are not, they will be like buyIng a pair of shoes in the wrong size. 

Team,

So did as much listening and research as I could handle (patience is not my greatest virtue) and I kept being drawn back to the Canton Reference 9.2 dc.  Not well known in the states, but, like my Thiel, they make their own drivers.  I believe that says a lot about a loudspeaker company.  You can get a general feel of the sound from the YouTube vids on it, bass is a bit better in real life of course, very articulate.   The also have a good soundstage, though my room dimensions limit me a bit here. 

Also their price was right to boot, $1200 shipped, I thought, what the hell.

Visually, they are quite beautiful in gloss piano black with their curved sides and the craftsmanship is on par with the best I’ve seen, and weigh about 25 lbs each. 

So how do they sound.  They are clear, but warm. They are fast as well, and not etched at all.  Highs are quite nice. Very natural. They remind me of my Thiel CS 2.4’s, but a bit warmer, and they are fuller range than they have any right to be.  I get usable 25 hz as the test tones can attest, but I will try a sub I have just for kicks. 

Anyway, I’m greatly pleased, thanks for all the input. 

Team,

thanks for for all of your input. Lots of interesting suggestions, some in my price range some not, but all very interesting. I will not be able to audition most unfortunately, since I am in a black hole of brick and mortar audio stores, so I will be limited to companies with a decent return policy. 

And while buying speakers unheard  heard is a bad idea, just about all my pieces in my main system I was purchased that way, even my Thiel CS2.4’s (big learning curve there!). But I am very pleased with that rig. So I will probably throw the dice and see what happens and do the same thing again. 

once I make a decision and acquire the loudspeakers I’ll report back!

The Dynaudio Special 40 is a monitor that you need to audition. If you get a used Atohm GT1 HD, it is an amazing loudspeaker that makes you feel you are listening to a floor standing loudspeaker with speed and clarity to match. Good luck.

My recommendation is that you stick with a small floorstander. I have owned the Dynaudio C1 Platinum and the Kef LS50. The Dynaudio's are fantastic but after a little time passed I felt that I was missing something. Salk Sound makes the Song3 that has a pretty small footprint and ticks most the boxes for around 3K.

gratefuleric64 posts12-26-2019 7:19am"Love my Tekton double impact monitors $2000 and will make the KEFs sound like a clock radio"

The Tekton website does not show a Double Impact monitor, just the Impact. The Double Impact is a tower speaker. Needless to say, I'm confused.

@gratefuleric I have seen lots of praise for these but also remarks the bass is "flabby". Has this been your experience?

Lots of good choices.

You have to listen to the Monitor Audio Golds In this price range. They will be a hair warm and will be best with solid state amplification. IMO, if you like Vandersteen I think you will like these.

You also need to listen to the Revel Performa3 M106s. I had the M105s for years and fit my taste perfectly which is a slightly forward monitor that I had paired with neutral amplification.

You have to at least listen to the LS50s. Certainly a nice speaker but has some limitation.

I offer monitors but mine start well above your budget at $2499.  Good luck to you.

Love my Tekton double impact monitors $2000 and will make the KEFs sound like a clock radio

Rarer than rocking horse poo in USA, the Lenehan Audio ML1's (the steel plate lined ones, 2nd gen in the deeper enclosure) or ML2.
Can possibly be found on https://www.stereo.net.au/forums/forum/7-classifieds-audio/

Reference versions run cast Duelund, some lesser models have the VSF and Duelund cast resistors. I used to build them on the Gold Coast for Mike.

Any brave souls, genuinely interested I'd answer any questions on how they are actually built. Goggle them, the reviews will tell you what they are, especially Stereonet forum by members of the community, not paid off reviewers.

+1 for Fritz

last_lemming,

I also had Vandersteen 2CEs that I loved but, after moving to a smaller (11' X 12') listening space, they didn't work out as well. I just didn't have enough distance from my listening position to the speakers to provide a proper blend of the drivers.

I was looking for a near-field solution and found it in the Kef LS50s with their coincident/coaxial drivers. The LS50s were very revealing and I was forced to do some room treatment that I had been putting off for so many years. Next up was the addition of a Rel T/5i subwoofer to fill in the bottom end that was missing when I got rid of the Vandies. All things considered, I couldn't be happier with my decision and think you would be too. 

Also recommended Harbeth, try C7es3 .
We have similar room and most my system work with Harbeth .
I’m try several speakers (in virtual) but harbeth stay till now .

Ascend Acoustics Sierra 2 EX.

Older ARC and ProAc all day long... maybe the Response 2. You’ll need some nice stands to do them justice though.

Fritz Speakers.  Call Fritz on the phone and talk to him about the sound you are looking for but the newer Carbon 7 Mk.II should fit the bill.  I have the Carrera Be's and love them.

There are two fantastic monitors available now that would very much be worth a look. There’s a pair of gorgeous Usher Audio Mini-X DMDs (with a diamond tweeter) here on A’gon for $2200, and a pair of Amphion Argon monitors on US Audio Mart for $1500. If you prefer new, the Silverline Minuet Grand should tick all your boxes as well. All image/soundstage extremely well, and all will likely add a bit of air and openness you seem to be looking for. Best of luck.

I also own a VPI Classic Signature turntable. 

Here are two that I can recommend first is the highly regarded KEF LS50 at $899 originally $1500.

The second pair are from the Canton Reference series. I have the towers and love them at $1200 originally $4k.

Both are brand new with free shipping. The Canton are less know than the KEF speakers. Good luck as I am sure others will chime in as well. 

https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/kefls50whta/kef-ls50-5.25-2-way-mini-monitor-glos...

https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/cantventoref92dcblka/canton-vento-reference-9.2-d...