New house, wife reveals she hates my Maggies- looking for stand mount speaker suggestions


Just closed on a new house and as we were walking through and discussing furniture, my wife revealed she has always hated my Maggies and wants them not to make the move.  I have had a semi-dedicated music room, so they were kind of out of sight at our old place, so she never complained.  So a bad news but good news (new speakers!) situation.

Present set up is near field, room perhaps 10x10,but partially open, angled ceilings for some pretty good acoustics. Should be able to set up similar size near field space in new home.

Amp is Primaluna HP with 8xEL34, Conrad Johnson ET7 tube preamp, PS Audio Direct stream DAC and Naim Uniti digital ripper/hard drive.  I listen to lots of different music, but always come back to acoustic guitar or piano with female or male vocalists, or acoustic jazz.  Big soundstage, vocal warmth and detail (guitar strings plucking) are what I enjoy.

My Wife liked (the looks of) my old Rogers LS3/5a back in the day, or my Reference 3a Royal Masters.  So I figure I will be looking for a stand mount monitor.  But my budget is $5-10k, used or new, so I suspect I can do better than the LS3/5a.

i have always loved the Joseph Audio Pulsars, but you never see them used and the new graphine ones are out of my price range. Looking for other ideas:  Sonus Faber are easy to look at, but I have never listened to their monitors.  The monitor versions of Raidho and Focals are ugly enough to fail the WAF test.

so help me out here- what should I consider?

meiatflask

I loved the sound of the Harbeth C7xp, nicely build, awesome clarity while still being musical and non fatiguing. My only criticism, is volume. It plays plenty loud but if you want to rock something with heavy bass, it's not the best speaker for you. This need is rare for me but a factor. 

Proac, Devore Fidelity could work for you too. Many otehr, I'd like to hear the Joseph but they don't have much of a presence in New England.

Good Luck, fun process.

FWIW I thought he said housewife lol that would have been louder thn dust on an LP with this bunch.

I replaced Magnepans with Ohm Walsh a number of years back and wife has never uttered a complaint since.  Nor I sound-wise.  No separate stands needed.

Walsh Tall | Speakers | Ohm Speakers | Custom Audiophile Speakers for Music & Home Theater

I also have KEf ls50meta with matching stands which are excellent soundwise (with added sub) and look fantastic.   KEF r3 meta https://img.usaudiomart.com/uploads/large/4793660-kef-r3-meta-wstands.jpg would be a step up and Ref 1 meta another step up from there that might be doable https://unilet.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/unilet_kef_reference1_silversatinwalnut.jpg

I can strongly recommend any of these.

used, local pickup, ability to inspect/hear them in sellers system make the most sense for buying used large speakers, I wish you both patience and luck.

where do you live, __________ ? zip code, maybe someone will find a local listing you missed. Sometimes driver will meet you half way.

My wife’s 2005 t-Bird was totalled years ago, I looked all over hell, Texas .... closest was over two hours away, my friend found one, an IDENTICAL match, 20 minutes away on Craigslist, bought it. Sadly, it was just drowned in a flood, we ended up getting Donna a 2002 Lexus SC430 Hardtop Convertible with a little back seat with only 58k miles. Point is the ideal car was right next to me and I didn't know it.

bookcase size, I paid to have 2 pairs of AR-2ax’s shipped, bought parts, overhauled them, they were well worth the buy/ship/restore cost and effort, but not for my main listening, great for my office and garage systems. I used UPS Pack and Ship. Seller reluctant to ship simply drops them off unpackaged

https://www.audiogon.com/systems/10092

more about JSE Model 2’s

https://www.audiogon.com/systems/11418

 

 

I'd like to hear these, not sure if seller had one pair in Canada and another pair in California, says 'open box'.

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650244807-canton-vento-100-floor-standing-speakers-white/

clarify tarriffs, perhaps if seller gets them to CA prior to sale .....