New speakers dilemma for vinyls... Heeelp! :)))


My dear hifi lovers,

In a while I'm going to pull the trigger for a pair of new speakers, in 6000$ range.
My new system will be focused on a Pass Labs XA25 and a Rega Planar 6, I'll have to test both Ania and Exact cartridges as I don't know yet what to choose.
I was looking on the web for recommendations related to vinyls for speakers in such a cost range but found literally nothing. My system will be fully analog, 80% lps, 20% cds. So far I auditioned the Klipsch Forte IV and Sonus Nova 3, very different but both amazing for different reasons. I slightly preferred the Nova as for me the bass is the most important thing. The Forte had a decent one but don't go deep enough, hope to hear the Cornwall IV soon and find that amount of low frequencies missing with the Forte. Unfortunately the dealer couldn't provide a turntable for the listening. This month I'm still auditioning:

Revel Performa3 F208
Focal Kanta 2
Cornwall IV
Spendor A7
Dynaudio Evoke 50

In a first moment I was also strongly considering the Tekton DI's and Volti Razz, they're both still on the list but unfortunately I can't test them because I'm in EU and in addition I'll have to pay tax duties (but this won't be a problem if these speakers are really the best choice).
Anyway even if for next auditionings there will probably be a turntable, It's always hard to get what's better sounding. I have 1000 records and can't test all of them, plus I can't know which one has a solid registration or not.
Does any of you have experience with speakers in a such cost range, using a turntable? And btw did any of you try also the Ania or the Exact?
Please feel also free to recommend any other speakers i didn't mention, I'm extremely flexible and open to any suggestion (excluding Dac).

Thanks!!!
adversam

Showing 27 responses by adversam

Sorry I should have specified that in the future I ll buy a cd player, but it's just an  idea... So basically yes, it will be probably 80-90% analog.
@bigtwin hi, could be also used, but i prefer new because it's easier both for testing and assistance
@knotscott thanks, I ll have an appointment soon in order to test the A7. Do you own a Spendor speaker? Any other models to recommend?
@mapman @jasonbourne52, thanks for the great recommendation. I m checking Ohm Walsh's page, which of the current models do you recommend? Beta? Tall 4000? Which amp do you use?
@avanti 1960 the Pass XA25 have a huge dumping factor and can produce at least 100W into 2ohm working in  A/B class. I don t listen at crazy volume, maximum h12. All the speakers I m testing have a very decent sensitivity, which ones in your opinion is not a good match for it?
@avanti1960 thanks for your feedback... just a last question, the kanta's 2 have sensitivity at 91db... Do you think they could pair? If not what power amp do you like/suggest?
@ozzy62 hi ok, i ll switch to lp records... It's my italian bringing me to the term "vinyl", in Italy we just say vinile:) Did you have any occasion to match the Kanta with the Pass XA25? Yes, I m strongly oriented towards Cornwall or Kanta 2, I will audition the Cornwall IV as soon as my dealer receive them. 
@wolfie62 I grew up learning that in these contests there are not stupid questions but just stupid answers. Ever heard of speakers which are literally making unlistenable poor recorded records? Plenty of it... If my post is dumb you could bother your intellect investing time in anything better than replying to a dumb post, offending people that you do 't know.
@oldaudiophile thanks for your reply, found it very inspiring. I will check for sure Herb's review on PassXA25... I was suspecting that both models mentioned for Revel and Dynaudio are not the best match with my amp. If i decide for a cheaper speaker I ll definitely buy an ultrasonic record clearing machine, I repeat to myself each month "now it's time to get it"
@tubebuffer I'm definitely in! I'll bring also the wine:) just give me a date and a place...
regarding the Maggies we have it in Sweden... In Poland where I live, we have just used pairs,  sooner or larer going for a trip to Warsaw to hear the 1.7
I'm curious to hear it even if everyone says that both dynamic and bass can't compete with horn speakers
@oldaudiophile thanks again for another wise recommendation...Just checked their website, I'm thinking of one of these kits... Any specific one to recommend that you personally bought? Also curious to know your opinion regarding the Pro-Ject VC S2 Alu. Today a guy from a shop I visited suggested it. We also listened to the Revel F208 but I honestly didn t like this speaker, so it s going to leave my starting list.
@jjss49 indeed, not such a bad thread, isn t it? Many good comments and wise suggestions. Plus it's remembering us that the Pass XA25 is not just a 25 Watts power amp. Just hoping to get more feedbacks regarding Volti's speakers. The Razz are on my shortlist, but if it's really worth it I could even wait more time, save more money and seriously consider the Rival's. That would be great to hear how the Rivals compare to the Razz and to the Cornwall IV for example. Hope someone will share some opinions:)
@kennyc thank you so much, i'll check it! this thread is getting more and more interesting:)
@oldaudiophile thanks again for sharing your cleaning system. Regarding the F208, the dealer used a Teac preamp nt500b with a jeff rowlands 625 s2... No idea, probably just bad sinergy, more likely the speakers needed more hours for breaking in... They sounded really compressed and with no emotion. Also the bass that was supposed to be the Revel's strenght was muddy and slow. Anyway, I was curious the hear the Revels, but after the inputs I'm receiving on this thread, I will update my list considering just high efficiency speakers. At the moment CW IV that I still have to audition in august, the Focal Kanta (at 91db is still decent) and Volti. Still hope to get on this thread some more feedbacks related to Volti Rivals'. Can't demo them, but I have like the sensation that Greg does unbelievable speakers. And in a couple of months he's going to introduce the new Rivals'!
@ oldaudiophile btw now I'm really curious to know which speakers you have in your system:) if I can ask...
@oldaudiophile I think you re perfectly right. They sounded so weird that probably were even wrongly dialed in. The amp was a powerhouse and I also heard raving opinions regarding this speakers' measurements. Plus I asked the guy for how many hours they played, he replied: "few hours"... I had like the feeling that they came straight from the box, to be honest... 
@uncleang thanks for sharing your experience... i m actually considering the Walsh tall 3000... the problem is that the only dealer in europe is in Germany...So not easy to test... The open baffle is intriguing me a lot... How do you evaluate the bass in your Walshes? Is it deep and punchy enough? I ve read that they are difficult to drive, which amp are you using?
@mapman @uncleang these are extremely useful informations, thanks a lot! So basically i ll need a good amount of watt... Wondering if a Van Alstine could be a good match... If I remember well I read that the Ava Vision Set 400 sounded even better than a Parasound A21... Are you also playing lp records on your system? 
@uncleang thanks for great recommendations... I ll send a message to the dealer in Germany... They probably have the same policy regarding eventual returns... So unless I go to Berlin for trip, I could at least try the 3000 or 2000 at home and decide... that' s something I'd really consider... I also wanted to ask something more technical... I read in an old thread that the new Walshes are very different from the old ones. They are made up of different materials and they are not omnidirectional... did you have any occasion to the test the new Walshes and compare them with yours?
@ uncleang thanks a lot for all specs... sounds like I have to plan a trip to Germany to audition a couple of Walsh 3000 and 4000