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Non-fatiguing speakers in $10K range?

Some years ago I downsized to headphones only. Now I have access to a dedicated room again, so getting my absorption panels and ASC Tube traps back from storage... :-) The amp is going to be Accuphase E-800. I like class A, and I owned fair share of Pass gear but Pass integrated (and lower preamps) no longer have tape loop. I also like my gear to look the way I enjoy and Pass went too industrial for me.

Anyway, long story short. Speakers. I prefer relaxed, non-fatiguing sound. My headphones are Meze Elites and I love them. I also own Focal Utopia, but rarely listen to them, too forward for me.

Now, music-wise I do not listen to jazz or classical or vocals, sorry. Classic rock, hard rock, 80s new wave, punk, pop (classic and modern) and African blues like Tinariwen. People tend to insta-suggest forward sounding speakers - you like metal, right???. But I don't like piercing sound and I rarely go to concerts exactly because of this. I listen to AC/DC but NOT at 'realistic' revels. I like rhythm, melody, but I don't care about 120 Db.

The budget is about $10K, give or take, most probably second hand, but I can buy new, if I really like it. Unfortunately, there are not that many high end shops around Seattle with gear I like. Some went selling vintage and some went up selling only $100K+ systems. So most probably will be getting something blind.

It seems I should be looking for ribbon tweeters, I spent hours at youtube - it is definitely not listening in person, but some recordings are pretty decent and many show differences between speaker models.

I also compare frequency response measurements - I can easily tell that I won't like the speaker by looking at the chart. Ex, bump around 2-6K is a no-no since this is what "bright" is. Dip is actually good since this is what makes sound less "in your face/ear".

So far I more-or-less narrowed my search down to Legacy (Signature or Focus), Dali 8, ProAc (D48 or K) and - maybe - Magico A3? Legacy is huge, I am not sure I really need 20Hz extension. Magico has beryllium tweeters which may be bright....

I purchased Tannoy D700 many years ago, still own them, they are part of my TV set up. They sound good, but not as good as I would like it. My desktop speakers are ribbons too - AirPulse, I like them quite a bit.

Anything else I am missing?

mikhailark
mikhailark OP
206 posts
 

@audiokinesis - thanks much! The room is roughly 30x15x8. I don't have many room treatments, just what's left from my former HT setup - 6 12"x4' ASC tube traps and 4 6"x4' traps and maybe 5-6 1" 2'x2' absorption panels. Rug on the floor, thin carpeting.

Yes, I know about soft sound, but I guess I mostly meant "no bumps" around 5K :-) Speaker appearance does not matter much. 

I auditioned Klipsch couple of times, La Scala, corner horns, but never really found them to be rock speakers. Wonderful with voice and piano though.

I ruled out Legacy primarily on size and weight. Shipments gets to $500-600 plus I don't know how to get them down my long and steep driveway (trucks don't go there) and then downstairs with limited space to turn around.

Thanks!

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,875 posts
 

Another vote for the Vandersteen Treo or even the 3A-signature which when paired w a solid amp has amazing low end and the famous 5a midrange and tweeter. I am of course biased as i own Treo CT and 7’s, You have a fantastic Vandersteen dealer in Tacoma. On your drive back North, stop by and hear the 7’s.

Enjoy your search n the music

Jim

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,875 posts
 

@northbeach Any chance you live near Woodmont ?

jafant
19,296 posts
 

tomic601

Agreed- the 3A Signature is a steal.

 

Happy Listening!

deep_333
1,206 posts
 

The Bullies are good speakers BUT in LOOKS and SQ...They simply don’t belong in the same conversation as some of the EXCEPTIONAL Speakers that are being discussed on this thread......PERIOD.

Did you hear these speakers? I have a feeling you didn’t. Guy in town got these in for himself and i got to hear it well and good...

What are these other exceptional speakers that blew these out of the water? If they are exceptional because of looks, ok, so be it/understandable. But, sonics, i don’t buy that notion at all...W.r.t looks, the bully with the walnut finish or whatever doesn’t look any worse in real life than any big old school jbl, tannoy, klh or even a mofi.

Metal/Hard Rock requires a significant amount of slam (no ph.shifts killing the deal in the higher octaves), significant sound power in the upper bass, lower mids, etc., not an abrasive top end like the klipsches and whatever else. The Bully has perfectly integrated rythmik style of servo subs from the designer (while he still had all his dofs open) covering 20 to 200 hz. It is a rarity or hasn’t been offered before. You won’t find it in those exceptional speakers. Some bigger eminence or a few of those in some of these other "exceptional" speakers don’t hold a candle to what a pair of servo subs can do. Resolution, clarity, etc (perceptually), i would put it up against many speakers that cost a magnitude more these days.

Do you know that there are guys who can easily afford half a million dollar rigs who sit around with that GR NX-Treme 7 foot tall speaker? It is approx a 5k kit (!!) that one builds. For the type of electronics that the OP has, he would be just fine.

Just because that GR dude gave you good things for charity prices didn’t make it a non-competitor (sonically) against the "exceptional" speakers.

 

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