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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
vinyl_rules's avatar
vinyl_rules
35 posts
 

Another vote here for the QLN Prestige 3 speakers. They are hard to find, but boy oh boy can they sing!

 

At least read: 

And

Your life will never be the same again, and you will spend WEEKS searching for the subwoofer that someone sneaked into your listening room!!!

 

ddrave44
125 posts
 

I love accuphase and the E800 looks like a beautiful amp. To get non-fatiguing, clean, full sound I'd focus on Revel and Dynaudio. Plenty of choices in your price range. Sonus faber and Harbeth maybe after that. 

Some highly recommended in this thread that I haven't heard such as Devore Borresson and Legacy so I can't comment. 

Good luck!

 

axelschlum's avatar
axelschlum
2 posts
 

Another vote for Harbeth which I have listened to with Accuphase amplification.

avanti1960
1,425 posts
 

Non fatiguing is easy to find but shouldn't be the only thing on the list.  A smooth speaker that sounds slow, lacks micro dynamics, obscures detail and adds coloration may sound uninvolving and boring.  

 

 

vthokie83
711 posts
 

mikhailark

There are some really great recommendations already put forward, that are really helpful. If I were in your shoes with your listening tastes (and with your Accuphase), I'd pay attention to speaker sensitivity. Some thoughts if I were you (and this is not to poo poo any other suggestions), I'd look at: Volti Lucera's (99db), Fyne Audio Vintage Classic XIIs (96db), JBL 4349 (91db), Revel F228b (90db), and maybe the aforementioned GR-Research Billie (94db). Some might be hard to find to demo, some not

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