As you know, Speakers / amp matching is very critical. If you are planning to keep Pass Labs XA30.8, I would connect one on one through PM with folks who own this amp and or folks who owns speakers you are considering and learn from their journey. The sheer size of speakers and shipping makes it bit difficult to audition multiple pairs. How is your local dealer network, can you audition any of these speakers locally?
Opinions on speaker upgrade choices
System as follows: Dr. Feickert Volare>Modwright Ph9.0xon analog side... Antipodes S30>Rockna Wavelight. Backend 9s Primaluna Evo400>Pass labs Xa30.8>Ascend Acoustics towers/Raal tweeters. Room is 12.5x21.5 with another 8x8 at back right of room. Have treatments at first reflection and rear wall. Budget in 10k range. Listen to all kinds of music from new age to Porcupine Tree! My first two choices are the Legacy Signature SE and the Vandersteen Treo CTs. I've also looked at Kanta 2. The Monitor Gold 300 is also a possibility? With system and room dimensions and musical choices how would you rank these choices? I would always choose musicality and would slightly lean to the warm side. Matching to the Xa30.8 could limit some possibilities.
Thanks for your time in advance!✌️
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Not sure I’d choose any of those speakers if you’re looking for something that leans slightly to the warm side. My recommendations for that sound signature would be: Verity Audio Lakme Sonus Faber Olympica Nova ll (review makes interesting comparisons to Kanta 2) https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2021/12/10/sonus-faber-olympica-nova-ii-review/
https://positive-feedback.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/usher-audio-ml-801/ ProAc Response 48 Nola Champ S3 https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2022/04/17/nola-champ-s3-loudspeakers-review/ Gershman Grand Avant Garde |
You have a real dilemma. I recommend looking at it like this: The speakers are the most important choice in your system. Unless you have decades of experience under your belt then choosing without hearing is probably a bad idea. You may be happy… but it is really likely you will have a very suboptimal choice.
I would look at this as an opportunity to justify a trip to a city… drive or fly. How much can it cost? $300 - $500? Look at it like an audio vacation. Call a two of three audio stores, explain very exactly your situation. Make appointments for several hours… tell them in advance everything you know about the music you like, the sound you prefer and your price range. Then go and listen to music… keep your analytical side at bay… you want a set of speakers to emotionally move you… for me it is Sonus Faber.
Absolutely do not choose speakers on the basis of your electronics! Choose speakers on the basis of your affinity to them… then if you get them home and… say your electronics are suboptimal… they need more power (you have a great amp) or are too warm… then worry about that. But don’t let your electronics pick your speaker… that is having the tail wag the dog. Also, we can help a lot more if we can see your system an venue. You have a lot of great equipment There is a place to put photos of your system under your ID. It really helps to see your space. It is really important to size your speakers to your space… another consideration in choosing. |
Vandersteen added a new dealer in Boca Raton, Bocatech hired a very experienced audio crew and added Treo Ct, Quatro Ct, and KENTO Cabron to their demo. They are happy to make an appointment, and they also host Saturday "hang-outs" for listening. Their key audio salespeople have over 100 years of experience even though their new audio focus started only last year. Give them a call and go visit. I wonder if you can figure out the front door. It took me a while. :-) Boca Tech & Automation
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You will have a shift in listening experience if you move from Ascend's with RAAL tweaters to a more traditional cone and dome type speaker like Vandersteen. The soundstage and listening experience is just going to be different. Not bad, just different. If you like a ribbon tweeter and want a warmer presentation, I would look at Scansonic. Something like the MB5-B or MB6-B would work in your room. I have a customer who is driving this with a PrimaLuna integrated using EL34s in a big room so it would be fine with your Pass. Another option that could be really interesting is the Audiovector R3. I know this is a bit above your budget but it is a great speaker. Andrew Quint had a great review of it in TAS a while back. I carry Scansonic. I have no affiliation with Audiovector. I just think it is a good speaker. |
@jimfinn2112 Do you like the Ascend with the Raal? Are you aware of the new version? It's called the ELX, at around $5,300. It seems to be quite a substantial overall upgrade. |
