I would recommend the Wilson Yvette with a Parasound JC5 amplifier. A sound to die for.
Opinions wanted: 10-30K Speakers for Jazz/Folk
See title, which speakers would you suggest auditioning and how would you describe their sound? Price can be new or used.
Looking for specific recommendations and how you’d describe their sounds ie crisp, warm, whatever. Again I enjoy mostly jazz and folk with nice vocals. If you care to share amps you think pair well or ones to avoid feel free! Please spare me responses on why it’s different for everyone or how my question is somehow flawed, just looking for some of your opinions/recommendations, thank you.
Looking for specific recommendations and how you’d describe their sounds ie crisp, warm, whatever. Again I enjoy mostly jazz and folk with nice vocals. If you care to share amps you think pair well or ones to avoid feel free! Please spare me responses on why it’s different for everyone or how my question is somehow flawed, just looking for some of your opinions/recommendations, thank you.
75 responses Add your response
For that much coin, I would call Roger Sanders. http://sanderssoundsystems.com Amazing products by a master designer and a very good honest man. You will be pleased! |
I have AN-E LX/Signatures (with deja vu custom crossovers and woofers replaced with hemp versions due to cat incident). Anyway, agree with earlier observations regarding relaxed sound - that’s exactly what i experienced whenever i entered the dealer’s AN room. almost feng shui-like. and they scream for tubes. |
Altec Lansing?? Honk Honk! Arcticdeath, Roger Sanders is an interesting guy and his speaker is excellent, if you are a hermit. Only one person gets a balance of frequencies. Everyone else has to imagine what treble sounds like. But, for that one person the experience is excellent. His amps are real winners at their price point. Personally if you are into ESLs the Sound Labs 545's are a better deal, not selfish, easy to drive and no cross over. Everyone should visit Roger's website and read his white papers. Smart guy!! http://sanderssoundsystems.com Some people prefer the microscopic image dynamic speakers can provide. I think that is mistaken for detail. To get image depth and specificity out of a dipole you have to severely cut the volume coming off the back of the speaker by deadening the wall behind it preventing a big early reflection. Most people have listen to systems where this has not been done so they get a very large hazy image. Once you do this correctly you get a large holographic image you get sitting in row 6 at Symphony Hall or in a Jazz club. At big rock concerts there is no image, it is all in mono. Seeing a rock video can actually be better than going to the concert if you have the power to do it right. The only downside is you can't get a T shirt. |
@mijostyn - We are so sorry that you constantly have to hear about a horrible injustice that gets people mistreated and killed daily, around the world, and creates huge divides between people.... Hey, it’s not about you, and how you feel. Think about the people it’s affecting. In the words of Meredith Palmer, "get off your high horse, Richy" -- "Sincerely disappointed." @bruce19 - I like it. Anyway... back to the subject at hand. I agree with the sentiment already stated: there are way too many options. You’ll need to set up more parameters - preferences, requirements, overall budget, and the like - for us to really provide any useful input. Otherwise we’re just throwing out our favorite brands or models. @gano - true. |
Daveman2, humans have been killing and mutilating each other from the very beginning. That is how we evolved as no other critter could compete with us. There are always going to be nasty people. Get use to it. Maybe someday in 500 to 1000 years we might evolve out of it. I am Jewish and there is still plenty of anti Semitism around. I could care less. I do not blame the German people currently alive. I even own a Porsche and Ferdinand Porsche was pro Nazi in the beginning. All you can do is be successful and set an example. If you are lucky and in the right position maybe you can figure out a way to get people out of the ghettos. The big problem is not racism it is socio-economic. |
Since no one else has mentioned - GoldenEar Triton Reference. I have them in an 18x30x8 room, powered by Pass Labs INT250 and Luxman D05-u. I listen mostly to singer/songwriter and progressive rock. I love everything about this set up. Bass is great (no need for sub woofer), mid range is amazing, highs are unbelievable. The soundstage is wide and deep. I haven't had a single person that has come over to listen not be totally blown away by the sound. |
There are two speaker systems I'd recommend in your price range. Buy either of these and you are DONE. The first is the Dutch & Dutch 8c. It is a total audio system, not just a good loudspeaker. I have never seen a loudspeaker system so fully engineered. Just add a laptop PC or streamer and you're done. Comes with built-in, tri-amplified electronics, DSP EQ and DAC. You don't even need speaker cables. Just put it on your network and connect. There is some critical setup to do during installation, but when you're done, you'll have sound as good as anything, at any price. The imaging is the very best I've ever heard. No shortage of dynamics, low end or mid-range clarity and detail. Beyond stunning. $12,000 new, retail. There's a pair used on Audiogon for $9750. The other loudspeaker system is the Linkwitz LX521. Again, this is a fully tri-amplified and powered system. Pre-built with electronics is somewhere around $15,000. You can buy it as a kit and build it yourself, with a total project cost probably around $5000 - $6000. Up to you. |
@mglik is right. I have used both Quad 57’s and the latest versions. The latest gives you an extra octave top and bottom, but there’s not all that much music there. The 57’s are just as satisfying as the latest versions. The second best room I’ve ever heard used three pairs of 57’s, stacked. The best is my current room with 4 modern Quad ESL’s. |
Rockport Atria II's. At the high end of your range, but I think they do really well for what you're after. I find them to be exceptionally accurate, but without venturing into sounding clinical - more "musical" (admittedly a hard to define term). Voices come through with warmth, without sounding colored (Joni Mitchell's "Blue" sounds amazing, and IMO it's a hard recording to reproduce well). Jazz records have a very nice spaciousness and sound stage, with live recordings sounding like they are really live, more than just a live recording ("Ahmad Jamal's Alhambra" is a great example). https://rockporttechnologies.com/atria-ii/ I have mine paired with a Nagra Classic INT integrated amp. Extremely happy with the combination. |
Again, can’t help myself to plug this system. heard it at one of the audio shows long time ago, his newer incarnation are so much better. Check it out, www.sanderssoundsystems.com. Speakers, plus a Magtech amp, other stuff, and the warranty, .....best in the business. you owe it to yourself to at least call and talk to Roger Sanders about his speakers, amps, etc. take 20 min to call him, and speak to him. His system is one of the best money can buy. you will be rewarded ! I wish I had your dilemma, I would be on the,phone w Roger immediately to talk. Nothing to lose, everything to gain. His amps are audios best kept secret. Dad the review about the Magtech amps and those MBL radiostrahler speakers. |
JBL 4343B’s - great for jazz and folk and rock.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqBcW28IYsc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NiZ2k7GUWE&t=3s https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisa69jb-jbl-4343b-speakers http://jbl43.com/?mode=f3 |
There are so many great choices out there. I think if you have the space and don’t mind the size, I would say Martin Logan CLX with two subwoofers (Martin Logan Balancedforce or JL Audio Fathom), Wilson Audio Maxx 1, 2, or 3, Wilson Sasha Dawn, or Wilson Audio Alexa speakers. All have a great resale value down the road as well if you want to upgrade. |
