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Picking speakers 3000-5000 budget

Hello,

I'am new to the site and enjoying it very much so far.

I posted in the amplifier section looking to upgrade my modest 25 year old system.

I now have a  Auralic Vega g1 into a MacIntosh mx110 tuner/preamp into a Adcom gfa545 (100 per chnl) power amp,then out to a pair of Polk monitor 10 speakers.I also have a Rega p6 on the way for my turntable needs.I think it has a exact cartridge.

I 'am trying to decide which speakers and amplifier I want to get to finish this portion of my upgrade.

To start my room is 20x13 and currently have my system on the right 20ft wall ,and move the speakers out from the wall when listening.

I can put them at the end of the long wall facing me if I want,and do sometimes.

I have a 6,000-10,000 budget for the amp and speakers,but would like to spend less if possible.

I do not have any personal experience with most of the brands of speakers I hear talked about here,but I have bought many guitar amplifiers by listening to YouTube videos and I will probably do the same for my home speakers.

The speakers I have in person experience with that I like are Klipsch chorus 2,JBl Jubal's and L100'sand Thiel's(not sure what model).and some old DCM Time Windows.

The one's that I really like from watching YouTube are Sonus Faber,Wharfedale,Tannoy,some of the B&W's.

I listen to about 40%classic rock,and about 40% pop,soul,blues,with the last 20% jazz classical and misc.

I really need my speakers to be able to rock at a pretty good volume,I know the Klipsch's would probably do that,but also would like them to sound great for pop,soul,and acoustic stuff.I really like bluegrass and Celtic acoustic music.

I need some help to narrow down my choices in the 3-5000 range for those genres.

I'am not opposed to speakers on stands or tower speakers,or needing a subwoofer to achieve the goal.

It seems to me a lot of the high end speakers have a over accentuated treble,but this just could be my background of blues rock music.I just want cymbals to sound like cymbals not a sizzle sound.

I think if I can find a amplifier I like for less I could spend more on the speakers.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

 

 

twangy57

Showing 5 responses by soix

soix
10,185 posts
 

I have to mention the Usher Dancer Mini-Two that are beautiful and very high quality, and because they’re one of the few companies that manufacture their own drivers they use the same diamond tweeter as in their $42k flagship and they get down to 28Hz.  This seller offers a return policy and a 10% discount that gets them down to just over $5k, which is a lot of very high-quality speaker for the $$$.  Read the reviews.  Pair them with this incredible McCormack DNA-500 amp and you’d have an absolute killer combo for under $9k without having to drive anywhere. 

https://soundapproach.com/usher-mini-two-2-x-7-2-way-diamond-tower-speakers-pair.html


https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650201477-mccormack-dna-500/

soix
10,185 posts
 

I also checked out ATC.I like the scm80 and scm 100,the latter out of my price range.Most reviews were very good.Going to check these out some more.  I also was looking at the ProAc Response DT8 There is a pair used for 2500 on ebay.  Anyone have any thoughts on these.

Saturday Audio Exchange carries ATC and Klipsch, and while you’re there Monitor Audio, Paradigm and GoldenEar would also be worth a listen in your price range.  ProAc speakers are all-around excellent speakers (one of my personal faves actually) and ProMusica carries them along with Totem and Dynaudio that are also very much worth hearing.  Holm Audio has MoFi, Dali, Sonner, and several others.  You’re lucky to be relatively close to all these brands — take full advantage of it!
 

soix
10,185 posts
 

Since you live in northwest Indiana I strongly agree with @jeffbij you should definitely take the time to go visit a few stores in Chicago.  I used to live there and there are several dealers like Holm, ProMusica, Saturday Audio Exchange, etc. that carry many excellent speakers for you to hear.  It sounds like you kinda know what you like but really haven’t nailed it down yet, and going to listen to several is the best way to find “the one” that really does it for you.  It’s a big expense and well worth the effort in the long run. 

soix
10,185 posts
 

Take a look at ATC.  They can do rock/dynamics without breaking a sweat and can also do the audiophile things and nuance with other genres, but they do require a robust amp to get their best.  Best of luck. 

soix
10,185 posts
 

The speakers you say you like are literally all over the place sonically so would help if you could narrow down what specific improvements you’re looking for.  In addition to that, what sound characteristics are most important to you?  Are you looking for more immediacy and dynamics, a little more warmth or more neutrality and detail, a big 3D soundstage with lots of depth, speakers that disappear as a sound source, etc.?  Providing that info will greatly help narrow down which speakers might be more appropriate for what you’re really looking for. 

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