Please help with speaker choices


Hi all,
Well the room and time has lead me down the road to upgrading speakers. A most exciting time, but alas, filled with choices and no possible auditioning for me.

So I must relie on this communities suggestions and help!!

First the current system:
Nick Doshi Preamp
Nick Doshi modded Lectron JH50
Amazon Referenze TT
Triplanar Tonearm
CDP-Don't have one yet
Focal 1007 Be Monitors-current speakers

Room Size:
21 by 13 with 8ft cellings

Music:
I listen to pretty much everything. Sorry for being so general. In one listening session I may move from Coltrane, to Cannonball Adderly, to Muddy Waters and Johnny Lee Hooker to Lucinda Williams and electric/folk Neil Young. Throw in some Dylan and then move onto the White Stripes, Beck, if I'm real rowdy maybe some Ramones or AC/DC, then come down with some Edith Piaf and a sip of 12 year single malt.

Reason for wantng change:
One is I find this a hobby. For me that means having fun with experimentation. So far I have only owned the Focals.
Two is now that I moved my system against the short wall and facing out to the long part of the room, the monitors seems lacking, like they are too small to fill the space, like it is too much effort. Three is I have nerver had a floorstanding speaker and the prospect excites me. Four is, sitting wise, I can only get about 9 feet near to the Focals. To place them closer puts them right in the middle of the living room. Not really acceptable. At 9 feet, the monitors just not presenting the soundstage I desire. At that distance with monitors, I am just not in the heart of the music.

Also something important to note is I like listening loud, but do not always have that option as my system is in the living room and out of respect for others cannot always listen loud so I must have speakers that offer low volume detail.

My choices so far (more of course welcome)
Sonus Faber Cremona floorstanders
Merlin VSM-Mxe
Verity Fidelio Encore
ATC 20's passive

At the higher end(only consider if HIGHLY recommended)
Verity Parsifal ovation
Sonus Faber Amati Homage

Monitors I might consider
Focal Mini-Utopia Be
Sonus Guarnari Homage

OK, sorry for rambling so much. Obviously I am putting a lot of thought into this. Any input much appreciated!

Peter
mariasplunge

Showing 1 response by markd51

Hello Peter. Nick Sushi, Nick Doshi, whoever, I never heard of this equipment, and I'm sure it's head, and shoulders over mine.

Since your "first system" was comprised of Jeff Rowland, I take it, you didn't take a step down!

I'm surprised no CDP, or such? You seem to be an Analog Junkie, and therefore, you do have my highest respect.
Your analog front end probably makes mine look like a $44 Garrard.

If money was no object, I'd probably be looking top of the line Dynaudio, or a pair of Wilson Audio MAXX.
There was a sweet pair this week in Mercedes Silver. All 1100 lbs for the pair! (An erroneous list by owner said 10,000lbs lol)

I don't know why it is, when many "audiophiles shun JBL as a audiophile speaker. Many would give thier right arm of a pair of 4345 JBL Monitors. Only 500 pair of these animals were made, and if you want bass slam, and authority, these speakers will hit you in the chest like Andre The Giant. They should, with 18" Drivers.

One thing I hate with Cars, Audio Equipment, or anything I buy, is walking out, and seeing them lose 50% of thier value when you walk out the door.

That's why I like Krell, Levinson for sound, but hat them for thier inherit resale value.

Downside with JBL? Is WAF. (Know what that means?) Means you'll get static from your signigicant other if you have one.

One thing about the vintage JBL (Whereever you live) They won't lose thier value.
There are those who do recognize that all hype aside, JBL made some of the best Speakers that ever were made, bar none. And they still do, such as the Everest, and the H29800. Mark