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Possible Upgrade: requesting ideas
I will b moving residences next month. New room dimensions are 5m x 11.5m but this serves both as listening/living room and dining area: listening position will thus be the room divider...Using this an "excuse" (OK, I am hopeless) to explore upgrading speakers and if necessary amplification.
Cost not a major issue, and I will not be really thinking in terms of performance/cost value proposition. Truly outlandish pricing (say, Alexendria) excepted (as it relates to my willingness to spend). WAF factor is important but in terms of design but physical size. The very large models such as Maxx2, Dali Megalines, the new Gryophons, Pipe Dreams, Soundlabs etc are all ruled out.
I listen to a wide variety of music but mainly jazz, rock, funk, blues. I do like my current speakers but just want to explore. At min probably will want to update my own to diamond tweeters to fully capture SACDs. Frequency extension requirements for me is at min what I have and hopefully more (so again rule out some excellent smaller monitors). Would prefer to avoid using a subwoofer.
Any suggestions?
Some that I have thought about
upgrade within Kharma line: Reference 1A 1B, Midi and the new Mini Equisites. Anybody able to compare them agst each other ( the new Reference Exquisite seems too large)
Watt Puppy 7: I had auditioned them awhile back and found them some what bare/dry sounding in the mid range though transient attack was superb. Having said that it was brief and only vai Spectral amplification so perhaps it was the amp.
Sonus Faber Strads: though from purely indirect feedback doesn't sound what I will really like. Probably will check out nevertheless. Too polite and warm?
Avalon Diamond: Isis is too big for me
Mbl 101E: Are they too big? May just be OK size wise.
Von Schweikert: the 9s I think too big in terms of depth. What about the new 7s?
Any comments/suggestions/ideas would be most welcome.
Cost not a major issue, and I will not be really thinking in terms of performance/cost value proposition. Truly outlandish pricing (say, Alexendria) excepted (as it relates to my willingness to spend). WAF factor is important but in terms of design but physical size. The very large models such as Maxx2, Dali Megalines, the new Gryophons, Pipe Dreams, Soundlabs etc are all ruled out.
I listen to a wide variety of music but mainly jazz, rock, funk, blues. I do like my current speakers but just want to explore. At min probably will want to update my own to diamond tweeters to fully capture SACDs. Frequency extension requirements for me is at min what I have and hopefully more (so again rule out some excellent smaller monitors). Would prefer to avoid using a subwoofer.
Any suggestions?
Some that I have thought about
upgrade within Kharma line: Reference 1A 1B, Midi and the new Mini Equisites. Anybody able to compare them agst each other ( the new Reference Exquisite seems too large)
Watt Puppy 7: I had auditioned them awhile back and found them some what bare/dry sounding in the mid range though transient attack was superb. Having said that it was brief and only vai Spectral amplification so perhaps it was the amp.
Sonus Faber Strads: though from purely indirect feedback doesn't sound what I will really like. Probably will check out nevertheless. Too polite and warm?
Avalon Diamond: Isis is too big for me
Mbl 101E: Are they too big? May just be OK size wise.
Von Schweikert: the 9s I think too big in terms of depth. What about the new 7s?
Any comments/suggestions/ideas would be most welcome.
10 responses Add your response
If you like the omni sound, MBL have a relatively compact stand mounted spkr wearing the radial tweet & mid. The sound is good, slightly reminiscent of the ls3/5a -- but with significantly better HF extension and better LF extension. It's probably better than yr present ceramiques. It's also easier to drive -- it doesn't have a subwoof and you may not need one unless you start listening to large orchestras. The 101 you referred to is about 6' tall and imposing -- I don't think it would get past the wife. You also need exhorbitant amounts of energy to drive them. The Strads you mentioned are large. The Eidolon are probably within yr physical limits; it's a nicely made spkr but is another energy guzzler. Really, I would sacrifice low end extension that's rarely reproduced well by "full-range" passive spkrs driven by 1 amp and go for a good spkrs that plays ~60-20kHz. OR, go for an active design. Try Linkwitz's orion for example. Now that is a heavyweight design:)! |
Zu is the best you can do in all areas except WAF. My wife actually likes the looks but it is likely that she is an exception. No grills. Hi tech looking drivers will always be looking back at her. On the other hand they reproduce 16 HZ, are 4 feet tall and only cover one square foor of floor space. Woofers are powered and top end is 101 db efficient allowing use of flea power SET amps. Very popular in Asia. |
Do a little poking around and check into Chapman Audio Systems at 206-463-3008 That should get you in touch wih Stuart Jones, the owner/designer. His T-7 speakers are highly regarded, and better known on the West coast. He doesn't do the internet thing, so it's difficult to find info on the web, but he makes killer speakers. He can build them to suit, whether one desires simple or ornate aesthetics. His flagship model is the T-77, which he can customize to your sonic tastes. I have been working with him for three months to custom build a pair of T-77's for my HT. You would likely enjoy a conversation with him, whether you end up a customer or not. He is quite knowledgable about speaker design/construction and is a marvelous conversationalist. |
I have just mini-auditioned the new Sonus Faber Amati and Goldund Epilogue. Both were not my cup of tea and some ways quite disappointing. Comments on my thread on my evolving system: Virtual Systems/Final Make Over, I think. See no need to upgrade from my current Kharma 2.3F to either one....in fact would counter productive...at least for my own tastes. |