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Seeking $15,000.00 speaker to replace Quad 988's

My system consists of Thor Audio TPA 150 el-34 tubed monoblocks, a Thor TA-2000 premamp with phono(tubed),
Cary 306/200 which I use as a transport and Thor Audio DC-1000 tubed Dac, VPI scoutmaster turntable with a clearudio discovery cartridge, Richrad Gray power conditioner, an Audio Physics
Minos Subwoofer and a pair or Quad 988's.
Quad positives:Great for piano, voice and small groups such
as chamber music. With a voice or piano you swear the piano or voice was in your room.
Quad negatives:Bass does not extend low enough.
No illusion of an entire orchestra on stage. The Quads shrink the musical presentation. Lacking in dynamic contrasts. They also soften many instruments. For instance the tambourines in Tchaikovsky's Capriccio Italien instead of sounding sharp like in a dynamic speaker, they sound
rounded out and softened.
My issue: I am told that only an electrostatic can deliver the clarity that a Quad can deliver. I have looked into the Sound Labs but even with their new impedance modification I do not think my amps can drive them.
Will a speaker like a Vandersteen 5A, Kharma 3.2 give me the clarity of the Quads with the dynamic contrasts, and
the illusion of 90-100 people on a stage and not 10. I know I'm asking for a lot but I don't want to replace the Quads and take a few steps backwards in doing this. The Quads have lived with me for over 1 and 1/2 and they do some amazing things, but is there more for the approximate price guideline I have suggested.? I guess as a music lover and audiophile you are always searching for that additional something. Has anybody out there found someting that might work with my sysytem that gives me that
something more?
kjl

Showing 2 responses by summitav

summitav
163 posts
 
Hi Hammy,

Somewhere I missed the original poster saying that the new system had to pass the "wife committee". : )

Although all my girlfriends seem to like the stacked Sub set up. I guess it is all in how it is presented.

The sound is truly "HUGE, Real, and Breathtakeing". I think that is what is sought.
summitav
163 posts
 
If you don't mine a suggestion from a dealer, I would suggest this (I will be doing something like this in my system soon but with RM40s instead of RM/x)

I would go with a pair of VMPS RM/x speakers $12,000 list with four of the VMPS Larger subs @ around $900 each which put you at $15,600 list (much lower street).

I would "stack" the subs to have two pair of two stacked on top of each other and run them in stereo.

Run the top of the RM/x with your tubes. Go SS to run both the woofers of the RM/x and the Stacked Subs.

If you want to hear 7th row center at Carnegie Hall. Its yours, and as lifelike, detailed and pristine as can be.

The RM/x will give you the detail and sound quality you want and the Subs (which are incredibly musical) will give you the weight and size your after.

And part of the magic is caused by the "stacking" of the subs and moving the woofers up to ear level. It is "unbeleivable"
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