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Seeking advice on Speakers that create an intimate 2 channel listening experience

So the past month I started a couple of threads on speaker choice on AVS forum (One asked for Powered/Active floor standing Speaker choices and another one around non-active FS speakers for a tube amp I was looking at).

But I've come to realize this was the wrong tact, got lots of flack much deserved and wanted to try to solicit the advice/opinions on this forum which I just discovered.

Short background...Hunkered down in a suburb just outside NYC now for the past 3-4 months, I started to get the itch for a dedicated 2 channel stereo Turntable setup in our living room in May. After much research and twists and turns and immediate upgraditis, as some know on here from other posts, I've finally settled in and now own a Rega Planar 10 Turntable. I also own a Sutherland phono --20/20 with LPS and that's staying. Right now the phono preamp is hooked up direct to a pair of ELAC ARF51 floorstanding speakers (all drivers powered by built in AB amps) which I like a lot BUT ITS HERE THAT I WANT MORE. Btw, I love the ELAC design of mounting the tweeter concentric in the mid driver -- makes sense to me.  I kinda wish ELAC would take the same design and make a reference speaker but thats for another day.

So to swap out the ELACs, I will obviously need an amp, but I will figure that out later and want to focus on getting the right speakers for me for what I want. So what do I want?

1. Floorstanders. Close to full range as possible. No subs.
2. Looks count since in my main living room.
3. Speakers that prioritize Imaging Imaging Imaging. That disappear in the room creating an intimate but 3D listening experience. Clean (Accurate) warm sound. No distortion. I would easily sacrifice low end for untiring highs and warm mids I don't listen to metal or hiphop anymore so I don't need loudness, more like lounge experience if that makes sense. Apologize if I got the adjectives wrong but its personal description of what I'm seeking.
4. Price Point - -$10k-25k. Room is 22x18 with 25 foot ceiling

I would like to audition/demo before I buy and since I live in the Tri-State area it should be possible. But I'm finding that obviously difficult to do right now. I listened to a pair of Salk speakers but didn't love them. And have an appt with the Audio Doctor in NJ in two weeks.

Thanks in advance.
aj523
dlmcats's avatar
dlmcats
2 posts
 
How about a JBL Paragon? Pair with McIntosh C-28 and MP-2105 and you have the looks and the sound - timeless...
https://www.flickr.com/gp/dlmcats/QD9Xu4
https://www.flickr.com/gp/dlmcats/P978w4
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,819 posts
 
Boy is that room ugly! A modern crappy rug with a syrupy Romantic painting and to top it off; a clock over the painting!
That said, the system is nice...
yuvalg9's avatar
yuvalg9
16 posts
 
AJ523, I am not surprised that you like your ELAC's so much. Andrew Jones designs superb speakers - he used to work for TAD (and designed they're (forgot the model) reference speakers - cost $80,000 at the time - which are still considered some of the best speakers ever made. He also had a long tenure with KEF, and helped with the design of their (famous!) concentric tweeter. If you'd like to stick with active speakers - (and you are so right about this!), I suggest the ELAC NAVIS ARB51 ($16k/pr). Otherwise, I agree with the recommendation of the Goldenear Triton Reference - they are also active 'speakers, with 1800 watts of internal amplification, and very smart use of passive radiators (in lieu of a conventional bass-reflex port,  which always suffers from some 'chaffing noise'. Otherwise, I do agree that bookshelf speakers tend to 'disappear' in the room more so than Floorstanders; I recommend you check out the new Magico S1's (A bookshelf model, cost (give or take) $12,600/pr, which is within your budget. Cheers,  Yuval.
aj523 OP
360 posts
 
@yuvalg9
Thx Yuval. I should have been more specific but I do currently own the Navis ARF51 which is an active but all analog designed tower for $4600 pair. You cited the ARB51 which is the smaller bookshelf at $2,300 a pair not $16,000 lol. I even reached out to Mr. Jones to see if he had any interest in designing a no compromise Reference Navis model but never heard back.

I’m familiar with Triton but they are not an all active design just the subwoofer is powered which is pretty common these days. In fact it was Sandy Gross owner of Triton who designed one of the first powered sub enclosed tower speakers with passive radiators when he owned Def Tech.  Cheers
limomangus's avatar
limomangus
1,202 posts
 
Some people here have suggested used speakers. I have gotten some fantastic speakers at some crazy good low prices. Especially when it's the exwife or daughter selling off there hubby's or dads stuff.Craigslist,letgo I have found speakers Allison's,Klipsch, Martin Logans ,Jbls,Polk,Tannoy,Kef,SonusFaber,B&W and many more at crazy prices.True some,need a wire soldered, or Surrounds replaces ,or need to be refinished but when you get a pair of speakers that list for thousands for less than $200 OR $100 or even FREE.Im not a person who would ever buy $250,000 even if I had the money.The joy in getting  a pair cheap that sound good that's my thing.
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