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Speaker Choices For My System

Hi. I am in the market for new speakers. Assuming I will not be able to audition prior to purchase due to lack of local availability. With that said - Budget: $10,000. Current equipment: PS Audio Stellar Preamp/DAC and M700 Monos. Primary source is CD - Parasound Halo CD1 and Luxman D-N150. I do listen to some vinyl as well via a Rega P3/Elyse MM. Room is large at about 13 X 20 with 10 foot sloped ceilings , but seated listening distance from where I had old speakers is about is about 11 feet, with several pieces of furniture in room including 2 sofas.

Musical taste primarily Americana, rock, some acoustic.

Currently considering: B&W 804 D3, Spendor D9.2, Focal Kanta 2, Vandersteen Treo, Joseph Audio Pulsar Graphene 2 (with sub).

I welcome your thoughts, input....
gnoworyta

Showing 2 responses by hilde45

hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,820 posts
 
OP -- I love your list. From that list, I'd be most curious about the Spendors, because I've heard speakers in that line and like them. Have heard good things about the Joseph. I've been turned off by the B&W line, but have not heard the better ones.

I second the suggestion you try some Maggies.

You might also really be taken by Salks, Silverline, Focal, Revel, or Legacy stuff.

In my opinion, there is no substitute for listening in your own space, so if I were you, I'd consider places to audition them, and also check out what Crutchfield sells. I tried giant towers from them; 60 day trial; $20 to ship them back (they were Martin Logan ML 60s). I know there are higher end places to buy/try from, the Crutchfield's home trial policy is impossibly good.

Consider: 

https://www.crutchfield.com/g_12000/Floor-standing-Speakers.html?tp=185&o=d

https://www.crutchfield.com/g_37900/Bookshelf-Speakers.html?tp=186
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,820 posts
 
@gnoworyta While I’m pretty sure no one wants harsh, I think I know what you mean. I was really seeking that upper detail and for that reason, folks here encouraged me to try AMT tweeters. That lead me toward Martin Logan’s Motion series and Legacy, but now I see there are variants in Wharfdale and Elac, among others.

The airy detail on the Martin Logan’s was truly jaw-dropping, but I was playing them in a room with very low ceilings (6.5 feet) and so there was a brightness there that was too aggressive. I really think that a speaker with better execution of the AMT tweeter plus taller ceilings might really have hit the magic spot you’re describing. Perhaps this one or something in their line? https://www.legacyaudio.com/products/view/focus-se/

Nice profile of the maker is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAEefnhFA3o

And to be clear, I never listened to these because I could not get one into my home for an audition, plus, it really became clear that my ceilings were too low for them. But I did become fairly confident they'd be excellent. So, not a "fanboy" or anything, just pointing out where my research had me pointed before the ceiling problem deflected me.
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