speaker match with rogue audio

Merlin VSMs any of them, Ses, millenium, RCs, which ever ones but buy these speakers!!!!

I own Nautilus 805s, and use a Rogue Tempest fed from a Rega Planet via Audioquest Python IC with a BMI Eel on the amp and Audioquest SA-40(silver) double runs on the speakers. I really really really love this setup. In my opinion, the 805 is a truly exceptional speaker, and I've had them for over 2 years. They are quite sensitive to placement and toe-in, but you can get great results just plunking them down, unbelievable results await those with lots of patience and time to mess around. Bass is their only real weakness, but come on, it's a 2 way bookshelf. I listen to lots of music, and the 805 is amazing. Imaging, soundstaging and true timbre are my most important factors, so you might feel differently. I would really like to try the Reynaud Trente, which is essentially the same speaker (external tweeter, 6 inch midbass) as the 805, but of course different cabinet and drivers and theories... Supposed to be excellent as well. Just a note on the Nautilus line, the 804s aren't nearly as coherent, but the 803 is soooo nice. Need a big room, though. I heard the Shearwater HR and while the mids have a really nice "organic" quality to them, I wasn't that impressed with soundstaging (especially compared to the Kestrels which absolutely disappear, but ultimately aren't as true to the music). Plus, they're time coherent, which means that you've got to be 7-8 feet away for them to sound right. I had a brief but torrid affair with a pair of Merlin TSM-SEs, which are a totally different animal than the B&W, but probably as good. They are optimized (in the bass) for a underdamped (tube) amp, so they actually produce more bass with a tube amp than with a ss amp. The sound is really natural (I wish my 805s could be fitted with some nice softdome tweeters), and overall, sound incredible, too. What's more, they are upgradeable (dontcha just love that? $$$). Ultimately, I found them to have more depth of soundstage, but less width, and imaging that was even more position/toe in sensitive than my 805. Plus, in my opinion, the standard finish looks HORRIBLE, however, the upgraded finishes are Porsche paint quality, really, really cool. Anyway, just my $0.02, good luck, and keep listening!!!

Try the Meadowlark Shearwaters(Hot Rod version) with this combo. Wonderful mids, non-shrill highs, tight bass and a wonderful sound stage.

I had a rogue 88 amp plugged striaght into my cd player, was waiting to afford a Placette pre amp but nver could afford it,oh yeah my speakers are martin logan aeris, they sounded quite good and I think they would sound a lot better with the new magnum upgrade, now I wish I had kept my 88, sold it and bought a Audio refinement Complete amp because that is what I can afford now , well good luck, maggies are always good but big. Nick

I second the AP Virgo IIIs (latest version). The new Virgos are about $3K less than the Merlins and you get bass with out having to use any bam (can you say equalizer). I also have noticed that Rogue shows with Audio Physic

Rouge gear works well with Coincident Speakers.

Personally I always think of bang for the buck. I second the Merlins but I have a soft spot for B&W's, especially for a symphonic type of presentation even with jazz and blues. The cdp should be way down the road. Go for the amp upgrade because the magnum upgrades are very special.

Mark O'brien uses Audio Physic Virgo's with his set up. I have had great success with the Virgo's and the Rogue Magnum Tempest ( the magnum upgrades are incredible, think about having the 88 done).
There are some great deals going on used Virgo's (@$2500) as the new model 3 has just come out.
The Virgo was a big upgrade from the shearwater Hotrods in my system, the shearwaters sound a little lifeless in comparison and surprisingly were much more pwer hungry than the Virgo's. The Merlins are OK but a little bright I think and lacking in the bass region.

Try a pair of silver lace interconnects from www.homegrown.com. That will be an inexpensive upgrade from the tourmelines (did that myself with a tube pre and Rogue 88). Audition the Meadowlark line-up (esp. Shearwater).

I have tried both the Rogue 66 & 88 with Merlin and Green Mountain speakers ; the 05 and 1.5 . They both were a great match with the Rogues' . I prefer the Green Mountain line because I find that it hat more detail and a wider sound stage , but a bit less bass . Everyone's hears sound a bit differently but I think these two companies make a speaker that matches your system as well if not better than any other speakers out there .

Merlin speakers would do good in that system, I was able to talk to Bobby from merlin for a long time one evening and we got talking about building a "budget system" and he said his speakers with Rogue is pretty amazing for the money. For a CD player I imagine a Resolution audio CD-55 would do you good in your current system. Also worth checking out would be B&W nautulis 805 monitors, a super speaker and a huge improvement over paradigm. Good luck.
Tim