Speaker Questions and Recommendations
I'm currently demoing a pair of Janszen Audio Valentia P8s. Had them for a week, and they sound amazing! Hands down they are 3x better than my current Martin Logan Ethos speakers. I'll be keeping them. |
@puppyt if you are seeking ideas (not recommendations, but ideas) for what to listen to that may present music beautifully, but differently than your current setup using the dynaudios modern floorstanders, i looked carefully at your system components and have the following comments based on my own travels in this pursuit 1) the primaluna can stand improvement, especially in the transparency and ’air’ it provides compared to better units... suggest you try a modern audio research amplifier, or try an arc c-j or herron tube linestage with an excellent ss amp like pass or ayre (none of this stuff is inexpensive) ... any of the above should make any speaker the primaluna is driving sound somewhat ’better’ imho 2) try non box speakers - magnepans... spatial audio open baffles... vandersteens - very different presentation style that may well please 3) box speakers that produce a much ’bigger’ sound -- harbeth mon 40, spendor classic/sp 100, big klipsches perhaps new cornwalls, perhaps top devores 4) support prior view to make add'l efforts to ensure room treatment and speaker placement is optimized just food for thought, best of luck to you |
Be very careful here. You have a completed synergistic system that you are enjoying. If you still have the itch to improve things, you might consider room treatments and/or cabling upgrades as a safe way to go. Changing a major component such as speakers at this point could start the upgrade merry-go-round all over again. If you insist on doing so, make absolutely sure the speakers you choose will work well with the components you have and in the room you have. Otherwise be prepared to start the spending. Good luck! |
Nice job puppyt, very balanced. I do not think going to stand mounts is going to do much. To get a significant improvement I think you are going to have to spend more than $6000. Magico S3's cost $22,000. Sound Labs 545 $13,000 (a tight fit but doable). There is the Vandersteen Treo at $8000 which I think would be a worthy step up. The Magneplanar 3.7i will not work well in your room. I would spend more time window shopping and saving. |
Puppyt, the Tannoys do a better job of making the scale of music closer to realistic sounding. They are not miracle workers though, very few loudspeakers approach that ability. I remember when I first got my drivers and crossovers. I propped the Tannoys up on their sides next to the Dynaudios. Just sitting on the floor, they outdid the Dyns by a large margin. And, they sound better in their cabinets. |
@jbhiller I would love to attend an audio show. I also saw that RMAF in Denver takes place in October as well so that would be another option. You hit the nail on the head when you said sometimes we have to listen to new stuff! @islandmandan Those speakers sound like beasts! How would you generally describe the Tannoy sound as compared to the Dynaudio sound? |
I will tell you my story. I had a beautiful pair of Rosewood Dynaudio Contour 5.4 speakers I thought I'd keep until I died. But, I couldn't get over the feeling that I had unfinished business with Tannoy. I sold my Dynaudios, and set about building a pair Tannoys, I used HPD 315 drivers and crossovers (12" Dual Concentric). I came out with a pair of speakers that are 150 liters, 48" H X 17" W X 20" D. Each cabinet weighs 192lbs. sans speakers and crossovers. They are bass reflex. The Tannoys beat the the bejeesus out of the Dynaudio's. So, I suggest you try listening to some Tannoys before you decide. Best regards, Dan |
OP, great advice already given by smart audiophiles. I would add that AXPONA is happening in October. You might love hearing so much gear in one place. Also, if you’re not sure what you’d want to change in the loudspeaker department, you could always start with a new speaker with a trial period. Sometimes we just have to listen to new stuff. Enjoy your journey! PS I have a Chinook. Lovely sounding phono pre. I also had that Primaluna but a 19lb red beauty beat it-Carver Crimson 275. |
It's going to be a bit of a challenge to find speakers significantly "better" than your current ones (which are very good), especially at the 6K point, even factoring in used. I second the advice of starting to explore what's out there. Bear in mind, too, that at stores or shows the whole system is new to you, not just the model of speaker you're listening to. Beyond standmount+subs versus floorstanders, consider, too, that Harbeth 40.3's, Spendor Classic 100's, Graham LS 5/5's, etc., are all technically standmounts. |
@jjss49 I appreciate your comments. You are correct that I didn’t articulate what I am seeking to improve. I suppose like many in this hobby I am always curious about what might be “better” knowing that is a hard to define term. Obviously I could “do better” with every component I have were I willing to spend the money. That is not what I am seeking. I am more interested if advances in technology and design over the past few years make it possible to achieve an equal or more satisfying sound without simply spending more for a component than I did the last time. Is there a possibility of getting more for less? Also I thought if I described what I have and the types of music I listen to that people might have recommendations along the lines of “if you like that you might explore this”. I have loved music my entire life but it has only been in the last couple of years that I have put together a system that really opened up what is possible in terms of achieving a moving and engaging experience. So in many ways I am still a newbie and I don’t know what I don’t know. My question about stand mounted speakers vs floor standers reflects that. I had always assumed that the best sound comes from floor standing speakers but have started to realize that maybe a combination of stand mounted (or simply smaller) speakers and subs might achieve a nice result. Anyway thanks again for your comments. I really enjoy the search and discovery aspect of this hobby so your thoughts are greatly appreciated. |
your system is quite good, and so if you don’t know what specific improvements you are seeking in a component change, much less a speaker change (biggest move of all), there is no way to suggest anything that has any assurance of pleasing you more than what you have you have to articulate what you wish were better or at least different standmounts vs floorstanders is a total red herring, especially as you have integrated subs already you will just get a litany of other people’s wild-ass uninformed guesses to your post, all of which will be pretty much useless to you you are better off attending some hifi shows, or high end gear retailers and listen to what they have on display |
