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Speaker suggestions please - going to the BIG city

I've received some excellent advice from this forum in the past and I'm hoping you can help with speaker suggestions.  I've had my Martin Logan Summit X speakers for five years.  In that time, I've updated all my components and cables, but not the speakers.  When I purchased them, I lived in a small town and it wasn't practical to travel to the big city to audition others; they were a strong suggestion from an audiophile friend.  I very much like them, but I have a hankering to upgrade, or at least consider other brands that will compliment my system (see below).  I don't want to change my Primaluna HP Integrated because I like it, and I recently upgraded all the tubes at a cost of $1300. 

I listen to jazz, female and male vocals, quartets, etc.; think Jewel, Melody Gardot, Nora Jones, Neil Diamond, Alison Krauss, etc.  Never hard Rock, and never overly loud. 

My room is about 18x25 with a vaulted ceiling and open behind the listening seat by another15 feet (the kitchen). 

I have an Axiom Audio sub in the system that I've also thought about replacing.  

I'm heading to Portland and Chicago in the next few weeks and have time to audition speakers.  I'd very much appreciate your thoughts on what would sound the best considering my music choices and Primaluna amp.  I know I could just listen to everything, but I'm hoping you can help me narrow the choices.

My system:
  • Martin Logan Summit X speakers
  • Holo Audio May DAC (Kitsune edition)
  • Lumin U1 music player
  • EtherRegen.
  • AfterDark clock and power supply for the clock and EtherRegen.
  • Roon Rock using a NUC that I built
  • Acoustic Zen Hologram II speaker cables
  • Acoustic Zen MC2 and Kimber Kable D60 digital cables
  • Acoustic Zen Matrix Reference II interconnects
  • OPPO 105D player for DVD and SACD disks (modified by Ric Schultz).
Thank you!
Steve

smills59

Showing 5 responses by smills59

smills59 OP
54 posts
 

I was in Portland last summer, but most of the stores were still closed or only accepting appointments.  A friend of mine just bought a pair of Wilson Sasha's and is selling his Maggie 3.7i's.  I'm picking those up in CA next weekend and get to try them out for five weeks while he's in Holland.  I can't wait to hear them in my home.  I have a set of AntiCable Autoformers, which should help the PrimaLuna drive them.  I'm also adding an active crossover from Sublime to pull the lows into the subs before the PrimaLuna, which will also help it drive the Maggie's.  

I love the subs.  It took me a long time to get them dialed in--I kept tweaking them until they now sound great.  I also turned down the 25 Hz knob so they don't compete with the subs until I get the crossover. 

If you're thinking about buying REL, I suggest you contact Albert at Precision Audio and Video.  he made me a great deal on the two s/810's I purchased.

I'll update this after playing with the Maggie's for a few weeks.

smills59 OP
54 posts
 
Yup, I forgot my budget.  Thinking $15-$20k. As to type, I'm open to suggestions. 

My daughter lives in Chicago close to Buena Park (near Wrigley Field), but I can go anywhere around Chicago. 

Steve
smills59 OP
54 posts
 
Sorry, I've been absent folks; I had a family thing come up and this is the first I've had time to log on.  WOW!  Lots of recommendations.  I'm enjoying reading them all as I'm listening to Jewel's Greatest Hits album through Roon--love it!  I have to say, I do love these MLs I have, but I'm anxious to hear other options.  I have an appointment at Pearl Audio and Echo for next Thursday and Friday and I'm excited about the opportunity.

IN the meantime, I ordered a pair of REL s812 subs to replace the one I have.  The Axiom is a good boom-box for movies, but can't keep up with the MLs and doesn't really add anything.  The RELs arrive Tuesday.  I won't have time to fully break them in before I leave for Portland, but I'll start the process.

Thank you again for the suggestions!  The journey begins soon!
smills59 OP
54 posts
 
Sadly, none.  I didn't get to Portland and my trip was canceled due to Covid.  I will try again in a few months.  I did add two REL s812's and love them.  It's taken some time to figure out the crossover and volume, but I feel like I'm there now.  I'll update this post after I make the trip.

Thanks all!
smills59 OP
54 posts
 
Well, I haven't been able to make my trip. Too much work and Covid issues stopping me. I've been doing a lot of reading and found a pair of Harbeth Hi5 plus XD and KEF Reference 1a with good pricing. According to what I've read, both are tube friendly.

To refresh, I have a Primaluna HP Dialogue Integrated that I really like with two REL s812 subs. My room is about 18 x 25 with a sloping ceiling from the second story. My music tastes are Jazz, Nora Jones, Melody Gardot, chamber music, etc. Nothing hard, loud, or rock.

Amy thoughts on these two options? I can't go hear them because I live in a small town, and they are being sold by a dealer in another state who took them on trade. 

Thanks for your advice! 
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