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Speaker upgrade

I would like to hear thoughts on upgrading my speakers. I am very happy with my current system, but am thinking of upgrading the speakers. Not made up my mind yet, but very close. I have changed my gears recently and deciding whether to keep my current speakers or try different.
I currently have Aerial acoustics 7T, with 2 REL S5/SHOs. Aerial acoustics 7T are one hell of a speaker, and I never thought I will change them: they are very neutral and transparent, which plays exactly what you feed them. I still think they are excellent and In fact, on many forums, I have constantly bragged about them and still do, for good reasons. But I guess, time has come to change. Looking for speakers with better resolution, big soundstage, organic and sweet mids. If I can get more of everything my 7T does, it will be a jackpot. Budget is < 35K (used OK).
I have thought of Magico S5 MK2, Vimberg Tonda, Marten Mingus, Rockport Avior II. Others include Von Shweikert VR55 and Vivid Audio Giya G1. Hard to audition all, but have heard S5 Mk2 and Rockport Avior II which are close top.
My other systems include, AF strumento no. 4 mk2 amps, VAC renaissance mk V pre-amp fed by Luxman D-10x (DAC/SACD player) and Antipodes CX/S30 (server/streamer). I use roon mostly and listen vocals, Jazz, classical, Indie Rock, contemporary instrumental and the likes. Room size is 17 x 14 and height is 10 feet. I have already done all room acoustics. Cables are Silversmith Fideliums (never going to change that) and Shunyata anaconda/python, TQ black diamond and AQ Hurricane.
romney80
rodge827's avatar
rodge827
619 posts
 
The Charney Audio Concerto with AER BD-3 drivers will get you in under your budget and give you everything your looking for as well as deep engagement in the music. Or the Companion with AER BD-3 drivers will work well in your room and save you some $$. You can sell the Rel's and get rid of some of your room treatments.

Charney horns are designed on the tractrix theory and are not like conventional box or panel speakers. My room was well proportioned with treatments for the monitor/sub set up I had. With the Charney's I removed almost all of them except for the back/front walls, and some Michael Green corner treatments. The sound is wide, deep and engaging.

If your in the NJ,NY, area contact Charney for an audition. Its worth your time.
http://charneyaudio.com/

 
gammajo's avatar
gammajo
844 posts
 
Romey, Much of the Von Schweikert discussion now happens on Whats Best Forum. In the past there was a very active group on Audio Circle. Personally I find VSA speakers to have a more life-like presentation (natural, fuller bodied, not tipped to the highs, and better articulation and slam in the bass) than when I have heard with Magico, Wilson etc in other systems. With VSA I have always had tubes in system in the preamp. They are exceptional in maintaining an excellent stereo image even when placed non-ideally such as fairly close to front wall, with wide sweet spot and no timbral shift regardless of where you are in room as listener, even listening against a side wall. Every time that I have upgraded anything else in the system, with VR55s easily convey the enhancement in performance. I tuned my system using a grand piano in same room as system and the VR55s more accurately convey the correct combination of string, wood box, hammer magic that is piano. The speakers rock out expectionally well, yet play sweet and properly sized on intimate acoustic music. Hope this helps
petergomes432
7 posts
 
Thanks for shearing this post. This is very helpful info.
winnardt
173 posts
 
Magnepan 20.7s.
larryi
3,982 posts
 
Rodge,

I agree that the Charney Audio speakers with the AER drivers are terrific sounding and they are a super bargain.  I liked the Charney with the Voxativ driver too, but, for my taste, the AER drivers sound better.  The other really BIG bonus is that the efficiency of these speakers allow the use of flea-powered tube amps, which I prefer over other kinds of amplification.

I don't know if removing room treatments is in order, but, it is certainly worthwhile experimenting in that direction.  I have often heard serious systems where the room sounded overdamped with audio treatments.  Some of the best rooms I've been in had minimal treatment, included the artificial ficus trees that bpoletti mentioned above.  
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