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Speaker upgrade for classical music

Hi, I need recommendations for a speaker upgrade. I’m a classical violinist and listen almost exclusively to classical, opera and jazz. No movies, Atmos, etc.  I have a 17x14 listening room (doubles as practice room) with acoustical treatments (phase coherent diffusers at main reflection points and regular ones elsewhere).
Half my listening is in stereo and half in multi-channel (4.0 and 5.1).   All my recordings are either CDs or high-res—DSD and FLAC—audio files. I don’t have a turntable. 

My current system: Marantz SR 8012 amp, Yamaha S1000 CD transport, Exasound e38 DAC and Sigma streamer (connected to the Marantz with analog 5.0 inputs). Speakers: Polk Rti A7 stereo, CSi A6 center, Rti A3 surround, and dual REL T/7i subs. 
What I want: speakers with improved musical detail and clarity that really reproduces the expansiveness of the symphony hall or church. I like a warmer sound than a drier one.  What’s most important to me is to hear what the recording engineer heard. Budget: say 8k or less.

Recommendations?  One other thing: Can I try them out?  And how?  I’m in Santa Fe, not a huge metropolis with lots of audiophile shops. 
Thanks very much. 
ssmaudio

Showing 2 responses by islandmandan

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islandmandan
1,260 posts
 
I can't believe no one has mentioned Tannoy speakers, but after a large amount of time on this planet (73 years), most of it has been spent listening to Tannoys. I can't recommend them highly enough. They sound (and look), extremely well with just about any music.

I got my first pair in 1971, and I still use them happily today. They work very well in my multi-channel system, where KEFs are used for center and surrounds, they work well, as they are also Dual-Concentric in design.

Try to hear a few Tannoys. I think you will be glad you made the effort.

Best regards, and good luck,
Dan
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islandmandan
1,260 posts
 
Actually, I had a break in my Tannoy journey after a bad divorce left me without them. After that, I'd been using some B&W's for mains, and bought some KEF's for center and surrounds at a very good price.

After that came a nice pair of Dynaudio's, but after a few years, the itch to get back to Tannoys started to get to me, so when my new Tannoys came on line, I still had my KEF center and surrounds. They have now been upgraded with a new KEF center, and some very good Pioneer Andrew Jones designed speakers for surrounds. Both are a fine upgrade, and they have added to my enjoyment of multi-channel music.

As I mentioned before, both the Tannoy and KEF are Dual Concentric (tweeter in the center of the woofer). I wish I could have you listen to my system. I live in the Pacific Nor'west in Puget Sound on Whidbey Island. That's a long way from Maine, but maybe you'll come this way for one reason or another some day. You'd be welcomed.

Regards,
Dan 
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