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 1 response by itsjustme

Curious why you think speakers for classical differ from speakers for other genres... there’s something you are looking for that you have not said.
Anyway, for $8k you ought to be able to get some great speakers. Before i suggest anything, i’ll mention that we all have different likes and dislikes, and I think simply throwing ideas at you is a fool’s errand.
In speakers, here is a huge trade off between achieving the bottom octave+ and both cost and size. You can get superb smaller speakers at the same price as good larger ones, but missing the lowest register. You will probably care for full orchestral music. one possible solution is satellites and a subwoofer - but subwoofer placement matters if you want actual, articulated, in-phase bass.
In full-range speakers have you heard Vandersteen 2s, 3s and Quattros? great performance for the price, and the baffle designs deliver good space and imaging.
How about Elacs? Spectacular reviews at the price, and a buddy just put them in their smallish NYC apartment with excellent results, The feedback he’s given me on some masterings tells the story - he can hear and the speakers can reveal. I don know what they sell int he higher price points - these were about $1k
I hate to say it but i dont know if Spica still exists. If they do their are a wonderful speaker --- with the caveat that it demands a subwoofer. Oh, and they are a cheap, small speak that is very demanding on amp quality and performance - i doubt yours is up to the task.
I think you need to go listen.

G

p: maggies are a good suggestion. And overall, don't expect speakers to make the magic without the rest of the stuff being up to snuff. Weak links in chains and all that