If you have $4 - $5 grand to spend, with your electronics and desire for classical music and midrange, you really need to consider Sonus faber Sonetto V’s at $4,999.00. Quintessence Audio in Chicago is a great dealer with good demo capabilities and knowledgeable staff. They may even have a demo pair at less money. The Sonetto’s are easily matched with amps both SS and Tube. I have owned Luxman, and Rogue Audio amps and Focal, B&W, Yamaha NS 1000, and finally Sonus Faber Venere 2.5 and now Sonetto V speakers. While I don’t have a $100k system, mine is a $15k system. I’ve had friends with $70k systems say they can’t get the sound that I have. I can only agree that Dynaudio, Monitor Audio and the many other suggestions you’ve received are good speakers, but you’d be selling yourself short if you don’t at least audition the Sonetto V’s. Good listening and good luck!
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.
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.