Speaker upgrade for classical music

Regarding the Tannoys and KEF for center/surround combination: how did you decide that KEF would be a good complement?  Curious, since I’m trying to figure out what to look for to pair main speakers with the surrounds. Thanks!

I did hear the Turnbury. Wow, blew my socks off. The details and imaging were amazing. That’s more of a true Tannoy sound. 
With the aim of not letting the perfect stand in the way of the good, I’m leaning towards the XT 8F and then upgrade to a “true” Tannoy in a couple of years.  The true ones are out of reach for me right now.  Will try out the larger Harbeth and Graham Audio then. Can’t really now with all the Covid crap going on. 

Regarding the Marantz. I just happened to have it left over from the living room, and since it has analog in, thought I’d use it.  No one put my system together, just used spare parts. 
I‘m willing to move from the Marantz, maybe suggestions for amp + speakers <= $10k?

Thanks for all the recommendations! This is fabulous. As you can tell, I’m new at this.
I did read the LS/9f review. (Can my Marantz power It?) It sounds very interesting. I’ll read about the other recommendations next.

Question: One reason I have the Marantz is so that I can listen to multi channel. If I wanted to replace it, what should I do for multi channel recordings? (The Marantz does have pre-outs.)

Question about monitors like the Graham Audio LS5/8 vs Ls9/f floor standing speakers. What are the pros and cons of the monitor?  Do I need to add a separate subwoofer?  For classical music maybe not?  But for jazz maybe yes?  

@jon_5912 and @skywachr, I get what you’re saying about spending too much. I’m thinking of spending maybe 3k on speakers (am partial to the Tannoys Or used Graham Audio for now—am going to listen to them today), 4k on pre-amp plus amp.
Regarding vinyl: two reasons I’ve been hesitant to go down the path. 1) I’ve been aware of the deficiencies in my current system and didn’t want to have another set of things to spend money on and 2) to be honest, I’m not sure I can hear the difference between digital and vinyl.
I don’t want to start this wonderful thread on the rabbit hole of the age-old digital vs vinyl debate, so let’s leave it there. I’m willing to give vinyl a try and change my opinion after I’ve addressed the current deficiencies In point #1 above. (BTW if you have reasonably priced turntable recommendations you can send me an email at ssmbogus at gmail plus the com part. )

To all of you who recommended Harbeth and Tannoy. So I went on a road trip to Taos and checked them out at Sound Science. It was a Harbeth P3ESR and a Tannoy 6f with a Lyngdorf amp. I did like the Tannoy sound better. Don’t get me wrong, the H was magnificent, but it seemed to me that it was trying to make the sound warmer than it needs to be. The Tannoy was a bit harsher, but it reproduces the original with greater fidelity. Anyway, that was my impression.

I listened to my favorite recording of Bach’s solo violin pieces (esp the mighty Ciaconne) and the Tannoy definitely was the better for my ear. The Harbeth rounded the sound too much—I couldn’t hear the attacks of the chords or double stops that I expect.

I think this may be the difference that my ear hears because I know how it’s supposed to sound having played a lot of these pieces myself and having heard all those pieces many times live and in recordings.

The search continues for the speakers. 
Regarding the amp. Anyone have any comments on the Lingdorf SDA 2400?  

To all of you: I didn’t realize that there would be so many people with so many wonderful suggestions. Clearly Magnepans, Harbeth and Tannoys among a couple of others are the favorites. Thank you!

Some of you suggested I need to update my front end. So to that end, I’ve bought a couple of reasonably priced used Parasound Halo P7 pre and a52+ amp to start with. I know a couple of others who have really liked the combination of those with the Exasound DAC—the one I use.


Regarding speakers: I’ve decided to try out Tannoy XT-8F for stereo and center, and smaller ones for surround. Yes, yes I know, it’s Chinese-made and not the pure Tannoy sound. However, I liked the sound when I heard it nearby. (In this day of Covid, one really isn’t able to travel and try different speakers.) Would love to hear the Harbeth, Maggies and the other favorites if we ever come out of this alive.


But thanks (or maybe it should be condemnation) to @russbutton I ended up down the Linkwitz rabbit hole and got totally fascinated! I read as many of his writings as I could find and he really is a man of my mind. He tried to recreate the original sound stage and imaging and detail without the boxy sound. I haven’t read a single reviewer who didn’t love them! So I’ve also been able to find an LX521 kit for cheap and am going to put it together and see what that’s like. So  thanks @russbutton!!! I didn’t know about this guy at all. 


If I like the LX521, I’ll sell a couple of the Tannoy 8F and leave the rest for my surround and center. That way I have a fabulous stereo system and a good surround system for my multi channel music.