2. speakers
  3. 162677-155068

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 tweak1

tweak1
3,685 posts
 
As a listener who enjoys large scale music, including classical, my recommendation is to find a pair of Emerald Physics 3.4s or 2.8s. The 2.8s are 3.4 PLUS dual 15" carbon fiber woofers per side. Both are 93dB+ and easy loads to drive. Currently running my 3.4s + 2 SVS subs

Since these are now discontinued they are available used under $2K

FWIW I had Magnepan 3.5Rs prior and never could get a proper seamless blend with my subs, even tried biamp and active XO, and anybody's guess how well your amp would drive them

hth


tweak1
3,685 posts
 
Im not a fan monkey coffins: they are UGLY, especially when some sweet and sexy open baffle choices will do everything maggies can do (I had 3.5Rs). I tried biamping, bypassing the OEM passive XOs with an active XO, dual subs but they just didn't integrate to my liking.


Im a huge fan of Emerald Physics OBs (currently off the market, new version coming). My 3.4s have much more realistic bass, easier to drive, and don't look like 2 large doors dividing the room. That said I recently put my 2 subs back in which makes for an even bigger soundstage. Fantastic for large scale orchestras. Since these models are discontinued you can get the 3 series or 2 series for well under 3K

hth

More to discover