Speaker Upgrade Suggestion


I'm in the process of evaluating a speaker upgrade to my system. System config is: Blue Circle 21.1 preamp, Outlaw 950 pre/pro (for HT and multi-channel music), Marantz DV 8300 uni-player, Rotel RCD 1070 cdp, Anthem MCA 20 (l/r mains) and MCA 30 (center and surrounds)with Kimber PBJ interconnects. Current speakers are Monitor Audio Silver S10's (mains), S2's (surrounds) and LCR (center) with SVS sub. I am finding myself listening in 2 channel mode more and more. I am considering adding a seperate DAC (Musical Fidelity A3.24 or Bel Canto) and upgrading my mains. The budget for the mains is $4,000. I like a crisp, tight, detailed and open sound with tight bass. I've listened to the following speakers: Thiel 2.4 and 3.6 (too dark), B&W N803 and N804 (kinda crackly, 804 seemed better than 803), Magnepan 1.6 (nice sound, lacked detail), Klipsch RF-7 (great detail but cold).

My MA's are good sounding but I'm thinking there's a more "musical" product out there.

Suggestions wanted please.
beatlebum

Showing 1 response by gmood1

Hi Beatelbum ...I had the same experience with the Magnepans when I first listened at a dealer showroom. I thought they were lacking in detail. But theres a difference in true inner detail and detail.I was accustomed to listening to speakers that have 1 inch tweeters.There's a slight beamy effect that gives you a false sense of detail in some box speakers IMHO.The highs jump out at you and aren't quite as seamless as the lower freqs. That being said I would still consider a Planar or Electrostat speaker.Make sure they aren't powered by recievers and by something with more current if you audition them.

$4000.00 can buy you a great used pair of planars or electrostats.Like the Innersounds ,Magnepans,Martin Logans,Quads,and I'am sure there's some I missed.Most can only be enjoyed by one person but there's less interaction with the room..since you have a wall of sound beamed directly at you. I call it the headphone effect. I haven't heard a box speaker that competes with these mentioned in speed,inner detail,and the sense of the venue.Regardless of the price.

I don't know how some of these would fit in with the HT.But with that SVS sub taking care of the subterranean freqs while watching movies.I don't see it as a problem.

Good Luck!