+1 @jjss49
and My Response 3.5 's aren't going anywhere either until my youngest takes them ~ he has already laid claim to them
Would not mind adding the K8's to the collection and a pair of ATC SCM50's
Thinking of upgrading speakers from ProAc 3.8 I have enjoyed in my system for 23 years.
I am likely to buy slightly used. I have read the newer ProAcs have tighter base and are easier to place in your room due to down facing port. Are the ribbon tweeters that much better? I am concerned about durability of the ribbons, as there have been a few threads by people who have had ribbon failure. I would consider D48R or K6 if I can find a nice used pair. Do the newer ProAcs lose any of the magic of the older models? Another speaker that interests me is the Sonus Faber SarafinoG2.
System is Accuphase E406, Nottingham Spacedeck, Allnic H5500
+1 @jjss49 and My Response 3.5 's aren't going anywhere either until my youngest takes them ~ he has already laid claim to them
Would not mind adding the K8's to the collection and a pair of ATC SCM50's |
I encourage you to listen to as many speakers as you can. Technology in materials, electronics and usage of computer aided design continues to evolve and I think results in excellent speakers at many price ranges.
Good luck and enjoy your journey! |
You won't go wrong with either speakers. From some of the reviews I read the D-48R's are more euphonic whereas the K series is more detailed and neutral. I think it does come down to personal preference. Personally a big fan of the D-48R when I heard it but had to "settle" for the D-30R. due to room size. No regrets however. I think both speakers offer a lot for the money. |
Hello @jsbail Three is a nice looking pair of K8's on USA. I would by them if I was speaker shopping! |
I have never heard the Pearls, but currently have Proac K8’s which are one of the best sounding speakers I have owned over the past 30 years. They just do everything right and all types of music sound superb. They have the ribbon tweeters which to me are one the best ribbons out there. I am thinking of up-grading to the K10. Sonus Faber was much better years ago. Now it seems like every 6 months they come out with a new speaker- “like flavor of the month”. Go get yourself a set of K6’s! |
The Pearls are out of my price range. Also, never heard them. There is a pair of k-6 on another site for 17,500 which is a stretch for my budget. I will look for a dealer with Sarafinos for demo and give them a listen. I know the ProAcs are great with my 160 watt Accuphase integrated but not sure of the Sonus Faber. |
I love and own the ProAc D48R. I am simply stunned every time I listen to them. I have never heard the 3.8, so I cannot compare the two. But if you are looking for a dynamic speaker with vocals to die for, then these should be auditioned. I have not hear the K6, but guess that since they are in the higher end range compared to my D48R, they should be even better. |
Not sure what your budget is, but these JA Pearls could be end-game speakers and exhibit many of the same qualities as ProAc… https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650017479-joseph-audio-pearl-3-speakers/ Best of luck. |
The Sonas Faber are absolutely gorgeous and get my vote. They have a "wow" factor far beyond the 'square box' Proac. Sound wise both speakers have tweeter/midrange/ midbass drivers and I'm sure both sound very good. However, the Sonas Faber are world class in every respect. If you can, go see them and hear them. Stunning!! |
To echo what others have said the newer Proac models with ribbon tweeter retain all of the qualities you like in your 3.8 models and sound better with improved imaging and transparency. I have the Proac D-40r, and have owned them since I purchased from the local dealer as demo speakers. I traded in the Proac 2.5 which sounded great, but were less efficient and more veiled (which I didn't realize until I tried the new speakers. There have been no issues with any of the drivers, ribbon or conventional. During my time in this hoppy/obsession I have owned a lot of different speakers, but I have owned more Proac speakers than any other brand. I haven't heard the D-48r or the K-6 so I can't help you with that question. My system is posted if you want to look. Jim Perry |
proacs remain among the very finest dynamic speakers out there, imo they magically balance the contrary notions of see-through clarity and musicality, with an open, vivid yet still warm and human presentation - they have always sounded just right to me (which is why i still have 4 pair in house 😂) the ribbon tweets are easily replaced if one does something stupid and damages one spendors, harbeths, vandys, buchardts, audio notes, spatials, focals, klipsches, kefs, totems, decwares, shun mooks, grahams, sonus fabers, dynaudios, have all come and gone over the years, but the proacs have stayed in the fold |
The new ProAcs are very good and retain the warm, smooth and natural sound of older models. They are very good at integrating the ribbon tweeter with the other drivers, something that cannot be said of most speakers employing ribbon tweeters. I don’t know about durability, but, it should not be hard to replace a tweeter if it did blow. These days, that kind of failure is not that common unless the speakers are pushed really hard. |