Lush, have you thought about any speakers from the Totem line? The Model One's may be ideal for you. Or the Hawk's or even Forrest's if a floorstander isn't out of the question? I've heard several Totem speakers paired with their own integrated (a joint venture with SimAudio) and they sounded great! Give them a listen if you get a chance!
Upgrade from Polk Audio LSi9's
Just trying to gather up some ideas. I currently have a set of Polk Audio LSi9 speakers hooked up to a SimAudio intergrated amp and fully modded Museatex Bitstream DAC and Museatex Transport done by John Wright. All wiring is Moray James, Kimber and Harmonic Tech's.
The Polk Audio LSi's have been a great pleasure but I'm starting to slowly outgrow them. They deliver a sweet sound and airy musical feeling when I listen. The lower bass is quite surprising, it's in a small room right now. And will be for quite awhile. What I lack in my music is that mid-bass and symbol smash. My music rangers from Bjork-Massive Attack to Nivrana, Alice in Chains, radiohead. I want to hear a bit more punch in the kick drums, a better definition of symbol smashes. All without adding harshness which is otherwise never there. My speakers basically disappear since adding the modded Museatex DAC and I want that to continue.
I have heard offerings from PSB, Paradigm, Energy and Monitor Audio. Quite honestly I don't think they can do what the LSi's can and I wouldn't consider this an upgrade. I would like to make the jump, and obviously listen on my own, but could I get a few ideas from people who have listened to better speakers. I'd like to keep it in and around $3k new or used. If somebody thinks they can do better then my existing speakers with less money then please fill me in. I would make the jump up (to higher then $3k) only if the speakers 1. would give me the ability to improve my sound from a small room and 2. would not outmatch my Simaudio intergrated amp. The Museatex stuff is staying.
The Polk Audio LSi's have been a great pleasure but I'm starting to slowly outgrow them. They deliver a sweet sound and airy musical feeling when I listen. The lower bass is quite surprising, it's in a small room right now. And will be for quite awhile. What I lack in my music is that mid-bass and symbol smash. My music rangers from Bjork-Massive Attack to Nivrana, Alice in Chains, radiohead. I want to hear a bit more punch in the kick drums, a better definition of symbol smashes. All without adding harshness which is otherwise never there. My speakers basically disappear since adding the modded Museatex DAC and I want that to continue.
I have heard offerings from PSB, Paradigm, Energy and Monitor Audio. Quite honestly I don't think they can do what the LSi's can and I wouldn't consider this an upgrade. I would like to make the jump, and obviously listen on my own, but could I get a few ideas from people who have listened to better speakers. I'd like to keep it in and around $3k new or used. If somebody thinks they can do better then my existing speakers with less money then please fill me in. I would make the jump up (to higher then $3k) only if the speakers 1. would give me the ability to improve my sound from a small room and 2. would not outmatch my Simaudio intergrated amp. The Museatex stuff is staying.