@puzzledconfused When I went speaker shopping 2 years ago, before COIVD, I demoed a few speakers in your range.
- my first listen was the Magico A3 when it cost under 1$0K. I liked it for the most part but I did hear the drivers a bit. I believe it was in the woofer and mid-range region.
- I then went to listen the Paradigm Persona line 3F and 5F. I thought the top end was better on this and liked it more than the A3. Though the speaker needed warm electronics and I did not like warm gear too much (at that time). I was considering the Luxman 509x at that time but did not like it as much as other integrated that I heard later.
- I then went and heard the Vivid Kaya 90. I thought it was great but maybe too close to the KEF sound. I was planning on getting a KEF model too for another room (those plans not likely now). I liked the Kaya better than the others listed.
- Then I went and demoed the Yamaha NS5000. Unfortunately, the demo was in a bad room but I could tell the drivers on the NS5000 were better than all the others. They also had a seamless integrated sound. That is I did not hear a specific driver. The NS500 also sounded very natural and realistic to sounds I have heard live. So the Yamaha NS500 is the speaker I expect to get.
For amplification I was considering the Hegel 390 or 590. I have heard all the models before these 2 models with KEF Blades so I have an understanding of the Hegel sound. I think it would be very good with the NS5000.
I ended up buying a Thiel CS3.7 for my office and started buying gear with the plan on using some of this gear on the NS5000.
- the following I have or now sold would work great with the NS5000
- KRELL K-300i integrated (super smooth and amazing bass)
- CODA CSiB (great in every way but not as smooth sounding as the KRELL)
*- Benchmark HPA4 | Gustard X26 Pro DAC | Benchmark AHB2 x 2
*- CODA 07x and CODA #8
* today, I have these with the Thiel CS3.7 and 1 of these will eventually go downstairs with the NS5000. The Benchmark stack is about the price of the Hegel 590 while the CODA stack is a little more. In all cases, I plan on using the $1500 Gustard X26 Pro DAC, which I find astounding for the price.
I demoed the NS5000 with the $10K each Yamaha preamp and amp. It was pretty good though I though the $15K each Luxman preamp and amp were better (on TAD ME1 speakers).
- my first listen was the Magico A3 when it cost under 1$0K. I liked it for the most part but I did hear the drivers a bit. I believe it was in the woofer and mid-range region.
- I then went to listen the Paradigm Persona line 3F and 5F. I thought the top end was better on this and liked it more than the A3. Though the speaker needed warm electronics and I did not like warm gear too much (at that time). I was considering the Luxman 509x at that time but did not like it as much as other integrated that I heard later.
- I then went and heard the Vivid Kaya 90. I thought it was great but maybe too close to the KEF sound. I was planning on getting a KEF model too for another room (those plans not likely now). I liked the Kaya better than the others listed.
- Then I went and demoed the Yamaha NS5000. Unfortunately, the demo was in a bad room but I could tell the drivers on the NS5000 were better than all the others. They also had a seamless integrated sound. That is I did not hear a specific driver. The NS500 also sounded very natural and realistic to sounds I have heard live. So the Yamaha NS500 is the speaker I expect to get.
For amplification I was considering the Hegel 390 or 590. I have heard all the models before these 2 models with KEF Blades so I have an understanding of the Hegel sound. I think it would be very good with the NS5000.
I ended up buying a Thiel CS3.7 for my office and started buying gear with the plan on using some of this gear on the NS5000.
- the following I have or now sold would work great with the NS5000
- KRELL K-300i integrated (super smooth and amazing bass)
- CODA CSiB (great in every way but not as smooth sounding as the KRELL)
*- Benchmark HPA4 | Gustard X26 Pro DAC | Benchmark AHB2 x 2
*- CODA 07x and CODA #8
* today, I have these with the Thiel CS3.7 and 1 of these will eventually go downstairs with the NS5000. The Benchmark stack is about the price of the Hegel 590 while the CODA stack is a little more. In all cases, I plan on using the $1500 Gustard X26 Pro DAC, which I find astounding for the price.
I demoed the NS5000 with the $10K each Yamaha preamp and amp. It was pretty good though I though the $15K each Luxman preamp and amp were better (on TAD ME1 speakers).