take a look my Lexington-001 , you can listen in Brooklyn any time
excellent WAF factor ,
excellent WAF factor ,
WAF Speaker suggestions
+1 for the Gallos also the new LSAs from Underwood HiFi got excellent reviews . It's bookshelf type requires a stand https://www.underwoodhifi.com/products/lsa-group I have enjoyed the hell out of their Emerald Physics KCIIs, which have Clarity Cap and WireWorld OCC internal wire upgrades |
So I took the wife and some CD's and auditioned a used pair of Focal profile 918's today. The demo was with a SS 300W/channel amp similar to what I have at home so I felt it was a fair audition. The wife liked the look, size and the sound of the Focals. She was a professional violinist in an earlier life and said she heard much more resolution. Said she could hear the individual instruments on string quartet recordings more clearly with the Focals. I felt the Focals were much brighter than the Vandy 2ce sigs but did not have the bass slam. The price of the Focals was good so we did purchase them. We have been listening for the past several hours and are pleased with the purchase. The Focals do a nice job with jazz and classical. Moved nearer the rear wall, the bass response is not too shabby. I have been especially pleased with the sound of the speakers at low volume. Very clear sound at low volume. Only downside I have found is playing rock music loud. Speakers are too small to fill my room with sound, a trade-off I can live with. Thanks to all of you for the advise . P.S. - I'm sure I will get the "itch" again in a couple of years and be looking for something new. Gotta love this hobby. |
I felt the Focals were much brighter than the Vandy 2ce sigs but did not have the bass slam. Yep, you really do love your wife more than the Vandys! Anyway, congrats and I'd say consider yourself fortunate that your wife is as interested in listening as you and that you can do it together. Not always the case, to say the least. |
Not often on the used market: the origional Avant Garde RX-20 in the early 2000s, thru several inerations of Avant Gardes to present day;: this amazing speaker by Gershman Acoustics is a full-range, pyramid-shaped 3-way floorstander that has ample bass, a wide and deep soundstage and visually disappears in your room. This could be The Speaker for you - I know it is for me... |
The OP had towers, and he wants something different, so why .... more towers? Consider the Spatial M3 or M4 Triode Masters http://www.spatialaudio.us I had a pair of M3 Triode Masters that was black frame around black cones. Maybe I should say spheres. I really like the design. 2 big cones on the frame. and people generally arere attracted to round things, from moons to the Wheel of Fortune. Frames come in black, red, and white. I bought mine directly rom the owner/designer Clayton Shaw at an audio show. He is very personable. Call him to see if he has other colors he could do for you. I liked "black on black" b/c it just makes the speakers (open baffle- don't knock them til you try them) disappear. they don't draw attention with weird angles or colors, and therefore the speaker 'disappears" more easily when playing music. Again, for WAF. these speaks sound great with the genres you mentioned. they will fill a large room with sound quite easily, and a used price is well within your budget. And although these are the "triode masters", they do have a bit of triode sweet sound, but also has balls of steel and you can play them on "11" w/out hurting them. IOWs, your Class system is not only pretty ideal in terms of a matching SQ with the Spatials, but has the power needed to drive them. Don't get mislead by "triode" in the speaker name, you cannot run these with a lightweight or even medium weight tube amp. Best would be a hybrid: tube pre and SS amp. |
I appreciate your WAF problem. I had a set of classic Spendor 1/2Es that I was very happy with, but the day came when those "70s-looking boxes" were ordered out of the room. I've now got a set of Ohm 1000s and my wife likes the way they look in the room -- small footprint, nice looking veneer and the small grill on top gives a bit of an obelisk appearance. And, I like the way they sound, so they been a winner for both of us. |