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What are the best loudspeakers under $4000 to re-create lifelike piano

Over the past 4 months I've spent time with five loudspeakers.  On a scale of 1-10 I'd rate them as follows in their ability (with my equipment in my room) to recreate a lifelike piano.  Tekton Lore - 6.5 (great scale but tonal accuracy and clarity somewhat lacking),    Kef LS50 - 7.0 (moderate scale but slightly better clarity and tonal accuracy)  Kef R500 - 8.0  (great scale and very good clarity and tonal accuracy), Spatial Audio M3TurboS -8.1 (great scale and very good clarity and tonal accuracy and very smooth)  Magnepan 1.7i - 9.0 (very good scale with excellent clarity and tonal accuracy - very lifelike).

In your room with your equipment, what loudspeakers are you listening too and how would you rate them for their ability to recreate a lifelife piano and if possible a few comments as to why?
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Showing 3 responses by inna

inna
7,871 posts
 
Yeah, one could not underestimate the importance of the source.
Just a thought, I did not audition these particular models, there are two pairs of Focal Utopia full range speakers on Audiogon. They are above $4k mark but may be worth a look. Utopias are often used with tube electronics, though. Of what I see today here those would most likely be my choice for the kind of music I listen to. It includes bands with piano players. $10k total budget is very tough even with one source and medium or smaller size room.
inna
7,871 posts
 
Well, this is an audiophile forum. Anyone with hearing knows the difference between digital and analog. Frankly, the only kind of music that I can listen to in digital is tribal/ambient. I mean, my rig. I listen to whatever I find on youtube with headphones, no problem. But when I want hi-fi I want hi-fi. Analog can be terrible too sometimes, sure, but even then it is differently terrible. I can't think of another instrument that, overall, would be more difficult to record and reproduce. Only orchestra is more difficult. So, you really need good recordings and a very strong source to begin with, then perhaps some $4k speakers bought used might be okay Hi-end transports and dacs are also quite expensive. Digital cables are not created equal either.
inna
7,871 posts
 
If your source is digital - forget about it, once and for all. If analogue - you could try to approximate but I am afraid $4k won't be enough.
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