Vandersteens.....sound like music
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KEF Reference 1 meta. For a good bit less I also like Fritz for performance with most any amp. Mofi standmounts are a lot of bang for the buck. Not a fan in general of paying top dollar for small speakers. Size matters for full range and hard to claim best sound if not full range. In general, standmounts match best to smaller rooms. Adding a powered sub set up well is a good option. I do tend to also like Dynaudio but have not heard newer models. |
Currently,,,,, Tangband W8-1808 in custom sealed cabinet (they are 8"single driver full range no x-over). Supported by dual SVS SB1000 pro subs (cuz the full range drivers just don’t have bass). These have blown me away with well recorded vocals, jazz, ambient, acoustical music. Wide soundstage, great stereo separation and a midrange I never expected or experienced. Granted, I have not heard many big dollar systems but I feel they compete more than would be expected. Feed by a budget system with high end pedigree. |
I recall reviewing a set of ATC 19 speakers about 8 years ago I liked a lot. And this is a foolish thin since I haven't heard them but I do believe in measurements, especially when they are extraordinary, Ex Machina makes 3 powered 3 way speakers that cost under your price limit that would be an absolute must hear if I was in the speaker market today. |
Graham, LS5/9 on their open stands do everything right for me. Brutally honest monitors paired with the right electronics might be all I’d ever need/want - and although I dont own them, I also find the KEF Referece 1 outrageoisly great for all the opposite reasons I love the Grahams. Two totally different speakers but musically, equally appealing. BTW, both just under $10K. Only my opinion... |
Joseph Audio pulsar 2 graphene are some of the most musical speakers I’ve ever heard and probably my favorite, but never owned them. Slightly higher than your budget of $15k would be the QLN signatures. I own the Prestige 5s and just love the tonal balance of QLN…never fatiguing, midrange reproduction of instrument and vocal timber is near perfect, excellent on all musical genres. They make a standmount 2-way called the Prestige1, but haven’t heard it. |
I love my a Harbeth 30.2 40th anniversary. Impressive tonal accuracy and organic sound, particularly for midrange. May be not the best given price range. But tough to beat for price value. May be close to the best under 10k. Makes reviewers annual list year after year.I am planning to audition the Fleetwood Deville soon to see if they are worth the hype. Anyone has heard them and compared to other 2 way bookshelf type? |
Sonner Legato Unum on the factory stands. For all the Cliché’s and because they sound freaking awesome no matter what topology I use. I love stand mount 2 ways and have owned Sf, QLN, Audio Note, Harbeth all the usual suspects and love the Legato Unum. Read up on them and listen to a pair. https://pt.audio/2020/12/18/sonner-audio-legato-unum-loudspeaker-review/ The Legato Unum is an American made two-way ported loudspeaker, and the smallest of Sonner Audio’s entry level Legato series. It features a 1-inch ring radiator tweeter, a 5.5-inch coated paper cone woofer, and a point-to-point wired fourth-order Linkwitz-Riley crossover. At the heart of it all, the Legato Unum is a just scaled-back version of the Sonner Audio’s higher-end Allegro Unum which itself retails for $12K (including stands). The more affordable Legato Unum benefits from Allegro’s time aligned cabinet, crossover design topology, and monocoque curved rear panel. All of Sonner Audio’s speaker models are designed around a Low Energy Storage concept and Driver Time Alignment design. The inherent strength of the curved speaker cabinet used for the Legato Unum (shared with Allegro) is how it provides a rigid structure that reduces internal standing waves and releases sound energy quickly without adding or subtracting from the original amplified signal. The front baffle of the Legato Unum is built at an angle to incorporate a time alignment design. The angle is calculated during computer modeling and validated with many listening tests. This approach results in a stable and precise imaging soundstage that plays larger than expected. The black front face-plate functions as the tweeter’s acoustic lens, and indeed sounds better when installed. The speaker also comes with an acoustically transparent grill that can be magnetically mounted on top of the leather faceplate. |
I have on order a pair of Dynaudio Confidence 20 speakers which will be the centerpiece of my new "End Game" system that I am currently assembling. The Conference 20s sounded amazing with all genres of music I threw at it (Rock, Jazz, Folk, New Age) and had better highs and mids IMO than the Contour 30i, the only other speakers I auditioned. I also have on order, the Luxman L-509z integrated amp which will drive the Confidence 20s. |
1st place- Green Mountain Audio Chroma w/ the upgraded crossover. Unflappable, completely transparent and if you like SPL they have that in abundance. 2nd place: Nola Brio w/ the Nola Subs… Something about that Nola sound is so captivating. I made a clone of these cause at the time I couldn’t afford them. Amazing with small jazz ensembles, vocals , acoustic guitars… they don’t reall “rock” but that’s not what they are designed for. |
I haven't heard many, that said paradigm persona B because when setup properly and driven with the right components, the Pathos logos mk2 gave them a balanced sound with tight imaging like we'd expect from quality 2 ways but with seemingly unlimited dynamics and while maybe not the bass you can feel, plenty of the bass we can hear. sometimes I think about putting together a third system just to have them in the rotation. |
DYNAUDIO "SPECIAL FOURTY" stand mount. I love the way they energize a room dimensionally. They work especially well with "unconditioned" audio environments, which is, for the most part, the mean average that the large percentage of audiophiles have at their disposal. They are not necessarily a "rock; rap; steel; boo-ga-lou" type speaker. They are best at recreating a more lifelike representation of a recorded environment, with specific attention to a more realistic representation of voice and instruments. They also do an exceptional presentation of a large venue recorded environments such as orchestra halls. Full and fleshy presentation of jazz recordings. Given the right amplification and input media, I feel they are one of the most pleasing stand mounts that you could match-up with both solid state and tube components. All of this, while not breaking the bank. I have owned about 28 pair of both floor standers and stand mounts over the years. I've found myself coming back to the "SPECIAL FOURTIES", about three years ago, married to a compliment of SCHIIT components. Again, the entire system came in just under 10K. Comparatively speaking, this system gives me more day to day listening pleasure than the system I owned about 7 years ago based around a very expensive pair of AYON monoblocs, which cost several times the price of my entire current system. Before I leave, I'll send you in another direction (if you choose to take the time and effort). The direction I speak of is "DECWARE". Never heard of them?. Many audiophiles haven't. Believe me when I say " this experience will be a real "head-turner". It's a bit of a trip and you will need to make an appointment. I think I can safely say that you will come away "talking to yourself". Possibly not believing what you've heard. And for far less money than you can imagine after hearing their products. You can start by looking up their website online. The man behind this company is an audio genius. Every component is hand built to order. HAVE FUN |
One thing I almost forgot to mention; - - - - Obviously, being a small 2-way loudspeaker, the" SPECIAL FOURTIES" share one aspect that 98% of stand mount speakers share. - - - A limited presentation of heavy, accurate and deep low bass reproduction. Essentially, if the type of music you normally listen to demands, to a degree, strong and precise bass reproduction below 35-40 Hz., then I would also suggest you consider matching the "40's" with a single or pair of precision sub-woofers. In that area I only have one recommendation. "REL'S"!!!! Beautifully and expertly crafted SUBS to seamlessly marry to the most delicate or "MONSTER" sound reproduction system you could possibly dream of. The best of the best!! Look them up also. |
+1 on axpert’s recommendation to add subwoofers if your listening includes any serious bass components. I have floorstanding Fyne F702 speakers that use an 8” woofer, and they are definitely a bit shy on the deep bass. I added a pair of Rythmik F12 subs, and the result was simply astounding. I don’t know exactly how to describe it, but the entire lower register, not just the deep bass (I have the fixed filter set at 50 hz), seems “more alive, more organic.” When the music includes bass, it’s there, tight and solid, never flabby or hanging on if not intended. The Rythmiks are made here in the U.S., although I suspect the amps are made overseas. They have “filled a hole” in my listening pleasure, which is really what it is all about. |
Yamaha NS5000 .... run by a mix of different electronics ....It is an engineering masterpiece and a work of art ( unique, there is nothing else like it). I have never heard instruments sound as close to the actual unplugged instruments i play. If a guy is a musician and an audiophile who really cares about how his recordings sounded, he may want a pair of them.
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The Vivid Audio Kaya S12 with their stands are absolutely mesmerizing. Technological marvels that are 3D, focused, musical, dynamic, and have great, neutral bass response. Really special. I use them with a Mola Mola Kula integrated amplifier. Great combo. The speakers with their dedicated stands are $9,700 per pair. |
I am still using, in a second system, a pair of Infinity Modulus satellites I purchased in 1992, with the original, very heavy Infinity stands. These stand-mount speakers were used with the Infinity Servo-Subwoofer for many years, although it is no longer operating and I now use a Definitive Technology Supercube 6000 with them. The mid-range/“woofer” is, I believe, 5 & 1/4 inches in diameter and there is an Infinity EMIT-k tweeter. They still provide excellent close-field sound for my office. Their $1,300 retail price when introduced in 1990 would be about $3,150 today.
also, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, I had a pair of quite small ADS300 speakers that were absolutely stunning for their size. In a darkened room, you would conclude that a much larger speaker was reproducing the music. |
I am still using, in a second system, a pair of Infinity Modulus satellites I purchased in 1992, with the original, very heavy Infinity stands. These stand-mount speakers were used with the Infinity Servo-Subwoofer for many years, although it is no longer operating and I now use a Definitive Technology Supercube 6000 with them. The mid-range/“woofer” is, I believe, 5 & 1/4 inches in diameter and there is an Infinity EMIT-k tweeter. They still provide excellent close-field sound for my office. Their $1,300 retail price when introduced in 1990 would be about $3,150 today.
also, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, I had a pair of quite small ADS300 speakers that were absolutely stunning for their size. In a darkened room, you would conclude that a much larger speaker was reproducing the music. |
As mentioned earlier, I went and auditioned the Fleetwood Deville. Very good, but still prefer my Harbeth 30.2 40th for the price. Also heard the Devore O96 at the same time. While not a bookshelf, these speakers are truly amazing, regardless if you like the look or not. Highly recommend to check them out. |
I like my current standmounts, Marten Parker Duos. I first compared the Marten Oscar Duos against the YG Tor and the Dynaudio Heritage Special, and preferred the Martens for rock music, which is what I listen to. Then I compared the Oscar Duos with the Parker Duos and went with the bigger ones; incredible midrange... I pair them with an MSB S-200 power amp and a Herron Audio tube preamp.... |
