Have you considered Elac bookshelves or floorstanders? Ribbon tweeters will give you nice, sparkly highs that won't be edgy thanks to your MC. The ProAc K1 is also a nice, large standmount with a ribbon tweeter. Monitor Audio PL series might be out of your price range but the Gold series is highly rated. Of course if you were willing to stretch your budget a little, the Joseph Audio Pulsar would certainly be worth a look. I've listened to the B&W 805D after owning CM5s for years and honestly, they were nice but I didn't hear the step up in performance I was expecting coming from the CMs. With the size of your room, I think your money would be better spent with the best standmount you could swing plus a subwoofer that you can place in an optimal position in the room. And, of course, extensive room treatments. I was in your shoes and I wound up buying a used set of Magico Mini IIs here on Agon. I do not regret it.
Floor standing or Large bookshelf recommendations - 2.0 channel setup
Greetings, I have a parallel thread in the Amps and Preamps section for this same setup. I trying to build a step up from my existing 2.1 channel system. Recently a major change that has happened is I finally took the plunge and got myself an MC152, so now that my amp is not a variable, I’m open to exploring speaker options. (I like warmer smoother sound, with a little sparkle at the high frequences. Currently quite happy with the type of sound I’m getting with MC152).
I currently have a Rotel RA-12 Pre + MC152 -> LS50 + SB2000
Room dimensions: 17’x13’x12’
The LS50s really came alive after adding my recently acquired MC152. But now I’m in search of a pair of good floor standers or large bookshelf. I intend for this to be a long term setup so I am ready to wait and not in a hurry.
Here are the ones I narrowed down so far. I’m going to be using my local dealer so I wont be able to audition some of these. I understand Crutchfield is an option, but thing is I have very good relationship with this dealer and wish to give them business:
(Budget prefer to stay under $5k, cheaper the better really)
Dynaudio Evoke 50 - Not able to audition, but read these are not as sparkly on the top as B&W D3 series
B&W 805 D3 - Auditioned these, loved the treble, but worried it may be too much over time. However since I’m looking at tube preamps, I suppose that should tone down the sharp highs. Second thing is I feels this model will hold better resale value / easier to get rid of it comes to it ever. Open to thoughts
Focal Aria 936 - Never heard them, but they seem to be on quite a good promotion right now. Heard these tend to be more on the sharp side with less bottom end. These are low on my priority unless someone can tell me otherwise.
Salk Song3- Wife does not approve the looks of that... this is going to be a tough sell
B&W 704 S2 - This one is strictly on the list because I have local listing of a almost new pair for under $2k and I just see that as a great value. But I not sure if its worth looking into these just cause its a deal.
Am I missing any other major contenders? Please share your thoughts on the ones I picked and if anyone of those or other particularly go well with my type of setup. Thanks and Cheers!
I currently have a Rotel RA-12 Pre + MC152 -> LS50 + SB2000
Room dimensions: 17’x13’x12’
The LS50s really came alive after adding my recently acquired MC152. But now I’m in search of a pair of good floor standers or large bookshelf. I intend for this to be a long term setup so I am ready to wait and not in a hurry.
Here are the ones I narrowed down so far. I’m going to be using my local dealer so I wont be able to audition some of these. I understand Crutchfield is an option, but thing is I have very good relationship with this dealer and wish to give them business:
(Budget prefer to stay under $5k, cheaper the better really)
Dynaudio Evoke 50 - Not able to audition, but read these are not as sparkly on the top as B&W D3 series
B&W 805 D3 - Auditioned these, loved the treble, but worried it may be too much over time. However since I’m looking at tube preamps, I suppose that should tone down the sharp highs. Second thing is I feels this model will hold better resale value / easier to get rid of it comes to it ever. Open to thoughts
Focal Aria 936 - Never heard them, but they seem to be on quite a good promotion right now. Heard these tend to be more on the sharp side with less bottom end. These are low on my priority unless someone can tell me otherwise.
Salk Song3- Wife does not approve the looks of that... this is going to be a tough sell
B&W 704 S2 - This one is strictly on the list because I have local listing of a almost new pair for under $2k and I just see that as a great value. But I not sure if its worth looking into these just cause its a deal.
Am I missing any other major contenders? Please share your thoughts on the ones I picked and if anyone of those or other particularly go well with my type of setup. Thanks and Cheers!
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- 31 posts total
- 31 posts total