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used speaker recommendations

I'm relatively new here.  Am in the process of upgrading a 2-channel stereo that is currently: Wharfedale Jade standmounters, Cambridge CXA-81, SVS sub, Bluesound Node2i streamer, Graham Slee phonostage, refurbished Dual 1228 with NOS Shure V15-III/Jico hyper-elliptical, various Pangea cables.
I like the "british sound" having around the house both Mission and Celestion speakers.  Nothing too bass-heavy or overly bright.  I think musical, rich, warm, detailed but not fatiguing.  Type of music I listen to: Argentine tango (Go-tan Project), Van Morrison, Sinatra, Ellington, Pink Martini, Chicago blues.  When in the mood I love the Rolling Stones. 

The room is small, 15x13.  I am currently building some tube traps and acoustic panels.  WAF necessitates standmounters.
Budget is $1500, tops.  New, I would probably stay with Wharfdale.  Lintons, perhaps, but the reviews of the Evo 4.2 are uniformly good.  My real question for this forum, though, is on the used market because I am unlikely to be able to audition most of what is offered for sale.  There are a number of interesting options in my price range just looking at Audiogon and USAudioMart.   For example: KEF LS50 and R3, ProAc Response 1sc, Spendor SP 2/2 and 3/5, Tannoy HDP/315/8, Revel Performa M.20.  Then there are the non-british brands that might fit the bill like Sonus Faber Concertino/Electa/Venere/Luito/Minima.  Yikes.  Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
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yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,501 posts
 
I don’t think you would go wrong with the Spendor 3/5, I have owned many of the versions of that speaker. You should add the Harbeth P3ESR to your list of contenders in that category of British monitors. If you can find a pair within your budget you should jump on them!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqFIaiPT_kY
tablejockey
3,795 posts
 
"I am currently building some tube traps and acoustic panels. WAF necessitates standmounters."

Yet the boss allows tube traps and panels? Huh? A nice sounding and looking floorstander can take exactly the same amount of space.


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treepmeyer OP
104 posts
 
table jockey, perhaps I am underestimating my better half.  Narrow floorstanders might pass muster, but when she surprised me by agreeing to the tube traps I did not want to push my luck.
Any recommendations for floorstanders?  Thanks.
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treepmeyer OP
104 posts
 
By the way, she got to pick the fabric covering the tube and panels.  That helped.
soix
8,822 posts
 
You can find the Harbeth P3ESR used at a little over $2k, which would be a great option if you can stretch a little.  Not British, but there’s a pair of Nola Boxer 3s for $2k at Seattle HiFi that would also be worth considering.  Best of luck.
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