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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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verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,469 posts
 
So....I spent some time listening to the Jades and I am curious what the issue is.  The Jade 1s were maybe a little lean, but the Jade 3s were amazing.  I found them warm for my taste but with brighter amplification, they are brilliant.  A lot of the speakers you are looking at are not necessarily going to be better than what you have.  They will be different.  

Different might be better, but I would need to understand your challenges with the Jades before making a recco.  That is a VERY good speaker that punches above its weight.  I would not say that the Kef LS50 is inherently better.  It is just different and in some ways (bass response) it is worse.  
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treepmeyer OP
104 posts
 
The current speakers are Wharfedale Jade standmounters.  For DAC I use the CXA 81.
oleschool's avatar
oleschool
722 posts
 
I have wharfdales in my theatre, I can't recall the model they were about your range and I run acoustic zen adagios there is no comparison honestly (they are like 4500 5k new)  .If you go used I highly recommend you investigate Acoustic zen ,adagios are usually a little more used but there stand mount monitors and eventually a couple subs would blow you away imho 
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treepmeyer OP
104 posts
 
Verdantaudio -  A very perceptive question.  I have the Jade 1.  What sent me down this rabbit hole is muddieness in the 200-400 HZ range, mainly with piano jazz.  The issue is probably room acoustics, thus the acoustic panels and tube traps.  But it also got me thinking about speakers.  I like the Jade speakers very much (assuming the bass issue is the room, not the speakers).  The best I can say is that, as much as I like them, I suspect there is more to be had.  So, a simple low-risk solution would be to just find some Jade 3s.  I am chagrined to say I didn't think about that until I read your post. Thanks. 
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,469 posts
 
How close are the speakers to the wall?  A little room from back and side walls could have a big impact.  Bigger driver on the Jade 3s might also help and those should be comfortably in your price range.
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