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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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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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treepmeyer OP
104 posts
 
I originally had the speakers only about 6" from the front wall.  I moved them out so that the back of the speaker is now 14" from the wall.  Distance from the side walls is 40" to the tweeter.  Also turned down the gain on the sub (although the frequency cutoff is only set around 40hz). That all helped.  I have acoustic panels on order to put on the walls directly behind the speakers (wife approved!), and am making the tube traps for the corners nearest the speakers.  Guessing this will all go a long way toward taming any remaining muddiness.
Assuming I've got the acoustics in reasonable shape, that still leaves the question of speakers:  if I like the sound of the Jades then moving from 1s to 3s is perfectly reasonable.  But if I want more "warmth" then the small Spendors and eventually the Harbeths is the route.  I realize that I really need to hear these speakers so buying the 3/5s to audition them is an option.  Then I'd know which sound I prefer in my own room with my existing gear.  Worst case is I put the 3/5s back on the market and buy the Jade 3s.   Thanks for helping me think this through.
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