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Speaker Suggestions/Opinions

I’m in the market for some new speakers. Budget up to about 3k. I prefer to buy used. Currently running some Totem Rainmakers. Have also Run Totem Forest and Arros. I love the Totem sound clearly, but still curious what I’m missing out on.  
Most important to me is a lush midrange, musical, the ability to disappear, and they have to image very well. I run McIntosh for amplification so I’m comfortable with a speaker that may be a touch hot in the tweeter. I’m very drawn to Harbeths based on everything I’ve read but really don’t dig the look of those fat boxes.  And why for the love of god do they have 20 screws visible on the front baffle. It’s almost as if they trademarked the look, but it’s terrible. Proac, Spendor, and Sonus Faber are few others I also find intriguing. Especially Spendor but they don’t seem to have a large market in the US. I also find there line up a bit confusing, lots of options. I really don’t like to purchase anything that doesn’t have good resale value and a fairly high demand on the used market as well. Anyways look forward to all your thoughts. 
brylandgoodman
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,896 posts
 
If you are using stand mounts the new series Elac Vela 403 loudspeakers from Germany have excellent balance look on YouTube 
the latest Jet 5 AMT tweeter is Very good is built in house as well as their sandwich paper aluminum ,mid -woofer  looks very good and sounds very natural,  and for its size excellent bass .40 Hz - 50khz which is better the most,
and has a very wide dispersion pattern and a down firing port built into the raised angled  bottom of the speaker. the drivers are first rate very robust and for $2500 retail competes with speakers of much higher cost.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,824 posts
 
Given what you’ve said about Totem, Spendor, Dynaudio and some other comments about price range, imaging, disappearing, and midrange, you might seriously consider either Fritz’s Carbon 7 line or his Carrera line. They hover above and below the 3k mark. I spent about 6 months with the Carbons and 3 with the Carreras, and found them excellent. I’ve heard the Dyn 40s and, to my ear, they’re very good but not as warm and simple/honest a sound as the Fritz. I’ve not heard the larger spendor towers mentioned, but I’ve heard the smaller A series and the Fritz are much better for imaging and bass. I’ve also heard the Dali mentioned and, again, Fritz is much better in those same aspects. One value added element about the Fritz, too, is that he’s a small, US based maker, whereas the Dalis, Spendors, Dyns all have to cross the ocean to get here. Fritz will discuss trial with you, too.
listenupaudio
5 posts
 
You can get the Parker 601s with matching dual subs for that price. Awesome mids and imaging. Rare money back guarantee if not blown away by these. Love them!
https://www.schmidtlambrixaudio.com/shop
oldaudiophile
288 posts
 
Given the stated criteria, I find it curious that Revel hasn't been mentioned until now. I run a MAC amp and have recently done serious seat-time with 18 different pairs of speakers searching for a replacement over my old trusty Paradigm, another name to consider. I went with Revel. Good Luck!
richopp
760 posts
 
Take yourself to a Magnepan dealer and LISTEN to them.  THEN, take some home and listen IN YOUR ROOM.  If they do not produce accurate reproduced music based on your source material, do not buy them as they are not for everyone.

All boxes, horns, etc., have issues with distorting the sound and changing the experience for the listener.  Maggies, set up correctly and driven by quality gear, do not.

Don't take my word for it.  Put them next to any other speaker and pick the one you like best IN YOUR ROOM.

Cheers!
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