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Excellent Speakers for Classical Music - $2,000 USD Budget

Hello All...I am primarily a classical music listener, leaning more towards solo piano, symphony/orchestral, and chamber music. I have a Rotel A14 integrated amp in which I plan to add mono amplifiers to at some point in the future. I let a pair of B&W 804 Nautilus Speakers slip through my fingers recently. There is a B&W 804 Matrix set for sale near me, but don’t know if the Nautilus are better than the Matrix. So, I let a good pair slip through my fingers. But, it got me to thinking...Are there any other brands that I should consider besides B&W? I had in mind to audition Magenpan and Martin Logan electrostatics. Seeing that I only want to spend around $2,000, does anyone have any ideas?

In my office, I use Adam A7x nearfield monitors with ribbon tweeters, and for headphones, I love my Sennheiser 800S’. I like a nice detailed, clear, and forward sound. Would another ribbon tweeter floor standing set do it for me? Electrostats the way to go?

Looking forward to your suggestions.
128x128dfwbach
audiokinesis
2,722 posts
 
IF you have sufficient placement flexibility I suggest Magnepans, be they new or used.

When positioned about five feet out from the "front" wall, the spectrally-correct backwave energy of the Maggies arrives after a sufficiently long time delay that it does a good job of conveying the spaciouness and envelopment of a good classical recording without any significant downsides.

Duke
speaker designer, long-time Maggie admirer, and sometime Maggie owner
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,485 posts
 
There is a pair of the Spendor S8e listed here for $1395.00. The dealer is Gene Rubin and he is located in Ventura CA. I have owned those speakers and I would recommend them without hesitation. Since you are going on vacation in CA you might want to give him a call
stevea11757's avatar
stevea11757
126 posts
 
How about a pair of Shahinian Acoustics Obelisk, used they are right at your price point and worth a listen if you are able to find a pair
tablejockey
3,793 posts
 
Timely thread.

If you're ML curios as I have been.  I'm considering letting go a pair of ML Theos. Perfect tryout model without too much cash outlay.
Born on date of my particular Theos are only 2015. Also last year of production. 
https://www.martinlogan.com/en/product/theos

ESL 9 is the current  replacement. Improved  but Theos still relevant. Updated woofer setup, but same panel. 

PM me with any detailed questions. I'm not a fan of gloss back.  Wonderful sounding speakers. 
timsguy's avatar
timsguy
1 posts
 
I’d highly recommend the Lore Reference with the Beryllium tweeter upgrade from Tekton (based out of Utah).  I’ve had them for about 6 months connected to my Luxman 550 ax II class A amp, and Marantz 8006; and absolutely love them.  They sound as good if not better than $6k/pair for Spendors or Paradigms.  Save the cash, and get the Lore Reference.  They are simply amazing.  
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