“House” Character of Popular $20-$30k Speakers


I’ll be upgrading my speakers in a bit (after I add a turntable to my system). I’ve always thought that people two often end up attempting to correct or compensate for a quality they don’t like in one of their system components. My thought is that speakers and amps shouldn’t try to “correct” each other, but rather, they should complement each other, while sharing many similar qualities in their sonic signatures.

With that in mind, I’d describe my Gryphon Diablo 300 with the internal DAC (fed by an InnuOS Zenith MK3 streamer) as being rich, lively, engaging, slightly warm but moderately detailed, with dramatic dynamic swings that can often simulate a live sound. Smooth but energetic and engaging at the same time. My speakers I’ll be upgrading from are B&W 803 D2’s. Big full and bold sound but with finesse and moderate quickness too.

What brand of speakers would be along the lines of the sound I describe above? I’d be hoping to follow this sonic signature in my next speaker purchase, but adding some small capabilities with transparency and detail, imaging, and low end presence.

The speaker brands I have in mind to look into are:

-Magico (would check out the A5’s. I hear the A5’s could be too analytical for some, but have an excellent and clean bass presence.  Bust most rave about the A5)

-Sonus Faber (heard these are too relaxed for some?)

-Wilson Audio (if I can get over how they look)

-Monitor Audio

-Dynaudio: Maybe this brand could be a sweet spot?

-B&W: I’ve tested many and find them lacking in bass presence resulting in a mid forward style. That said the 802 D3’s I auditioned matched the sonic character of their upper ranges very well.

Would be interested in how others describe the house sounds if the brands above…

 

 

 

nyev

Do what I did… if you can lift the Diablo. If your dealer doesn’t carry that amp but has the speakers you like, schlepp the Gryphon with you…!

@jomonhifi , totally planning on lugging my Diablo with me!  If you carried it on your own you are a stronger man than me.  My wife will need to help me load it in my car, and the dealer will need to help me unload and reload it…. Will be a lot of work!  But unfortunately absolutely necessary.  I didn’t even really like my current speakers until I connected them to the Diablo, despite home demo-ing a number of other amps and separates, including McIntosh, etc. So glad I found the Diablo.  Just hope I don’t drop it while lugging it to the shop!!!

@hedwigstheme I started with an Audio Research SP14 and Classic 60 amp. Then went with a beefed up/modified Counterpoint NPS 400 amp. Then 125w tube monoblock voltage regulated custom made amps with a custom made preamp using six subminiature tubes (both amps and preamp have super capacitor ratings and large classic NOS transformers). Overkill on my Legacy speakers (now include a super beefed up and voltage regulated Dynaco 70/no longer ultralinear for the Signature IIIs). Tremendous bass control and superb dynamics. Hoping to purchase Von Schweikert VR9SE MkII in future or maybe Evolution Acoustics MM2 or MM3.