“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

@mournbladeiv

 

I own a pair of Sonus Faber Amati Traditional and have auditioned Magico many times. To me, it is a question of do you want to reproduce music or a science experiment. If I was listening to details of crickets mating for my masters degree… I would pick Magico. If I had $400K of electronics and wanted to hear every last detail off of albums, I would pick Magico. If I wanted to listen to music and have an emotional connection… I want my Amati. I love my Amati… and they are beautiful as well.

 

 

My local dealer has a pair of the Amati Traditions in the Red finish. They are beautiful, both in appearance and sound. Definitely the top of my want list for speakers in this price range. If I may ask, what  are you using to drive them?  So far I have heard them on McIntosh(C53/MC462 combo)  and Burmester Integrated. IMO, they definitely sounded better on the Mac gear.

Currently powering my Sonetto's with a Michi X5.

Reading through this thread and surprised that no one suggested Vandersteen. The powered bass in the Quatro CT or Kento integrate into your room and “unburden” your Diablo. They are imaging champions and never fatiguing.  Worth an audition for sure.

@mournbladeiv 

 

I have all Audio Research gear, see my ID to see it. My ARC Reference 160s is running in triode mode so it is at half power… about 70 watts per channel. The triod mode has a very small edge in being a touch warmer… other than that hard to tell between 140 wpc and 70wpc.