I would look at Dynaudio, Spendor, ProAc, Scansonic MB range if that is the type of sound you are looking for.
Help fine-tune my speaker search
I'm in the market for a new speaker and hoping to find something that blends what I like about the two that I'm using now -- KEF LS50 Meta and Nola Boxers (original). Both speakers are really good at imaging and soundstage. The Nola's are a little more organic sounding and go a little deeper on bass extension, but the Metas are much more revealing about what's in the music. So I guess I'm looking for a speaker that provides detail while also sounding organic and musical and that is also dynamic enough for what I like to listen to -- jazz (old school and bebop), blues, and rock.
The rest of my system right now is iFi Zen Stream >>> Denafrips Ares 2 >>> Schiit Freya + (Sylvania NOS tubes) >>> Schiit Vidar (or McCormack DNA 1 original 1980s). I also play around with a Yaqin MC-13S integrated tube amp with the Nolas. For bass, I run 2 SVS SB-1000 Pros. Long term I see myself sticking with some combo of tube preamp and SS amp but can also see myself with all tubes someday. The room is 14' wide x 24' long but only has 7' ceilings (basement room with concrete floors and sheetrock walls). I'm thinking of staying with bookshelf speakers on stands and using subs, vs going with floorstander. Easier to control bass that way and move around when needed. Open to any other suggestions about my system. After speakers, it will be power amp next.
Just started building a short list of what I want to audition but hoping the hive mind has some ideas for me. Thanks in advance. Budget is $3K - $3.5K.
- Dynaudio Special 40
- Paradigm Founder 40b
- Paradigm Founder 80f (floorstander)
- Monitor Audio Gold 100
- Vandersteen VLR CT
- Nola Boxer S3
- Nola Contender S3 (floorstander, for budget would have to be used)
- ...
- 51 posts total
Had the Fritz BE and probably should have kept it. Used Pulsars sometimes sell in your range. I like the Totem airiness and want to hear the top three models. Heard the Founder 120H with a Luxman in SF. That was a great sound. Used 80's or 100s may be had. Can't speak on Dynaudio or Nola. Vandi not for me. |
I discovered the Philharmonic BMR Tower, at the last CAP. They are designed by Dennis Murphy . The price is $3,700. They sound fantastic. In my case They are driven by a pair of PS M700 Monoblocks, and the PrimaLuna EVO300 preamp. Main source is the CEC TL5 Belt driven CD transport and as a DAC the CEC DA5. For streaming the new Bluesound Node. Listening to Patricia Barber or one of the many ECM label albums, like the “The Outstanding Eyes of Rita” by Anouar Brahem is an outstanding experience Please try to listen to the Philharmonic BMR’s I know is challenging to find many reviews about them, but they are worth the effort
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Below are links to a couple of reviews I did. Special 40’s need a lot of power. I found their presentation both engaging and a bit perplexing. As if I was listening to an interesting speaker but the music was somehow behind those effects. Hard to explain. There is a teardown of them (literally, figuratively) at GR channel. Review of Carbon 7’s One more thing about Fritz vs. some of these other companies -- Fritz has no overhead, no marketing, no advertising, no factory, no staff. When you spend on his speakers a very high percent of your $$ goes to the parts and expertise in the speaker. The speakers are very heavy and have really great drivers. Most important, they sound amazing. In retrospect, I actually prefer the Carbon 7’s now, because I’ve decided the Be tweeter is too bright for me. I agree with the comment about the Philharmonic BMR. Those would be worth a listen. |
- 51 posts total