I went from floor standing to stand mounts a few months ago I went with the Dynaudio Special Forty's on Stand 20's and I was and still to this day very impressed with them very good solid bass stunning mids and detailed and smooth highs.
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)
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- 51 posts total
@hilde45 I really enjoyed your reviews of the Fritz speakers because like @nymarty my best system is based on KEF LS50s (Auralic Aries streamer, RME ADI2 dac, Rogue Sphinx or DIY Firstwatt F6) and Syzygy subs and I am wondering about an affordable speaker that might take me more in the direction you described with the Fritz Carbon 7s of being able to clearly distinguish a flute from a piccolo. I have recently heard that kind of absolute resolution on a pair of $80,000 YG Acoustics speakers but have no intention of spending that much ever on a a speaker, or a system. However I see you moved on to Salks and now Ascend Sierra Towers. I assume that means you found each to be superior to the Fritzes. Interested in hearing your current thoughts. Bruce PS- Other speakers in the house include AR-2ax's, Klipsch RP-160s (predecessor of the RP-600) and Tangent RS4s.So we have some of the same reference points. I enjoy each for its own character but the KEF LS50s are my goto for overall quality. |
I was debating with myself about whether to respond because the speakers I will recommend are difficult to find to audition. And I've found only one review. The debate ended when jgueron suggested the same speaker. The BMR Tower. I can't comment on your electronics and how they would sound driving the BMRs because I've never heard them driving any speakers. If it's useful to you for comparison, I use SS, not tubes. Specifically, my preamp is a Threshold FET 10 and the power amps are also Threshold 100w monoblocks, SA 2s. I used to have Martin Logan Monoliths and loved them. For many reasons it was time to change. I went with the BMR and all I can say is fabulous. Better than the ML's. Friends who have listened to both agree with that assessment. I made a leap of faith and bought them unheard. I made my decision after reading unending rave reviews from users on a variety of sites similar to this one and reading the Audioholics review. Those who heard the BMRs recommended them. I'll do the same.
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Another vote for Fritz Carrera BE. I had KEF LS50 meta and Harbeth P3ESRs. They were each good but did not completely satisfy. I have had my Fritz speakers for about a month and they blend the positive attributes of those speakers with better bass. Fritz is also a really great guy and checked in to see how they sounded and if I was enjoying them. |
If you go with Fritz, you can call him up and discuss the various models he offers, and get his recommendation as to which one best suits your tastes. Beyond Fritz, here's another serious contender. https://tyleracoustics.com/products/t1-studio-monitors There's also a floorstander now. https://tyleracoustics.com/products/t2-floorstanders At that point, the BMR tower offers stiff competition. https://www.philharmonicaudio.com/ BTW, the Fritz standmounts go lower than you would think from the size of the cabinet, and they are easy to drive.
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- 51 posts total