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)
Also, you may want to check out my newer less expensive Carbon 6 model.