Sound Stage and Imaging


I love speakers who 'paint a big picture' (I am literally closing my eyes and trying to SEE a picture). Therefore I THINK I like to see IMAGING and BIG SOUND STAGE. And also like DYNAMICS.

Being frugal (just not willing to spent audiophile level money on it), I love to persuit 'bang for buck' solutions in general.

With above goals in mind for a speaker: what hits the marks in the low fi (audiphile scale) $2k (used or new) budget range. (I have 2 setups: one HUGE room, one 20x20).

kraftwerkturbo

To get a truly large lifelike presentation you need a line source loudspeaker like a Magneplanar , ribbon or electrostatic speaker. All these other speakers are point source which have an inherently microscopic sound stage, even the larger ones. Go Listen to Magneplanars. They are the best value. 

When I was looking at speakers I was always looking for a wide sound stage and when I heard kef r11's non meta I didn't just get a wide sound stage but I got a deep sound stage I never knew what a deep sound stage sounded like until I heard them. They are now in my home and I can tell you that you can hear a drummer or a piano player 10 ft behind the speakers with a stand-up bass up front.. live jazz is very good for this demo or any well-mastered jazz album.. you can find these used on eBay

IMF 100: can't seem to find in the US. But seems to be one of many LS3/5A based monitors (which I have heard good things about in past readings). What are notable LS3/5A (bang for buck) offers?

 

Good imaging requires very low coloration, accurate f.r.,  and phase linearity. For 2K you are not going to find a new full-range speaker that provides this.

You could look for some used ATC speakers, Or get the ATC SCM 11's and add a sub later.