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Any WARM, MUSICAL speakers out there?

I have been auditioning a number of speakers in the under $12k category, and I am frustrated at the almost total absence of any "warm", "musical" speakers out there. They are almost entirely the so-called "accurate" or "analytical" variety. Example, to my ears anyway: the Wilson Sophia. Very accurate, analytical, COLD and non-engaging, even through CJ tube gear. One would think that some of the CJ warmth and musicality would have come through, but the Sophia did not alow ANY of that!
I would like to find a musically engaging, warm speaker that does an excellent job with human voices and midrange detail, as the Cremonas do. I will be pairing the new speakers with Conrad Johnson tube electronics. (Yes, they are lush and warm, but that is what I like!)
The ONLY ones providing the warm musicality I seek that I have found are the Sonus Fabers, such as the Cremona. I found the midrange and uppers magical and musically involving.
However, they are not good at rock and roll. Electrostats such as Quads are even worse in that regard. As Sam Tellig pointed out, they (Quads) do NOT rock.

Note: There are no Legacy dealers (for the Focus 20/20) anywhere near me, and the Klipschorn so-called dealer near me only had two of the very smallest models available for audition.

My only two remaining ideas I have are Silverline (as in Sonatas or the new Bolero) and Vienna Acoustics, such as the Mahler or Strauss.However, the Vienna dealer only carries solid state electronics, and I want to hear them through tubes. Does anyone think that either of these might fit the bill?
In his review of the Sonus Faber Cremona in the Aug/Sept. 2003 issue of The Absolute Sound, Wayne Garcia writes,
"...It is one of the few full-range speakers from the non-analytical school (particularly those under ten grand) that I would even mention in the same breath as MartinLogan or Quad." (p.75 of TAS)
Does anyone know what the other "few" might be????!!!
Any ideas?

Thanks
Steve
bigpowerballs
unsound
7,315 posts
 
I haven't heard all the speakers mentioned here, but, I agree that the Vandersteen 5's certainly fit the bill. That they can be somewhat adjusted to various rooms is a big plus.
tok20000's avatar
tok20000
608 posts
 
Stenho, I stated that these speaker were very different because they seemed to be lumped in the: warm musical category. Your suggestion of the speakers is like asking someone if they want eggs or pizza for breakfast. Not saying how different these speakers are [in a recommendation] inadvertantly may leave a person to believe that the two are similiar (i.e. both WARM and MUSICAL). I have heard both extensively, and their similiarity ends at about the level of: they both play music and have relatively deep bass.

A local audio friend of mine has had the Vandy 5's for several years. I know one or two things about them from hearing his system and listening to them (and discussing them with my friend). The Vandy 5's bass amps are run by the high level output coming from the system's amplifier. If your system's amp is rolled off in the bass, the bass amps of the Vandys will roll off the bass as well. The type of amp you use feeding the Vandersteens really DOES affect the bass. They need an amp that stays flat down to 20hz, but it does not have to have a lot of amperage/power behind that bass. This is where the Vandy amps take off. There is a difference between flat bass and powerful bass. The Tenor amps have a flat but not-so-powerful bass (thus they can drive sensative 6-8 ohm speakers rather well).

KF
dog_lover
23 posts
 
I agree with Brainwater...... ESP Concert Grand has been a very enjoyable speaker in my system.
jwaugh
103 posts
 
I agree that you should first tweak your source and cables. IMO I find that the Musical Fidlity Nuvista 3D CD Player, while a great CD player in general, is not particularly warm - especially given the preferences you seem to apply elsewhere in your system. Just for fun, audition or try a used Audio Note DAC (the more recent ones are MUCH better than the older ones)... or AA...

With a warm setup, a lot of speakers are warm... That having been said, IMO kharma's are amazing with a great tube amp. If you had a pair of the 140s I would also suggest the avalon models - but only with appropriate source and cable or you will again be disappointed (both makers really show off the character of associated gear). Kharma is more forward and vibrant in view versus the Avalons which are a more distant hall perspective. I would recommend the Kharmas for your audition given your preferences, though.

Incidentally, I have heard the SF Amati Homage sound very analytical too with an all SS setup biased that way...

Jacob
stehno
1,453 posts
 
Tok2000, I'm not sure which Vandersteen Model 5's your friend has, but the Vandersteen Model 5's I've seen provide a line-level interface between the pre-amp and the amp that provide for RCA or XLR connections depending on preference.

This strategy saves the amplifier from being taxed by having to reproduce the lower bass regions (since the built-in amp handles this region) and thus allowing for greater flexibility in the amplifier the user opts for. Vandersteen touts this as a unique feature.

Perhaps you are confusing the Model 5 with the Vandersteen Model 2W Powered Subwoofer. The Vandersteen Model 2W Powered Subwoofer does allow for high-level feeds and Vandersteen touts this as a good feature, which you did mention above.

Perhaps you listened to your friend's subwoofer and not his Model 5's? Talk about pizza for breakfast.

-IMO
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