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Advice about warm, gentle speakers...


Help. I need to use a home theater system for 2 channel music. The system is based on a mid-level Denon DVD player and a Denon receiver and right now the ONLY variable I can change is the brand of front left and right speakers (presently Paradigm Titans). I would like to get something that can soften the digital glare (besides turning down the treble!). The speakers need to be either monitors or small floor standers and I am aiming for a price less than $4,000 new or used. Finally, I am not in a location where I can audition different brands so I hope to narrow it down to a few choices for in-home trials. I listen to all types of music but not louder than about 80-85 db. From reviewing the forums it appears that more “serene” brands include Green Mountain, Spendor, Sonus Faber and Vienna Acoustics. I really appreciate any input on this—thanks in advance for the advice.
aitchnu
jalanc42069
131 posts
 
If i were spending $4k, i would buy speakers and a dedicated hybrid integrated amp(ya need tubes in there), and run your DVD into that. I asume you have a sub so maybe Spendor 3/1 or 2/3, or Harbeth 7ES2 with a Used Pathos Classic 2 hybrid integated or something like that.
undertow
1,033 posts
 
Polk is excellent match with denon, the best I have heard with any of the denon amplification to be honest, I know there is a real good pair of polks rated like some real hiend speakers, and way less than 4000.00... Ahh, yes the LSi15 and I am sure you can probably find them local for audition.. Look them up all very stellar reviews on here and audioreview.com or anywhere for that matter, probably the best speakers built under 2000 competing up with much higher cost... By the way, from word of mouth these are better than the Lsi25's because they are warmer sounding and the lsi25 sounds more disconnected compared to its slightly smaller brother... Check them out trust me.
dodgealum's avatar
dodgealum
1,404 posts
 
I would suggest you investigate Harbeth's. While under your budget by a long shot they will provide a warm and inviting sound with your electronics. I'd consider the Super HL-5's or the Compact 7ES-2's depending on room size. BTW, if you have $4K to spend, you may want to consider allocating $1500 for a pair of Compact 7's and then use the other $2500 to upgrade your amplification and source. While I don't think you can do better than the Harbeth's unless you go way up in price, you will get more out of them with better electronics. Consider Naim, Audio Research or Plinus as a few options that all sound nice with the Harbeth's.
jimmy2615
436 posts
 
Tyler linbrook Monitors...easy to drive, can go loud without strain, and with a tweeter that never sounds harsh.
drseid
201 posts
 
I have heard most of the speaker brands you are looking at and I think you are on the right track... I have specifically heard both speakers from Vienna and SF on a Denon 3805 and I had very different results... The SF Grand Piano Homes (the model line before SF switched to the new Domus lines) surprisingly sounded *very* good with the Denon, and I can easily recommend that combo. The VAs by contrast (I think the model was Mozart) sounded lifeless and dull... definitely a bad combo to my ears at least.

As for Spendor and GMA, I love both brands, and highly recommend them (the Spendor 3/1Ps and GMA Callistos are particular favorites of mine). That said, I heard them both powered by high-end tube amps, so I don't know how they would fare with a Denon receiver.

---Dave
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