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Any monitors clearly better than Pulsars?

After some recent amp and preamp upgrades, I'm wondering if it's possible to push further on my speakers.

Right now, I'm running Joseph Audio Pulsars, which I enjoy thoroughly. Because I live in an apartment, floorstanders are out of the question, and I know the Pulsars are some of the best monitors around.

My question is: are there any monitors that are clearly head and shoulders above the Pulsars, which might be worth a listen? Budget-wise, I could probably go up to $12k used.

In terms of what I'm looking there, really there is nothing specific. I'd say the same about upgrading from the LS26 to the REF 5SE; I wasn't looking for anything specific there, but the 5SE is clearly better :)

That said, I'd be hoping to find a speaker that is clearly an upgrade. If any other monitor would be a minor step up, or more of a lateral move, then I'm happy standing pat with the Pulsars.
rrolack
prof
3,469 posts
 

gochurchgo

I don’t feel qualified to make any definitive claim about the Pulsars rocking or not. I auditioned them once or twice a couple years ago, but moved on strictly to auditioning the floor standing Perspectives after that.

That said, it depends on what you’d be comparing them to.  It would make sense to evaluate "do they rock" for a stand mounted speaker.    The Pulsars have a wide-ranging reputation for sounding like a much bigger speaker, with fantastic depth and bass impact for their size. Many have reported they do in deed rock really well. When I auditioned them, the played everything great, including some Van Halen as I remember.

I ended up wanting the Perspectives because I found them even more refined than the Pulsars.
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philipwu
214 posts
 
hi,
according to the reviews, it seems Alta Audio Celesta FRM-2 are better than Pulsar and Perspective.
i haven't heard any speakers from JA since my dealer did not stock them and said they're overprice for their sound. he go on to say there is a slight rigidness in the lower mids and colored (maybe he meant veil) in the higher octave.
as for personal taste, i prioritize wide open airy-ness, with deep thumping bass, hence feels and perhaps the Celesta FRM-2 (i could add a pair of subs if i wish for more oomph) could be a match for me, but seeking more help from experienced A'goners, so as to "triangulate" and determine the right speaker. 
anyone with any info would be a great help. Thanks!
prof
3,469 posts
 
i haven't heard any speakers from JA since my dealer did not stock them and said they're overprice for their sound.


Yeah, dealers often say that kind of thing about products they don't sell ;-)

markalarsen's avatar
markalarsen
640 posts
 
Upgrade your Pulsars to Pulsar 2 Graphene. 
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