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Best $2000-$3000 full range speaker?

I realize that offering advice on such an open-ended thread isn't for everyone, so below is some background. Too much? Probably. I'm a chatty feller; it's an occupational hazard.

First, I don't live near any hifi stores and don't often leave my mid-sized midwestern town (I have 2 small kids and don't like traveling), so my chances for auditioning equipment are zip. The closest cities are Minneapolis/St. Paul, and they're not that close.

Second, all my friends think I'm crazy, because none of them can understand spending $1000 on an entire system, let alone spending that much on a low output moving coil cartridge (I love my Dynavector).

Third, I'm not expecting a consensus on what a good 2k to 3k full range tower (could be towers; don't have to be) speaker is. I want some suggestions that I can research and ogle on-line. I'm in it for the journey, so if I buy some speakers based on your recommendations here (and I probably will) and don't like them, I'll sell them here and start over. Fine with that. Totally fine.

Fourth, I'm not that picky . . . yet. But as Steve Martin said, the ear grows sophisticated pretty fast. But I'm not ready for a moonrock needle and a googlophonic system yet. I'm a newbie, but I'm well on my way to addiction. Sometimes walking down the street I'll see a car and think, "I wonder if Acoustic Zen Adagios would look good in that finish?" Do other people check the Speaker-Full Range classifieds 5 times a day? I hope I'm not the only one. (And I'm sorry for bumping up the number of hits on your ads.)

Fifth, I started my Adventures in Audio with a small, fairly inexpensive system (although it was a lot more than I've ever paid for anything that I couldn't live in, or at least drive) for my small office (about 8 x 8). In here, I now have a pair of SET mono amps (Wright Sound), an MFA Magus preamp, and Reference 3A De Capo i speakers. I like the sound of this system very much - lots of air, amazing mids and highs, and decent bass, although a bit thin.

Sixth, I want a different sound for my big living room (35'L x 15'W x 8'H with hard wood floors and not much furniture). This is my family of four's living room, and my system is down at one end, firing across the short width of the room, not down the long length. It's not ideal, but unless I finish off part of my basement (I'm not handy), it's my listening room for now.

Seventh, I'm not looking for the perfect speakers for me, just a good, well-balanced pair that will sound better than the ancient Klipsch Heresy speakers that I'm using now. But don't get me wrong; I like the Klipsches, but liking them too much can suck all the fun out of an audiophile's life. There are too few speakers to try. Work your way up to the Kornerhorn and you're done. Also, the Klipsch speaker is not a subtle speaker. That said, I like the clarity and punch in the mids and highs, but I want more bass.

Eighth, I listen to a lot of soul, funk, jazz, reggae, Afro-beat, and rap, so bass is important. No pipe organ, though, and not much symphonic or orchestral music. Very little classical (or baroque) music, except for those beautiful Mozart pieces for cello, and who doesn't like those?

Ninth (!?), I'd rather go used on Agon than buy new. I'm totally happy trying equipment out and re-selling it here. And I'll build the system around the speakers, but it will be an SS system. I don't want tubes in my living room near my kids. And no massive electrostatic speakers, either, so thanks to the Maggie fans in advance. Some day I'll try them, but I like speakers that 3-year-olds can't push over.

Here's my short list right now. Somehow, none of them seems quite right, but maybe I just need some warm words of encouragement.

Gallo Reference 3.1s. (I read a review - on 6 moons, I think - that says they're giant-killers and well-balanced in every way. I have some negotiating space here, but WAF is low. My wife says they're speakers that are trying too hard to look like people. I showed her some of the Cabasse speakers online. Bet they're creepy at night.)

Acoustic Zen Adagios (Why Mappa Burl? Pink wood with knots? This must be what a speaker designer thinks that our wives will like.)

Vienna Acoustic Strauss (Too warm in a bad way? Too muddy in the bass? There's a pair on Agon now for $2350. Tempting.)

Coincident Super Eclipse (Hyped too hard by Arthur Salvatore?)

Talon Ravens (Tombstones? The WAF factor matters, and she thinks they look a little cemetery-esque, but there might be a little wiggle room here.)

Sonus Faber Grand Piano (Is that pleather on the tops and backs? They'd have to sound really great if it is.)

Amphion Xenon (Impossible to re-sell? Does anyone know about this speaker?)

Joseph Audio RM25si (surprisingly unprepossessing for a speaker with such a high MSRP -- lacking in bass?)

Dynaudio Contour 3.3 (WAF is fine, but not too exciting for me - Generic Tower Speaker Version 1.1)

This post got a little out of control. If you're still with me, thanks for reading, and thanks for any suggestions.

128x128klein_rogge
dg1968
38 posts
 

Of the speakers you listed, the Ravens are the only ones that are truly full-range, going down to 20 Hz. I have a pair of Raven Cs, and they are just amazing. Easily the best speaker I have had in my system, and one of the best I have heard. They are actually 2-way and image like small monitors.

I was dubious before I heard them, and was worried that the midrange would suffer from having just a 10" woofer and a 1.5" tweeter. It doesn't. They are seamless top to bottom, and fast, with awesome bass. They compare very favorably to Talon's 40K firebirds, which I have heard in a very nice system. If you haven't heard true full range speakers, you will be in for a surprise. They reveal bass which is simply not present in most other speakers.

They are quite heavy (>150 lbs each), and impossible to knock over, unlike all slim floor standers. The are also not the best looking speaker of your group.

The Vienna Strauss are also fine speakers-- I was actually the original owner of the pair on Agon right now. They are not warm in a bad way at all, and overall very nice speakers to listen too. Completely non-fatiguing. Bass is decent, but in no way full-range. They are also difficult to set up correctly (probably owing in part to the side-facing woofers). This might be an issue for you because it sounds like one speaker will be in a corner, and the other in the middle of your room. But it can be done with a listener, and somebody to move the speakers.

The Strauss are also beautiful speakers. If you didn't know, both the front and back panels (and about 1" around the sides) are piano gloss black, while the rest of the body is black ash-- a very nice effect. You can also use the spikes in a 3 or 4 spike configuration, which is a feature that I really like. However they are tall and would be easily knocked over by children.

I have heard the Gallo Ref 3.1s in several systems, and while they image very well, I thought something was missing from the mid-range. The bass also was not impressive, but I have not heard them in the active configuration which supposedly really improves the low end. Also this was when they first were introduced, and I think some improvements have been made? Of course many others seems to like them much better.

The newer Sonus Grand Pianos I heard at a dealer, and was not impressed. I also have heard some of mid-range Amphions at a dealer (not the Xenons, they had already been discontinued), and personally would stay away from them.

I have not heard the other speakers on your list, but would love to try a pair of Adagios. But I can't imagine them competing in the bass category. Also it seems like it would be hard to go wrong with just about any Dynaudio Contours, as long as you have the amplifier power.

dave
Ag insider logo xs@2x
knownothing
1,577 posts
 
I listened to the Totem Forest extensively in a room that was about 20 x 25 x 12 with hard surfaces everywhere and they were wonderful - nearly full range and able to go very loud with only modest amplification. I would think a high current amp with about 150W would be able to drive them in your room at volumes and with bass presence and control that would satisfy for music. With that said, they will not provide the same kick a really big box with one or more big drivers can provide (Vandersteen 3A Signature for example). For HT purposes, I think you pretty much have to have one or more subs, no matter what speaker you use.

Swedish amp = Primare. Very nice combination.
dg1968
38 posts
 
Knownothing, I agree that most speakers require a sub for HT, but not necessarily all. The Talon Ravens certainly do not need a sub, except perhaps for a very hard-core HT system.

I used to have a 5.1 channel system with NHT T5s for the mains, and these also were fine for HT-- probably because they were 4-ways with an active external crossover, and required separate amplification for the woofers.

For this reason, I would suspect that the Gallo Ref 3.1s in the active woofer configuration (claimed response to 22 Hz) might also be OK with many people for HT (although I have not heard them in this configuration).
usblues
1,217 posts
 
Merlins are great and the support is first-class,good luck,Bob
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
If I was buying in that price range, the Vandersteen 3A (there is a WAF issue = perhaps, depends on the W)are the IMHO the finest full-range speakers you can buy, but you will need 100 watts of power and if you go tubes, that can get expensive. For a bit less than full range I would go with Merlin TSMs or used VSMs (pretty full range) or Harbeth HL5s. My 2 cents.
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