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Best speakers out there for Midrange and Highs

Hello Everyone!

I would like some advise about what are some of the better speakers out there for a 2 channel system - with use of subwoofers.

I currently use a pair of significantly large - full range speakers (Revel Salon2), that go down below 20hz. Even though my speakers go down so low, I still desired more air movement / sound pressure in the room - to make the sound as palatable as possible.

I found that combining the Salon2 with an external active crossover (JL Audio CR-1) and 2 Subs (JL Audio F113s) sounds excellent. Soundstage is close to like being at a concert, and surprisingly to me, was that imaging has not been lost. Furthermore, adjusting the phases on the subwoofers basically made the speakers and subs act like a singularity and helped the system sound even more exciting. I cross over at 90hz with a 24Db decay.

However, can’t help thinking about the obvious - that I am waisting all that available bass capability on the Salon2s. So I was wondering what speakers out there could be even more appropriate for my configuration. These speakers need not go down so low - Down to 55HZ would be more than enough. On the other hand, Salon2s also have a very strong midrange and highs, so I would like the new speaker to be either:

1) Better in the mids and highs (whether same price as the Salon2 or possibly more expensive), or
2) As good in the mids and highs as the Salon2s but less expense

Very much appreciate your recommendations.

Thank you in advance!

Ag insider logo xs@2xjmarshak
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jmarshak OP
157 posts
 
Yes, with time, I’ve come to appreciate a sort of priority order of what’s most important in the system to what’s least important. To me its:

#1) Room dimensions and treatment, ambiance, Scotch :), lighting, etc..
#2) The listener’s ’Mood’, who else is in the room and what else is going on there.
#3) The Speakers
#4) The Electronics
#5) Sonic cables (interconnects, speaker cables)
#6) Power conditioners(could be very important in poor/unstable power areas) and power cables, tweaks

People may also place different importance/priority on the above at different times in their lives (and depending on the deal at hand :) )

Best Regards!


acolcer
17 posts
 
I have the JL Audio CR1 with TAD CR1’s and 2 Jl Audio F-113’s and couldn’t be happier with the synergy, imaging and overall sound. I originally had Sonus Faber Amati’s and it was great. The TAD CR1’s took it to the next level and they are crossed over at 90 HZ. This was a best practice of Barry Ober aka The Sound Doctor. Pure magic. If you are in the Charlotte NC area, I would be happy to let you hear for yourself. The only caveat is that the CR1’s are inefficient, so I had to upgrade my Butler Monad tube hybrid monoblocks to Bryston 28B3 monoblocks. Problem solved!
aigenga
131 posts
 
I also have the JL-CR 1 which I use to bi-amp my Artemis Eos 2.1 speakers.  They have two separate boxes, each larger than average, and resemble Watt/Puppies.  I use an ML 534 amp on top, and a pair of Wyred 4 Sound mAmps on the bottom. I really love the sound, and so very much more since inserting the crossover.  I x-over at 150 Hz, 24 db/octave.  .  
Although I can’t give a reason, I too have been thinking of a change very much in line with the OP.  Listening to a few systems I came to one realization so far: the upper speaker needs physical volume and a 7” mid/woofer (if they are two way) in order to develop the fullness of sound I require.  Thin sounding midrange leaves me cold. That is one reason to go with floor-standers and subs.  I also want detail and imaging from narrow fronts and top quality tweeters.   
I have heard the Persona 9H and really like them.  I also like the smaller 7f’s and think that they would meld well with a pair of the JL Audio 113v2’s but haven’t heard the combo.  I think the Salons or the Studio’s or the F228be’s would also sound right to me hooked up with the 113v2’s.  I’ll be exploring these in 2020.

fleschler
2,015 posts
 
hombre - You mention that poorly recorded music sounds terrible on the Maggies.  I play acoustical 78 rpm (nominal speed) recordings, originals and CDs mostly and they are not high fidelity recordings.  Will they sound bad or fatiguing on Maggies?   I know that on my dynamic speakers, everything musically interesting sounds easy to listen to for hours despite their fidelity (of course great recordings sound great and I have difficulty pulling myself out of my listening room at night to go to bed).  
mmporsche's avatar
mmporsche
144 posts
 
I second Borreson, I heard them at RMAF this year in a very large room and they were superb. Raidho is also great. That being said, I ended up with Voxativ and am very happy. Very engaging to my ears
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