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GoldenEar vs Dynaudio vs Nola vs ProAc vs Everything else.

I have had a near impossible time finding speakers that I am in love with. Where I live and my work schedule prevents me from being able to audition a lot of different speakers.

I am a bit on information overload from reading reviews, and having a hard time how to narrow down speakers.

My listening room, is our main living room which is 16 x 23 with vaulted ceilings going from 9 to 12 in the center of the room. Listen to vinyl and streaming, and a mix of indie rock, classic rock, jazz, and a pinch of everything else. Do a lot of casual listening while in the room and not necessarily one specific listening location.

The speaker placement is going to be tight too, not a lot of space off the side and back walls thanks to a closest coming slightly in to the area the speakers can go.

I am leaning towards tube amplification, like a PrimaLuna Premium HP, but not locked in on anything until I get the speakers sorted out.

I am not attached to any of the above brands, but all brands that I have enjoyed a lot of what I have read about them.

My price range is around 10k, and happy to by used/demo/pre-owned or new. I am also happy to spend less if not going to see a significant gain in a speaker towards the high end of my price range.
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gsmith5
37 posts
 
I have Proac D30r in a 13x18 room with 8 ft ceilings, they sound excellent, their strength is mid range. Based on your room size I would think you would have to go up to Proac D40r which have an additional woofer. 
anderock
2 posts
 
Another vote for vandersteen.  I have been able to audition a wide variety of speakers over my life, although it's difficult to get a true sense in many listening rooms in stores.  Vandersteens are so musical, natural, image like crazy and I think they are good value for the money.  They are on the laid back side of things, so if you like brighter speakers, they are not that.  I find them great with a wide variety of music, classical, jazz, rock, pop and electronic.  I run with a tube pre and solid state amp (blue circle).  2's or 3's would work in your room.
Good luck with your search!
gdnrbob
4,444 posts
 
ProAc's or Vandy's, it is your choice.
If you are in the NE, then contact Audioconnection. He has both brands that you can audition without pressure.
Bob
hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,832 posts
 
@gdnrbob   A big +1!
cb5300
42 posts
 
I have to agree with audiotroy, the Legacy Focus SE’s will give you the "biggest bang for the buck". There maybe better speakers than the Focus SE, but you’ll be paying 4 times the cost and not getting that much of an improvement. Three years back I was looking to upgrade speakers, and I had to travel hundreds of miles just to really listen to the good stuff. I live in SW Virginia, and people’s idea of a "high end" stereo speaker is what you find at the local Best Buy. I actually drove as far as NY before I settled on my speakers. After listening to everything I could, me and the "boss" decided on the Focus SE’s. Wasn’t a hard choice either, the Focus just seem to make the music come alive. I heard things I had never heard before. There are two things a speaker has to do...one for me, and the other for my darling sweetie. So first, they have to look good (love the Rosewood finish), 0and they have to sound even BETTER. The Legacy do both in spades...Since then I have picked up two pairs of the Studio HD’s and looking to get a pair of the Calibre.
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