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Good speakers under 10K.

Looking for my first pair of decent stereo speakers. Will be buying used, my budget is around 4-7k, so I'm interested in speakers below 10k. I may not be able to audition the speakers given my current location.

1) My sound preferences would be something that is rather true to the source, having adequate detail yet not being overly detailed. Hopefully striking a good balance between precise analytic sound and overly colored. However, I don't mind a speaker slightly to the warm end of neutral if it is not muddy or veiled. I want to avoid overly hyped or harsh speakers with fatiguing top ends, and I like my treble smooth and natural and not overly pronounced. The speakers have to be musical also.

My musical tastes are varied. Mainly electronic, rock, acoustic, classical, soundtrack and world.

Can someone help me decide?

Thanks
Aqua

aquablu8
aquablu8 OP
19 posts
 
Also, which rockport speakers would be in my budget?
chayro
2,984 posts
 
If you listen to a lot of rock, I bet you would love Wilsons, as they have good low-end punch. While they are quite expensive new, I think they are very good deals used. Check out the Sophias or, if you have the room, the Watt/Puppys. I've seen both for well under $10K, which is pretty amazing, considering how much they cost new. If you like it loud with a big low end, you should listen.
aquablu8 OP
19 posts
 
I forgot, my room is a standard living room, around 13x24 with 3 wide openings on the sides, windows on the end like this.

-- open ------------- open -----

* wind/wall window/wall*

-- open ------------------- w ---
podeschi
303 posts
 
Vandersteen 5s get my vote epecially for dynamics when listening to rock
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
A couple of weeks ago I auditioned a pair of Sonus Faber Cremona M's. They were seductive and addicting. I think they have that balance of warm musicality vs. detail that you describe, and they'd certainly excel on all the kinds of music you like.

Yes, they list at around $12K, but it doesn't seem to hard to find them under $10K. When you add in how physically gorgeous they are, it's a beautiful combination of virtues--looks, construction, design, fit 'n' finish, flat response, detail, warmth ...

And their maple slat construction really works. The Stereophile measurements of various Sonus Faber speakers (especially the slatted ones) show unusually low cabinet resonances. This translates into great low level detail in the proper perspective and the ability to play complex music such as classical with clarity, even at volume peaks.
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