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I need a good looking and good sounding speaker ....

I currently moved to a different apartment and my stereo system and TV are in the middle of my living room. 
My Aerial 10Ts are 25 years old and while they still sound great - they really at this point do not look very good.
I also have an Aerial CC3 center channel which looks OK but is quite big and bulky...

I live in a Manhattan apartment and have ppl below me and above me - 

Anyway - I am considering the following speakers:

- Sonus Faber Nova 2 - look and sound great - not cheap
- Sonus Faber Nova 3 - look and sound even better - not sure I need the extra bass - expensive
- Totem Tribe Tower - in black they look OK - surprisingly sound very good for their size - won't break the bank to buy them
- Aerial 7s - look great - never heard them - was thinking of trying another brand after having Aerial for 25 years.

Any opinions if in a small space in Manhattan - the Nova 3 would be an overkill ?

I have decent electronics - ARC LS25 mkii - Pass Labs X250.8 amp - and a new Marantz receiever for home theater.

Steve


128x128pianosteve22
jdesj's avatar
jdesj
24 posts
 
The beauty of a larger speaker is that it sounds great at any volume. Especially, low volume for apartment dwellers. I own a set of Sonus Faber Amati Futuras.

These speakers are so gorgeous I get no complaints from my wife about having them in the living room. Certainly the best constructed speaker with finishing no other company can even come close. 

The sound is smooth and well proportioned across the entire frequency range. Close your eyes and listen to Neil Young, Live at Massey Hall, 1971, perform right in front of you. 

These are full range speakers. It’s why they sound sooo good. Even at low volumes. You will not feel the urge to crank it. The speakers are consistent in sound throughout the entire normal listening volume range and beyond. 

If you can arrange an in-house demo you will be sold. Get the big ones. Blow the entire wad. 
mbolek
167 posts
 
I love the look of the new Nova's.   Modern design with the walnut and anodized aluminum.   

Recently listened to the 1's and was pretty impressed.  

We're on lockdown here in NorCal and want to eval the 2's.   Why bother with the 3's, at that point just go to the 5s.

Although, can't get past the dealer mark ups, way too many other fantastic direct speaker options mentioned above (Ascend, Buchardt, Salk, etc.)

Good luck, happy listening
ktm_300xcw
12 posts
 
Check out Daedalus loudspeakers at Daedalus.com and then call and speak with Lou.  They’re heirloom quality hardwood custom made to your likI guess with beautiful inlay work that rally caught my eyes.  Zero MDF used making them three times lighter yet still approaching or just beyond 100 pounds.  Sonically I’m told by people I trust that they’re amazing.  You can also listen to them on YouTube if you have headphones.  Definitely talk to him before you buy.  They are usually a lifetime purchase so I am told.  You’ll be glad you phoned him.
dodgealum's avatar
dodgealum
1,404 posts
 
Another nudge toward Daedalus. Muse Studio should fit the bill. Incredible craftsmanship and sonics. A lifetime purchase. Call Lou.
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Lots of good suggestions above. I would add to the comments about Daedalus speakers that their combination of an exceptionally flat and benign impedance curve, high sensitivity, and high power handling capability makes them extremely versatile with respect to amplifier selection.

I have owned a pair of Daedalus Ulysses for the past ten years. I am presently driving them with a Pass XA25 amplifier, and previously with a 300B tube-based VAC Renaissance 70/70 MkIII. Your much more powerful X250.8 should be a fine match for Lou's speakers as well.

BTW, the URL that was previously stated for Daedalus was not correct. It should be daedalusaudio.com.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al

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