Pricing looks high... Since you asked that we don’t recommend any other speakers I won’t mention Salk, Joseph Audio orLOL!! You got me there, my apology for being firm but I hope you understand...I just got bitten by high end bug again after a long 17 years hiatus and it came back with a vengeance. I bought an entire system based on forum research just last month and I am already disappointed by it as I haven’t got a goosebumps or involuntary tears yet like my old system from 17 years ago with Jadis JP20 pre, Cary 805C and SF Grand Piano.
ATC...
My existing system as follow:
- dCS Bartok
- Mcintosh C22 pre
- Mcintosh MC75 monos
- Mcintosh MEN220
- SF Guarneri Evolution -
- P10 regenerator
- Shunyata Delta NR throughout
- Transparent Ultra Gen 5 throughout
- Paid down today delivery next week for Kuzma XL DC with 4 points 11 arm and Miyajima cart
The reason I do not want to hear about other speaker is because I already spent too much time on my phone researching, going around the town almost everyday looking for audition and already fully neglecting my business for almost two months... I can’t stand this anymore and I gotta decide....LOL!! Just 2 hours ago I read about Orangutan O/96 bass tone quality and I already spent the last two hours on the topic, I just do not want to be trapped on that spiral of indecisiveness and anxiety for too long. I used to be super fanatical about SF having owned 3 models before but after trying my hands on a pair of dealer new old stock Guarneri Evo I sadly have to agree that SF new sound is just not for me at all. All the magic has disappeared completely.
Budget is around 20-40 K for the pair and so far only those two brands impressed me after a real audition and I have auditioned a lot including some bloody expensive Avalon speakers which sound I cannot stand at all even for 5 minutes.... OUCH!!! Even mentioning and typing “Avalon” got my blood boiling again as I never heard a bloody expensive speaker that sounded that awful and I regard that Avalon audition as a total waste of time if not offensive. My apology for Avalon owners but that is my personal opinion, yours might vary.