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Looking for "realistic" speakers

I just had my pair of Cary Audio Silver Oak speakers get fried along with the rest of my Cary gear in some kind of power surge (sniff sniff). And absolutely loved the Silver Oaks because they just made everything sound authentic.

The instruments had the right timbre, scale, the balance was just right, and aside for perhaps a touch of richness had no character of their own. This made them sound great for any type of music.

I can't afford the $8K I spent in the day to replace so am looking for something closer to $2K-$3K max (used Ok). I'm looking less for something with super trick staging, imaging and some of the other high end niceties (though I wouldn't kick them out of bed).

More for a musical speaker that just makes the music musical and the presentation realistic sounding. That makes you forget you're listening to speakers/electronics and hearing the music the way it should sound.

Easy to say, I know.

My preamps and amps are solid state Cary stuff that will be replaced by insurance though sadly the Silver Oaks are no longer made.

Any ideas?
larrybou
sumaato
100 posts
 
Stirling V2 ls3/5a.....

I'm thinking about your requirement for realistic. Audio-people often throw darts at the well-known 'old-fashioned' traits of this speaker. But I have never heard more realistic timbres, nuance and decay as I experience with these speakers.
I'm an acoustic musician and I need that realism. With a sub or the purpose-made bass extenders (AB-2), they are even better. In a smaller room, no need.
imaging and soundstaging: ethereal. Once they are set up well, it doesn't matter where you sit. Fabulous with tubes, or vintage ss.
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,977 posts
 
Larrybou-

hope you get your claim check quickly, my condolences.
This gives you a great 2nd start of sorts. I would be remiss if I did not suggest the Thiel CS 2.4 -check it out and keep us posted.
ebm
9,311 posts
 
Did you find and buy one??
larrybou OP
130 posts
 
Good news! Just heard from Allstate and they're paying for the whole system. Max $15K but I can live with it (especially since the equipment was 12 years old). Good hands people indeed!

Surprisingly they only gave about $5K for the Silver Oak speakers - so that looks like my speaker budget.

Best realistic speakers under $5K anyone? I currently have everything in a fairly small room, that may or may not change in the near future. I want something that can scale - but giant Maggies (or anything else giant) won't work.
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