2. speakers
  3. 125865-33947

Need Suggestions for speakers up to $15K new/used

I am a relative newb when it comes to this high-end world of audio. I purchased most of my equipment last year and then got involved in a home renovation project that zapped much of my funds ($500K...ouch). The renovation is concluding and I should have about $15K to throw at speakers to complete my system.

Here is what I have purchased so far:
*Contstellation Audio Inspiration Amp/Preamp
*PS Audio Direct Stream DAC with board
*PS Audio Power Station
*Oppo 105D
*Parasound JC3+ phono preamp
*Pro-ject Xpression Turntable with unknown cartridge
*Blinn Super Wide Audio Rack

I was all set to buy Raidho D1.1 last years and then had to cancel the order at the last minute due to the funding requirements of our renovation :/. I attended RMAF in 2014 and heard the Raidho’s and couldn’t get their sound out of my head. It was the best system I heard at the show. They were using Constellation electronics so hence the reason I bought the same brand. I didn’t have the funds to buy the expensive Constellation stuff but I was hoping for a similar sound. I also chose the JC3+ because I read that John Curl designed the preamp. He also designs for Constellation. Expectation is some trickle down in the technology and sound. Who knows but so far so good.

My room is 14’ x 22’ with 6’8" ceilings (crappy, i know). The room is in the basement and is all new drywall with new carpet over hardwoods. I like to listen to all kinds of great music including jazz, classical, industrial, pop to country.

So that leaves me with my dilemma, what speakers to buy? I plan to attend RMAF in October to listen to other speakers but would like a list of suggestions based on my requirements/restrictions. RMAF is overwhelming with all the choices and I don’t have time to listen to everything.

The brands I have heard that I have enjoyed include:
*Raidho
*Wilson Audio
*Nola
*There are others but these come to mind first.

Please let me know your recommendations on new or used speakers within my budget.


128x128mmporsche
mmporsche's avatar
mmporsche OP
144 posts
 
I am definitely planning on room treatments due to the low ceilings.

I am open to monitors or full range. I cannot use a sub with my Constellation setup. I considered a REL but after looking through my manuals and calling REL they don’t recommend it with Constellation amps.

I do like to listen to music at somewhat high levels, not crazy volume but sometimes it is fun to feel the music. I thought about horns, however, my research showed they do better in very large rooms???

Thank you for all the suggestions. I will put all of these on my list of manufacturers to visit at RMAF.

erik_squires
16,244 posts
 
Just read your owner’s manual. As mentioned in the manual, you can still hook up a sub via the Pre amp outputs, no problem. Some trade-offs would occur either way that in the end won’t matter. It’s speaker level subwoofer connections that should be avoided, and I dislike those anyway.

Also, since this is a small room, you’d be surprised how much bass you can get from smaller when properly treated. You don’t have to try to shoe-horn in a large Wilson or Nola.

Treat the room first. Get a very high quality two or two and a half way and THEN evaluate the need for a sub.

No one ever takes my advice though. They try to get the largest speaker they can physically accommodate and then suffer muddy bass.

When you go to your next show, pay attention to rooms that sound great while you are still in the hall. You'll notice they are the one's that have better room treatment.

Best,


Erik
infection's avatar
infection
808 posts
 
I agree with Erik; high end stand mounts offer great performance.
Check out GamuT RS3i or Wilson Benesch Endeavour.
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,725 posts
 
Add Harbeth to your list!
almarg's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
almarg
9,670 posts
 
I agree with Erik that connecting a REL or other sub to outputs of the Constellation preamp should work fine.  And despite what REL may have told you connecting a sub or subs that accept speaker-level inputs to the amp should also be possible. 

Since the amp has balanced outputs the sub's ground wire (the black wire in a REL speaker-level cable) should not be connected to any of the output terminals of the amp, and instead should be connected to a circuit ground point of the amp.  With some designs connecting to a chassis screw will serve that purpose, although a loud hum might result in some cases.  But what should almost certainly work well would be soldering the black wire from the sub to the ground sleeve of an RCA plug, leaving the plug's center pin unconnected, and inserting that plug into an unused RCA input connector of the amp.  That would establish a suitable connection between the sub's circuit ground and the amp's circuit ground. 

If one sub is used the red wire from the sub would then be connected to the amp's positive output terminal for one channel, and the yellow wire to the positive output terminal for the other channel.  If two subs are used the red and yellow wires of the left channel sub would both be connected to the left channel positive output terminal of the amp, and the red and yellow wires of the right channel sub would both be connected to the right channel positive output terminal of the amp.

Good luck.  Regards,
-- Al
 
More to discover