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New speakers for a new start?

Hi all, this is my first thread on this forum. I am returning to audio after a 20-year hiatus, and I am planning a new-to-me, music-only, 2-channel system. I'm pretty excited!

Other than my Thorens TD-320 series I, I am (re-)starting from scratch. I plan to focus on speakers, then build the rest of my system around them.

I look forward to hearing folks' feedback and advice during this process.

How I listen: I have a pretty big room, 9' ceilings. I can set speakers in a 10' triangle with about 16' clear behind them and 3' to 6' to the sides. I normally listen around 75 - 85db at 10', but sometimes I like to crank things way up. Also, I can't sit still for extended periods of time so I tend to move around quite a bit.

What I listen to: 30 - 40% blues, 30 - 40% industrial, punk, post-punk, noise, and hip-hop, 10-15% ambient, 10 - 15% various pop styles, 5 to 10% jazz and classical. Nearly all are studio recordings. Source-wise, 75-80% digital streaming, 20% vinyl and (very occasionally) CDs.

Things I like in speakers: A generous amount of fast, tight, well-controlled bass with great extension. Little to no coloration - it can always be added in later through component selection. Fast transient response. Detail. Coherence. Transparency. Great dynamics. I'm OK with "analytical" or "dry" within reason.

Things I don't like: Boominess. Flabiness. Ear-piercing mids.

Here are a few speakers I'm interested to learn more about (in no particular order):
- Thiel CS5
- Dunlavy SC-4, SC-5
- Tyler Acoustics D1x, D10
- Nearfield Pipedreams 21
- Infinity IRS (probably not the Reference behemoths though... realistically)
- I am also intrigued by open baffle designs (Spatial, Jamo R909)

I prefer full-range speakers because I don't love subs with music listening. They're a must in a home theater though.

I love planar speakers for their speed and transparency, but the fact that I can't sit still in their minuscule sweet spot for very long, coupled with their general lack of bass probably makes them a less than ideal choice for me.

I will buy used gear unless something I want happens to be available new at a huge discount. I am more interested in value than in staying within a specific dollar limit and be able to resell at par or at a modest loss if, as time goes by, I find I'm no longer as enamored with them as I once was.

I am interested in your experiences, especially with the speakers I mentioned above, but any and all feedback is appreciated. Thanks in advance!
 

devinplombier
ervikingo
153 posts
 

@1971gto455ho I have Betas and I agree with you.  I was just listening to them from 0400-0700 before the week started.

Gamma and Delta are very nice also!

mofojo
2,300 posts
 

I would add Paradigm Founder 120h to your list. From your list of wants in a speaker IMO it checks all the boxes. 

tko956
30 posts
 

+1 for PBN.  I've heard Peter's speakers many times and they sound great with all types of music.  They are fast, detailed, and the bass is tight and right.  There's quite a few models to choose from depending on what you want to spend.

Also, Peter is a great guy and very easy to communicate with.

 

 

doyle3433's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
doyle3433
318 posts
 

You may want to look at Volti. Hard to find used as we owners are usually pretty smitten and cherish them.

I was just thinking that a pair of Razz or Lucera's would sound great in the larger room you described. As the mid is horn loaded they would sounds excellent wherever you are sitting, or not sitting. They are very dynamic for when you feel the urge to crank them. They are also very efficient so you won't need to use an amp forged by Norse Gods to power them. Also if you are into exotic veneer's and speakers that look as stunning as they sound, Greg at Volti is your man!            IMO even more beautiful cabinets than the Legacy brand, tho Legacy's are no doubt stunning. (a great suggestion too).

8th-note
411 posts
 

Whew. A lot of advice here but I can't help myself.

1. I have a pair of Thiel CS6 and they do everything you want. I live in central Washington and if you are in the area you are welcome to come hear them. You are way ahead of the average user in that you understand that Thiels are hard to drive. I'm using a Krell KSA 300S which is one of the amps that Jim Thiel used to voice them. I run mine full range with a Velodyne subwoofer covering the bottom octave.

2. If possible I recommend that you attend an audio show so you can get a feel for what is out there. It's much easier to buy used stuff if you have a better idea of the range of options. I have been to three shows and have found that my system holds up to pretty much anything under six figures.

3. One option that I don't think has been mentioned is the Revel Salon2. These are some of the best sounding speakers ever made and they come up frequently on the used market for $10 to $15k. You can't go wrong with a pair of these. They are somewhat easier to drive than the large Thiels but still need a robust amp that will increase its power into low impedances.

4. For a research exercise it would be very helpful to review Stereophile's Recommended Components over the last 25 years or so and see what speakers were rated as Class A. IMO the state of the art has not changed that much for speakers that cost under $100k. A top rated speaker of 20 years ago still sounds great today. That will give you a basis to sort the wheat from the chaff if you are looking for high end used speakers.

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