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Next step suggestions, from Spendor SP100r ?

Hi all,
holidays are very "dangerous" from an audiophile point of view, because there is time to think more about your system and subsequent changes ;-)
So, in these holidays I started to think a way to make some evolution in my system, starting from speakers but not only, even if I'm satisfied for the actual sound.
My question is how to evolve the sound of Spendors SP100r (not r2) without loosing their superb musicality. In particular I wish a deeper and controlled bass, more punch, without loosing efficiency and SP-100r mids.
Now my taste of music is 80% Rock and Electronica, 19,99% Jazz and practically no Classical music, even if sometimes I like a good sounding system for this genre.
Starting to think about that, I have difficulties in creating a list of speakers to hear ;-) who can me help with some suggestions? Consider this a brainstorming exercise :-)
My system pictures and composition are in my profile, my listening room is 11m x 4,5m but I have some restrictions: speakers distance from the rear walls not more than 70cm, from side walls not more tahn 30cm., speakers not large more than 55cm due to my furniture shape. Listening point is around the middle of the room. The floor has an acoustic treatment.
Thanks in advance for the suggestions :-)
-Massimo
.Vitus Audio RI-100 amplifier
.Weiss 202 DAC
.TW Acoustic Raven One+ SME310 + Dynavector XX2mk2
.Audia Flight Phono preamp
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vevol&1308315331&view
maz65
dave_72
1,399 posts
 
I would recommend B&W or high end JBL, but those are probably too forward sounding for you.

I would go with ATC or PMC. They have soft dome tweeters.
maz65 OP
40 posts
 
Thanks Larry. Regardless of the price, I like DeVore speakers.
Magneplanar was an option but unfortunately they are too big for the available space, see the picture at the link in the first message, not so much space available :-(
Dave, about JBL I will have the opportunity to hear, with my amplifier and DAC, the Array system, cannot remember at the moment if 1400 or 1000, I will check next week.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,234 posts
 
Maz65, a few random opinions:

the Magneplanar, DeVore and JBL are all excellent loudspeakers, but being that you have severe placement restrictions, how will any of these speakers sound better than what you already have? From looking at your system pic it appears one speaker has to be in a corner and the other speaker is next to an open area. Both speakers look like they are fairly close to the rear wall. Most full range loudspeakers will have problems in the lower midrange thru bass with your arrangement. That's why I earlier suggested the bass equalizer. Additionally, the Maggies and the DeVores will not go lower in the bass than the Spendors. Someone suggested Gradient Revolutions -- I have these speakers and they don't have the midrange of the Spendors and they are very inefficient (you'll need a new amp). The Gradients have better placement flexibility, a more linear bass and far outclass the Spendor in soundstage/imaging. Basically, if you switch to any of the speakers mentioned I think you could lose the things you like about the Spendors without really gaining the improvements in the bass you desire.
larryi
4,046 posts
 
Maz,

I am a fan of DeVore speakers too. I recently heard the Orangutan with Line Magnetics amp and that combination is quite good. I don't consider the DeVore speakers to be what truly deep bass fans would be looking for, but, they do deliver a lively and well balanced sound. Dave mentioned the high end JBLs. I also think that the high end models with the horn drivers (e.g., Everest) sound very good.
salectric
755 posts
 
As someone who has owned SP-100s for the past 11 years, I can sympathize with your situation. During the past few years, I have considered a wide variety of newer speakers as replacements for the Spendors, yet still have the SP-100s. Some that you may want to listen to are Daedalus Athena and Ulysses, DeVore O/96, Audio Note E series, and Tannoys. One thing that I have learned is that for someone who likes the Spendor sound there are very few alternatives that will satisfy. Another thing is that the SP-100 has so much potential that it deserves top-notch sources and amplifiers. From your description of your system, it appears you reached the same conclusion.

The practical alternative for me has been vintage speakers. At present I alternate between the Spendors and a pair of homemade speakers that use a vintage 15" Jensen woofer with Altec 32 horn and 802-8G compression driver. There is a photo on my system page. While not perfect by any means, the vintage speaker is actually more satisfying on most types of music than the SP-100s, and I say that as a Spendor fan. Just something to consider.
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