Reads like you’re looking for the perfect speakers. $10k on the used market should get you there. I bought an old pair of VA Strauss speakers for $2k that were so much fun despite lacking resolution expected from new speakers I nearly kept them. Since I have no experience with your amp or room acoustics I can only offer how I got there. Don’t spend more than you can resell for and start buying everything within driving distance you’re interested in. Nothing beats having a few months to demo a pair of speakers. Try to remember us and update this thread on your journey.
Non-fatiguing speakers in $10K range?
Some years ago I downsized to headphones only. Now I have access to a dedicated room again, so getting my absorption panels and ASC Tube traps back from storage... :-) The amp is going to be Accuphase E-800. I like class A, and I owned fair share of Pass gear but Pass integrated (and lower preamps) no longer have tape loop. I also like my gear to look the way I enjoy and Pass went too industrial for me.
Anyway, long story short. Speakers. I prefer relaxed, non-fatiguing sound. My headphones are Meze Elites and I love them. I also own Focal Utopia, but rarely listen to them, too forward for me.
Now, music-wise I do not listen to jazz or classical or vocals, sorry. Classic rock, hard rock, 80s new wave, punk, pop (classic and modern) and African blues like Tinariwen. People tend to insta-suggest forward sounding speakers - you like metal, right???. But I don't like piercing sound and I rarely go to concerts exactly because of this. I listen to AC/DC but NOT at 'realistic' revels. I like rhythm, melody, but I don't care about 120 Db.
The budget is about $10K, give or take, most probably second hand, but I can buy new, if I really like it. Unfortunately, there are not that many high end shops around Seattle with gear I like. Some went selling vintage and some went up selling only $100K+ systems. So most probably will be getting something blind.
It seems I should be looking for ribbon tweeters, I spent hours at youtube - it is definitely not listening in person, but some recordings are pretty decent and many show differences between speaker models.
I also compare frequency response measurements - I can easily tell that I won't like the speaker by looking at the chart. Ex, bump around 2-6K is a no-no since this is what "bright" is. Dip is actually good since this is what makes sound less "in your face/ear".
So far I more-or-less narrowed my search down to Legacy (Signature or Focus), Dali 8, ProAc (D48 or K) and - maybe - Magico A3? Legacy is huge, I am not sure I really need 20Hz extension. Magico has beryllium tweeters which may be bright....
I purchased Tannoy D700 many years ago, still own them, they are part of my TV set up. They sound good, but not as good as I would like it. My desktop speakers are ribbons too - AirPulse, I like them quite a bit.
Anything else I am missing?
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I second gdnrbob's recommendation on Vandersteens. The Treo CTs are available at a Dealer in Tacoma called High Note Audio. |
Hello, I was in AXPONA 2024 and I’ve listening the Borresen. Good but…really no competition with what I’ve heard in the Grandinote’s room. The speakers showed was over budget for your request (Mach 8XL it’s round 30k) but I’ve heard the Mach 4s and the Mach 2s and they sound pretty amazing with 37 Watt integrated class A amp (always from Grandinote, the Shinai). High efficiency, easy 8 ohm load, unique mechanical crossover…they definitely deserves some attention in my opinion. I don’t know about a dealer in Seattle but it’s one in Chicago area. have a good listening! 😉 |
I'm still waiting on @helomech to point me to all of these published Legacy measurements which make him steer clear of this brand. I see a couple very old reviews/measurements but nothing showing 'most Legacy models' as he put it. Nothing even for any newer models. Legacy speakers are many things, but fatiguing, they are certainly not. I know because I've owned many models in my 25+ years ownership. From the earliest models (Focus, Classic & Silverscreen), to the latest models (Focus SEs, Studio HDs (two pairs) and Silverscreen HD). |
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