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Please help with speaker choices

Hi all,
Well the room and time has lead me down the road to upgrading speakers. A most exciting time, but alas, filled with choices and no possible auditioning for me.

So I must relie on this communities suggestions and help!!

First the current system:
Nick Doshi Preamp
Nick Doshi modded Lectron JH50
Amazon Referenze TT
Triplanar Tonearm
CDP-Don't have one yet
Focal 1007 Be Monitors-current speakers

Room Size:
21 by 13 with 8ft cellings

Music:
I listen to pretty much everything. Sorry for being so general. In one listening session I may move from Coltrane, to Cannonball Adderly, to Muddy Waters and Johnny Lee Hooker to Lucinda Williams and electric/folk Neil Young. Throw in some Dylan and then move onto the White Stripes, Beck, if I'm real rowdy maybe some Ramones or AC/DC, then come down with some Edith Piaf and a sip of 12 year single malt.

Reason for wantng change:
One is I find this a hobby. For me that means having fun with experimentation. So far I have only owned the Focals.
Two is now that I moved my system against the short wall and facing out to the long part of the room, the monitors seems lacking, like they are too small to fill the space, like it is too much effort. Three is I have nerver had a floorstanding speaker and the prospect excites me. Four is, sitting wise, I can only get about 9 feet near to the Focals. To place them closer puts them right in the middle of the living room. Not really acceptable. At 9 feet, the monitors just not presenting the soundstage I desire. At that distance with monitors, I am just not in the heart of the music.

Also something important to note is I like listening loud, but do not always have that option as my system is in the living room and out of respect for others cannot always listen loud so I must have speakers that offer low volume detail.

My choices so far (more of course welcome)
Sonus Faber Cremona floorstanders
Merlin VSM-Mxe
Verity Fidelio Encore
ATC 20's passive

At the higher end(only consider if HIGHLY recommended)
Verity Parsifal ovation
Sonus Faber Amati Homage

Monitors I might consider
Focal Mini-Utopia Be
Sonus Guarnari Homage

OK, sorry for rambling so much. Obviously I am putting a lot of thought into this. Any input much appreciated!

Peter
mariasplunge
mariasplunge OP
174 posts
 
here's something that might help suggestions. There are two recordings that I want to make sound really good. One is Lucinda Williams West and the other Is Neil Youngs recient releases of live shows the Fillmore and massey hall. If I could make those really sing, then I'd be a happy man.

Does that help?

Peter
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Peter,

Nick's components are essentially neutral, neither warm and fuzzy nor cool and analytical. Of course like any tube component you can easily make them a little (or a lot) warmer simply by switching tubes.

It's easy to add warmth to a system. In addition to tubes, there are warm sounding interconnects, speaker cables, cartridges, turntable belts and tweaks of every description.

It's not so easy to remove warmth (or any coloration) if it's inherent in a major component. I could make my system sound warmer in a hundred ways, many of them quick, inexpensive and easily reversible. (If I used an Amazon turntable belt instead of my mylar tape I'd add warmth, to name an example you can look at.) But to make an inherently warm component sound natural, neutral and transparent usually requires replacing it.

I guees I'm just saying, be careful not to go too far. High end analog doesn't require added warmth to avoid digital nastiness. Go warm only if you're sure that's what you want.
mariasplunge OP
174 posts
 
Got ya on that one Doug, and that is what I am wary with in terms of the verty's and the Merlin's. The audio physics, I'm not sure, never heard them described as warm but again, I have not heard them personally. I'm pretty sure the ATC's will not be described as warm.?

Doug, please tell me how the Amazon belt vs. your mylar belt can be described as warm. I am curious as to how a piece of small thread can add warmth?

Thanks
oregon
820 posts
 
Peter,
You asked: why would you choose the Veritys? Like Ray said, "it's the sound man, how does it SOUND!"

I am not a technocrat and have limited experience compared to many audiofools. I own Avalon Eclipses, and Audio Physic Virgos (both way below your budget) powered by 70 watt mono tube amps.I am happy, especially with vinyl.
I belong to a group of foos. We get together every other month and try to enjoy the music, usually turns into listening to equipment, unfortunately.
In one system, probably due to room issues, I find the Cremonas lacking. I feel that properly set they are very capable- just haven't heard it myself.
BTW, on Tuesday I heard SF Pianos. I'd like a pair. Made music out of Choral and Opera. I have never cared for it, now I am interested.

In another system, we have Avalon Ascents powered by BAT VK 60 monos in a big room. The sound is fabulous. Definitley full range.
In another system the Verity Parsifals powered by Joule amps and pre. The room is med/small. In this system I feel as though I can see, feel, touch the musicians. All the stuff about attack, decay... is there. The woofers are rear facing. This one is by far what Ray is talking about- "how do it sound, man!?!?!" (See the documentary The Language of Music). If I could, I'd take the "plunge" with "Marias" money and get the Veritys. Nothing technical, just the sound. In the system I'm familiar with, it feels as though I am at a live performance. In the next room is an even more impressive (expensive) system. But to my ears the Veritys with the Joules are 'mo better, 'mo fantabulous.
Take a few hundred and fly out to some audio rooms (come on guys, invite him over) and listen to some systems. I'm sure some of these fools would let you listen for yourself. You'll still have the $ to make the purchase.
That's my 3 cents.
mariasplunge OP
174 posts
 
Inspiring words Oregon and much appreciated. Although in some estimation, it is unfortunate to just listen to equipment, it must be great to be able to listen to and expereince such a range of different set-ups. See that where my expereince lacks. I live in Montana. Cold winters. Short growing season. Seems aperfect combo for listening to music. Long dark cold days. Yet most here are poor and spending what I am considering spending and have spent is ludicrious as well as impossible. Somehow I have saved, worked hard and had some luck so i am able. maybe it is priority. I drive a car that cost less than some cables I hace bought. Thats ok with me, because "its the sound man."

Let me ask you Oregon, were you listening to the parsifal encores or ovations. I have heard there is a difference and in my budget only the encores are possible. However, thanks for the vote of confidence with the verty's. Speakers I have always been attracted to simply based on reviews. Which, with you good fellows input is all I have to go on.

Thanks again. I ahve never spent so much time on such a confusing choice. Usually I am such a straight forward kinds of guy. But speaker choices. man who knew it would be more complicated than which type of cattle to invest in:-).

Peter
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