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Please recommend speakers

I’m just starting my audiophile journey and want to make sure I pair the right equipment before going too far down the rabbit hole. I am coming into this as a complete newbie. I listen pretty much to everything but mostly pop, classical and jazz in a fairly large-ish lower level living room (maybe 20 x 20 feet square) and speakers sitting on bookshelves. I know they should be on stands or floor-mounted, but that doesn’t really work for me right now space-wise. So far I have Jamo 803 bookshelf speakers with newly purchased SMSL DA-9 amp and matching SMSL SU-9 DAC (previously was using an old NAD D 3020 V1 integrated amp with direct connection from iPad to internal DAC). Now I stream directly from an old iPhone/iPad via a USB camera adapter to the DAC which has balanced connections to the DA-9 amp. I pretty much stream music exclusively (currently on free trials with Tidal and Amazon HD). No other sources. No library to speak of. No headphones. The Jamos sound great to me, but I feel like I need something better to pair with the mid-fi DAC and AMP. So I’m looking for upgrade the Jamo 803s which were purchased on sale for $130. Looking to spend up to maybe $800 for a pair. Recommendations? Thanks in advance!

 

Edit:  Here's what I'm considering so far.  KEF350, Polk R200s, Audio Monitor Bronze.  Thoughts on pros and cons?  Anything else?

expresstrain
kennyc
1,452 posts
 

@expresstrain

I have a feeling I will end up getting stands also, but it’s a process...

Seems like your requirements are a moving target. If you are entertaining the idea of stands, then a floorstander is best sonically to get significantly better bass. You can go subwoofer but that will $cost. Note also that speaker placement is also sonically important as most should be brought away from the walls into the room.

If you prefer nearfield listening at the expense of bass extension and soundstage quality, then maybe bookshelf may be ideal for you.  But if you are trying to maximize sonics……

50wpc @8ohms is on the lower side, so you’ll need a somewhat efficient speaker.

If you like the Klipsch RP-600M, then perhaps going to their related floorstanders RP-4000F, RP-5000F, or RP-6000F (95/96/97dB) may be ideal with more bass.

I agree that Tekton is a high value option but they are rather large than average speakers. You might be able to get into a used GoldenEar Triton Seven or a used Monitor Silver speaker.

tsushima1
1,165 posts
 

MC 

“Look around, the lessons are everywhere. Tekton Moab and other Tekton almost never come up for sale. ”

*Really*

Recently 997

Currently 32 

Recently 997

 

russriegel
11 posts
 

I know someone who has signet sl260 bookshelf for $350

audioguy85's avatar
audioguy85
2,018 posts
 

I think you will be very happy with a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 225’s, still available @ $349 a pair, were $449.

They do everthing right in my book, and sound like speakers twice if not more the price. There are plenty of reviews to read about these speakers, and they won two awards for budget component of the year, from both the Absolute Sound & Stereophile.

Herb Reichert said: "Forget the Diamond's modest price. This humble wooden box is actually a connoisseur-level audio component. It could satisfy any sane music collector for decades."

 

lanx0003
812 posts
 
@audioman58, ...get a Svs 2000 pro sub later $495 with a great app.
 
I agree with adding a sub but where did you get that deal?  Let me know and I will jump on it.

 

 

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