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Seeking advice on Speakers that create an intimate 2 channel listening experience

So the past month I started a couple of threads on speaker choice on AVS forum (One asked for Powered/Active floor standing Speaker choices and another one around non-active FS speakers for a tube amp I was looking at).

But I've come to realize this was the wrong tact, got lots of flack much deserved and wanted to try to solicit the advice/opinions on this forum which I just discovered.

Short background...Hunkered down in a suburb just outside NYC now for the past 3-4 months, I started to get the itch for a dedicated 2 channel stereo Turntable setup in our living room in May. After much research and twists and turns and immediate upgraditis, as some know on here from other posts, I've finally settled in and now own a Rega Planar 10 Turntable. I also own a Sutherland phono --20/20 with LPS and that's staying. Right now the phono preamp is hooked up direct to a pair of ELAC ARF51 floorstanding speakers (all drivers powered by built in AB amps) which I like a lot BUT ITS HERE THAT I WANT MORE. Btw, I love the ELAC design of mounting the tweeter concentric in the mid driver -- makes sense to me.  I kinda wish ELAC would take the same design and make a reference speaker but thats for another day.

So to swap out the ELACs, I will obviously need an amp, but I will figure that out later and want to focus on getting the right speakers for me for what I want. So what do I want?

1. Floorstanders. Close to full range as possible. No subs.
2. Looks count since in my main living room.
3. Speakers that prioritize Imaging Imaging Imaging. That disappear in the room creating an intimate but 3D listening experience. Clean (Accurate) warm sound. No distortion. I would easily sacrifice low end for untiring highs and warm mids I don't listen to metal or hiphop anymore so I don't need loudness, more like lounge experience if that makes sense. Apologize if I got the adjectives wrong but its personal description of what I'm seeking.
4. Price Point - -$10k-25k. Room is 22x18 with 25 foot ceiling

I would like to audition/demo before I buy and since I live in the Tri-State area it should be possible. But I'm finding that obviously difficult to do right now. I listened to a pair of Salk speakers but didn't love them. And have an appt with the Audio Doctor in NJ in two weeks.

Thanks in advance.
aj523
vassilis_t
38 posts
 
Dear aj523, I am in the same situation but in Dubai. I have been listening to music via Audirvana, lossless FLAC files, Ideon DAC, Ideon 3R and JBL P708 (active) studio monitors. The level of musicality, dynamics and accuracy is outstanding on a very low budget (approximately $4.5K) comparatively speaking. I own various speakers, several from German Physiks, Harbeth 40.2 and vintage KEF and B&W, but none of them are here.

Thus, yesterday, I took my Mac and the Ideon units and went to YAMAHA. Yes, YAMAHA! I spend 4 hours listening to NS 5000. I was floored. Outstanding speaker with excellent sound reproduction capability, imaging, dynamics and natural sounding. The price I was given was the equivalent of $11K. Excellent finish, and includes its own stands. IMHO, it is very close to 40.2 Anniversary, with better dynamics and looks. Build quality was world class.

I respectfully, urge you to listen to it. Must be one of the best speakers in the market today for  a relatively reasonable price. It checks all your requirements, except being floor standing. It has its own matching stands. Also, if you can put your hands on an Ideon Ayazi DAC, is worth listening. Great sound is not an exclusive privilege of stratospherically priced units.

I have no affiliation, professional or personal, with any of the brands mentioned herein or any other in the audio industry. 

https://europe.yamaha.com/en/products/audio_visual/speaker_systems/ns-5000/index.html
https://ideonaudio.com/product/ayazi-dac/
https://ideonaudio.com/product/3r-usb-renaissance-mk2/
archguy's avatar
archguy
45 posts
 
As soon as you said "intimate" I thought "Harbeth" -- it may be the one thing they do best. And there are stands and then there are stands. Some you’ll like more than others.  FYI, I have dozens of floorstanders and none sound as good as my Harbeths, esp at moderate levels and moderate listening distances.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5177/5563504720_89d1e609da_z.jpg

https://audio-database.com/HARBETH/speaker/hlcompact7es-3.JPG

https://resonantwoods.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/harbeth-rosewood-stand-200x300.jpg
richtruss
163 posts
 
Have a look at Jern. Cheaper than you are expecting to pay, but very good indeed. Danish, made from one piece of cast Iron. No colouration at all.

grahamsphillips's avatar
grahamsphillips
13 posts
 
I agree about panels. Try some Martin Logans. I looked for years to find speakers that do precisely what you described. Somehow I ended up audtioining some Logans. Within a trice I new I'd found what I was looking for. I cannot recommend them too highly 
yeti42's avatar
yeti42
287 posts
 
Logans ask quite a lot of the amp, Quads might be easier to match, particularly the original model as long as you don’t need loud.

On another tack the Eclipse TD712zMK2 single driver speaker has its own unique style, another that has limited loudness but very communicative and images very well. Don’t be put of by the specs, if the visual aesthetic appeals they’re worth a listen.
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