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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
avanti1960
1,500 posts
 
aj,
Since you are going to need an amplifier, speaker recommendations tend to be somewhat hollow unless amplification is taken into account for compatability and synergy. it needs to be figured out with the speakers.
what is your total budget including amp?
also we need to know your possible room layouts for the best recommendations.
how close can you sit from the speakers? can you position your new speakers four feet from the wall and bring your chair or couch away from the wall behind you?
the reason i ask is that an intimate setting is typically a nearfield triangle and some speakers need space and proximity to sound their best. there are speakers that should be eliminated if your speakers need to be close to the wall and your couch has to be against the opposite wall (not good).
if the speakers are four feet from the wall and three feet from side walls, that would make for a center to center distance of 11 feet on the narrow wall in which case the back of your chair wants to be about 14 feet from the wall in front of you.
give us some idea of your possible room layouts. commiting to this will yield the best results and get the most out of your new system.
suggesting speakers without amp and room considerations is incomplete and could lead to unintended compromises.
tony

Ag insider logo xs@2x
cleeds
6,009 posts
 
aj523
Their own website refers to them as electrostatics ...
I find that difficult to believe. Magnepan speakers are not electrostatic.
... they are often compared and contrasted to ML ...  So have you listened to compare?
Yes. Maggies and ML sound quite different.
aj523 OP
374 posts
 
@cleeds its literally right on the website in the history section. I cant cut and paste from my cellphone.. Anyway I'm interested in what you found to be the differences? Thx in advance. 
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Magnepan is not ESL. Magnetic planar is the tech, not Electrostatic. I have reviewed and owned both. Both are panels or dipole designs (Some others are hybrid).

The reference in historical section talks about ESL or ribbon speakers. Most of Magnepan’s lineup are their own Quasi-ribbon technology. Not ESL. The discussion of ESL is in regard to the dipole characteristics of panel speakers, and in several respects, though technically different, magnetic planners and ESL speakers are similar.

Panels do carry their own distinctive characteristics, and opinions are split on them, as might be expected, both in terms of sonic characteristics and suitability to build a preferable system. I find them to have appeal, but as aforesaid, with the caveat that they will do some things better/different and some things worse/different than other genres of speakers.
aj523 OP
374 posts
 
@douglas_schroeder

Thank you, thats helpful technical education. Putting ALL THAT ASIDE, what are your opinions and what have you found to be the differences in sound qualities all things being equal that each technology is trying to achieve and does achieve? There are always compromises in speaker design and you've done a number of reviews on both types. 
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