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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
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Yes but on the other hand even audiophiles ought to know speakers do not create an intimate listening experience. Speakers REcreate whatever is on the recording. If its intimate and the speakers are any good then they will recreate the intimate experience. If the speakers create an intimate experience regardless of what is on the recording they are inexcusable crap as far as audiophile speakers go.

So what are you looking for? Good speakers? Or a one-trick pony?

Low to medium power tube amps excel at delivering just the sort of captivating natural sounding low level detail that makes intimate recordings hair-raisingly real. So it will help if your speakers are high sensitivity, and with easy to drive impedance. There's a bunch of them that fit the bill. 

To me it means a warm sound, not analytical, that can be played at low levels with all the nuance. Involving is a good synonym.And above all else not boomy on the low end and not piercing on the high

There's one company with a whole range of excellent choices that owners describe in almost these exact terms. Highly efficient too.
aj523 OP
360 posts
 
If anyone is keeping score, it just goes to show how silly but profound my post was.  Whether the recommendation came from a dealer, distributor, boutique manufacturer, engineer, or plain enthusiast/audiophile, the responses meeting my criteria (which lets face it wound up being a "best of the best floorstanders" under $25k) yielded almost 50 responses, so far. 

I'm not even sure how all these speaker manufacturers stay in business (God bless them).  A few picks like Harbeth or Yamaha aren't floorstanders but got so many nods they make it on the list FWIW.  How does one even approach this other than listen to what they can and then make a decision?  

Here's the tally in no particular order as of July 10th

1. Devore Orangutan 093, 096 (and Gibbon X)
2. Tektan (Moab, Double Impact, Ulfberht)
3. Spendor 100/200 or D's
4. Gershman Acoustic Grand Avant Garde
5. Harbeths 
6. Tannoy (Kensington), Revolution XT8F, Cantebury
7. Vandersteen
8. Boenicke W11SE
9. Raidho C2.2, C3.2
10. Avantagarde Zero
11. Wilson Yvette/Sabrina
12. Horning Eufrodite
13. Magnepan 
14. Magico S1MKII,S3MKII and A5
15. Legacy Audio Aeris/Focus XD
16. ATC SCM XXXX
17. SoundLab Electrostatics
18. NOLA KO's
19. Bache Audio 
20. Audio Physic Tempo
21. Jern
22. Martin Logan
23. Sonus Faber Olympica Nova
24. Spatial Audio X3, X5, M3
25. Audio Note E
26. Pure Audio Project
27. Neuphor
28. Joseph Audio
29. Wharfedale Elysium 4
30. Zu Audo 
31. Vienna Acoustics The Music (Used)
32. Dali Epicon 6 or 8
33. Soundlabs Electrostatic
34. Yamaha NS5000 
35. Daedalus Apollos
36. Fyne 701s
37. Dynaudio Contour 60i(take your pick), Special 40s
38. Revel Salon 2/Studio 2
39. Audio Physic Avanti II
40. Audiokinesis Azel (Duke!)
41. ProAc K6 Signature
42. Focal Jm Lab Utopia
43. Janszen Valentina P8
44. KEF Blade 2
45. QUAD Electrostat 



fokakis1's avatar
fokakis1
11 posts
 
Find a speaker that uses a higher end Accuton mid and/or RAAL tweet and you will find the next level you are looking for.  
mdalton's avatar
mdalton
456 posts
 
would add audio note an-e to your list. great with tubes.
mdalton's avatar
mdalton
456 posts
 
oops, an-e already there right in middle of list, so “I concur”
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