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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
mdalton's avatar
mdalton
461 posts
 
oops, an-e already there right in middle of list, so “I concur”
aj523 OP
373 posts
 
@millercarbon

Thx for the post. Which speaker line ? 
flatblackround's avatar
flatblackround
279 posts
 
It must be Tektan.
aj523 OP
373 posts
 
@flatblackground    

Ah ok they are #2 on the list I posted.  Moab, Double Impact or Ulfberht.  And they are on sale. 
aj523 OP
373 posts
 
Some OP nostalgia....
Around 1991 after I graduated college, I bought my first pair of speakers at the Listening Room in Scarsdale NY.

There I auditioned, eyes closed, 4 sets of speakers all in the same price range -- Thiel, Mirage, Snell and Def Tech BP10. I don’t remember the model numbers for the first 3, because I wound up buying the BP10’s. That bipolar sound, whether a gimic or not, had me at hello some 30 years ago. I think the other 3 are no longer making speakers and Def Tech has cheapened their line in my opinion since the 1990’s. The Listening Room closed up shop years ago. Times change, but I’d like to do a similar thing with at least 4 speakers again.

P.S. I paired it with a Pioneer Elite receiver from the Listening Room (I think Dolby Surround had just been introduced), and that receiver was a tank, it was beautiful  and never an issue (It was over $1k at the time) so I kept it for 30 years, rarely used, and only recently gave it away in full working order.
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