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Small room, "budget priced" speaker advice, please

Hi,

I recently sold my dearly beloved, old Vandersteen 2C's here on Audiogon (and I hope SgtPeppers is loving them at this moment!) :-) I did this because in our remodeled house, my new listening room (which will double as a guest room) is just too small for the 2C's. The Spousal Acceptance Factor was just too low. ;-)

I have a PS Audio Elite-Plus integrated amp for power (around 70 W/Ch) and a soon-to-be-shipped-off-for-a-refurb Sota Sapphire for an analog front end (I have "miles" of vinyl)! I will also get a CD player at some point.

For now, I need to find a pair of best-of-breed, truly "budget" speakers. By "budget," I'm talking upper limit of $850/pair. (Gone are my free-spending, single days... I'm a dad now...) :-)

Listening habits: lots of 60's and 70's folk and rock, some jazz, Donald Fagen/Steely Dan, a little classical. Listening volume: not too loud. Sonic preferences: I value transparency and imaging/soundstage. Bass should be accurate above all, as opposed to chest-pounding powerful.

I've looked at Paradigms, which I know are highly regarded at lower price points. Trouble is, our one, local dealer is primarily a TV/home theater outfit, so you're trying to hear them in a showroom crammed with other stuff... you know the drill. I've also hit a high end shop. Listened to a pair of PSB small towers and disliked them; they sounded muddy and veiled to me. Listened to a pair of the smallest Rega's and liked them quite a bit, but would want to go back to listen again. I even wrote to PS Audio for advice; they recommended the "baby" Epos monitors, but they're out of my price range.

Thanks if you've read this far. Knowing how subjective all this is, I'd still welcome any advice you have to offer about what I should try to audition.
rebbi
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,153 posts
 
I've always liked Totem when I've heard them as well. They may have a different sound/timbre from Triangles. Triangles are very fast, neutral and transparent, which makes them good at low volumes, like Maggies for example. Totems reminded me more of Dynaudio or even B&W when I heard them, with a somewhat warmer sound but perhaps not as fast and transparent as Triangle.

You'll probably have to go second hand on agon or use a web vendor via agon or a direct vendor site for Triangles.

I've seen on of the more popular Agon members sell Triangle recently. Was it UpscaleAudio?
Ag insider logo xs@2x
knownothing
1,574 posts
 
Oh, you're in Austin. That's where I first heard PrimaLuna tube amps and Dynaudio speakers together. The same shop also carries Triangle and Rega. You should be able to compare all three speaker brands in one place with your amp.

Audio Systems
1102 W Koenig Ln
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 451-5736
audiosystems.com

I would also go give the Totem Rainmakers and Arros and the B&W CM1's a listen if you get a chance.
midnitemick
10 posts
 
Usher s520 is a lot of fun for not much money at all. Give them a listen you may be surprised at how much they cost.

Regards,
Mike
rebbi OP
1,326 posts
 
Thank you all for your enormous help. You've pointed me toward choices that wouldn't have known existed! I found dealers for Triangle, Rega, Usher and Totem all in my area. I'll have some auditioning fun and report back! :-)
buscis2's avatar
buscis2
468 posts
 
By the way Rebbi. If you really wanna' sound like the French audio gear specialist that you'll soon be when auditioning :>)

"Triangle" is pronounced: Tree-On-Jel. That's right from the owners mouth.

Just the French pronunciation alone makes it sound like a $10,000 speaker....... Tree-On-Jel Electroacoustique. :>)

You'll sound very impressive.

Either that or you'll be accused of practicing "Bad French".

Best of luck, Ed.
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