Speaker recommendation for married couple


I am the guy who opened the thread "Harbeth Love". Unfortunately, wife didn't like them at all. She listened to ATC, nope. Spendor? Nope. I do trust her ears too but we need speakers that we both like. I remember her liking this Sonus Faber speakers (can't recall the model but I know newer Fabers). She also likes KEF LS50 which I find good but not outstanding. Any help for this married couple?:)
celo
Is the ceiling 6' only where the speakers will be placed or the entire room?
Unfortunately, almost entire room. It is an attic but we have furniture and stuff (it is our hobby room). Current speakers 32 inches floor standers. A friend did the measurements with his MiniDSP and the results were not that bad. He was actually surprised.
After reading your follow-up, the first thing I want to ask is if you've ever considered a tube pre &/or amp?  That can make a notable difference, adding a bit of both presence & smoothness to vocals.

One of the things that makes entry Vandersteens such great value is they have a very form follows function appearance--but not everyone will appreciate that.  Also they're balanced & subtle in a way you'll likely enjoy--but that might not wow your wife.

I briefly mentioned ProAcs above, but will say it again, now as an actual recommendation. (Unless, of course, she dislikes traditional looking speakers.)  They're a bit more immediately exciting & don't skimp on bass (including their standmounts), but still manage to sound refined--even on non-audiophile recordings.

Good luck & keep listening.



I am definitely considering a tube amplifier. I just ordered this passive LDR preamp so I used my option for the preamp there.

I used to have ProAcs. I was never too wowed with them. They were tonality right I think, but I remember getting bored after a while. They were ProAc Studio 125s (floor standers). The bass was too much for my room also. This specific model was just not an exciting speaker to listen to. 
Wow, she didn't like vocals on Harbeths and called them "flat?"
That's the first speaker I and many others would recommend if someone really cared about vocals on speakers.

I don't know what you do when the speaker probably most renowned for natural vocal range doesn't make the grade?   Good luck.  I think any recommendation is going to be essentially a shot in the dark.

(It's impossible for us to know if she was hearing what the various speakers can actually do, or if it was issues with set up, etc).