Speakers under $50k that rival $200k+ speakers?

I have gone up the Persona line to the 5F. That speaker plays bigger than the 3F but I of course want something for a smaller space. I heard that with a very good SimAudio 860A amp.

I have another huge room downstairs that is currently my toddler's play area. Once he is a bit bigger and I can take over that space I am looking at the Persona 9H or a KEF Blade to put there. I would not get the 9H if I get the 3F for my small office space upstairs. 

My understanding is that the Persona mid and top are very similar in the lineup. The bass is the biggest factor going up the lineup. I have heard the KEF Blade tons and I love that speaker. I think the Persona and the KEF give good value for the money. It does not hurt that I love the sound of both.

I recently contacted the distributor of Vimberg speakers to have a listen to why it is getting all the great feedback. In the future, I am looking to do something similar to you with a $50K and under speaker.

Soundlab Majestics. It is a shame that more people do not get to hear these speakers. Not only can you get them for less than 50K but there are a number of people who think these are the best speakers you can buy period. All you Maggie folks out there. Maggies are a huge value but if you want to go one step farther this is it. I understand that most Atma-Shere MA2 s go to power Soundlabs!

@smodtactical I get the impression you are in Canada. If you around Toronto you may want to have a listen to the Vimberg at Wynn Audio. They are a distributor but have opened up a listening room for high end speakers.

http://wynnaudio.com/contact/

https://www.monoandstereo.com/2016/11/wynn-audios-grand-opening-in-toronto.html

https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/106-uncategorized/854-jeff-buys-loudspeakers-the-vimberg-tondas

From the review above

I also toyed with the ideas of the Bowers & Wilkins 800 D3 and the Paradigm Persona 7F, though I’d place those models a fair bit behind the other three.

If you do how about posting your impressions on the Vimberg.

BTW Kennedy Hi-fi in Toronto put together the Persona 9H system for one of the TAVES shows. They also have the Yamaha NS 5000 for demo.

BTW 2 - One could argue that the design of the Persona Line originates from the Yamaha NS 1000 from the year 1976. The NS 5000 is the successor to the NS 1000 and uses new driver material.

I just heard back from my dad after he did the Persona 3F vs Yamaha NS 5000 shootout today in Toronto. The electronics used were actually the new Yamaha gear (likely top of the line ones). My dad and a family friend who went were both unanimous in their praise of the Yamaha over the Persona 3F. My dad also thinks the Yamaha would fit into my room without DSP but I think DSP is needed for that woofer.

The words my dad used to describe the Yamaha were similar to what reviewers have been saying. Incredible mid-range, very coherent sound, and the feeling of listening to a live performance. The Persona 3F was also very good in these qualities and why I had them as the speaker to buy. However, now, I think I will go with my dads opinion on this and buy the Yamaha, unseen or unheard by me.

Agree with the Magnepan 30.7. But as others say, it depends on what your priorities are. The Maggies excel on acoustical music, they have a spooky realism to them. Even my old Tympani IVa’s can be jaw-droppingly realistic (talk about bargains -- maybe $3000 used), and the 30.7’s better them in every respect.

     - whats the downside to the maggies?

Well, Jonathan Valin said they didn’t have the most bass impact on rock. To put that in perspective, they measure flat to 20 Hz and my old Tympani IVa’s, which have less panel area, will do chest compression in my small room. But I don’t think Maggies and other planars are the best choice if you listen primarily to rock -- some will disagree. My IVa’s will cruise at 110 dB, which is plenty loud, but they won’t give you the ear-destroying SPL’s of something like a big Wilson, or the incredible dynamics of a horn.

I think the main drawback for most though is their size. They don’t really require a huge room, they place nicely in a room that’s 14’ wide -- but they are big and they have to be at least 5’ out from the wall behind them to sound their best (3’ is the minimum).

Still, Jonathan said you’d have to spend $100,000 to find speakers that sound as good and having heard them twice now I suspect he’s right.