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Time to move UP, speaker-wise...

My vandersteen 2ci’s dropped dead after a couple decades of sweet service. Over the past year, I’ve had mixed success with a pair of reference premier Klipsch speakers, but now I’m wanting something a far more subtle, perhaps a touch more sweet, and definitely able to reveal more sound-field information. Perhaps I’m being redundant... I’ve been intrigued by the open baffle concept and I’ve read some reviews on Spatial Audio products as well as Tekton’s open baffle offering. There are fans of the spatial, and then I discovered there are people that are blown away by the Tekton open baffle design. Tekton is also running a special on the Electron SE @$3000, which I feel inclined to try... Another area of interest is the Ohm speaker lineup... can any of you speak to them, and particularly how they compare to Klipsch Heritage speakers, or open baffle designs, or Tekton's...?

I have to say, I’m die-hard for the musical information, for the layers of musical fabric. Wolf_garcia claims the heresy III is the best $1500 he ever spent, in a discussion addressing open-baffle designs, among others, and so I’m wondering where to put my bills... What should I check out? It’s time to move up. I’m thinking $3300 is about my limit... I’m running 80 watts per channel from the nuforce sta200, a schitt saga pre, Cambridge transport.
listening99
Post removed 
gdnrbob
4,445 posts
 
@OP, 
Tomic is correct.
A pair of Vandy VLR's with a sub or two can be a killer deal.
When I was at Audioconnection, Johnny Rutan installed a set of AQ William Tell cables to the VLR's, and all I can say is 'Wow'. Those little speakers behaved like full range floor standers without subs.

I have a pair of VLR's for my office system with a pair of HSU subs, and I couldn't be happier- Well...., the Treo's in my Living Room do best them, but for the money/size, those little bookshelf speakers perform beyond their price point. In fact, they replaced a pair of Zu Omen Bookshelf speakers. The Zu's, though well made, just didn't have the charisma the VLR's possess.
BTW, where are you located?
Bob

snapsc
675 posts
 
This is a great choice for an open and authoritative sound...and great looks as a bonus. 


https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=166294.0
perkri
907 posts
 
I've been super curious about these.

https://www.decware.com/newsite/Liiaudio.html

I had a pair of Decware DM945's which I loved, but wanted more bass so traded them for a pair of 1977 Cornwalls, which I also love, albeit for different reasons.

The Lii Audio Crystal 10's look really interesting to me. Full range single driver, no crossover etc.

Interesting that these are the first speakers made by someone other than Decware that they sell. That says a lot!

Wish I could audition them...
luisma31
516 posts
 

For the OP, I’m just trying to help here and I have been where you are

You are getting many recommendations for speakers but @listening99 maybe I missed something but could you please list your system? Amplification type and power? Without it IMO all this is sort of blind advice.

And looking at the big picture really if you had the vandys for 2 decades and you lived 2 years with klipsch reference, before getting anything I would wait 3 months, follow @shkong78 proposal and visit axpona 2020 to listen to the speaker list you could get from this thread. Prepare your playlist of well known musical program in advance and take it with you, at audio shows audio manufacturers will play carefully selected source content well mixed by good audio engineers that will sound good in "their systems" but it may not correlate to your music preferences.

Also during at after axpona you could go to audiogon and check for all the used speakers on sale from people who just purchased new speakers at axpona, you will be able to find quite a few.

And like @audionoobie stated don’t make the mistake of purchasing without listening first, especially speakers.

Last but not least consider in your decision your room size, shape, ceiling height, floor/wall materials (tile, wood, carpet?) some speakers you could adjust and tune the room response

Although your budget (these days) won’t allow too many choices enjoy the process, it could be exciting.

Now that I think of it you will incur in an extra expense with axpona, there is a Florida audio show before maybe closer to where you live but it is really a very small venue, this is their second year don’t know if it will be bigger this time. Regardless, even with the expense I think is still worth it going to an audio show.


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