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Tube Friendly High End "Big" speakers

I've been upgrading my system from good to great. I addressed the analog front end first and now have something respectable (Brinkmann Oasis w/ Graham Phantom II Supreme, Lyra Delos, SimAudio Moon 310LP, and Acrolink 8N Reference Phono Cable.

The system is being driven by a PrimaLuna Premium Dialogue Integrated and the speakers are Opera Seconda's in a smallish dedicated listening room. I'm moving into a much larger house, but will no longer have a dedicated listening room.

The room is 21.5' x 14.5' with lots of big windows and a high v-shaped vaulted ceiling which I'll treat with GIK acoustic panels. Not looking on advice on the room. It is what it is. Just giving a bit of info since I suspect it will be on the lively side. Here's a video. The room starts around the 2:10 mark: http://youtu.be/wrDpTsBDD_M

I'm looking to upgrade the Opera's. I really want a "big" speaker, something that will move some air and pressurize a room like this. My preference is for something tube friendly and I'll likely need to use my PrimaLuna for at least a few months. Not really interested in horns though.

I'm looking for a very 3D soundstage that's velvety smooth. Detail is great, but definitely nothing fatiguing as I tend to listen at higher volumes for extended periods. While I do listen to a lot of Classic Rock and Jazz, I also listen to a lot of more modern music. I want something that isn't going to make this stuff sound terrible.

I'm planning to buy used, so anything that retails up to $55-60K might be doable. TAD and Focal are on my radar right now, but it's difficult to read between the lines from reviewers to understand what will work.

Which speakers should I be considering?
128x128bgupton
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Dentdog,
Thanks for your comments. If Jim were closer to me I'd give serious consideration to using his expertise to maximize my room's potential(what ever that may be).
Charles,
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,111 posts
 
The reason I like the Audiokinesis option, despite having never had a chance to hear these, is the designer's (Duke's) mindset and approach. He does a lot of pro audio I believe and looks to leverage what works there for home audio. Pro audio is all about getting performance efficiencies on a large scale. Duke takes his learning there and applies these towards his "high end" home audio products. Home audio is smaller scale in general and getting good sound not nearly as hard, though the expectations of high end audiophiles tend to set a high bar.

Duke seems to focus a lot on teh speaker/room interaction and how that works, taking some very unique approaches to address this again applying his full body of knowledge to good effect.

Duke's approach is fairly unique in these parts I think and makes his products can't miss IMHO. That despite having never had a chance to hear them..
rhljazz
1,253 posts
 
Another interesting possibility at a lower price point would be the Golden Ear Triton 1. They received a very positive review from Anthony Cordesman in the last issue of TAS.
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,736 posts
 
Not that big a room. Save a lot of $ with
these.

On the Gon now.
http://app.audiogon.com/listings/ful
l-range-acoustic-zen-
technologies-crescendo-blemish-free-
ebony-finish-2014-09-
26-speakers-22624-clear-brook-va

Review
http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/
acoustic-zen-
crescendo-loudspeaker/
davidpritchard's avatar
davidpritchard
866 posts
 
Best utilization of time and money in this situation. Hire Jim Smith to discuss situation and possible amp- speaker combination. Goe to RMAF and listen to some of Jim Smiths suggestions and the suggestions here. Buy speakers at RMAF at show discount. With money saved have Jim Smith fly to house for installation. Anything else is a crap shoot involving a lot of time and wasted money.
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