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Speaker upgrade help needed: 4500$ used

Like you all I have the upgrade itch and have decided that the speakers are what I want to change out next.

1. My goal is the most holographic soundstage and best imaging I can afford at this price range
2. I have no preference between bookshelf and tower speakers
3. I have no bass requirements as I currently live in an apartment and wouldn't want the bass to annoy the neighbors anyway!
4. Resale value and demand is very important, so rare/old models or companies that come out with new versions/revisions each year are out of the question.
5. My next speaker upgrade probably wont be for 2-5 years
6. Appearence isn't important, although I'd like to keep a reasonable footprint for the speakers
7. This is for a 2 channel only system

My current system:
Tyler Reference Monitors
Plinius 8200 mkII integrated
Muse model 9 Sig version 4 (cdp)
Ridge Street MSE gII interconnect
Harmonic Tech ProAC-11 powercord
Signal Audio biwire shotgun speaker cable

Current room is 14x18, but I do consulting work and move every year or two (so not shopping for room specific speakers!)

The cd's I've been playing a lot of lately:
Cyndi Lauper - At Last
Patricia Barber - Cafe Blue
Cowboy Junkies - Trinity Sessions
Paul Simon - Graceland
Peter, Paul & Mary - 1st LP
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
Steely Dan - 2 Against Nature
Laureena McKennit - The Visit
Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac and Rumors

I have enjoyed the Tylers. They are my first step into home audio unless you count NHT SuperTwos. The Tylers were an ENORMOUS step-up from them in terms of clarity, seperation, imaging and soundstage. However, they dont get me to the toe tapping, emersed in the music state that I am looking for eventually.

My ear and audio vocabulary isn't at a point where I could say what I would like to improve upon or what in particular I'm looking for.

Speakers I'm considering:
B&W N 803
SF Electa Amator II
Merlin VSM-M
Aerial 10T
Von Schweikert VR4 JR
Martin Logan Request

any of these stand out above the rest?
any to remove? other recommendations?

Thanks for any help!
Geoff
geoffgarcia
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Our musical tastes are similar and you could pick up a used pair of Merlins and have plenty of $ left with your new budget to put into your new front end. Give bobby at Merlin a call. He will tell you if your electronics (current/proposed) will work well with his speakers. I also liked the Hyperions very much when I heard them in NYC last spring. A larger footprint than the Merlins to be sure, but I thought that their sound was excellent (esp. with the Hyperion tube amps).
hemidakota
20 posts
 
would have to agree with Mitch4t i also own renaissance 90's. they are extremely revealing and sound excellent. i just noticed the sigma's in the classified's here on agon. good luck with the decision making.
mario_giberti
25 posts
 
You should consider a used pair of Meadowlark Blue Heron II's. They can be had right now for $4500 used in Audiogon, and have $900 tweeters, let alone the rest of the Scanspeak midrange and dual woofers. That is why they were $12k new. The cost of the drivers plus solid wood cabinetry in the front and top make these a great buy. The fact that Meadowlark is out of business just makes them a better buy. I have never had a pair of speakers break in 30 years (don't ask about my CD players or amps! That is where you do the repairs!), and the drivers are all readily available. If an internal part were to go, any decent stereo shop could fix em.
Of course, they are heavy, so if you are moving a lot, this could be a pain. But even at low volume levels, I am getting very satisfying listening.
ton1313
272 posts
 
For 2800 new you can get a pair of Zu Druids. They throw a huge soundstage & bass goes down to 35-40Hz. They are 101db sensitive and will work with small tube amps & up to 300 watt solid state amps.

Here is the review from 6moons http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/zu/druid_5.html
studioray
42 posts
 
It's been 2 months since the last post and I have been extremely interested in this thread and have been watching it closely, as my goals and requirements are almost identical to yours. So I really would like to know what you settle on and what your impressions are.
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