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12K new/used to spend

I am thinking of upgrading my speakers and can go up to 12K, new or used but less expensive is definitely appreciated. I need fairly high WAF plus some that would sound great placed less than 3 feet from the back wall and would prefer under 48" high. I listen to a variety of music accenting rock and classical/orchestral. My front end is NorthStar CD&DAC,Aragon 8008BB amp and 28K preamp. I have a large room. (see system for more detail)
I am thinking Wilson Sophia2 or B&W D series or Sonus Faber.
Any suggestions would be appreciated as to speakers I should consider and what you like about them. Also if used, is there a limit in years used when you need to be careful about degradation from drivers and crossovers. Thanks, Joe
gammajo
hbarrel's avatar
hbarrel
500 posts
 
I own their little brothers the Shahinian ARC's.
As you read in the reviews the speaker has been around for awhile.
You'll be hard pressed to find a used pair for sale. For some reason no one ever seems to be parting with them.

You're best bet is to contact Shahinian direct.
They have few dealers.
http://www.venushifi.com/ is one of the very few.
jamesw20
270 posts
 
How about the Merlin vsm-mx?? I've never seen a negative review on them!
mdhoover
695 posts
 
You should consider the Intuitive Design Summit, possibly augmented with a sub bass unit like a Rel. If you need to spend more money than the 5000 dollars they cost brand new, with stands, then you could opt for the matching amplifiers that Dale makes to fit into the stands, which are 4100 or 4200 dollars for a "standard" monoblock pair and 5100 or 5200 for the "high current" version.

My Summits sit on Stillpoints with inverse risers, four sets at 400 dollars each, or 1600 dollars. Dale has the amplifiers mounted FLOATING inside of the stands, such that vibration and resonance are non-issues. I don't even have his amplifiers (but I have great Odyssey Stratos Extreme monoblocks) and the set-up still sounds phenomenal, at least to me. I've posted an excruciatingly thorough review of the Summits on Audiogon.
-Bill
cemoore
11 posts
 
B&W 802D are IMO the best at anywhere near the price. The Stereophile review got it pretty much exactly right. I would only add that they sound great no matter the volume -- low or loud. Aerial 9's are nice but no match -- you would need to go to the 20T to get an equivalent in Aerial.
rysa4
266 posts
 
Usher Dancer 8571- I have lsitened to this speaker. It was at CES this year but was getting more playtime last year at CES. Its sounds great. The newer and bigger Usher BE-20 sounds even better though ( at 16,000 a pair). I would in an opnion only, rate them above Sonus faber offerings, but not as highly as some of the very interesting choices mentioned in this thread.
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