$40.000 speaker advise. Check out my list


Hello all,

I'm currently owning a system which consists of Mark Levinson 33H amps, Mark Levinson Nr 32 Pre-amp, a Wadia 860x Cd player and a pair Revel Ultima Studio speakers. Cables are Nordost Valhalla/Valkyrja.

I believe my speakers are the weakest link in my system and am considering upgrading. I listen to all sorts of music, from jazz, classic to pop/dance.

I have a few speakers on my wish list but they are not easy to find to listen to them so I want ask you opinion first before I start searching for a dealer the have one or more of these brands.

Could you please go through the list and rank them from 1 to 6, best to "worse" speaker and explain why you think the list should be in that order.

The speakers I am thinking about are (in random order):

1. Sonus Faber Stradivari
2. Verity Sarastro
3. Lumen White white light
4. Rockport Antares
5. Revel Ultima Salon
6. Avalon Eidolon Diamond

Thanks a lot for your help.

Regards,

Max
maxx1973
Holy cow Max! That's a lot to ask! I don't believe anyone here has heard all 6 of these speakers. I would be shocked if you found even one person who had. Those are great speaker choices to be sure, but I'm not sure that your speakers are your weak link. From my experiences with ML gear, Nordost cables, and Revel speakers, my ears are bleeding just looking at your set up. I'm to assume that you love detail, but are missing musicality, correct?
I would swap the ML 32 preamp out for a ARC Ref 3, and change cables to Stealth Indra/Dream and then see how you feel. You may be surprised, and feel no need to change speakers.

FWIW, the Sonus Faber and Verity speakers will be smoother and richer than the others on your list, which may or may not be what you are trying to accomplish. If you are trying for a smoother, richer sound, the tube preamp and cable change will definitely help. If you are happy with your current sound, why not just try the Revel Ultima Salon?

Happy hunting,

John
on your list i did not like revel ultima. just couldn't get the idea why they should be so expencive when i listened to them @ces.
6 - 1 - 4 - 5 not familiar with 2 and 3.

Keep the preamp/amp for now.

Definitely get decent speaker cables: Transparent, Purist, Synergistic, Audience Au24, Siltech, Acoustic Zen, Kubala-Sosna (Audioquest, Cardas, MIT, Blue Jeans, Signalcable, Monster, NOT!)

Use XLR (balanced) interconnects between your preamp and amp, if you aren't at present.
.