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Next up... new speakers...

For better or worse, my approach to building my system has been to progressively upgrade one component at a time as budget permits, working from the front end to the speakers and then looping back to the front end again.

When I last upgraded speakers some 9-10 years ago, the B&W N805s I chose were the strongest "link" in the chain... now, maybe not so much. :) The current system:

Cary 306 -> BAT VK-30 -> Ayre V5x -> B&W N805 + REL Stadium

Interconnects are Cardas Golden Cross XLR, speaker wires are Cardas Neutral Reference.

Now I have "the bug" again... the N805s have served me well, but its time to move on. Something more full range would be nice.

The room I'm working with is pretty large -- 20x27, a vaulted ceiling (14' at side walls, 17' at center), with one 20' end open to another 14x24 room.

I'm looking for suggestions for speakers to audition that would be synergistic with rest of the system, that can "energize" this large space.

Musical tastes run the gamut from rock to blues to jazz to classical, so one-trick ponies need not apply.

Budget... mid-to-hi 4 figures. What would *you* suggest?
todster
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
All you have given is a price range. And that you have a large room to fill.

This suggests you should look at larger three ways - however you will find it tough to find something as good as this monitor. It is one of the "gems" in B&W's line up - competing with speakers easily three times the cost. As you have had them for a long time then you must like the sound. You should look for larger powerful three ways with a response that competes with this Awesome on and off axis response (which has only a slight midrange "scoop") - not at all easy to achieve in the target price range you are aiming at - meaning I am sorry to say you may need to "up" the budget somewhat - your speakers, although bordering on small for such a large space, are no slouches!
jax2
3,031 posts
 
I've heard the Coincident Super Eclipse III's with your Ayre amp (actually I think it was the VX5e) and they sounded superb together. They'd be worth an audition, though they've been replaced with a different model line which I cannot speak for in terms of matching with your amp.

Good luck!

Marco
xti16
1,525 posts
 
With a room that size might the C2's or C4's be better if in the used market. I used to like B&w's - sonus faber but then I heard the C1's from Dynaudio. I do own the C1's now. The C1's with my Rel B3 really sound fantastic. The C4's with a REL B1 sound super fantastic but way out of my price range
westborn
156 posts
 
AV123 LS9
texas42
98 posts
 
Digital Phase AP-4s which were clearly superior to my Gallo Ref 3.1s, Martin Logans, Vandies, Maggies, Legacy's (all previously owned) and equal to or slightly better than my also current Dunlavy SC-IVs. A speaker you would have to hear to believe. New they start at about $2500, mine have a few factory tweaks which brought them up to about $3500. Highly recommended.
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