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musical speakers for a Quad system

Hi all. I need some speaker advice from people with experience.
I have recently acquired a nice complete Quad electronics stack - 99 CD player, 99 stereo pre-amp and 909 amp (thanks Lanemart!) - it's on its way, and mine to enjoy in a couple of days, provided UPS delivers it in one piece (or three - get it?)
I am currently in possession of an awesome pair of Soliloquy 5.3 speakers, on loan from a friend (thanks Terry, if you read this!), but I need to plan for my future system.
I am looking for something musical, with good synergy with the Quads. I did not go with the Quad speakers, as I heard they are quite room-sensitive, and I have some limitations there (room about 14/8, with a cut corner in the back, speakers aimed at long axis, hard floors and walls, space has some limitations, an opening to one side of a speaker, I could go on and on). I want something that gives me more range than my previous Kef monitors, and less of their "bite" in high frequencies. Budget, you ask? Well, I got spoiled with great deals, so ideally less than 1500. I prefer new, but I will take used in very good condition with few hours if it's a really good deal. I listen to ~50% classical, all sub-genres, and the rest is an eclectic mix of everything (really, everything!) as long as it is good quality and sounds good. Think Deep Purple live to Diana Krall unplugged, Miles Davis to Nils Peter Molvaer.
There is such an abundance of stuff out there, it's really hard to start anywhere. I prefer non-electrostatic, I have a cat, fairly well behaved, but come on, if I was a cat I would definitely give them a claw-check, they are naught if not gigantic scratchpads! The WAF is an important consideration (no Gini systems or the like) - she loves the Soliloquys, loves Sonus Faber even more (she should have married a lot richer than she did for that!). One brand I liked in the past was Totem, partly because I had a chance to listen to them. Other suggestions?
Much appreciated. Back to Mr Saint-Saens' organ symphony, while I wait for some feed-back from the knowledgeable Gon' community.
Thank you
roc_doc
roc_doc OP
55 posts
 
Thank you Newbee.
Alas, I have misled you. I was dead wrong on my room measurements. As you hinted at, this is a guy still adapting from metric to English system! It's in fact ~ 24/14 ft., except smaller due to the cut corner I was talking about earlier. I think if I had the Soliloquys sucking up 400 W per channel of solid state power in a room 14/8 it would have blown my ears off!
That's why I prefer floorstanders, with a lot of low end. In fact, speaking of Mr Saint Saens, with this set-up I felt for the first time the appropriate kick when the organ enters at the beginning of the fourth movement. And I liked it!
newbee
4,767 posts
 
Well the Quad amp is not a high current amp so you will want to have speakers with a higher nominal impedence (at least) such as 8 ohms, and a reasonably high sensitivity say 90db or more. That way you would be able to play Mr St Saens. :-)

Apart from appearance, I can't appreciate your wife's concerns, you should still consider some of the older (non SE) and larger Spendors for a more laid back response (highs are not overly emphasized) - not the last word in eithed deep or tight bass, but they have a beautify mid range, are nicely balanced, and easy to forget. Just boxes though. :-) You'd have a tough time improving on them for under $1500 used.
roc_doc OP
55 posts
 
Update: I got a pair of Usher CP 6311's. LOVE THEM!! Oh, and if anyone out there has a WAF issue, well holy molly! To give you an idea, went to Jeff's place (my local dealer) having made it clear I would only listen that day, not buy. Wife came along. Bought them on the spot... Not me, her!!
roc_doc OP
55 posts
 
That should have been "not I, she!!". sorry. I no spek english very well, I is immigrant.
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