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A spousal revelation ... and a tall order. Help

I'm one of the lucky ones ... my wife loves music, live and recorded, and thus tolerates, even encourages, my constant gear and speaker changes. I asked her to marry me on the day she said--and I quote-- "I don't care what it looks like, as long as it sounds good." Ever since, I have, truly, been trying to find speakers that I think she will love.

It finally dawned on me the other evening what she most values in an audio system, and it's not what I thought.

It turns out she loves the ability to locate musicians and instruments in the recreated (created?) recording space, and she gets giddy when those images are fleshed out and palpable.

So, my question is obvious: in the context of our room and other equipment (see below), what speakers in the < $3,000 range might I try that provide the above qualities?

Our amplifiers are now all tubed, ranging from HK Citation II, to Quad II's, to SE (813's, 300b's, 2a3's). Front end is mostly analog--various TT and arm/cart combos (eg., Thorens, Garrard, Technics SP, JMW-10 arm/Benz L2 cart, etc.) Listening area is 16'x 28', with two good corners at one of the narrow ends.

Oh yeah -- she also likes good, clean, deep bass.

I've got no prejudices or pre-conceived notions about what to get, so I'm open to any and all thoughts or suggestions. My only limitation, aside from the $3,000 budget, is her dislike of shopping and in particular shopping at high-end audio salons, so getting her out to listen is tough.

Thanks so much for reading this, and for any suggestions you care to offer.

Happy Holidays!
gtrmkr
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,464 posts
 
Lucky guy!

Consider a in home trial of a larger pair of Ohm Walsh speakers, Walsh 200, 300 or 5 Series 3 or 4 drivers specifically. These are less fussy than most about placement/location and room acoustics and deliver the attributes you're looking for as well to a wide range of listening locations. For two people who want to listen together but can't both fit in the sweet spot of most conventional box designs, these might provide a very unique solution to allow multiple people to listen concurrently without compromise due to room acoustics and listening location.

Read about them at www.ohmspeakers.com.

Occasionally, Ohm provides new drivers in refurbished cabinets at lower cost within your price range. That's how I got the F-5s in my system.

Dynaudio, Totem, Triangle and PSB are other more conventional designs worth hearing as well if you'd just both rather snuggle together in the sweet spot. There is something to be said for that as well!

Cheers!
pryso
1,947 posts
 
I think one candidate should be Vandersteen. The model would depend on your willingness to buy used or new but look at both the 2 and 3 series. With their time/phase coherent and minimal diffraction designs, they can excel in imaging and soundstaging. Also, your generous room dimensions suggests they could be set up properly - distance from front and side walls being a key to maximizing imaging.

Their only drawback would be the lack of compatibility with your lower output amps (that some don't approve of the spartan appearance may not be a problem in your situation, particularly once you hear them). I would think a tube amp should be at least 50-60 wpc and that might only work best with the addition of the Vandy subwoofers (being self powered, they reduce the main power requirements).
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jgiacalo
446 posts
 
VonSchewikert VR4JRs can be purchased used in your range and they meet your wife's criteria, which are also mine. These work especially well since the have a wide sweet spot, wide enough for two listeners side-by-side. They image especially well if you add front tweeter diffraction dissapators for about $50. like the ones reviewed here:
http://www.stereomojo.com/Diffraction%20Be%20Gone%20Review/DIFFRACTIONBEGONEREVIEW.htm
Along with the VR4JRs rear-facing tweeter set to minimum you have a wide, deep soundstage, holographic imaging and deep, powerful articulate bass.
I'm running tubes as well and this is as close as I've heard at home to a live performance in my living room. And, as good as it sounds in the room, from the adjoining room it sounds like you've got someone gigging in the next room.
rlwainwright
1,904 posts
 
The *best* imaging speakers I ever heard were the old KEF 105, 105.2, and 103.2s - razor-sharp. However, you had to lock your head in a vice for it. And they needed a boatload of power to get the bass you're looking for.

For newer speakers, the Gallos Reference 3.1s will do everything you're looking to do. And they're not fussy about their placement or yours, extremely wide sweet-spot. The icing on the cake is that you can snag 'em for about 1/2 of you budget right here on Audiogon.

Read the reviews, they really are "all that"!

-RW-
kkurtis
43 posts
 
If you haven't tried them, Quad 63's are my wife's favorite speaker. Not loud and not deep but great in the mid-range so it is easy(ier) to deal with the rest. My wife has great ears and runs for cover with certain tweeters. The amps you mention would work great. I ran my 63's with different subs and was quite pleased. Went to Wison WP7's for big$ and they are better overall but we still both miss what the Quads do best.
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