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Speaker Question...first post on the gon

Hello. I'm wanting to put together a dedicated 2 channel system that is capable of simulating a "live" performance with blues, jazz and rock. With that being said, I value dynamics secondary to soundstage/imaging. I haven't had the opportunity to audition any speakers worth mentioning. Unfortunately, with work and other activities and a lack of dealers in my area, auditioning speakers is not even a viable option so I am hoping to make informed decisions in the used market, and with any luck find what I'm looking for the first go around. Currently the speakers in my hd (a/v?) uh, the room with my tv lol, have been pulling double duty with music. I have a Definitive setup with BP7001SC for L/R and BP3000 center and some smaller Definitive towers for rear. After much work with placement and a pair of Parasound HCA1500's bridged mono to the fronts with a small tube buffer between the amps and an H/K reciever I'm using as a pre/pro, I've managed to achieve pretty decent and dynamic soundstaging with 2 channel, for the types of music I listen to, or a decent improvement at least. I have a Parasound 5250 amp that can handle all 5 channels for movies, so for now I'm wanting to start with the 2 HCA1500's I have which are 630w at 8ohm bridged mono and use these for amplification. What speakers in the used market for $5000 or less, (preferably less :) will give me the bottom octaves at least on par with what I'm used to from my powered towers, tight/snappy midbass and a remaining audio spectrum that is musically dynamic but not fatiguing and with the ability to achieve focal imaging that essentially eliminates the sense of speakers as the source? I'm currently lookin on the gon at a pair of Vandersteen 5's (not 5a...not sure how different) and a pair of Vandersteen Quatros, mostly because I'm fairly confident that they will not disappoint in the lower octaves. Any opinions on these as well as any other speaker recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
soundynamic
rockadanny
1,226 posts
 
Used Zu Defs for sure - sealed, plus 4 10" powered subs. I've seen them used for sale for around $5k.

http://www.zuaudio.com/images/stories/product_specs_pdf/def2_specs.pdf
rleff
1,065 posts
 
With the specs you are looking at the only speaker I can think of would be Klipch but I am not familiar with their lineup as to which model;I have always liked the cornwalls
and forte's though;you might want to check out their products for yourself.
You might want to also consider dunlavy and merlin;
as these are excellant performers but I don't know about the live performance spec you mention;I had a pair of dunlavy scIII's and always considered them to be one of the best speakers I have owned;Merlins speak for themselves and I have never seen a bad word on any of their products.
blindjim
3,092 posts
 
First, I'd reconsider that using amps in bridged mode, business.

AS no speakers are in house to fill the bill yet, aim for those which the current power amps can handle readily, and you'll not be over stepping their abilities.

if the speakers you believe you desire now need 600wpc.... think about some other's or thingk about other more capable amps at the same time. Bridging nearly eliminates any headroom on the amp, or diminishes it severely.

$10K + speakers are gonna sound better with something a bit above those Parasound amps... but perhaps swapping out the amps is in the back of your mind now anyhow for some future date.

Blues and rock can produce great dynamic swings as part of the package. It'd be nice to have squeakers which could reproduce them, and a shame if they could not..

Gaining that ease in the reproduction might be better served by adding a tube preamp to an SS amp, rather than seeking out a softer sounding speaker.

That’s a very popular idea BTW.

That way enables you to have your cake and eat it too. Jump, jive and wale when you wish, and kick back when desired.... easy speakers remain easy ALL THE TIME.

As Chas said right off... Vandy's aren't going to play loud, and as subjective as is that word, considerable vol is as much a part of two of the genres you enjoy now.... from time to time. Me too.

to try to emulate 'live', and I emphasize the word 'TRY' squeakers must be capable of recreating those swings in dynamics those genres ordinarily possess in the instruments and emotive vocalizations. Relaxed speakers simply aren't going to provide such impactful occasions.

Several posts here are already are alluding too with their notes on Klipsch and Zu speakers which would also allow you to run those amps unbridged... easily.

High sensitive speakers allow for many choices in amplification ordinarily. I have the occasion to play either all SS, SS + Tubes, or all tube power trains using my speakers. Of them all, I prefer using all tube power and enjoy exactly blues and classic rock, among other genres.

I’d not say my deal is equivalent to ‘live’ as you say you want, but it’s involving, dynamic and can run you out of the room, but is also easy enough to listen to for lengthy sessions… like all night.

Seems to me you’re comparing all to the system on hand and desiring better yet feel only speakers are needed to do it.

Maybe so. I feel there’s more to it though than simply adding expensive speakers. Take a look at Silverline, or PSB., even Legacy or Eggleston… as well as those listed here.

good luck anyway
rhljazz
1,255 posts
 
Another consideration would be Emerald Physics using your amps biamped rather than bridged. They will put out some serious sound pressure.
dividebytube
50 posts
 
One of the few speakers I've ever heard that can do dynamics much like the real thing, were the UREI 813 studio monitors. They are big, really ugly and not exactly the most transparent speaker out there. However, they are fairly efficient, play LOUD, are relatively flat in frequency response and can swing dynamics like nothing I've ever heard before. With a good solid-state amp, they go low with the 15" Eminence woofers and the short foam horn tweeter is one of the better ones I've heard.

Again - not everyone's cup of tea - my pair are sitting under the stairs with the Altec 604 tweeter/midrange and Eminence bass drivers safely packed away. I prefer the transparency and vocal realism of my Magnepan 1.6/QRs.
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