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Pre-audition advice needed

I am building my first "high end" system. I am taking what might considered to be an unorthodox approach in that I've gone ahead and purchased both a MHDT Havana DAC and a Rogue Audio Cronus integrated amp sight unseen based on characteristics common to their reviews. I now need to complete the setup with a pair of speakers.
Room size: ~12'x14' with a large doorway to the right that cannot be closed.
Music tastes: Classical, blues, rock (nothing too heavy), jazz, world.
I live upstairs in an apartment so i would like to avoid a subwoofer. I am flexible on speaker placement and while I do have a wife, the W(acceptance)F=0 because my W(awesomeness)F=10. I would like to avoid speakers that have too narrow of a sweet spot since these would be pulling double duty watching TV and movies and I don't want my guests to be hearing crap off axis. Based on a week long research blitz here is a preliminary list of speakers that i have my eye on. I almost certainly want to buy used since bang/buck is very important to me. The budget is $500-$2500 (willing to pay for quality).
-GMA Rio
-Eminent Technology LFT-16 or LFT-8b
-Vandersteen 2CE
-Omega (something in the Alnico range)
-Devore Gibbon Super 8
-Merlin TSM-M
-Totem, something in the Arro-Hawk range (would also consider a monitor from them.
-Basically anything that is a good deal used.
What I am curious to hear from you all is whether any of the choices listed above would be a particularly good (or bad) choice given the front end I've assembled. I am also of course open to any other suggestions. One thing I am worried about is whether I might be better off with a smaller cheaper speaker that my amp will find easy to drive vs a more expensive, potentially nicer sounding speaker that my amp would find more difficult (not straining, just more difficult) to drive. I've heard two things about speaker demoing:
1. never buy without auditioning in store
2. you can't really know what it will sound like til you get it home in your own room.
Based on the many contradictory experiences you can read about for the same speaker, I'm inclined to believe more in number 2. Since I don't foresee myself being able to bring a plethora of speakers home for in home auditioning, I'm sort of leaning towards just buying something that is a good deal used, and if I end up not liking it, just returning it if possible or selling it and moving on. I know this is a long post and thanks for sticking with me. Any advice is much appreciated.
thp57
Post removed 
aaronmadler
94 posts
 
Thp57 - I live near Boston as well. I have four pairs of excellent speakers that I will be willing to let you hear. Feel free to contact me. They are:
1: Revel Ultima Salon2
2: Anthony Gallo Reference 3.1
3: Dahlquist DQ 10
4: Paradigm Mini Monitor

Regards, Aaron
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
Nothing, and I mean nothing, substitutes for an in home trial. Yes, choice at a dealer is the first step. Elizabeth covers that one in-depth. But, do not buy anything unless the dealer will let you 'audition' your dealer showroom choice in the actual room that the speakers will be used in. Thirty day, 100% refund is a must, and get it in writing. Just don't expect the dealer to do any serious discounting.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Thp= Maybe is goes w/o saying but I'll say it anyways. I think you need to decide if you are going to go the dealer route or the buy (used) and try route. Don't have the dealer set up a demo, make your selection and then buy on-line. T'ain't fair. I don't know anything about your front end but the Merlins are easy to drive, so should be easy on your amp. And there is a reason that the Model 2 Vandersteens in their various iterations are probably the longest running, biggest seller in hi-end. Not a lot of sizzle, but plenty of steak. A bit on the laid back side and cannot do realistic concernt spls, but always sound good. The used prices on the 2cesigs are, IMO, an absolute steal. I am puzzled about one thing, tho. What is your source? CD transport or computer files? Network player or direct from HD? If you go w the Vandys used you would have plenty of $ for cables, source upgrade, music, life!!!
rockadanny
1,226 posts
 
I can't really burn any of the gear in beforehand

Why not? I would strongly suggest you burn in your equipment at home for at least 25-50 hrs. before using it to decide on anything. I would never evaluate speakers with brand new electronics, especially tubes. IME tubes can vary wildly in sound within the first 25 hrs. and may not settle in until around 50 hrs.

If it is because you do not yet have any speakers I would go to Goodwill or Craigslist and buy an el-cheap-cheapo pair to load your equipment for burn in of your new gear.

I might be better off with a smaller cheaper speaker that my amp will find easy to drive vs a more expensive, potentially nicer sounding speaker that my amp would find more difficult (not straining, just more difficult) to drive

Do not equate size of speaker to dictate which speaker might be able to be driven easier or be more difficult. Not a good indicator.
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