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My journey to search for standmount bookshelf speakers...

Over the years, I’ve auditioned several speakers:

System Audio SA706 - Sound really good with classical music with state of the art recording, otherwise I would not consider it as forgiving kind of sound on some less than perfect recording, the high can become pretty hot sizzling, no sibilance though, just a bit bright if listen for a long time, but I have no complain on bass except drum kicks music

Chario Syntar 516R - Sound crisp and clear, thus not so forgiving on some recordings sensitive to treble, though no sibilance found, bass not as clean as others I’ve listened

PSB Alpha B1 - Small little speakers that sound great, a bit glaring on the tweeters over long listening sessions, bass limited due to small woofer size

Q Acoustics 2020i - The best smooth treble I’ve ever heard, I found nothing to complain on the mid & high, rich but not overly lust, bass though again due to limited woofer size not dynamic and fast enough

Elac B6 - Oh, sound pretty balanced, neat and vivid, overall presentation is clean and clear, bass is varied based on recording, I would say it sound a bit light on some, some just right, treble compare to Q Acoustics a little bit less smooth, most probably a better amp will do better, but I’m not sure how much you have to spend again

Dynaudio Focus 110 - I actually feel in awe when listening to this speakers with first track Igor Stravinsky - The Firebird - Finale (from album Tutti!), a small speakers that sound so big dynamic powerful, surprisingly the Focus series is pretty forgiving on some old recordings, very listenable, the only weakness I would say is the woofer a bit stiff for drum music, and frequency cutoff by the crossover design, instead of rolled off I’ve experienced from other speakers I’ve auditioned, I’ve to say the high really special on this

Currently, I own Wharfedale Denton classic speakers, very forgiving speakers, a bit of mid bass bump kind of speakers, high is not as clean as Dynaudio Focus 110 but still sound smooth without hot sizzling effect, the bass is considered not powerful and dynamic enough

Guys, what else I can look for at this price range?

128x128wim1983
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knownothing
1,543 posts
 
Some comments.

Are you sure the issue is with the speakers?  DAC and amp may be Limiting your sound more than your speakers.  Have you demo'd the Wharfedales with different electronics?

That said some argue you pick your speaker "sound" and then shop for electronics over time that are the best match.

Some speakers to try for smooth treble and more bass from stand mounted:

PSB Imagine B
Monitor Audio Silver 2
Focal Chorus 807/Aria 906 (brighter voice)

I like either Harbeth or Spender suggestions descended from the BBC school.  I also like the Dynaudio/ATC/PMC pro audio styles, but driver accuracy would demand more of electronics all around in terms of accurate DAC implementation, circuits and robust power supplies.

good luck with your search,

kn

psickerson
97 posts
 
Stop messing around and get Aerial Acoustic 5T. 

Youll never question your decision. 

Your decision of course.  
Merry Christmas
soix
8,948 posts
 
I still say get the Pulsars and spend a few dollars on some high-grit sandpaper.  That oughtta fix the glossy problem.   

billybob7088's avatar
billybob7088
24 posts
 
I I have had many standmounts from Bostons, Phase Techs, Klipsch, Kef, Warefdale but nothing beats my EPOS Epic 2s. Best bang for the buck speakers ever. $300 right here on Audoigon

wim1983's avatar
wim1983 OP
221 posts
 
@knownothing  Actually both Wharfedale Denton & Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 works well with Fostex HP-A3 DAC/preamp + Marantz PM6005, I'm not replacing both, I'm looking for another system for medium room setup. I agree DAC maybe one of the reason you get different sound, but as far as I can tell the DAC within Fostex is good enough to let you hear everything from 50 oldies up until today, no jokes. For amp, I have 3, include the Marantz, the other 2 are Class D Audio SDS-400C and Yamaha A-S801, the Yamaha seem a bit picky on matching, not that it sound horrible, it just sound not great enough if pair with the wrong speakers. As I mentioned from first post, I can hear a hot sizzling effect from System Audio 705 from the tweeters when high frequency reach certain condition, so my gears are fine so to conclude, try this track from Libera - Ave Maria, there are few versions, try the one with high frequency beaming, most British smooth rolled off speakers seem fine for this track, the best I've heard would be Dynaudio Focus, which special in high freq. presentation
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