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Looking for a Speaker Recommnedation

Looking to upgrade from my current Rogers LS3/5a + AB1 REL 328 setup .  While I love the smooth mids of these speakers (especially on voices/acoustic instruments), I tend to play harder music more frequently (alt/rock/punk/etc) which these do not excel at. I like to play music loud and have a real world living room my system is in (cathedral ceiling, open on one side, many windows. couch between my speakers) so setup is a challenge. I hate harsh sounding speakers.

My current playback system consists of a Oppo-BDP105 (or primarily Roon/JRiver via Ethernet) into a PS Audio DirectStream Jr DAC > Conrad Johnson Premier 14 Tube Pre > Conrad Johnson MF2500a Amp.  All run by a PS Audio P5 with a combination of Nordost/Shunyata cabling.

Looking to spend around $4,000-$7,000 but could be flexible. Used or new is fine.

Currently considering:

PSB Imagine T3
Vandersteen Trio CT
Spendor D7
Mangepan 3.7i (don't think this will work with high SPL)
Endeavor Audio E-3
Revel F208
Golden Ear Triton 1
Dynaudio Excite X44

Any other speakers I should be considering based on my equipment, volume preference and music? Anything I should eliminate?

Looking forward to hearing everyone's opinions & thank you in advance
fdemello
gdnrbob
4,452 posts
 
Though I am glad Vandersteen made a more stylish, well built cabinet, I am surprised by the move.
After all, he (Richard) originally chose to put all his effort into the works of the speaker rather than blinging out the cabinets- Hence, the 1,2 and 3's.
This resulted in outstanding performance at a low price point.
I guess market pressure forced him to make changes.
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,959 posts
 
The market moves - he sold a quarter of a million Model 2 - that does not exist anymore so yes WAF and aesthetics have enteeed the equation - but I would put model 3 a sig up against anything at $10 k
above that price point people want Vandersteen or automotive finishes.
the 7cabinet with the carbon fiber is not capable of veneer Hence the paint
Richard is still hyper frugal - pretty much everything earns its way sonically into the product

ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
Congrats. So happy for you.  Johnny will take care of you as you know.  Set up is key.  Yes Richard is as available as anyone I've ever met in this or any industry. I'll be in shock if you want to get rid of these in the next many years lol.  

Guys, I'm in Nepal for a family wedding for another week or two, but within a few weeks of getting back I'll have my Quatro's painted in Audi Havana Black which to me is gorgeous and had a high metallic look. Ayre is installing my crossovers in my AX-5/20.  Then I'll have Johnny come up to CT to set it all up for me.  This is so awesome hearing how happy fofolks are. Bob have you set up the Treos yet?  Those are going to really sound great.  Been missing them  lol.  Thank goodness I have a nice pair of Noble Savants for the trip. Will be selling these too soon as the upgrade bug has hit for my mobile listening too lol. 
blisshifi's avatar
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blisshifi
1,204 posts
 
@fdemello - I'm getting to this one a little late, but I do second the recommendation @bache gave. I never heard of Tekton Design until six months ago, and after a lot of research, I purchased the Tekton Lore and I seriously cannot be happier. Given the specs you provided, the Double Impact might work really well for you at $3k/pair:

http://tektondesign.com/ddimpact.html

Tekton is run by a guy named Eric Alexander, who has worked at a ton of speaker companies and then even Kimber cable. His speakers are also customizable, both from the finish to the components inside. I had my Lore upgraded to use ClarityCap MR capacitors, but Eric offered me options and pricing for using Mundorf caps, etc.

If they are so good, why haven't people heard of them? Well, I have to say Eric isn't exactly a star at marketing. He is a speaker designer and builder at heart. I think you should make a few searches and see what others have to say about Tekton. Best of luck!
fdemello OP
80 posts
 
Thanks. Decision made a while back. Quatro Wood's in my home as of yesterday. Just need my bi-wire cables to show up and we're off...
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