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Not Enough Options for Auditioning Speakers

am in the market for a great two channel music system. They will be set up in a dedicated listening room that is 12'x17'x9'. The room is carpeted but not treated.

My budget is around $15k-$20k for speakers, wires, amp+preamp (or integrated).

I prefer towers as I like the full range and have had bad luck with integrating a sub. I started my search with B&W 805's and Sonus Faber Olympica I's (which are still on my short list)

My problem is that most of the dealers in my area do not carry very many brands, so it is hard to compare. I cannot even find one that carries the KEF reference.

I am leaning right now to the Sonus Faber Olympica III's but also really like the B&W 803 D3. I wish I could hear them side by side. The dealer with the SF's is great and has let me do home testing with several speakers and he is recommending the Olympica's.

I read a lot online about auditioning several different speakers but cannot find any place in central Florida that has most of the lines they are suggesting. I know if I pick the SF Olympica's I will be very happy, but I have not even heard the III's! I am just a little frustrated that the consistent advice is to listen to a lot of others, but I can't.

Am I the only one with this problem?

Thanks!
-Mobius
mobiusmu
toetapaudio
474 posts
 
Hi mobiusmu

My recommendation would be to listen to Boenicke W11's. Very open and naturally balanced speakers. Extremely well made, exclusive mid range driver made from wood veneers, imho they look stunning machined from solid wood staves in either ash, oak, walnut or cherry. They come in various tuning option grades.
toetapaudio
474 posts
 
Boenicke
http://boenicke-audio.ch/

Are you in the UK?
oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,932 posts
 
Audio Video Therapy in Nashua are great guys to deal with....great headphone room, which is my next purchase .....good selection of gear to listen to also
djfst
169 posts
 
Mobius,

I’ve owned the Sonus Faber Olympica III. Based on your room dimensions of 12 x 17, I don’t think that will be enough room for the III’s. I was in a regular rectangular room that was 22 x16 and they worked well. They need about 2-3 from the back wall and around 2 feet from the side wall. If they are spaced too close together, you definitely lose a lot image focus and soundstage and a lot of what the Olympica IIIs can do. Maybe the the II’s or the I’s. Just one man’s opinion whose owned the Olympicas though. I don’t have any dealers either. Speakers are by far the hardest to demo and even if you can get a demo, you can’t tell how much of the sound is contributing to other components (which will more than likely be completely different than what you have) and an entire different room layout. All this can lead to the speakers sounding completely different in your home than what you heard at shows or at dealers. It is a very frustrating process. Best of luck and hope you find a pair that suits everything you are looking for.
soundsrealaudio's avatar
soundsrealaudio
756 posts
 
wolf

That is a great idea. I plan on purchasing a truck, sort of like a food truck, and park in different locations around Seattle. 
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