Looking for speaker recommendations that I can purchase on Amazon.com


Budget: under US$5000 and would prefer a price point of less than $3000/pair. The most expensive speakers I have owned so far are Polk RTi A7's, so this will be a big jump for me.

Purpose: music

Room: I tend to move every few years, so I don't want speakers that will work best only with very specific room conditions. Currently, I will be using these in a medium size room of about 22 feet x 18 feet. The room has carpet and window treatments.

Music sources: CD's, lossless music files stored on computer and MP3's when that's all I have available. I don't ahve any SACD's yet, but I plan on purchasing more high quality music once I have this system set up.

Music styles: acoustic, Indian classical (sitar, srangi, flute), alternative rock (Portugal. The Man, Sleeping with Sirens, etc.), older rock (e.g., Rush).

The speakers should sound good playing the Tanpura (aka Tambura). It is a classical Indian accompaniment instrument in the "drone" category. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanpura) Example of sound here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7tlqXix_eo
With bad equipment that sound is fatiguing to me. Live it is beautiful and relaxing. Hopefully I can find speakers that will do it justice.

Personal Preferences: I am looking for non-fatiguing, warm, musical qualities. In another discussion topic here on this forum, @mtrot and I agreed about "smooth, sweet, soft, silky treble" and "shimmery, airy cymbals" as goals.

Amplifier: Yamaha P5000S

DAC: to be determined, but probably something like the Teac NT-503

Finally, the speakers of choice must be sold on Amazon.com, Bestbuy.com (or possibly some other similar retail website). I have personal reasons for this limitation. It isn't always true that I will need to buy all my speakers or audio gear from one of these sites, but for the moment, it is a requirement. Please don't recommend anything that isn't available on one of these sites. Thanks.

lowoverdrive
Can you order from the magnolia store which is part of best buy?   If so get an ma5300 integrated for about 4500.  and a pair of harbeth 7es3 from elsewhere.  Trust me it will a sweet system!
@helomech RE: "Keep a journal with listening and placement notes for each pair you audition."

Good suggestion. Thanks.


With so many recommendations for the KEF LS50, it seems like I need to give these a try. I had my mind set on floorstanding speakers initially, but after reading all the recommendations for the LS50 here, I think I will give them a try first.

Even if I still end up buying floorstanding speakers for my music room, I can then put the LS50 in my smaller home theater room to replace my Polk RTi A3’s.

I will call a nearby BestBuy store before buying the LS50 on Amazon. I do NOT plan to get the wireless / powered version. I like the Yamaha P5000S amp quite a bit, so I’ll be keeping that.

Thanks for all the feedback so far. Very educational and interesting.

I will continue looking at floorstanding stpeakers.

Also, I’m ready to buy a DAC now. I have a thread on that topic here, if anyone wishes to give me a recommendation (https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/dac-for-either-roon-or-hqplayer-on-linux)

The DAC’s that I am most interested in so far include:
  • Oppo Sonica
  • Teac NT-503
  • I also like the Pioneer U-05 but since it is a Japanese domestic model and (as far as I can see) only ships to the US from Japan (which would make returns problematic) I probably won’t buy this one.
Check Elac. Andrew Jones designs them and at their price point they are really amazing speakers/subs.  

jhv