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New Speakers up to $15k - The more I read the less I know!

I am looking to upgrade my speakers and I am in search of guidance. I presently have B&W 803S and I find that these are excellent speakers and have really responded as I have steadily upgraded my system. I am now looking to buy speakers that will disappear, image and sound as neutral as possible. The 803's are close. 

My system is: ARC REF110 w KT120s, ARC LS27, ARC PH8, VPI Aries 3 fully upgraded, Lyra Delos, Rega Saturn CD, Oppo Sonica DAC, AQ Water & Niagara IC's, REL R528se Sub and more...

Actually, the ARC REF110 and B&W's are a much better match that I would have ever thought and the amp has plenty of power to drive at very high levels. I mainly listen to analog. 

I am looking at Vandy Treo CT, Quatro Wood CT, B&W 802D (used) but I need more ideas... I would prefer to buy new but I will look at used if the right deal presents itself. I am leaning towards the Quatro Wood CT so if anyone has experience with these and a REF 110...?

Thank you.
pilrem
soix
9,453 posts
 
Congrats!!!  Awesome speakers. 

stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,455 posts
 
I bet you can get a Vandersteen 5 for your price.
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,895 posts
 
Awesome front end
the Ref110 is absolutely perfect for this speaker !!!!
i ran my Vandersteen 5a with a loaner Ref75se and it was hyper sweet midrange w proven Vandersteen powered bass
the rest of your system is all gear Vandersteen shows with.
Richard just listened to my Delos on a Basis into TREO CT and it passed w flying colors !!!!!
yowsa !!!!
enjoy
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
I'm so glad that you are enjoying that TT as much as I did.  I loved that thing.  For the price, I wasn't able to find anything, even used, that was close.
pilrem OP
40 posts
 
I decided on the Quatro Wood CT after many a listening session. I really like 5A and 5A Carbon but I think for my 16’x16’ room, the ability to place the CT’s closer to the back wall was appealing. Finish is Mahogany Walnut.

I listened to Wilsons, B&W, Focal, Thiel, KEF and many others. The Vandys are near perfection to me. There are things I like about all the speakers I listened to but to me the Vandys have no strengths. They just disappear.

I was going to buy a set from Ultra Fidelis in Milwaukee. John and Bob there are simply great and I have spent lots of money in that place. That was the plan and then I saw a used set on Audiogon for a great price including XLR xovers.

I want to learn as much as possible so setting these up by myself will be a thrill to me. If I am not happy I’ll ask John at Ultra Fidelis to do a "master setup"

I have the RS meter and laser for measuring. I am building a spreadsheet and am laying out my room on cad... Overkill perhaps, however I don get the speakers until late next week so I have something to obsess about!


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