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Best used speakers under $10000

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Here is the type of sound I like:

1. A tad bit warm while still having a lot of punch (nothing muddled about it)
2. Vocals (Diana Krall, John Mayer etc) have a level of cleanliness to it
3. Guitar (Gipsy kings, Jesse cook) sound airy without being lean
4. Speakers can fill a medium to large room (16’x16’x9’) even at modest volume and sitting on my sofa (9 ft away from speakers), I feel engulfed by the sound. Key is even at moderate volume.
5. It may be related to my first point above; forgiving of average source (eg high quality Spotify streaming, which isn’t that high quality after all )

Based on reading a lot of threads on Audiogon I have selected the following
1. Dynaudio Contour 60 - I haven’t listened to Contour 60 but 8 years ago had one of the best listening sessions on C1
2. Focal Sopra 2
3. Vandersteen Quattro Wood CT - though their size won’t pass WAF
4. PMC Twenty5.26
5. ATC SCM40
6. Proac Response D48R
7. Wilson Audio Sabrina
8. KEF Reference 3

From a WAF I want to keep height < 45” and width < 12”.

While outside my budget, I am wondering if I also include Joseph Audio Pearl3 (though very rarely available) and Vandersteen Carbon 5A (size is too large). 


I am currently in an assignment in Sydney and back in NY in Nov. So will be able to audition many of these then. Meanwhile I wanted to get opinions here.
marrduk24
marrduk24 OP
36 posts
 
So I auditioned B&W 802D and Focal Sopra 2. 

The gear: it was different from the gear I auditioned previous 4 speakers (Contour 60, PMC 26, KEF Ref 5 and Paradigm 3f on). Previous gear was Rega CD player and McIntosh and Audio research integrated. Today I tried it with PS Audio Pre and PS Audio Monoblocks. 

 
There were parts I liked about each speaker but didn’t like any in whole

focal: felt tight and precise. However lacked the soundstage of B&W

B&W: awesome wide soundstage. However didn’t quite have the separation of Focal

i also found focal to be a bit boomy, but that could just be the room. 

so only thing that’s left now is Magico, Wilson Sabrina and maybe Vandersteen. For those 3 I would have to wait until I get back to NY. 

Of the ones I have listened to so far, fav 3 would be
1. PMC for mid
2. Dynaudio for bass
3. Focal for the closest overall package - but still 7/10

I am probably also going to try and listen to Spendor D9 and Proac. 
pbnaudio's avatar
pbnaudio
1,614 posts
 
http://www.libertyaudio.com/products/x-vox-loudspeaker-system

From its maker 

Good Listening 

Peter 
soix
9,776 posts
 
When back in NY you might consider a trip to Philly to David Lewis Audio.  They have Rockport, ProAc, Joseph Audio, Verity Audio, and several other excellent speaker brands.  I'd give the Perspectives another shot if possible. 
stevizzy's avatar
stevizzy
114 posts
 
My Sopra 2’s have kept me happy since I purchased them nearly 3 years ago. 
Unless I get a new(bigger) home/listening room someday, my Sopra2’s are staying around for a long, long time.
Awesome Speakers with great WAF.
inna
7,333 posts
 
Can one get used Kharma for $10k ? Worth a listen.
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