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Need help in search of Living Voice sound

Hi all,

I've been looking for a new sound system for almost two years now. A couple of weeks ago I had the Living Voice IBX/R2 speakers in my home and quite loved them. They are dynamic, up front, forgiving yet detailed, on the warm side of neutral and give a great live feel. This is what I want from my sound system. But... I'm also no great fan of their looks, their build quality leaves somewhat to be desired and their overall looks are just not what you expect in this price range. So, does any one has some suggestions for an alternative, preferably something in the line of the Sonus Faber Cremona (looks and build quality). Budget is around 10K US Dollar.
I listen to all kinds of music and want to be able to hear bad recordings as well, so too analytical speakers are out of the question.

I've already tried:

- Thiel CS 2.4 (too harsh and analytical)
- Sonus Faber Cremona M (too laid back, too reserved)
- Audio Physic Scorpio and Virgo V (bass problems, no side firing woofers in my room)
- Focal Electra 1007 BE (too colored, not enough weight)
- Wilson Benesch Discovery (too analytical)
- Wilson Benesch Arc (too dry and boring)
- Master Contemporary C (also analytical)
- Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor M (not hefty enough and cannot play loud)
- Volent VL3 (too analytical)
hulskof
fin1bxn
140 posts
 
Try the Revel speakers after spending Years playing around the F52 fit the bill for me. Or you can try a pr of the Studio.

I went throught these to get to the Revel
Audio Physics (Virgo)
Magnepan (MG3.6)
Vandersteen 3a
Von Schwekert Vr4jr
Spendor SP1/2e
Mcintosh XRt something
Usher CP6381

Auditioned and didnt like
Merlin
Gallo
Dynaudio
Focal
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,152 posts
 
For <$2000-$6000 depending on room size you might try an in home audition of OHM Walsh speakers (www.ohmspeakers.com).

These would seem to fit your stated sonic preferences but will come in well under your target budget. Is that a problem?

The cabinetry is not Sonus Faber or Dynaudio grade but up to snuff (premium wood veneers are available) and some might even consider them attractive in a retro kind of way. They have a reasonably small footprint for the sound delivered and I have no WAF issues.
clarke10925's avatar
clarke10925
38 posts
 
new to this forum sent you a email...id agree with the Dynaudio advice loved the C1 might not have the weight that your looking for in bass but the C2 might..i have system audio explorers and love em they can rock list is $8,000 i see their big brother to them listed...the SaK7 master...serous speaker internally wire with expensive nordost cable..the guy is asking $5,000...id buy em if my room was large enough. good luck
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
Proac D38 or Harbeth 40.1
hulskof OP
70 posts
 
Thanks all for your input. Maybe I should have said I'm from Europe, because many of the suggestions just aren't available here, and the ones that are, usually are way more expensive over here than in the US. Avalon Indra for instance cost close to 30,000 euro's, which at the moment is about 40,000 US$, whereas Sonus Faber Cremona M cost 7,800 euro (10,400 US$), which I believe is cheaper than in the US.

Since the rest of my system is all gonna be replaced, I'll keep every option open (tubes, solid state, hybrid...)

Anyway, I like the Silverline Bolero, very Avalon-like, but I'm afraid no dealer here will have ever heard of them.
Dynaudio C2 and/or System Audio SA7K might be a better option, though these are both pretty tall...
No horns, electrostats, Vandersteen, Harbeth, Deadalus, Proac, Audiokinesis or Parsifal (mostly due to looks).
These Gemme speakers really look awesome, but again, I wouldn't know where to start looking for them over here :-(
Audio Note could be an option, I'll look into that.
Art Deco and Ohm are also very nice, I hope I can find some to audition...

Thanks again, I'll be busy for a while :-)
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