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Speaker Recommendations for Soundstage and Imaging

I'm putting together a new system where a large soundstage and holographic imaging are the top two priorities. I'm willing to give up something in other areas (detail, neutrality, dynamics, low bass, etc) to maximize those two properties. My budget for the speakers in this system is $2,000. My understanding is that, generally speaking, large floorstanders more readily offer large soundstages and small mini-monitors more readily offer that precise, holographic imaging. So I realize I'm after two competing but hopefully not mutually exclusive traits in that price range. Now if that wasn't demanding enough, I'd also prefer the compact floorstanding form factor. I'm willing to go standmount monitor but not willing to add a sub. Large floorstanders are out of the question. I'd love to hear the recommendations of the A'gon community. Thanks.
insomniac99
newton
111 posts
 
I like Johnnyb53's suggestion. The Thiel will soundstage like few speakers I know in this price range. You owe it to yourself to listen to them even if you don't buy a pair. (I'm an Epos guy myself). Good luck --- please update us.
richard_stacy
686 posts
 
and here is a third nod for the thiels johnnyb suggested...
mr_macgee
23 posts
 
Hey Insomniac99,

Just read your post for the first time and we are having very similar situations. Read my post "replacing Totem One's". Totem Ones have the most amazing soundstage and Imaging that very few others can beat and I have auditioned and owned many others. That is why I bought them.

I was going to recommend the new Totem One's until I heard placement.
Soundstage and Imaging don't really go hand n' hand with close placement to rear walls. However doing some homework and suggestions for my myself (same situation). The three speakers for you to look at are the Guru's, Merlins, B&W 805 and Reynaud Offrande.

I've also changed sound preference to a sweeter tube like sound which very hard to find & costly while at the same time be powerful enough to run the Totems.

Guru's are specifically made to be near a rear wall and have received much praise in the recent reviews, the others are front firing which will help and all have excellent reviews.

The type of speaker you like depends a lot on your choice of sound and gear combo. The proper amp will be an issue, these type of speakers generally like lot's of juice.

Take this with a grain of salt and go audition yourself
nrenter's avatar
nrenter
766 posts
 
I have similar tastes as you and also have an Ayre AX-7e. I'm an imaging freak. I'd recommend looking at speakers with first-order crossovers - Vandersteen, Thiel, and Green Mountain Audio. I really like my GMA Callistos, but I also like the Vandersteen 2 Ce Sig IIs. I have not heard the Thiels. Go with speakers with first order crossovers as this design preserves the time domain integrity of the audio signal, as does the Ayre with a zero-feedback design.
br3098
997 posts
 
I have a pair of Offrandes, and as I have said befoe they present a wide and very deep soundstage like no other speaker I have ever listened to. But they do need some distance from the rear and side walls to allow them to perform their magic.

My experience with Thiels in general (not the 1.6) is that they need to be waaay out from the wall in order to sound best. Maybe the 1.6 is different.

Rebbi has written extensively about his experiences with Ohm Walsh speakers. My brief experience with the Ohm speakers are that they are a very different sound - but in a good way.

You could also go a compeletely different direction and look at Snell-tyoe speakers like the Audio Note AN-E or the like. They are desiged to be placed right against the rear wall and fairly wide apart. Maybe not a bad choice if you are planning to use an 8W SET amp.

But most speakers, regardless of whether they are front ported or non-ported are going to need some room behind tham in order to sound best.
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