Well Rounded Speakers $2500-$3000?


I live in Memphis TN and really don't have a lot of availability in terms of "high-end" stores to audition speakers.

I've been looking for a pair of speakers in the used $2500-$3000 range such as the Eggleston Fontaine II's, Von Schweikert VR4Jr's, Vienna Acoustic's Beethovens, etc...

I listen primarily to classical and jazz but they also have to be able to pound out some Pink Floyd and Zeppelin. My front end is currently an Audible Illusions M3 pre, Odyssey Khartago mono blocks, pro-ject turn-table, and lexicon sacd player.

Which of the speakers I listed would you choose? Other speaker suggestions or places to audition these speakers in my area are welcome! Thanks for the help guys!
mattybvt42
I'd say these, but you might want to get a second pair of Khartagos. These were $7500/pair speakers. Also available at that price in black.

Otherwise, I'd go for something like the PSB Imagine T at $2k/pair retail or see if you can find a deal on PSB Synchrony 1 towers.

All these speakers scale up and down really well for classical and jazz, and have a deep, tight bass and transparent, fast midrange for rock and pop.
Hey Johnnyb53,

It's BobbyB46,

I'm really really thinking about ordering
these tomorrow. (OMD28's)
Those or the NHT XD system. Help Meeeeeee!!!

:o)

Bob
I was tempted by the NHT XD system a year ago when NHT was folding, too. Since I was looking for speakers for an analog front end, I wasn't too keen on the idea of digitzing everything to go into the speaker system.

But if you are all digital, it should be great. I think it was full-range Stereophile Class A when they reviewed it.
OK, I am going to talk my book here, as everyone does, but Magnepan 3.6R's are a sublime speaker, one of the best reviewed of all time, and for good reason.

You can get a set in your price range, the only caveat is the age old truism with Magnepan's about amplification. You need a lot of it, and it should be good.

I have tried many other speakers and always come back to these.

My next favorites in your range would be the Vandersteen 3A sigs, or a wonderful pair of Klipschorns.

good luck.
The NHT Xd processor only takes analog inputs, so it doesn't matter if you're system is all digital or not (unless you upgrade to one of the DEQX processors with digital inputs. You'd also need to add 4 channels of amplification for that upgrade).

Not having heard the Xds with anything but the stock electronics, I can't say if the additional A/D->D/A causes a problem, but I don't think it's ever gotten in the way of my enjoyment of these speakers.