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WAF Speaker suggestions

I am looking to replace my current speakers and need advice.  I currently have a pair of Vandersteen 2ce sig speakers that my wife says look like coffins in the living room. I love my wife more than the Vandys and so am looking for replacement speakers. I need a smaller footprint speaker to make her happy and I would like a speaker that has a sound that is less laid back than the Vandys.
New or used speakers are fine.  My budget is $2000-$2500. Listening room is the living room (15ftX20ft with 15ft cathedral ceiling.) I listen mostly to jazz, classical, and blues.  Equipment is a Classe CP-800 preamp, Classe CT-2300 amp, TEAC CD-P650 used as a transport, and a Macbook for streaming music.
 
My research has lead me to the smaller footprint Dynaudio and Focal speakers but I do not know how well these speakers pair with the Classe amp and preamp.

Any help/suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
128x1282tuby
kren0006
1,859 posts
 
Six months ago I demo’d couple dozen speakers over several months and my three favorites were Spendor (which I bought) and Vandersteen and Dynaudio (the runner ups). So if you like Vandy then I suggest also demoing Dyn (already on your list) and Spendor.

I liked the Spendors just a bit more than the Vandys for the very reason you desire - they were just a little more exciting sounding yet still rich and lush and delicious in the mids like the Vandys. I was comparing D7 to model 3,fwiw. Blues and jazz my go-to genres. 

The A2s new are in your price range, sound fantastic, and look pretty sexy too! I spent a long time listening to the A2s and was really impressed. A4 or A7 used would be even better!

Heard Focal in that price range too, nice, but quite different sounding. But Focal was probably in my top 25% as I think back. I’ll say that you can definitely get a ‘bigger’ sounding Focal for $2.5k than you can Spendor for that price. Might be a factor for bigger room.

Good luck!
dep14
336 posts
 
Ohm walsh, or have Jim Salk build you something killer and have your wife help pick the finish.
Post removed 
mrdecibel
3,064 posts
 
On 9/25/18, you posted a similar thread, asking for recommendations on replacing your Vandys, as they did not have the sound you wanted at low listening levels, and, the wife did not like the looks of the socks on the Vandys. Have you looked at your past responses on that thread, and yet, a third thread of the same, asking for recommendations on replacing your Vandys. Three different threads, asking for suggestions on replacing your Vandys. I say, talk to the wife, with audio becoming a very important hobby, and pass time, for you, in your retirement. Obviously, you love her, and she loves you, too, I assume. Show her pictures ( from here on the ’Gon ) of other speakers, and maybe she will allow you to keep them. A smaller speaker will not sound as full as the Vandys, listening at 55-60 db, which, imo, is ridiculously lower than normal. If you are really serious to change speakers for low level listening, get a pair of Klipsch Forte IIIs. Just some thoughts. Enjoy your retirement ! MrD.
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