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Seeking advice on Speakers that create an intimate 2 channel listening experience

So the past month I started a couple of threads on speaker choice on AVS forum (One asked for Powered/Active floor standing Speaker choices and another one around non-active FS speakers for a tube amp I was looking at).

But I've come to realize this was the wrong tact, got lots of flack much deserved and wanted to try to solicit the advice/opinions on this forum which I just discovered.

Short background...Hunkered down in a suburb just outside NYC now for the past 3-4 months, I started to get the itch for a dedicated 2 channel stereo Turntable setup in our living room in May. After much research and twists and turns and immediate upgraditis, as some know on here from other posts, I've finally settled in and now own a Rega Planar 10 Turntable. I also own a Sutherland phono --20/20 with LPS and that's staying. Right now the phono preamp is hooked up direct to a pair of ELAC ARF51 floorstanding speakers (all drivers powered by built in AB amps) which I like a lot BUT ITS HERE THAT I WANT MORE. Btw, I love the ELAC design of mounting the tweeter concentric in the mid driver -- makes sense to me.  I kinda wish ELAC would take the same design and make a reference speaker but thats for another day.

So to swap out the ELACs, I will obviously need an amp, but I will figure that out later and want to focus on getting the right speakers for me for what I want. So what do I want?

1. Floorstanders. Close to full range as possible. No subs.
2. Looks count since in my main living room.
3. Speakers that prioritize Imaging Imaging Imaging. That disappear in the room creating an intimate but 3D listening experience. Clean (Accurate) warm sound. No distortion. I would easily sacrifice low end for untiring highs and warm mids I don't listen to metal or hiphop anymore so I don't need loudness, more like lounge experience if that makes sense. Apologize if I got the adjectives wrong but its personal description of what I'm seeking.
4. Price Point - -$10k-25k. Room is 22x18 with 25 foot ceiling

I would like to audition/demo before I buy and since I live in the Tri-State area it should be possible. But I'm finding that obviously difficult to do right now. I listened to a pair of Salk speakers but didn't love them. And have an appt with the Audio Doctor in NJ in two weeks.

Thanks in advance.
aj523
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Magnepan is not ESL. Magnetic planar is the tech, not Electrostatic. I have reviewed and owned both. Both are panels or dipole designs (Some others are hybrid).

The reference in historical section talks about ESL or ribbon speakers. Most of Magnepan’s lineup are their own Quasi-ribbon technology. Not ESL. The discussion of ESL is in regard to the dipole characteristics of panel speakers, and in several respects, though technically different, magnetic planners and ESL speakers are similar.

Panels do carry their own distinctive characteristics, and opinions are split on them, as might be expected, both in terms of sonic characteristics and suitability to build a preferable system. I find them to have appeal, but as aforesaid, with the caveat that they will do some things better/different and some things worse/different than other genres of speakers.
aj523 OP
374 posts
 
@douglas_schroeder

Thank you, thats helpful technical education. Putting ALL THAT ASIDE, what are your opinions and what have you found to be the differences in sound qualities all things being equal that each technology is trying to achieve and does achieve? There are always compromises in speaker design and you've done a number of reviews on both types. 
aj523 OP
374 posts
 
@avanti1960

Hi thx. So I originally started out with an amp in mind and posted such and got slammed and was told to pick the best speakers for your budget and room, and that the amp, less of a contribution to overall sound, would limit speaker choices. "Class A/B watts are cheap and tube amps limit choices 4 ohms no way, etc." Seems like I can’t win either way! Lol. So anyway I say to you let’s worry about the best matching amp later and willing to budget as needed. Ok?

Anyway, I do have constraints in my 22Lx18Wx25H room. The speakers have to be along the 22 ft wall and the couch is indeed against the opposite wall. My current speakers are 2 feet from the back wall and about 6 feet from the side walls and sound good to my ears (but have not done any room analysis). Room is carpeted and has that big couch and some side chairs, two coffee tables. I’d post a pic here if I knew how. Anyway there you have it.
gsm18439
895 posts
 
As Avanti suggested, a lot of the imaging/speaker disappearing act is related to set-up.... positioning of the speaker in the room, relationship to the listening position, etc. Most good speakers mentioned here will do that if properly set up. Conversely, the “best” speaker will fail in that regard if set-up is not optimized. Your other requirement of warmth and intimacy can be accomplished with the right amplifier. For example, a good 300b based SET or PSET, but that would require an efficient speaker. I will add two speaker recommendations: Audio Note and Living Voice paired with the right amplifier. 
winnardt
174 posts
 
Another vote for Magnepans. With that budget you can afford the 20.7s, but with limited space, you probably wouldn’t want the 30.7s because of the extra bass panel. Not many speakers can compete with the mids and highs of Magnepans and very few can compete on imaging. You will lean your head back in your listening seat and swear you were at the recording of the song.
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