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$5k Pair Full Range Speaker Shootout - Help me pick

Hi Guys,

Around the holidays I will be purchasing a pair of (roughly) $5k/pair full range stereo speakers for use in a 2-channel only system. My current JBL Synthesis HDI-1600’s will be accompanied by the matching HDI-4500 Center Speaker and likely an Arcam AVR30 and used exclusively for Home Theater use.


Here’s what I’m currently considering for the 2-Ch speakers. If you all could relay any experiences or impressions you’ve had with these specific speakers, or speakers in their range, it would surely help me make the right choice. I know a lot of people say "I listen to all genre’s", but I truly do have an enormous digital music collection that spans all genre’s. Everything from current EDM and Pop to High Res Classical, Audiophile tester type selections, every one of Rolling Stone Magazine’s top 500 albums of all time in FLAC (classic rock and funk heavy), etc. I like to put all of this content on shuffle and just listen to whatever happens.

2-ch system will continue to be powered as follows:

Digital - Foobar2000 --> SMSL SU-8 v2 --> Classe CAP-151

Analog - Technics SL1300mkII --> Ortofon 2M Red --> NAD PP-3 --> Classe CAP151


The speaker choices:

JBL L100 Classic

https://ibb.co/yhjJHn1

Revel Performa F208

https://ibb.co/TK4PNBD

B&W 702 S2

https://ibb.co/D4qPFcH
128x128dougeyjones
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,974 posts
 
On a similar quest, now. I’m looking into Dynaudio, Totem, and maybe Spendor, Revel. At 5k, I’d look at Legacy, Harbeth, Magnepan, too. Some of my own experiments (reported here on Audiogon, look me up and see the great advice I’ve gotten!) have shown how room specific the choices become. Don’t know what your room is like.

For me, a lot has come down to what I can audition. Crutchfield has been exceptional. While the number of brands they carry is limited, they’re good, and the tower speakers I just tried (60 day trial) cost only $20 (not a typo) to ship back. 
sjsfiveo's avatar
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sjsfiveo
61 posts
 
Used pair of Focal Kanta 2's, 3.7i magnepans, or a pair of Spatial Audio open baffle speakers.

Steve
audioabyss
22 posts
 
Have you checked out the Monk 801 model from Schmidtlambrix audio?
Crystal clear highs with outstanding imaging. With dual vertical enclosures these beauties go very low in the bass Very efficient set of speakers! They only sell online but will set up in house demos.
Schmidtlambrixaudio.com
tom8999
153 posts
 
With a $5,000 budget and a medium powered amp - here is my suggestion - go with a Maggie 1.7i or smaller ($2,200 or less for smaller models) and then go with a multiple sub system for the bottom end ( self powered subs should not run over $3000).

the imaging and sound stage and high end clarity will blow you away.

just my two cents. I have been a Maggie user for over 30 years and I am still amazed how revealing a speaker they are. Every time I have upgraded something in my system ( source, amp, preamp, Cables, I hear the difference.
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Humble yourself to buy some aftermarket cables, and actually learn something. 
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