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Speaker upgrade for classical music

Hi, I need recommendations for a speaker upgrade. I’m a classical violinist and listen almost exclusively to classical, opera and jazz. No movies, Atmos, etc.  I have a 17x14 listening room (doubles as practice room) with acoustical treatments (phase coherent diffusers at main reflection points and regular ones elsewhere).
Half my listening is in stereo and half in multi-channel (4.0 and 5.1).   All my recordings are either CDs or high-res—DSD and FLAC—audio files. I don’t have a turntable. 

My current system: Marantz SR 8012 amp, Yamaha S1000 CD transport, Exasound e38 DAC and Sigma streamer (connected to the Marantz with analog 5.0 inputs). Speakers: Polk Rti A7 stereo, CSi A6 center, Rti A3 surround, and dual REL T/7i subs. 
What I want: speakers with improved musical detail and clarity that really reproduces the expansiveness of the symphony hall or church. I like a warmer sound than a drier one.  What’s most important to me is to hear what the recording engineer heard. Budget: say 8k or less.

Recommendations?  One other thing: Can I try them out?  And how?  I’m in Santa Fe, not a huge metropolis with lots of audiophile shops. 
Thanks very much. 
ssmaudio
nyaudio98
420 posts
 
Scansonic new editions or marten speakers 
tweak1
3,679 posts
 
As a listener who enjoys large scale music, including classical, my recommendation is to find a pair of Emerald Physics 3.4s or 2.8s. The 2.8s are 3.4 PLUS dual 15" carbon fiber woofers per side. Both are 93dB+ and easy loads to drive. Currently running my 3.4s + 2 SVS subs

Since these are now discontinued they are available used under $2K

FWIW I had Magnepan 3.5Rs prior and never could get a proper seamless blend with my subs, even tried biamp and active XO, and anybody's guess how well your amp would drive them

hth


twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
@ssmaudio  To actually answer your question, the bass issue would depend on your room and where you decide to position (or have to position) the speakers.  Also, remember that larger speakers that need some kind of stand to lift them a little off the floor can have a lot more internal volume than many small floorstanders.  I suppose technically the LS 5/8 is a monitor, but it doesn't conform to our usual modern understanding of that term.  The REL's you have are good subs, so to my mind this is a non-issue.  Get the best sounding speaker you can, then worry about lower-end bass later.

BTW, that recommendation for QLN a few posts ago is an interesting one.  They were very high on my "try to hear" list, and I have every reason to believe they would be very good.
https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2020/05/15/qln-prestige-three-loudspeaker-review/
johnto
1,031 posts
 
Another Magnepan recommendation here. My friend who played in an orchestra and has an amazing system of his own always loved hearing my 1.7i now upgraded to 3.7i and would say it was the most realistic sound he ever heard. I'm using these in a 12 x 15 room.
Hopefully the pandemic will be over soon so you can hear for yourself.
jon_5912
605 posts
 
I'd guess that almost any speaker you carefully is going to be a huge improvement over the Polks.  They're probably good for the money but compromises in floorstanders at that price point are huge.

I'd have a hard time saying no to these for 8k.  They've got powered bass so should be fine powered by a big receiver.
Vandersteen Model 5A Floorstanding Speakers; Gloss Black Wrapped Pair - The Music Room (tmraudio.com)

These would be awesome, I'd be a little concerned trying to power them and a bunch of other speakers from a single receiver.  You'd probably want to keep the volume moderate and eventually get a separate power amp to power them.  You could get something like a Parasound A21 for $12-1500
Thiel CS3.7 3.7 Speakers RARE and COMPLETE | eBay

If you want to go new I'd be hesitant to spend 8k.  It's such a huge jump from what you've got and you lose a ton of money if you decide you made a mistake.  The Vandersteen 2Ces are a good place to start for around 3k.  That basic model has been around for decades.
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