2. speakers
  3. 162677-155068

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
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,313 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
983 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
585 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.
ssmaudio OP
71 posts
 
@jon_5912 and @skywachr, I get what you’re saying about spending too much. I’m thinking of spending maybe 3k on speakers (am partial to the Tannoys Or used Graham Audio for now—am going to listen to them today), 4k on pre-amp plus amp.
Regarding vinyl: two reasons I’ve been hesitant to go down the path. 1) I’ve been aware of the deficiencies in my current system and didn’t want to have another set of things to spend money on and 2) to be honest, I’m not sure I can hear the difference between digital and vinyl.
I don’t want to start this wonderful thread on the rabbit hole of the age-old digital vs vinyl debate, so let’s leave it there. I’m willing to give vinyl a try and change my opinion after I’ve addressed the current deficiencies In point #1 above. (BTW if you have reasonably priced turntable recommendations you can send me an email at ssmbogus at gmail plus the com part. )

ihcho's avatar
ihcho
609 posts
 
I’m not sure I can hear the difference between digital and vinyl.
Analog folks would chuckle. LOL
To feel the depth and width of orchestral music and to get accurate timbres of all orchestral instruments with digital media, you would need to spend well over $10K for speaker, amp, and CD/SACD player.
However, $10K vinyl system would easily prove you that vinyls sound better than CDs. Jungson int amp ($1200) + Speaker (Harbeth C7 ES3, $4000) + Turntable ($2000, cartridge included) + phono preamp ($1000) + cable ($500) + cleaning system ($300)  + SACD player ($1000)  would be a nice setup for classical and jazz music. If you need more bass, you can add a $1000 subwoofer later.
More to discover