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Upgrading from Thiel 2.7 to Sonus Faber or Focal???

Lately been contemplating moving on from my 2.7 to possibly Sonus Faber Olympica III, Focal Kanta 2/3, Sopra 2 or possibly a Magico A3.  I don't want a lateral move however, a warmer sound overall.  Preferably nothing too hard to drive matches well with Audio Research amp and would like more bass response I am getting from the 2.7. The choices I mention are not etched in stone so recommendations welcomed.  Buying used more than likely  :)

Amp is a Audio Research Ref 110 and a PrimaLuna EVO preamp. Source is a LUMIN T2 with S-Booster.  

Thank you in advance and please lets stick to the subject  :)
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samzx12 OP
1,220 posts
 
Headphonedreams the step up from the Nova 3 is out of my price range lol. 

James I agree it's what you enjoy at the moment but I definitely do not dislike the Thiels. They definitely excel at imaging and detail. Hopefully the cables will "fine tune" the sound. The interconnects I'm going to sound really rich and full.  There was a thread in the cable forum about them.  DIY Helix. 
cal3713's avatar
cal3713
1,421 posts
 
Sounds like you'll just have to get the SFs and keep the Thiels.  
rushfan71
295 posts
 
Let me suggest changing the 4 center 12AU7's in your Primaluna preamp.
I would suggest NOS Mullard 12AU7 long plates. They will definitely have an effect on the warmth of your system compared to the stock Primaluna tubes.

Its an inexpensive move before changing speakers that you might like already
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samzx12 OP
1,220 posts
 
Good suggestion rushfan. Are the Mullards overall quite a bit warmer than the stock tubes? Price per pair? I do remember going down the tube swapping fiasco with the PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium integrated I had a few years ago.  Drove me crazy lol. 
prof
3,474 posts
 
Sounds like you'll just have to get the SFs and keep the Thiels.

That's the route I took.
When I auditioned a ton of speakers as possible replacements I'd come back and listen again on the same tracks on my Thiel 2.7s.   This just showed how great the Thiels were.  They are just so even handed and competent from top to bottom, they make most other speakers sound more obviously colored. 

So I saved up longer so I could get the Joseph Audio Perspectives while keeping the Thiels.  I like to be able to use either pair for a while.   The Thiels for me are a sort of touchstone of confidence.  Keeping them means I can experiment with owning other speakers that may be more exciting in one way or another, but I always have a safety-net speakers were everything just sounds effortless and balanced.

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