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New Speakers $10K -$20K

Hi everyone. A few bullet points and thank you all for your advice! Sorry for the length just trying to help you to help me.

* A Florida family room untreated and large. 30’ x 30’ with 12’ cathedral ceiling.
* I sit basically on left half of the room, the right side of the room is billiards and wet bar.
* I just turned 65, so these are my forever speakers!
* I am 70% HT and watching TV, and 30% 2Ch, but with a little room improvement 2ch listening will go up. I want better sounding 2 ch but I’m in a very live room.
* The front wall “half width” of my room is a stacked-stone marble wall.
* to my rear is a 16’ opening to a large kitchen.
* to my immediate left is a window 40” and 12’ of sliders looking into pool.
* just sold Paradigm Persona 7F towers, (2) Persona subs and Persona center ch. Amazing speakers in a poor large room. But I do think the Be. mid-range became a bit fatiguing.
* I need a company that also makes a great center ch for HT., Legacy Audio does.

Based on WAF etc. some treatments will be done but not greatly. More pillows, a defuser or two, maybe a bit more.

My needs: warmth, no harshness at the top, not massive speakers, WAF!
I still love movies with the grandkids, big subwoofers won’t be approved. “Eye Candy” is what she likes beautiful cabinetry, Sonus Fabre, and custom finishes available from Bill D. at Legacy.

Current candidates are:
1. Sonus Fabre Amati Tradition in the red stained finish - “gorgeous”, her favorite!
2. Legacy Calibres in a custom veneer with 2+ subs that are not too big. I really love the Aeris with Wavelet processor but they are too tall for her! Remember this is a family room.m we use for everything.
3. Sonus Fabre Serafino Tradition in the same beautiful red stain wood veneer.
4. Spendor, not terribly familiar but they do make a center ch, and are respected and are considered warm. Really wish Harbeth made a center ch.

Now I am looking forward to your suggestions!
Related equipment:
Classe’ CAV 180 - 5 x 180W
Marantz 8805 Pre-pro
Oppo 203
Innuous streamer/DVD ripper
Kaleidescape movie server 
Sonance DSP 8-130 MK2 for surrounds
Paradigm in ceiling (3pr) for surrounds 

Thank you all!
Dave





dave1980
dave1980 OP
70 posts
 
I thank everyone again. The cabinetmakers son in me still loves those Sonus Fabre Tradition cabinets in the red stain finish.

Most of you know have forgotten more than I know on 2ch. I appreciate 2 ch, but my room is a task. So, the need for incredible sound is not there, great sound with the budget allowing some room acoustics yes, I want to rediscover 2 ch to an extinct! Fun nights with young grandkids watching Godzilla vs. King Kong is a plus.

So given for now a handicapped room, a need for good HT, improved 2Ch. We are narrowing the list. Thank you to all for speaker companies I have never heard of, if I had to sell these speakers it needs to be a popular brand that resells quickly and retains good value.

On a exciting note, Matthew Poe of YouTube and expertise in room acoustics will soon be in the room. Don Dunn that films on Audioholics with Gene is an old friend and came to see me last week.

More to come, thank you all!
Dave




surfcat's avatar
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surfcat
47 posts
 
Dude, these are your "forever" speakers. You've concluded that you, at 65, finally deserve some really good sound. Congrats. And, btw, you're correct, with the right system your music listening will go up. Don't let your wife accidentally derail this opportunity. She's very reasonably responding to photographs and what she imagines she'll like, but her criteria at this point are primarily visual. Everyone is surprised by great sound. Build the system that amazes sonically and visual acceptance will follow.

Also, notice I said "system". What is the rest of yours? $100,000 speakers with mediocre gear sounds just as bad as $400 speakers with mediocre gear, worse actually.  Not implying you gear is mediocre, just saying the consideration is far more extensive than just the speakers. Which means, and I'm sorry to say this, that you should be prepared to spend more on other parts.  Everything needs to "match", "be at roughly the same level."  What you're going for is your "forever system".  Sorry, it's a nasty mission.

I don't have them but given your room I wonder if KEF Blades or Blades  2 (used most likely) with their side firing woofers isn't something to consider.  I'm sure others with experience with them can weigh in.

I've been down this road, WAF, gear mismatch and all. She now loves the stereo, even though the speakers are out into the room, even though she has always looked somewhat askance at me replacing some component that seemed like it was in perfect working condition. When you finally get there, everyone will be happy.
jaytor's avatar
jaytor
766 posts
 
I second @rocray. The Salk speakers are available in beautiful custom wood finishes and have excellent sound. Something like the Exotica 3 would fit your budget and requirements. 
rhg88
45 posts
 
I have somewhat similar requirements as yours (80% AVR 20% 2-channel stereo) and close to your age (~66). I have the Marantz 8805 preamp, which I believe works very well for listening to movies and regular TV programs with surround sound and Atmos. I bought a pair of Magico A3s for the front left and right mains and a Salk Supercharged SongCenter for the center speaker (https://www.salksound.com/model.php?model=Supercharged%20SongCenter).

I found that the Magico A3s and the Salk Supercharged SongCenter are nicely matched. I have not found the A3s to be fatiguing at all even thought they have a Beryllium tweeter. In fact, excessive high-frequency brashness was one of the reasons why I de-selected several candidates (including Paradigms) when I was listening to and picking speakers.

I have found the Salk Supercharged SongCenter to be extremely clear as a center speaker and very musical. I recommend it highly. If you insist on matching the center with the front mains, you may want to consider some Salk left and right mains, as has already been suggested by other.
dave1980 OP
70 posts
 
rhg88, thank you! I wish I could hear Salk but as this know I cannot as they are sold direct, but I could return!

I find it very interesting you combined the two companies. I gave thought if doing that but many here call that speaker blasphemy!

my mains need to be close to a stone wall, covered here already, so I’m looking at front ported or sealed speakers. I have Matthew Poe (sometimes on Audioholics) here next Friday to measure my room. Thank you for everyones I put, more to come.

short list:
legacy with Wavelet processor 
Focal, particularly Kanta 3 with front port
Sonus Fabre, love the cabinetry and sound 
open to others that also sell a center ch.
open to new Pre-pro with great room correction like lyngdorf or new McIntosh using Lyngdorf room correction

Thank you all!
Dave 



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