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Good speakers under 10K.

Looking for my first pair of decent stereo speakers. Will be buying used, my budget is around 4-7k, so I'm interested in speakers below 10k. I may not be able to audition the speakers given my current location.

1) My sound preferences would be something that is rather true to the source, having adequate detail yet not being overly detailed. Hopefully striking a good balance between precise analytic sound and overly colored. However, I don't mind a speaker slightly to the warm end of neutral if it is not muddy or veiled. I want to avoid overly hyped or harsh speakers with fatiguing top ends, and I like my treble smooth and natural and not overly pronounced. The speakers have to be musical also.

My musical tastes are varied. Mainly electronic, rock, acoustic, classical, soundtrack and world.

Can someone help me decide?

Thanks
Aqua

aquablu8
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 

05-07-12: Aquablu8
How about Gallo 3.5, Aerial 7t, Sonus Faber Luito, Focal electra or Tidal speakers?
The reviews I've read of the Liutos indicate that they're sort of a "lite" version of the Cremona M's. There's one less woofer and the Liuto's use a dome tweeter where the Cremona M uses a ring radiator, which tends to have more speed and detail. The Liuto is considered an excellent speaker at the price, but I found the Cremona M to be ... breathtaking.

The best news is that the Cremona M setup I heard was being driven by a $999 Marantz PM8004 integrated amp. This amp uses the HDAM circuit making for an amp section with a s/n ratio of 125 dB. It was a fantastic combo. So what you spend on the speakers, you might be able to save on the amplification.
manitunc
795 posts
 
PSB Synchrony One. They are as good as the reviews claim.
rsimms
150 posts
 
The Philharmonic 3s are only $3.5k new and they probably would meet your requirements. One guy has highly reviewed and respected speaker that are $22k and $15k. He likes his Phil 3s better. The Phils have the most natural midrange that I have heard. The treble is not rolled off but it is smooth as silk so no fatigue. If you can stretch it to $8k, then the Salk SoundScape 8s will buy you a slightly crisper midrange, higher quality finish, killer bass, ability to play a bit louder, more efficiency, smaller footprint and totally dead cabinet. They are both hybrid open baffle speakers so you would need at least a couple of feet behind them to the wall.

Bob
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 

07-09-12: Rsimms
The Philharmonic 3s are only $3.5k new and they probably would meet your requirements.

Order by July 12 and they're still $3K. Not bad when you consider that a DIY-er would be paying almost $2K for the drivers alone.
musicfile
341 posts
 
I think you should look for a used pair of Ridge Street Sason's they would fit the mold nicely
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