Your thoughts on my quest for new speakers


I know this has been asked many times on this forum, but I would really like some input on my quest for new speakers.  I am currently running a Hegel 160 with Linn Majik 140 floor standing speakers and a Rythmik sub to fill out the bottom end.  I use the Hegel's built-in Airplay to stream Tidal (Hi-Fi only) to the Hegel.  I tried the Bluesound Node recently and found it actually decreased the sound quality, so I removed it from the system.  It seems the consensus is that Tidal Hi-Fi Plus is not worth the extra $10/month.  I listen to all types of music - with a focus on well produced recordings.

My listening room is a 30' x 13' rectangle with 9' ceilings and pretty good acoustics (I think).  The speakers are on a 13' wall.

Overall I am happy with my system and get a lot of pleasure out of listening to it.  But like many of us, I get the itch every now and then and wonder if I could improve the sound in some way. I think the Hegel is a solid contributor to good sound, so I plan to keep that and replace the speakers (although the Hegel 390 certainly is tempting).

Regarding price, I am willing to pay for good sound, but I subscribe to the theory of diminishing marginal improvement, i.e. $20k speakers are not twice as good as $10k speakers.  My sense is they are maybe 10% better (if that).  But let's not make this discussion about that.  My sense is $10k should get me speakers that are a solid upgrade from the Linns, but that is just a guess.

I am fortunate to leave near John Rutan's shop (Audio Connection) in NJ and spent a few hours with him last week.  He (as many of you know) is high on Vandersteens.  We listened to the Quattros for a while and they are great, but probably more than I want to spend and they would require I replace the Hegel as well.  We also listened to the Magnepan 3.7s and I was very intrigued with them - they really envelope you in the sound.  I am going back to listen to the Vandersteen Treos next week.

I listened to the 8 series B&Ws yesterday and really liked the 805s and 804s (I like the 801-803 as well, but too expensive).   They are also aesthetically pleasing, but that is not as important as the sound (of course).  I also listened to the Majico A3s, but I didn't find the $ worth it for the sound.

I also will listen to QLN, Boenicke, Focal and Harbeth at Park Avenue Audio next week.  The Boenickes really intrigue me.  The Buchardt S400 MKIIs also interest me, but wonder whether they are enough for my large room (even with the sub)?  I like that I can listen to them in my home for a period to be sure I like them.  They would be a nice low cost option.

So I would love to hear your thoughts on a good choice for me.  As I said, I think $10k is enough, but if there are some $15k speakers that would be a quantum leap forward, I would consider them.  I am open to used as well.

Thanks for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

 

 

 

jcs01

 

@g_sysak 

@jcs01 

 

There is so much to go into achieving the best sound out of your system.  I have mentioned this before that we have a listening room in northern New Jersey.  We have different components and can offer you what each part of the system does to the sound.  Once you learn how sound quality can be achieved, I think you will understand more than replacing one part of your system.

We have custom designed preamps, Counterpoit modified, VTL, Tron, Hybrid, class A, VAC power amplifiers, 101D DHT DAcs with R2R, 6SN7 Sabre 32 bit DAC, Audio Note 5 kit DAC, Aurender, Blue Sound, etc. for you to hear and enjoy. 

We invite you to come for a listen as many times as you would like and even bring one of your components to hear the differences.  The room currently has Vivid, Sonus Farber, Horning and Vandersteen Sevens for you to hear the improvements if any that you hear.  Plus, we like to listen and learn also.

Please feel free to PM me.

 

Happy Listening.

 

 

 

Thank you everyone for your amazing array of ideas.  This thread has really opened me up to many new upgrade ideas and brands (that I had never heard of).  It fascinates me that there are so many different ideas and approaches - and what I love about this community. 

I am really intrigued by the Tekton speakers as I had never heard of them before.  As someone suggested, I called Eric (the owner) on Saturday and he picked up first ring - twice.  He was generous with his time as we walked through some of the speaker options he offers.  Although I don't like the aesthetics of the Tektons I get that is what you are not paying for and sound quality is no.1 for me (maybe not for my wife).  I think my next step is to try to listen to a pair. As I live in the NYC area, I am hoping someone will offer me that opportunity?  Perhaps I should start a separate post with that request.

Hello jcs01,

my experience in speakers has some overlap with yours.

I have a long history with B+W N802’s.  I owned two pairs run with Classe and Halo amps.  Then a new life new home provided me the opportunity to rebuild my system.  In fact, I ended up building two systems, so I kept switching speakers and electronics upstairs and downstairs and walking from one to another.

I immediately jumped on yet another pair of N802’s, and managed to re acquire my old Classe pre and amp.

then I stared looking at many of the speakers you have.  I formerly owned Vandy sig 3’s, so after reading all they hype about the Quattros, and the wife liking no subs needed?, we set off to audition them.  I / we were totally unimpressed.  So I continued to audition.  KEF reference 3’s, Focal, Sonus Fabre, 802 D3’s, and Proac ?D40 and K36.  I liked the Proacs  the best.  But my last stop that day was a a used pair of Revel Studio 2s.  Bought them immediately for under 7k. Took them home, moved the b+w,s downstairs and started loving the easy smoothness of the Revels.  Started upgrading my electronics now, to an Audionet pre amp and an Auralic Vega 2 DAC.  I loved the sound of the studio 2s and my friend came over, then sold his MBLs and bought a new pair of the Studio 2s.  Revel gets trashed now since being bought by corporate etc, but the studio and salon 2s are well loved classics for their smoothness and even response.  Since I have a big room, I found a guy who wanted to trade his salon 2 s for my studio 2s plus some cash.  So road trip we went and came back with the salon2’s.  I still use subs, but the salon 2s are amazing how they fill the room.  You can still find either used, but less now that revel has moved on to other speakers I think.

BTW, I went all out downstairs, and replaced the venerable N 802s with YG Hailey 2.2s.  But the Revels still rule their upstairs fiefdom!

Having just bought 2nd hand Klipsch Cornwall IV’s. It’s my “Forever Speakers”. There were many options based on the size of my room and my fortunate experience to get on loan several bookshelf Speakers plus my ugly yet amazing sounding Open Baffle Debacles with integrated stacked dual 12” Woofers H-Frame Subwoofers.

I’m done. I’m running them on an Orchard Audio Ultra Amplifier. My source is my modified Sony UBP-X1000’s Analog Output stage played though an Onkyo PR-SC5530 in Pure Direct mode.

My opinion is of course biased but I am totally in love with these Speakers as they keep showing me more and more of they can do after 2 weeks of ownerships (3 weekends 🙂).

Cheers,

Joe