Need Help Matching to This System To Speakers


New member here, and I would like some assistance on bookshelf speakers to match a "mostly" new system I have put together over the past year. I am looking to spend between $2,000 and $4,000 for a pair of bookshelfs.....This is only a 2 channell audio set up. It will be a new system, in a new first floor remodel. I will have the tube and solid state amps to drive the single set of speakers.

I am an engineer, and have over researched the subject and am now completely moved to "inaction" by an overwhelming list of speakers. The speakers MUST be bookshelfs, as that was my agreement with my wife when she agreed to all of the new equipment and cable purchases.....the Thiel CS3.6 speakers have already been sold. Something I never wanted to do. I will be adding a REL T/5X or T/7X sub as well.

My listening tastes are classic rock, 80/90s new age rock, southern rock, blues, old school rap, some country, some grunge, some newer rock, etc. I do not listen to classical, jazz, opera, orchestra, etc. Well recorded (if possible) is just as important to me. You are likely to find me listening to Pink Floyd, Supertramp, Radiohead, Gorillaz, REM, Black Keys, Talking Heads, Depeche Mode, Tom Petty, Gary Clark Jr. Chris Stapleton, Little Feat, Alice in Chains, NWA, Eminem. My listening style has changed over the last 15 years, I do not tend to listen at high volumes....enough to fill the space is sufficient for me. I'd like to listen more often, not louder.

My listening area is 12' x 20' with 8' ceilings in a relatively open floor plan, with a sitting position about 8.5' from the speakers, open concept room with hardwood floors. It will have couches/chairs/curtains/area rugs/ but doubt wife will go for acoustic treatments. I will be placing the speakers 12" to 18" at most from the front wall.

Suggestion on speakers is welcome, and hopefully I've done a good job with associated equipment; I found some great information on these threads. Also AXPONA is here is Chicago this year, so I may get to listen to some of these speakers. Thank you in advance for your constructive input.

Speakers on my too large list: Ascend Sierra 2EX, Buchardt S400 MkII, Philharmonic BMR, Triangle 40th Anniversary Comete, Dynaudio Evoke 20 and Special 40, ProAc Tablette 10 Signature, Xavian Perla, Amphion Argon 3S, Totem Sky or Signature 1, Arendal 1723, Tannoy Autograph Mini, Spendor Classic 4/5, Harbeth 7ES-3 XD, Paradigm Founders 40B, ????

NOT a fan of B&W, Klipsch, Focal, Def Tech, Polk, B&O, KEF, ELAC, JBL.

Components: NuPrime AMG-STA Amp, Denafrips Pontus II DAC, Onkyo C-7030 CD Player, Denafrips Hestia Pre-Amp, Tubes4HiFi VTA ST-120 Tube Amp (KT120 Tubes), Bluesound Node (3?) Streamer, Schiit Magni Headphone Amp, Sennheiser HD599 Headphones, Panamax M5400-PM Power Conditioner, Dedicated 20AMP 120V Circuit - Furutech FPX Gold Wall Sockets

Cables: Pangea Audio AC-9 SE MkII Cables (Power Amps) & AC14-SE MkII Cables (Signal Components), Morrow Audio MA-4 Analog Co-Ax Pairs, MA-4 Analog XLR Pairs, DIG 4 Digital Co-Ax Singles, ANTICABLES Level 3.1 Reference Speaker Wires, Wireworld Chroma 8 Ethernet & Starlight 8 USB, Supra Cat 8 Ethernet, Oyaide Neo USB D+, KableDirect TOSLINK Professional Optical Digital

vthokie83

If used Pulsars would work with your equipment I'd say buy a pair and never look back. Less expensive is the Goldern Ear BRX which is probably worth a listen.

If the goal is listening more, I'd recommend steering clear of hyper-detailed speakers or real 'up-front' ones as well. A detailed but slightly relaxed sound with good tonality will keep you in the chair for hours, past bedtime...

Good luck. I totally get your 'too much info-I'm paralyzed'. I do it all the time...

GoldenEar BRX is on every list by every trade Rag.

Great speakers for $1600.00 Even Danny a GR Research could find very little to not like.

I have a pair hooked up to Heed Elixir and could not be happier with this office system.

 

Folks at PTA have yet to point me down the wrong path.

I have more gear that is in their Buyers Guides and agree with most of their findings.

 

 

Guys, thank you for taking the time to write the posts; it is truly appreciated! A few responses:

(1) I will not be driving any speakers with both amps at the same time, but the Denafrips Pre-Amp does give me the option to run 2 amps to a single set of speakers with just moving the speaker out cables. I know there are a few "2-in-1 out" switch boxes, but guessing that would degrade SQ.

(2) I've added several speakers you guys recommended to try to find a demo listening situation, I do live in Chicagoland with several good hi-fi shops....I've got appointments at 2 higher end shops this week to see if I can get some clarity.....Music Direct is an option as well, but no listening room. I will attempt to hear some of the speakers recommended here......at shops or AXPONA in a few weeks. Doubt that the Klipsch speakers will pass the wife test, so far the only ones she remotely liked were the Zu Soul Supreme and and Soul VI.

(3) I know it is hard to understand my wife having "veto power" on speakers, but we are spending a lot of money on the remodel and I can understand her position. Trust me, the Thiels would never have been sold otherwise.....they were my forever speakers. It's just not an option for me, and a fight I will not win. Sun Tzu has a lot that can be applied here, but "who wishes to fight, must first consider the cost" seems appropriate.

(4) Yes I do not like bright speakers, and sibilance drives me crazy. That being said, the Denafrips Pontus II/Hestia combination is a touch warm, the tube amp is the same, and the Nuprime amp sounded neutral based on the short listening period I had with it. So detailed speakers that are not harsh should be fine.

So we need to stick to bookshelf shaped speakers in a 12 X 20 foot room, 12 to 18" from the wall with no acoustic treatment. The speaker has to appeal to your wife. If you wish to create a decent image you are going to need a speaker with very controlled directivity or room reflections will interfere. The only type of speaker that I know of that will do that in a bookshelf shaped enclosure is a horn speaker. In your price range the speaker that comes to mind is the Klipsch Heresy. I know you listed Klipsch in your negative list but I think you should give it a close second look. It is a very well made conservative loudspeaker women tend to like. It will image better in your situation and excels at the music you like. You can drive them with anything and get decent results. With the Heresy you will be listening more to the music and less to the room.  I also agree that you need two subwoofers and a real 2 way crossover not just the silly low pass filter  you get in most subwoofers.