“House” Character of Popular $20-$30k Speakers


I’ll be upgrading my speakers in a bit (after I add a turntable to my system). I’ve always thought that people two often end up attempting to correct or compensate for a quality they don’t like in one of their system components. My thought is that speakers and amps shouldn’t try to “correct” each other, but rather, they should complement each other, while sharing many similar qualities in their sonic signatures.

With that in mind, I’d describe my Gryphon Diablo 300 with the internal DAC (fed by an InnuOS Zenith MK3 streamer) as being rich, lively, engaging, slightly warm but moderately detailed, with dramatic dynamic swings that can often simulate a live sound. Smooth but energetic and engaging at the same time. My speakers I’ll be upgrading from are B&W 803 D2’s. Big full and bold sound but with finesse and moderate quickness too.

What brand of speakers would be along the lines of the sound I describe above? I’d be hoping to follow this sonic signature in my next speaker purchase, but adding some small capabilities with transparency and detail, imaging, and low end presence.

The speaker brands I have in mind to look into are:

-Magico (would check out the A5’s. I hear the A5’s could be too analytical for some, but have an excellent and clean bass presence.  Bust most rave about the A5)

-Sonus Faber (heard these are too relaxed for some?)

-Wilson Audio (if I can get over how they look)

-Monitor Audio

-Dynaudio: Maybe this brand could be a sweet spot?

-B&W: I’ve tested many and find them lacking in bass presence resulting in a mid forward style. That said the 802 D3’s I auditioned matched the sonic character of their upper ranges very well.

Would be interested in how others describe the house sounds if the brands above…

 

 

 

nyev

I drive my A5's with Mac tube pre and power and believe the warmth of the tubes provides a complementary soul to the Magicos.

Bottom rounded out with a B&W DB3 placed behind my rig, fring to the side walls. Think PhilZone.

With the power your Gryphon Diablo 300 provides, if I were you I'd be tempted (depending on your room) to try a pair of Martin Logan reQUEST.

Tremendous transparency, fast, great frequency response 30-24,000 Hz +/-3dB, and they just have that WOW factor.

Ads say 200 watts will drive them just fine, my experience is just the opposite. A speaker with a 90dB/sensitivity and a 4 ohms Impedance is a lot thirstier than the manufacture suggests.

Better too much clean power, than not enough marginal power. (you can always dial the volume back, rather than clip turning it up.

Beauty is they can be had for about $2500.00 bucks.

Thanks All. Not all of these brands (Vivid and others) are available in my area. I do have one dealer that has the A5’s, Dynaudios, Paradigms, AudioVectors, and Sonus Fabers, and Monitor Audios. I think they have most of the models in my range in their showroom. Not bad for one shop!

It’s going to be a few weeks before I start auditioning. I need to sell my fancy car first to fund my purchase (priorities)…. :)

Will provide an update but it might be a bit.

Intersting comment. I live within an hour of both Wilson and Tekton Design. I own both and Tektons are fabulous speakers. Some research may be of value, and no, I hate Vegas...