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Top monitors 3K - 6K range

Hello all,

I am looking into some flagship monitors and I'd like some help/recommendations. I don't have a single sound I like and my tastes in music are pretty diverse too. Currently I have a few nice speakers including Harbeth SHL-5, B&W 805N, Magnepan 1.6 and PSB Imagine B. These speakers are all pretty different and I do like them all. I have owned Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor M which somehow did not do it for me, amazing imaging but a little thick. Also I have had the Merlin TSM MMI which was great but my amplification is SS which seems to cause some restrictions.

My room is 12x16, speakers on the short wall. I do tend to like a slightly warm sounds but I also love dynamics, pinpoint imaging and sexy looking cabinets.

I am currently looking into:

B&W 805D
Totem Mani 2 Signature
Dynaudio C1
Focal Micro Be
Usher BE-718
Volent VL-2
Evolution MMMicroOne

Any recommendations? Am I missing anything?
128x128michaelkingdom
xti16
1,525 posts
 
You mentioned Dynaudio C1's. If you listen loud most of the time they are great. The originals sound much better as you crank them up. On the other hand if you listen at lower to moderate levels the new MKII/Signatures really shine. They sound really good at all levels.

That being said I almost bought the SF Cremora auditor M's. Then I heard the Dyn C1's. I bought the C1's and have since upgraded to the C1 Signature. BTW the MKII and Signature sound the same where the Signatures comes with either the Mocha or Bordeaux high gloss finish and 10 yr warranty.
chayro
3,012 posts
 
You have some very good speakers there - what is the rest of your system? Perhaps you're looking in the wrong place for improvement.
jmbatkh
103 posts
 
Selah Audio Tempestas. Easily better than those models on your list that I've heard (and owned), C1, VL-2, 805, Usher, and Totem. A friend owns Vapor Cirrus and he prefers my Tempestas to those too. I've not heard the MMMicro.
A great speaker by any standard.
jdoris
972 posts
 
Oh the one mentioned I've heard, I think the Evolution MMM, Selah Veritas, and Vapor Cirrus are all excellent. I'd ad Fritz's Carbon 7 to this list, at under 2k. I'd expect of these would play pretty well with SS amplification, and I'm betting with any of them, a bit of grunt would be helpful in your middle-sized room.

Cirrus may be the most impressive on this list, to many ears. It is also the priciest, but it competes with speakers that are a lot pricier.

I prefer all of the above to the Dyn C1, and also to the Totem monitor I've heard (can't remember name, but top of their range).

There are lots of good choices here, and no substitute for hearing them *in your room, with your kit*. I believe Selah and Fritz in particular will be very helpful on this.

John
michaelkingdom's avatar
michaelkingdom OP
153 posts
 
The rest of my system is pretty diverse. For amplification I have:

Bryston B60R
Exposure 2010S2
Outlaw RR2150
Behringer EP4000

I listen to digital audio, vinyl and radio. Jazz, female vocals, electronic, Caribbean.
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