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Looking for "realistic" speakers

I just had my pair of Cary Audio Silver Oak speakers get fried along with the rest of my Cary gear in some kind of power surge (sniff sniff). And absolutely loved the Silver Oaks because they just made everything sound authentic.

The instruments had the right timbre, scale, the balance was just right, and aside for perhaps a touch of richness had no character of their own. This made them sound great for any type of music.

I can't afford the $8K I spent in the day to replace so am looking for something closer to $2K-$3K max (used Ok). I'm looking less for something with super trick staging, imaging and some of the other high end niceties (though I wouldn't kick them out of bed).

More for a musical speaker that just makes the music musical and the presentation realistic sounding. That makes you forget you're listening to speakers/electronics and hearing the music the way it should sound.

Easy to say, I know.

My preamps and amps are solid state Cary stuff that will be replaced by insurance though sadly the Silver Oaks are no longer made.

Any ideas?
larrybou
larrybou OP
130 posts
 
I've heard good things about the Aeriels in that regard, maybe also Revels? I'm actually auditioning some Maggie MMG's that I'd consider adding some REL subs with.

But one other thing I liked about the Silver Oaks was how good they were off axis. The MMG's haven't had many hours on them but at this point they sound horrid off axis and 200% better on axis making them barely listenable. I'm sure that will change dramatically after 80 hours of burn-in, but still doubt they'll be what I'm looking for.

Also the system is in a small room at the moment, though we'll be moving next year sometime. But larger Maggies are out of the question because of WAF and room size uncertainty.
rodman99999
6,159 posts
 
No; they won't change their dispersion pattern, regardless of the hours played. Planars are narrow dispersion, by nature. IOW: you have to be sitting in a sweet spot, to get musical enjoyment/realism. The best at what you crave are Walsh or MBL(out of your price range) type, omni-directional speakers. Next to that; cones & domes.
pbnaudio's avatar
pbnaudio
1,613 posts
 
Any picture I googled on the Silver Oak used two Seas 7" Magnesium cone
drivers flanking a Millennium tweeter. Then you must have the older models that
used the ScanSpeak 8" Clear Polycone woofer the 21W8553. Happen to
have three of them :-) , Send me a message, I do have four like you need but one
needs a foam surround replaced, Im sure we can arrange that.

Good Listening

Peter
ebm
9,311 posts
 
Used Magico S1 or V2 etc jump on them now!!
soix
9,619 posts
 
I think Joseph Audio speakers do a lot of the things you're looking for very well. Very good off axis, exceptional imaging and soundstage, very detailed but in a very natural/musical way, and they disappear extremely well as a sound source. There is a pair of RM25s on sale here now at a little under $2k that might be worth a look. Best of luck.
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