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Warm and accurate bookshelves that can handle volume

Hi and thanks for your help. I have been collecting and trying vintage speakers and ended up with B &.W 803 matrix series II, and also Celestion ls700 Se. The latter  are bookshelves and I use them with an NHT SW2 subwoofer. I like them both but prefer the 700s because they more accurately bring out the timbre of orchestral instruments and can be less fatiguing. Troubke is I have a pretty big room and I can’t play full orchestra at realistic volumes on the Celestions without distorting the sound. Are there bookshelves that will be warm, musical and accurate like the Celestions, but can handle volume?  Rest of the system is Qutest DAC, RA LS25 II pre, Adcom GSA555 II speakers. Thanks for feedback on which speakers to try. My reading etc suggests Harbeth Spendor Sonus Faber. Locally have tried kef and paradigm, but can’t get to much else. Will travel to try your recommendations. Seems that satellite and sub will be more flexible and cost effective than tower. 

arhgef
epz
33 posts
 

Seconding the recommendation for Aerial 5T. I love mine, and they sound so sweet and lifelike. They are not finicky about source material or placement. They just play everything well.

jaudio1
121 posts
 

Fritz Carrera BE.  An incredible speaker and really nice guy that builds them.

wspohn's avatar
wspohn
603 posts
 

These would do it for you:  Totems

 

 

alvinnir2's avatar
alvinnir2
112 posts
 

Well so many suggestions. I would likely steer you towards something of greater size. Either a floor standing speaker or large bookshelf like the KLH 5. Your listening space is pretty large so I think something quite small will struggle to fill your space at higher volumes. A subwoofer, will extend the frequency range downwards but won't necessarily allow for that much greater volumes before you hit the limit.

What ever you decide, I strongly recommend you try to listen to speakers before you buy, I have had experience where I bought some very highly regarded/reviewed speakers without having heard then (Harbeth Compact 7s) and it turned out they were not my cup of tea despite what I would have thought based on reviews. I do agree with previous posts, they don't play very loud before they fall apart. If you buy used, and if it turns out you don't like them, it's easy to recoup your expenditures. If you can travel to increase your ability to hear more speakers then you will have a better idea of what would work for you.

kennyc
1,465 posts
 

AXPONA is coming up. Maybe worth your time to attend as it perhaps the 2nd largest high-end audio show I’m the world.  I went there last year to audition, choose, then purchase my speakers (got a sweet deal).  Lots of high end audio systems , components, accessories with very friendly sales reps to answer your inquiries.  Super fun and informative, highly recommended 

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