High end speakers at low volume


After having got accustomed to my new Vitus RI-101 mk II, I came to the conclusion that I need to improve my system's performance at low volume to enjoy music more.

Current sources: LinnLP12, Holo Spring 3 KTE, Nucleus. 
Speakers: Avalon Idea. 
Shunyata Delta NR V2 and Hemingway Indigo PC, Tara Labs Forté, TQ 2 Black diamond IC.

I am looking at replacing the Avalon Idea with speakers that could improve the low volume listening experience. I listen to 60 / 70db, I can afford to go up to 85db for very short time (neighbours).

I am also considering to purchase a Loki Max which I understood being quite a neutral EQ unit.

I have selected a few speakers which should match my musical taste based on what I have read:

- YG Carmel 2
- Wilson Sabrina X
- Vandersteen treo ct
- TAD ME1

I don't have the chance to listen to them except the TAD ME1 which I have enjoyed very much but not in my apartment.

Budget max $15k new or used.

I am looking for speakers sounding musical, with wide soundstage, not cold, detailed yet not analytical.

I mostly listen to classic rock, blues and jazz.

The system sits at the end of the long wall in a living room measuring 33x13ft, listening position 8ft from the speakers.

Unfortunately I have to face a tough WAF putting several limits:

- speakers must have a clean design, not black, not too hifi looking... and not too big
- distance from the wall behind the speakers 25cm

I don't mind changing amplifier if it will be necessary to match the next speakers.

I haven't found a preamp that I could consider a good candidate except a very expensive CSport featuring a loudness button which works very well (tested at Ana Mighty Sound).

I would much appreciate some advice from who knows well the above speakers or who had similar needs.

ricco275

@ricco275 

You might also consider any of the Klispch Legacy line. The Forte 4 is well in your price range.

All the best.

@headphonedreams thanks I listened to the steinheim and while I liked them it wasn’t the same for my wife. Parker duo were on the list but I should travel hours to audition them. In one hour I’ll take her to see the TAD ME1 and hopefully she’ll like them. I will have someone making custom stands resembling the Parker duo stands. TAD stands are in fact far from appealing even though I imagine and hope very effective.

@mijostyn im very tempted. The only doubt is that I had some very good preamps in mind, without tone control of course.

Do you know how is the preamp section of the Anthem STR? I’ll use my external DAC. The STR is renowned to be a good amp. 

here is a list of high sensitivity speakers, if that matters

 

 
brand model sensitivity price volume cf weight
Avantgarde trio 109 91000 56.462 135kg
Avantgarde uno 107 15000 14.714 81kg
Klipsch Heritage La Scala AK6 105 13000 14.013 91kg
Volti Vittoria 104 16500 19.645 59kg
Tekton 1812 MODEL V12 104 12570 24.198 142kg
Zu druid 6 101 12500 17.877 28kg
Tannoy Westminster Royal 99 54000 27.036 145kg
Zu Union 6 99 2900 3.006 27kg
Klipsch Heritage Heresy IV 99 3200 2.95 20.5kg
Kharma Enigma Veyron EV-1 Diamond 97   41.3 260kg
Volti Razz LE 97 6500 4.066 43kg
Fyne Fyne Audio F1-12 96 52000 14.588 72kg
Soundkaos liberation 96 25000 6.916 40kg
Paradigm Persona 9H 96 18500 7.272 86kg
Zu DWX 95 1398 1.922 19kg
Tekton MINI LORE MONITOR 95 700 1.126 12kg
Vonschveickert ULTRA 11 94 365000 30.298 408kg
Magico M9 94 750000 37.292 454kg
Focal FOCAL GRANDE UTOPIA EM EVO 94 280000 40.892 265kg
Alta Audio REFERENCE TOWER 93 240000 17.165 230kg
Reference 3a Sema Zen 93 25000 14.725 100kg
Reference 3a MM DE CAPO BE MONITOR 93 3290 1.24 13kg
Acora Acoustics SRB 92 48000 6.236 118kg
Wharfedale Elysian 4 92 10000 7.228 49kg
Trenner Friedl Duke 92 175000 22.513 135kg
Sonus Faber Aida 92 140000 22.902 165kg
ProAc K10 92 23000 7.31 57kg
Perlisten S7T 92 18000 4.39 56kg
Klipsch RP-500M II 92 500 0.551 6kg
Tekton DYNAMITE MONITOR 92 1700 1.022 13kg
Paradigm Founder 40B 92 2400 0.819 11.3kg
Focal SOPRA N°3 92 26000 10.677 7.1kg
JBL JBL 4329 91 4500 1.961 38kg
Verity Audio Monsalvat 91 675000 52.959 175kg
Usher td-10 91 22000 11.255 70kg
Triangle Magellan Quatuor 91 20000 7.456 47kg
Totem Element Metal V2 91 10500 4.396 33kg
Indiana DIVA 660 91 2100 2.315 17kg
Devore Fidelity FIDELITY GIBBON X “TEN” 91 17000 3.967 38.5kg
Verity Audio Lakme 91 16000 5.647 57kg
Usher s-520 91 475 0.505 6kg
Indiana TESI 261 91 450 0.633 5.7kg
Martin Logan ElectroMotion ESL 2800USD 91 3000 4.429 16.1kg
Indiana DIVA 262 (highest priced booksh 91 800 0.876 8.7kg
Nola GRAND REFERENCE VII SUBWOOFER 90 630000 9.026 140kg
Rockport lyra 90 169500 11.495 265kg
Vienna Acoustics Concert Grand Reference 90 9900 3.109 75kg
Sonner Legato Duo 90 12000 10.038 26kg
Q Acoustics Concept 500 90 7000 5.686 42kg
Børresen Z5 90 50000 8.585 75kg
B&W 801 D4 90 38000 11.668 100kg
Nola Boxer 3 90 3500 0.799 15.5in
Soundkaos Vox 3 90 10000 0.612 7.2kg
Sonus Faber Lumina I 90 1000 0.312 4.4kg
Paradigm Premier 100B 90 399 0.402 5.9kg
Focal Focal Aria 906 90 1760 0.868 8.5kg
Devore Fidelity FIDELITY ORANGUTAN O/BABY 90 6000 1.895 13kg
Creative Sound Solutions Criton 2TD-X Tower 90 3300 2.14 36kg
Fyne F500SP 90 2300 0.723 8.1kg
Triangle 40th Anniversary Comete EZ 90 2500 0.915 8.8kg
Amphion Helium520/2 way vented 90 3600 2.228 16kg
Revival Atalante 5 89 7000 3.738 33kg
Audio Physic Cardeas 89 33000 4.859 59kg
Spendor Classic 200 89 28300 7.447 55kg
Qln qln prestige five 89 17500 4.45 41kg
Elac VELA FS 409 89 7400 4.699 33kg
Diapason DYNAMIS 89 66000 13.879 100kg
Dali DALI EPICON 8 89 24000 5.539 47.5kg
Amphion Krypton3/3 way vented 89 24000 7.663 70kg
Martin Logan Motion B10 89 1200    
Audio Physic Classic 3 89 1600 0.609 7kg
Vienna Acoustics haydn-se-signature 89 3000 0.588 10kg
Triangle Bro2 89 500 0.502 5kg
Polk Audio T15 89 149 0.275 1kg
Creative Sound Solutions Typhon 88 5500 3.387 34kg
Ohm Walsh F5 88 13300 8.152 70kg
YG Sonja Xvi 88 450000 9.471 130kg
Spatial Audio X4 Ultra 88 9800 4.026 45kg
Salk BePure 3 88 20000 5.047 60kg
Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G 88 17900 8.873 53.6kg
Marten Coltraine 3 88 100000 11.029 95kg
KEF Blade One Meta 88 35000 11.006 57kg
Gato Gato FM-50 88 7000 3.613 40kg
Buchardt S400 MKII Signature 88 3200 0.65 8kg
Alta Audio Alyssa 88 5000 1.129 13kg
Ohm Walsh Microwalsh Short 88 2000 0.421 9kg
Vonschveickert Unifield 2 mkiiI 88 11000 1.443 25kg
Spatial Audio X$ Premium 88 7800 4.026 45kg
Salk SongSurround II 88 1700 0.922 16kg
Marten Parker Duo 88 12000 0.904 13kg
Buchardt S300 MKII SE 88 1300 0.819 10kg
JBL JBL L82 Classic 2750USD 19x11x13" 28lbs 88 2750 1.479 12.7kg
Tannoy Tannoy Autograph Mini 88 2200 0.41 4.4kg
Ohm Walsh Tall 1000 88 2700 1.356 22kg
Totem Signature One 88 3500 0.651 15kg
ProAc Response DB1 88 3825 0.57 8.8kg
B&W 705 S3 88 3400 1.52 9.6kg