Started with $1k speakers … what now?


I got into this hobby during Covid, browsing YouTube reviews my first speakers were Polk L100s and Sonus Faber Lumina 1s. Not bad as an entry point, but wondering what would be the next level is where a speaker is built with fewer compromises in the drivers and crossover design.  My hope was that in the $5k range truer “hifi” entry points may be found in a small room system with a REL t5x. My source and amplification is already in the $5k range. 
 

I visited a hifi store recently but was overwhelmed by the amount of choice and unsure what would be an upgrade based on first listening impressions alone. 
 

Thanks in advance for any insights.

jdavis234

You need to tell me what amp you are using, what music you listen to and how loud you like to listen.

I suppose my real concern is if going from $1k to $3-$5k is a reasonable step up for someone with not a lot of experience in the hobby.

Absolutely!  That’s a very big step up in potential sound quality as you’re still far from the point of diminishing marginal returns.  Big question — are you looking for new or used?  Also, what are you using for a music source — what streamer, turntable, DAC, transport, CD player?  Last, and most important, what improvements would you like to achieve (what would you like to be better) and what sound characteristics are most important to you?  I can’t stress enough how important this last piece of info is.  Thanks for all the good info BTW — very helpful.

 

 

 

Soix, thanks for asking, streamer is ifi Zen with the linear power supply, I'm using a Schiit Bifrost 2/64 right now for a DAC.My turntable is a Denon DP-47F with a Hana EL mc cart.

New is good, used is better.

As far as improvements, it's a great question because for me its something I don't really know until I hear it, which is why I went to demo a few things out of curiousity. It was good to hear a much more expensive DeVore also and I did realize that my ear just isn't there yet to appreciate those things, yet. What I liked about the Moon Voice 22 was that in addition to energy in the low end it handled complexity well and had a good sense of scale and width, a reason why I was interested in Ohm speakers as well that could cater to more than one person (haven't heard them, though). While I mostly listen to jazz, vocals, and solo classical, I like plenty of indie rock and alternative. With everything I listened to, I didn't get the impression it was that much better and was almost disappointed until I went back and listened to the same things on my current system.

Forget upgrading for now...

Learn acoustics basic...

Learn about mechanical and electrical working controls of the system /room...

Then instead of being a buyer you will learn how to do thing right...

Taste matter way less than acoustics...😊

Only marketers dude plays with your tastes ...There is no tastes in acoustics done right...

For sure buying is more easy than learning by experiments and studying... But trust me it is more fun... And less costly to think before buying...

Try to put what you already have at his optimal level... You may be surprized by the difference between before and after...