Volti v Charney v Rethm

@larryi 

My room is 30 x 25 feet. 13 foot ceilings. I don’t usually listen super loud, but infrequently do pump it up. Quality is more important than quantity (volume).

Thanks everyone so far for your input!

desltz,

Your large room and high ceiling might make bass reproduction difficult for some speakers.  My bet would be on the Rivals, among the three choices, working the best in that situation.  But, these days, many single driver or small driver two-way systems are quite capable to performing well in large spaces.

I heard a system that employed a single 8" fullrange driver, but, it was supplemented with active woofers coming in to handle deep bass.  It was shown at an audio show in a fairly large ballroom.  I was surprised at how good it sounded and how well it filled the space and played at very high volume level.  The speaker was the Cube Audio Nenuphar Basis speaker.  

I also heard two-way Acora speakers demonstrated in a large ballroom also do a good job filling the space and providing adequate bass.  

If one can place the speaker near a corner, Audio Note AN-E speakers, which utilize an 8" woofer and a dome tweeter sound terrific and can fill large spaces and deliver fairly high volume.  

Not intending to throw a monkey wrench into your post, but you may also wish to consider Pure Audio Project Quintet15 with the center horn driver and four 15" woofers per side. I have the Trio (two 15" drivers per side) with horns, which may work for your room size (my room is smaller) but if you can spend more I would think the Quintets might better fill your room. Absolutely love the horn and open baffle combo sound of these. And at 96+ dB, very easy to drive. These have become my "forever" speakers. Good luck with your search!

I too love the Pure Audio Project Quintet 15 speakers.  I heard them with the center horn driver too, but, I would really love to hear them with the Voxativ fieldcoil driver-I have heard that driver in another system and it delivers a very vivid and lively sound.  Even with four 15" drivers, my concern would be bass energy in a large room because of cancellation of the front and back output which are out of phase (this reduces bass by 6 db/octave).

This is still an excellent recommendation that is consistent with the kind of sound that would be delivered by the likes of Charney, Rethm and Volti speakers.  An important reason for picking these kinds of speakers, to me, is that they can be driven by lower-powered tube amps which are my favorite kind of amp.  While a SET amp might not not be ideal, given the size of the room (the Charney might be efficient enough), there are many good lower-powered pushpull amps and a few OTL amps that would work well.  

I’ve only heard the Rethms at a few shows with unfamiliar associated equipment but they did sound beautiful in the midrange & very pleasing overall but not truly full range & not near as good up loud. They & I’ll guess the Charney’s, while being quite sensitive, are more akin to Quads in sound than to the Volti Rivals that I’ve owned & enjoyed for two years now. 
 

Rivals are very sensitive also & perhaps the absolute last word in gorgeous seductive midrange & fine etched, “hifi” detail some other even much more pricey speakers but can fill a big room like yours w/ live sounding, dynamic, full bodied & full range sound w/ ease. They are much akin to a high quality version of a big Klipsch, JBL or Altec horn loaded system. I too have a big room (23’x 25’x 12’ )  & the Rivals are a ton of fun  & if you like to really nice sound at any sound level but occasionally like to really open it up & wake up your hidden teen spirit ( as well as your wife or neighbors ( forget doing this in a condo)while maintaining excellent sound quality, then definitely check them out.