Wow, I’m currently in a very similar situation with my wife and our new condo. Check out the Canton Referece 7 tower speakers. They come in a piano white finish for $8k. Per my discussions with Canton, the extra thick laminated cabinets avoid cabinet resonance and allow placement right up on the wall without any sound quality issues. Very highly rated by Stereophile, for what it’s worth. I haven’t heard them yet but will be purchasing the next pair my vendor receives off the boat.
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Some gorgeous speakers, for sure. The one thing that I wish more manufacturers would embrace is moving from black grills (for white speakers) or at least offer options in white or light-ish gray. In many instances, white speakers can lessen their visual impact/footprint in a room. However, there’s no greater contrast than black and white… totally attention-grabbing. That might be the point for some, but I suspect there are just as many with limited space or too many other visual elements, where helping the speakers visually recede is both beneficial for the feel of a room as well as facilitating lessened attention from a spouse who’s not quite on board with the household’s investment in audio gear. |
@aj523 will you be doing critical listening in this “gathering room” where there will be a seat for you in the sweet spot where the system sounds the best, and it doesn’t matter if any off-axis listening does not sound that great? Or do you want a more social listening experience where multiple people can enjoy a very good listening experience off-axis and not be fighting for the sweet spot? If you prefer a more social listening experience that sounds good anywhere in the room (but perhaps not as suitable for critical listening), I would consider something like the MBL 120– or at half the price of the 120, I would consider the MBL 126 and then the rest of your budgeted amount on the MBL C51 integrated amp— also available in white and worthy of being a visual centerpiece along with the speakers. |
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