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Please help with speaker choices

Hi all,
Well the room and time has lead me down the road to upgrading speakers. A most exciting time, but alas, filled with choices and no possible auditioning for me.

So I must relie on this communities suggestions and help!!

First the current system:
Nick Doshi Preamp
Nick Doshi modded Lectron JH50
Amazon Referenze TT
Triplanar Tonearm
CDP-Don't have one yet
Focal 1007 Be Monitors-current speakers

Room Size:
21 by 13 with 8ft cellings

Music:
I listen to pretty much everything. Sorry for being so general. In one listening session I may move from Coltrane, to Cannonball Adderly, to Muddy Waters and Johnny Lee Hooker to Lucinda Williams and electric/folk Neil Young. Throw in some Dylan and then move onto the White Stripes, Beck, if I'm real rowdy maybe some Ramones or AC/DC, then come down with some Edith Piaf and a sip of 12 year single malt.

Reason for wantng change:
One is I find this a hobby. For me that means having fun with experimentation. So far I have only owned the Focals.
Two is now that I moved my system against the short wall and facing out to the long part of the room, the monitors seems lacking, like they are too small to fill the space, like it is too much effort. Three is I have nerver had a floorstanding speaker and the prospect excites me. Four is, sitting wise, I can only get about 9 feet near to the Focals. To place them closer puts them right in the middle of the living room. Not really acceptable. At 9 feet, the monitors just not presenting the soundstage I desire. At that distance with monitors, I am just not in the heart of the music.

Also something important to note is I like listening loud, but do not always have that option as my system is in the living room and out of respect for others cannot always listen loud so I must have speakers that offer low volume detail.

My choices so far (more of course welcome)
Sonus Faber Cremona floorstanders
Merlin VSM-Mxe
Verity Fidelio Encore
ATC 20's passive

At the higher end(only consider if HIGHLY recommended)
Verity Parsifal ovation
Sonus Faber Amati Homage

Monitors I might consider
Focal Mini-Utopia Be
Sonus Guarnari Homage

OK, sorry for rambling so much. Obviously I am putting a lot of thought into this. Any input much appreciated!

Peter
mariasplunge
mariasplunge OP
174 posts
 
Thanks for the vote of confidence there Dan. Really, since I do not have a dedicated room, I mostly listen at fairly causual or normal levels, like you could easily have a conversation etc. And honestly this is the level i prefer to listen at.

Sometimes, maybe when no one is home or on a saturday night, i will turn it up, real loud, but like I said, that the exception not the rule.

Unfortunately i cannot try any of these speaker first hand. I have one smaller dealer in town who is open only by appointment and he does not cary any lines I am interested in. Anyway, I am looking used and I generally feel strange going to the dealer, trying out his gear and then coming here to buy it used. Seems like taking avantage of of something.

So I have to go on others opinions, thus yours Dan, being familiar with the Lectron is valued. Thanks
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
Pete,

You may want to add Aerial 7B's to your list. Excellent speakers, priced right on the used market.
markd51
763 posts
 
Hello Peter. Nick Sushi, Nick Doshi, whoever, I never heard of this equipment, and I'm sure it's head, and shoulders over mine.

Since your "first system" was comprised of Jeff Rowland, I take it, you didn't take a step down!

I'm surprised no CDP, or such? You seem to be an Analog Junkie, and therefore, you do have my highest respect.
Your analog front end probably makes mine look like a $44 Garrard.

If money was no object, I'd probably be looking top of the line Dynaudio, or a pair of Wilson Audio MAXX.
There was a sweet pair this week in Mercedes Silver. All 1100 lbs for the pair! (An erroneous list by owner said 10,000lbs lol)

I don't know why it is, when many "audiophiles shun JBL as a audiophile speaker. Many would give thier right arm of a pair of 4345 JBL Monitors. Only 500 pair of these animals were made, and if you want bass slam, and authority, these speakers will hit you in the chest like Andre The Giant. They should, with 18" Drivers.

One thing I hate with Cars, Audio Equipment, or anything I buy, is walking out, and seeing them lose 50% of thier value when you walk out the door.

That's why I like Krell, Levinson for sound, but hat them for thier inherit resale value.

Downside with JBL? Is WAF. (Know what that means?) Means you'll get static from your signigicant other if you have one.

One thing about the vintage JBL (Whereever you live) They won't lose thier value.
There are those who do recognize that all hype aside, JBL made some of the best Speakers that ever were made, bar none. And they still do, such as the Everest, and the H29800. Mark
audphile1's avatar
audphile1
4,919 posts
 
If you have Focals now and like them, you may want to give Wilson Sophia 2 a listen. Also, Dynaudio may be a candidate, both in floor standing speakers and monitors.

SF Cremonas have a very laid back type of presentation, plus they like power....I don't know how much drive your amps will have for the Cremonas.
mariasplunge OP
174 posts
 
Mark, thanks for the suggestions. As I listen to bass slam through my current system, a Bose ipod stand, I am reminded of the practical sense in all this. This Bose stand is ridiculously uninvovling. The rest of my system is in process of being built, so I have not even heard it through my current speakers. This, i know, seems ridiculous as well. How could I want to change speakers if I have not even heard my current momnitors on my current soon to be system.
Yet you must understand, change is the only constant, and so I desire more presentation, invovlment, presence. So a floorstander it is.
Therefore, I appreciate all and any considerations and truly enjoy researching them. So thanks.

Right about now, at this hour, the single malt is writing, not I. So excuse spelling, language, or any sense at all.

I am filled with options and must let the dust settle. This community is sooo knowledgable it is almost scary. Audphile, of course i must acknowledge your statements as well. I'll chwck out Dynaudio on your recommendation.

Cheers to all.
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