Help with speakers in 1500- 2000 range


Am just getting started on a system and am not going with seperates. Have decided to buy Arcam Avr 100 receiver and would like input on speakers, that would go well with it. Have read threads where people say " these speakers really like tubes," so want some that the arcam can bring out good sound in. Have heard b&w 805's as well as cdm1nt and cdm7nt, and medowlark sheerwaters. Thought the 805's sounded good with the arcam. The sheerwaters sounded good as well but they are more expensive and they were being driven by seperates. Thanks for any input.
kiduismine115e
In that price range, my first choice would be the Maggie 1.6. This is a very musical loudspeaker. I have a friend who drives her baby Maggies with a small Arcam integrated, and the synergy is quite good. I am not familiar with the Avr 100 receiver, but if it is in the 100 watt per channel range (as I'm guessing) then it should work well with the Maggies. Maximum volume will be limted as compared to a dynamic speaker, of course. But economic considerations preclude box speakers in that price range from sounding truly boxless, and it's those little boxy artifacts that remind you you're not listening to live music. The Maggie 1.6's aren't perfect, but sound less like loudspeakers than their competition.
H-m-m-m, first question is, are you only looking at new, or
will good condition used/demo/b-stock etc. work? If so, you have a whole lot more choices. Some more models in your range to check out: Vandersteens are more boxless than most, and the 2CE Signatures(Class B, Stereophile Budget component winner)will mate well with the Arcam. My own Vandy's(Model 1's)have been hooked up with success even to a lowly NAD, let alone 100 watts of Arcam fron end. The 2's have a more cohesive tonal balance, and will be more muscial AND forgiving than a lot of alternates. A pair of used Vandersteen 3's will generally fall in your range, and are well worth grabbing. The Arcam will just about fit the bill on these, although a tad more amperage would be even better. Hales will work OK with the Arcam as well, but try to find some used.
The Diva's mentioned above are a good bang for the buck, and reasonably efficient to boot.
The 1.6 Maggies are incredible, but like all Maggie's will take all the power you can give them. Kind of like Thiels, which I would probablynot mate with your Arcam.
There are some decent used deals on Acoustats and the slightly more troublesome Apogees out there. The hybrids may work well, although the full ribbons might be a tricky
match. Newform Acoustics is one of the easier loads if you are looking at ribbon magic. Highly recommended - you will notice they hardly ever come up on the used market, but they have good models around $ 2K.
Have fun!
$1250-1500 Meadowlark Audio Kestrel and Kestrel Hot Rod
$2000 Audio Physic Spark III
The Sparks are Gorgeous and sound fantastic. A note to be sure to budget an extra few hundred for very good stands if you are thinking about monitors, B&W etc... I like the smaller floor standers you get some nice bass and you don't have to shell out for expensive hunks of steel to put them on. These speakers are also very easy to drive.