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Seeking $15,000.00 speaker to replace Quad 988's

My system consists of Thor Audio TPA 150 el-34 tubed monoblocks, a Thor TA-2000 premamp with phono(tubed),
Cary 306/200 which I use as a transport and Thor Audio DC-1000 tubed Dac, VPI scoutmaster turntable with a clearudio discovery cartridge, Richrad Gray power conditioner, an Audio Physics
Minos Subwoofer and a pair or Quad 988's.
Quad positives:Great for piano, voice and small groups such
as chamber music. With a voice or piano you swear the piano or voice was in your room.
Quad negatives:Bass does not extend low enough.
No illusion of an entire orchestra on stage. The Quads shrink the musical presentation. Lacking in dynamic contrasts. They also soften many instruments. For instance the tambourines in Tchaikovsky's Capriccio Italien instead of sounding sharp like in a dynamic speaker, they sound
rounded out and softened.
My issue: I am told that only an electrostatic can deliver the clarity that a Quad can deliver. I have looked into the Sound Labs but even with their new impedance modification I do not think my amps can drive them.
Will a speaker like a Vandersteen 5A, Kharma 3.2 give me the clarity of the Quads with the dynamic contrasts, and
the illusion of 90-100 people on a stage and not 10. I know I'm asking for a lot but I don't want to replace the Quads and take a few steps backwards in doing this. The Quads have lived with me for over 1 and 1/2 and they do some amazing things, but is there more for the approximate price guideline I have suggested.? I guess as a music lover and audiophile you are always searching for that additional something. Has anybody out there found someting that might work with my sysytem that gives me that
something more?
kjl
rooze's avatar
rooze
632 posts
 
What size is your room?...if you are looking for a speaker that can recreate the illusion of 100 people on a stage, then you need a room that can support that illusion. If you have a 12' wide typical listening room, with the speakers 7' apart, you have about a 14' wide stage to create your illusion, assuming that your speakers throw an image outside of the physical boundary of the speaker.
If you are looking therefore to recreate larger scale orchestral music with some degree of 'believability', you will need to be setup with more space between your speakers, and ideally more space around them (sides and rear) to help build the image.
If you have the space, then something like the Magnepan 20 series might be what you are looking for. They can be picked up for $6k or so used, but I can't say for sure that they'll work with your Mono's, since they are pretty power hungry.
What you are striving for is not unreasonable, but your room will be the biggest constraint, in my opinion.

Rooze
yourmama
21 posts
 
>>the clarity of the Quads with the dynamic contrasts, and the illusion of 90-100 people on a stage and not 10<<

Real scale is the hardest illusion to recreate and it could only be achieved properly with large efficient speakers in a large room with proper acoustics. Yes you can get a nice, wide soundstage with many smaller monitors but its all in small scale. I wouldn't focus too much on this if you don't have the space.

I'm not a Quad fan but I'm among the first to admit that it does certain things better than most speakers but it always left me wanting. Like Newbee, I changed over from electrostatics and ribbons about 6 year ago and have never looked back either. Its going to be a big change, I really recommend that you work with a good dealer on this project and spend enough time familiarizing yourself with good dynamic and horn speakers before jumping in.

Mama
jtinn
1,124 posts
 
The Kharma 3.2's have excellent clarity and will surpass almost any speaker in this regard. While the project a huge soundstage, they are essentially designed for a small to medium sized room. They have excellent micro dynamics, but on a macro level, being a diminutive speakers, cannot move a large amount of air. They also only go down to 32hZ, which for most people is plenty.

The Vandy 5A is very good at dynamics, moves quite a bit of air and goes very deep. But, they do not have the refinemant, clarity, harmonics and texture of the Kharma.

I would also agree with Timo that the Von Schweikert's should be included in your comparisons. In the same price range as the Vandy 5, the upcoming VR5SE will outperform both.
bobneill
23 posts
 
I won't say too much about this since I'm a dealer, but the only speakers I've heard that do what you're telling me your getting from Quads without the downside (scale, dynamics, low end authority) are Audio Note E's. Ask around and/or do a search on them on AA.

Good luck,

Bob Neill
Amherst Audio
lrsky
1,118 posts
 
As a dealer for Sound Labs, I can recommend the A-1 as a complete upgrade in every sense of the word.
Better clarity, bass, soundstage, scale.
In a word, they are musical, with no harshness. They are LARGE. But that is how they are able to produce such prodigious bass response, (down past 28hz with authority).
They love tubes, and are completely non fatiguing.
Let me know if I can help.
Best,
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