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Aerial 7bs or Proac Response 2.5?

I've been scuttling around the state of NC listening to speakers, as I'm thinking of upgrading from my Vandersteen 2ce Signatures. So far, I've heard the Revel F30s, a set of B&Ws floorstanders (didn't catch the model number, but they ran about $2500) The ProAc Response 2.5s, the Vandersteen 3a Signatures, the Aerial 8b, 7b, and 6s, with the Sonus Faber Grand Pianos and Vienna Acoustics Beethoven to come. That's about it for the high-end pickings hereabout, and so far the ProAcs and Aerial 7bs are my favorites. Any opinions? I'm looking for a more resoved, clearer, speaker than the Vandersteens, but that will have low listening fatigue. I'll be running them with Audio Research equipment, likely, although I might be willing to rematch electronics to a speaker I love.
swklein
zonus
41 posts
 
proacs do very well with audio research. i love the 2.5
swklein OP
136 posts
 
Pmc, both my wife and I preferred the sound of the Aerial 7bs over the 8bs: the sound of the 7bs was more resolved, less smooth... the 8bs sounded surprisingly like my Vandersteens in certain key respects (which is a remarkable tribute to the Vandies-- they're 1/4 the cost). I can see taste swinging the other way... just our ears!
j_k
234 posts
 
You may want to listen to the Avalon Acoustics Avatar or Arcus in your search. I liked them better than either the Aerial or the Pro Acs.
tswhitsel
126 posts
 
I am a real fan of Aerial products, but I have to disagree on the model 8 as the bass can be overwhelming in most rooms. I'd go for the 7B if I were choosing between the Aerial and the Proac. That said, I'd look for a used pair of 10Ts for around $4000 give or take. These remain one of the very best loudspeakers, especially for the money, and are much better than the other Aerial mentioned.
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drubin
3,274 posts
 
I am in the throes of making a switch from the ProAc 2.5 to (probably) the Thiel 1.6 Strange, I know, but there you have it. After living with the Thiels, I have come to find the ProAcs unacceptably confused sounding and unresolving. Your Vandy's are time and phase coherent, like the Thiels. You may find the absence of those design elements in a speaker like the ProAc a tough pill to swallow.
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