Looking for spkr suggestions


Ive finally decided to upgrade my late 80's DCM TimeWindow 1a speakers and Im looking for suggestions. My Elecronics are ok..

Rotel RB980BX Amp (120 per channel)
Rotel RCD-950 cd player
Adcom preamp

My musical taste is generally 60's - present rock. Everything from the indigo girls to AC/DC and all points between. The largest chunk of my cd collection would be from music made in the 60s/70s.

Ive done some reading and my list of speakers to demo consist of.

Vandersteen 2ce signature
Meadowlark Swift/Kesrel 2
NHT ST-4
Magnepan mg12/mg1.6
B&W CM4
Dyna-Audio Audience 72
and a couple PSB models.

Just wondering if anyone has strong feelings of which is better from the above list or has a possible alternative suggestion. Any help would be appreciated.
jeff4dea
Considering your choice of music I would add the Energy Connesuier (spelling is off) series, look at the top of that line. Also you should check out Tannoy D500 or S10.
Good list...with good suggestions from above...if your main preference is rock...the Dynaudio 72 is a nice all around design...very good out of box imaging and deep, clean bass...they are 4 ohm load...but your ROtel will do just fine...I like the Vandies...but for rock...they dont perform well at higher volumes...the Mags are nice too...but they are not space-savers...and can be a bit thin in the midrange for rock...as well as lacking some dynamics(more power would help)and bass impact...they are very transparent...which is their "claim to fame"...NHTs are too bright for my tastes...and both PSB and B&W come across as too congested in the mids...but hey...these are only my .02s...gotta decide for yourself..I like the Danes for your needs...
I think if I was going to play a lot of rock as my main venue, I would scratch off the Meadowlarks and Vandersteen's. The 2Ce Signature is a great sounding speaker in my opinion and better by a good bit than the Kestrel having owned both. However, low bass will overload the woofer before you reach a loud volume (about 90 or so db depending on how low a frequency you are reproducing)
However, music from the 60's and 70's is usually a little dynamically challeged, so the Vandersteen's would probably be ok in this case(maybe)
NHT is a good speaker for the money and can be bright in the wrong system. I think the Rotel would work, however.
I know a lot of people like the Maggies but sorry, I'm not impressed at all. I tried a pair in my dedicated listening room and found them to be too affected by their enviroment. I just couldn't get them to work. I took them over to a friends home and had the same result. Yes, they have perceived transparency but it sounded a little phoney in absolute terms. I thought the overall sound was a little disconnected. They aslo had a very narrow listening window. I guess to each his own. Of course, I guess, in the right enviroment, they may sound ok.
As for the others, not having them in MY listening room, I will reserve comment.
Paradigm Reference...not exactly a "hi-end" choice...but for your applications...very good imaging/transparency, and clean musical bass...cheaper than the Danes too...maybe a touch "hot" in the treble...but good value and excellent build quality...the studio 60s would be in your price range...or you could go with the highly acclaimed 20s plus a sub..which for rock u will probably want anyways...good luck..
One other speaker that I was told might be decent are the Polk Audio LSi15's. When I bought my TimeWindows the Polk SDA's were actually a speaker I liked better, but were out of my price range. Anyone have any thoughts on the LSi15's ?