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Can speakers be too good?

Now that I have over-improved my house, I am on to my stereo. I have what is, for me, probably my final 2 channel front end: Sony SCD555ES CD/SACD, Musical Fidelity A3.2 Integrated, Music Hall MMF7 table, Kimber Kable interconnects, Monster Cable power center. My thinking was to get the best quality electronics for the money, which I think I came pretty close to doing, and then concentrate on the speakers. I currently have PSB Image 7PT. I listen to mostly singer/songwriter, jazz, blues, alt country, roots rock. Mostly stuff that is not demanding in a dynamic or low frequency sense, but places importance on spaciousness, imaging, naturalness in the mid-range, etc. Also, my room is fairly small – 11 x 18 x 8.

My question for the forum: Is it possible to spend too much for a speaker to finish the system? (Within reason – I am not looking at anything in five figures.) I am a musician with a fairly well developed ear, but I am definitely not into chasing the last 0.5% of resolution at any cost. I have always been able to hear more of a difference between speakers than between electronics, although I can hear the difference between, for instance, my generic Sony DVD player, previous Cambridge CD player and Sony SCD555ES. I am thinking of a very high quality monitor in the $3 - $5 k range (basically equal to the entire rest of the system). Candidates would include Dynaudio Special 25, JM Lab Mini Utopia (used), Spendor 1/2e, B&W N805 Signature, Tyler Linbrook Signature, Totem Mani2. (Have heard some, but not all. Just giving possible examples in the price range.)

Does this seem like the right allocation of funds? Will I be able to get the most out of these speakers with my existing front end? (FYI - I am not likely to change the guts of this system anytime soon, although I would be open to tweaks/adds such as cable upgrade, power conditioning, outboard DAC, phono stage, etc.) All thoughts are welcome.
scotthmartin
phild
603 posts
 
It probably depends more on the particular speaker design than the cost. Used Merlin VSM-M speakers would be in your price range (and they are excellent), but they would show the limitations of your system and that's not what you are seeking.

I heard the Dynaudio 25's in someone else's system last week and I thought they sounded good without being *too* revealing, but I can't compare them to the rest. Unfortunately, it's really going to have to depend on your taste and preferences. The models you listed are all going to sound different (some extrememly different) from each other.
swklein
136 posts
 
I think speakers can be too revealing. With Musical Fidelity and Kimber (and being a musician) you'll probably want a speaker on the kindly side. I know you say you're looking for a monitor, but listen to Vandersteen and Aerial in that price range and see what you like.
newbee
4,767 posts
 
Its not that speakers can be "too good" its just that top end speakers are so revealing that you will hear all of the problems in your electronic's which you have never noticed before. Then you start buying new electronics to match your speakers. In your situation I would try to get speakers which match your electronics. I fear that most of the speakers that you have mentioned might be "too good" and seem bright and unnatural with your electronics, although the Spendors might work..I agree with the Vandersteen recomendation.
mattheww
8 posts
 
Price has nothing to do with good sound(with-in reason). It's all about system synergy. I personally chose some Von Schweikert VR-1 monitors over some used Revel Gem's, JM Labs Micro Utopia's and Dynadio 25 Specials after hearing them in my system at home. All the other speakers sounded good, but with MY system the VR-1's just sounded the most balanced and natural to me. In your system one of the other speaker I mentioned may sound the best to YOU, and that's what's important. It took me almost a year to finally decide on which speaker to buy, so don't rush it. If you want to spend a lot of money, fine. But don't ignore the lower priced speakers out there just becuse of their price. You may find a $1000 speaker that sounds better to you than the one's you mentioned (or you might not). That's what makes audio so interesting.....
jcaudio's avatar
jcaudio
237 posts
 
The smaller Pro Ac speakers may work well as I have always been very impressed with them.
I also agree though not a monitor the Vanderstein speakers would probably be a good choice.
I don't sell any of the above speakers.
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