Speaker upgrade itch Opinions 2500$used

Well Geoff, I cant say. I have never heard a single piece of CAL equipment nor have I heard your model of preamp (66), or you speakers for that matter. I have nothing worthwhile to add/detract from S23Chang's opinion. Which I presume is based on the consensus that Tyler's are good performers

I can only offer tertiary opinions. Such as, I have read many good things about the Tylers. But, pointing out the obvious isnt going to help much.

I can add my opinion on another matter. Others, I am sure, will disagree. In my personal preference, I typically find that system's which have an extended high frequency spectrum throw a more 3 dimensional soundfield (holographic). However, there is a downside. Too much high frequency info can be tiresome and some recordings have just that. Again, that is just my personal preference and opinion and clearly audio isnt a "one size fits all" hobby.

I dont want to get off subject, but instead of dropping a wad on speakers right now, you might try cable tweaking. Maybe a copper-silver hybrid. Pure Note Epsilons? You could even start a thread asking what cables give great imaging and a deep 3D soundfield. You can probably buy used and resell with little loss if they dont work out.

The reason I say this, is.....The Rogue's are not bright. The Tyler's are not bright(what I have read) and the Transparent's arent either. It could be cumulative. You may, stress on may, be needing a little "sparkle" to bring out that 3D effect your looking for. And changing a cable or two is a whole lot easier than the others.

Just an idea.

If you really want to scratch the speaker itch, and still have something that mates well with a wide variety of upstream electronics, you might consider Vandy 3ASigs, used should be right about on your target price point.

Distortion:

Gotta agree with the "bright = depth" assessment. The trick for me is finding the right cables to get the brightness down to a manageable level without getting in the way of the imaging and spatial presentation. I think I've got the idea now (don't have the cables yet but am working on them) looking to put them in sequentially (budgetary issues). When I put together the system I have now I was least knowledgeable about cables and thus have a mix. That'g going to change. Still. I stand behind the JMR recommendation. IMHO they throw a stage that is behind, in-front and well beyond the edges of the speaks. This is with a variety of hashy cables some of which were really muted in the high end. What I have now gives just a hint too much brightness. Not the speaker wire mind you -- it's the other bits. I've got two digital cables in-line as well as a lot of silver running from the analog outs to the amp -- hence the sparkle. Good insight though.

F7

Choices choices choices!!!
Well after much thinking I've down to two options:

A) continue on the speaker path and choose between:
Audio Physics Virgo II's
Silverline Sonnatina II's
ProAc 2.5
Avalon Avatar
Soliloquy 6.5

B) change out some wiring/amp/pre
most likely by a/b'ing my current rogue gear with one of the following:
VAC Avatar int
Sim i5 int
Cary SLI-80 int
CJ CAV-50 int

just wish it was easier to do home demo's with this gear!
what I inevitably end up doing for most of my testing is just buying the stuff and reselling the losing piece.
I'm just not sure if I should go with path a or b!