Speaker upgrade itch Opinions 2500$used

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!

Fathom, its a tough balancing act for "cool" camp guys like me. I am looking to try some warm tubes in my CDP, so you never know I might be converted yet =).

Geoff, you sound alot like me, always being torn this way and that way about upgrades. Suffice it to say that, if I win the lottery, AudioGon is gonna' have a banner sales day.

Amp, speakers, amp, cable, speakers, awe crap, I think I'll just buy a nice opposite flow Wort chiller and forget about it.

Thanks for everyones opinions!

I took some of the advice and got a bunch of gear! *hahah*

I opted to move away from the tubed gear because I wanted to be able to use my 2ch speakers in combination with my television which has no speakers (a projector)
I didn't want to put tons of hours on the tubes and wait for them to warmup..well you get the idea.

I moved over to a Plinius 8200mkII.
Sonically its not a major change to my ears. The tubes had a little more texture to the sound but nothing I can't live without at this time.

I then upgraded the CAL to a Muse 9 sig g4, which immediately was a big difference. I honestly wasn't sure I'd hear any difference, thinking maybe my ears are bad, but it was obvious, and for nearly triple the price of the CAL it should be. I was also very impressed with the sound of DVD-A. I bought a disc that I already had a regular version of, to compare with the higher sampled 2 ch DVD-A sound, and the difference is apparent. (Fleetwood Mac)

Next I upgrade my cabling. I sold out my MusicLink+ cables since I no longer needed so many (because of the move to an integrated) and I picked up a RidgeStreet Audio MSE gII.

The sound is better all around and I'm much happier!
I'm waiting for some mapleshade ampstands to arrive now so I can get the gear off of my coffee table;)
I got great deals on:
2 sets of heavy hats (weights for on top of gear)
2 sets of ultimate triple points (between platform/floor)
2 sets of isoBlocks (the under 100lb gear version, between gear and platform)
2 maple 2" thick platforms
and all for a very reasonable price! shopping around pays;)

My speaker itch continues despite all of my upgrades over the last 10 months and I'm still wanting to go out and audition.

I was just going through all the posts above and making a list of things to try to get demos of.

Audio Physics Virgos were very high on my list, last year there were 3-4 on audiogon every time I looked. Lately I haven't seen a set in about 4 months!!! so I wonder how easy they would be to resell in a few years! uh-oh!

Others on my list:
B&W N 803 (~2800 used)
Avalon Avatar (~2500 used)
SF Electa Amator II (~2600 used)
Merlin VSM-M (3200$ used)
Aerial 10T (~2500 used)
Jean Marie Reynaud Offrande (~2500 used)
Von Schweikert VR4 JR (~2500 used)
Von Schweikert VR4 III SE (~?? used)

any of these stand out above the rest?
BTW, my budget has increased up to about 3500$ used (if need be)

Hi Geoff,

I've been looking for speakers for many months now myself. I just auditioned the Merlin VSM-MM. I've listened to many nice speakers. But the Merlins were the first ones that I knew after the audition I was going to get. Soon I hope. They made beautiful music. Had amazing resolution and were smooth. I could listen for hours. Actually, I did. The build quality is second to none. They were gorgeous. You owe it to yourself to audition these. They are special. Good luck with your search.

Cheers