Best in depth of soundstaging and ease for 2k?

Hi Omains,

The Harbeth Monitor 30's are a superb loudspeaker, and would certainly be worth considering in your situation, although they may be at the top end of your budget. I had the opportunity to listen to the PMC TB2's the other day, and was floored by these smaller monitors. Smooth, spacious and dynamic, and get the midrange right. Great bottom end down to 40hz. Among the very best smaller speakers I've listened to. There are a pair or two for sale on Audiogon at present, well below your stated budget.

Good luck!
Mike

If you liked the Joseph Audio's, I would again suggest listening to the Silverline SR-17's. You can find a used pair for around $1300, and they are extraordinary. You can drive them with as little as 5W. They have a huge soundstage, and you will not want for a floorstander, especially for your taste in music.

Alternatively, I've converted a number of avowed 'horn haters' with my George Wright/Klipsch setup--as open, airy and natural sounding as anything I've ever heard. I would recommend at least auditioning the SET amps, especially for your musical preferences. You could well find yourself in musical nirvana.
Good luck!
Howard

I'll second the SR 17's or any of the Silverline speakers.... They sound like just what you're after and can be driven with almost any of your favorite flavor amps (from SET to SS muscle). The Coincidents are also worth investigating for similar reason(s). Good luck and happy listening.

To Boa2,

Thank you so much for your advice, I really appreciate it (same goes for everyone else). I see that there's someone selling the Silverline Sonata II's for about $1700. It seems like that might be a better way to go than the SR-17s (no one has a pair for sale at the moment anyway).

What's a SET amp? Is that a category, or a specific brand? Sorry for the ignorance, this is my first serious hi fi purchase. Also, I'm interested in the Wright monoblocks you mentioned; I had no idea that any speaker could be driven with so little power... Obviously there's something I'm not understanding here, but how can 5wpc monoblocks cost more than some 150wpc ones? The quality difference can't be THAT drastic. Can it?

The Silverline speakers work very well with both tube and SS amps. They have a very open and warm sound, and are highly efficient. The SR-17's are superb monitors. I've heard the Sonata III's, but not the II's. Other than the fact that I'm so partial to the Klipsch's, I have to say that the Silverline's were perfect to my ear (and to my wife's as well). We auditioned them at the Silverline headquarters.

SET stands for Single Ended Triode. SET amps are usually lower wattage, are direct wired, and have a glorious, liquid-sounding mid-range. If you are interested, you can search here for an explanation of SET technology, as I'm definitely not knowledgeable enough to offer one. I can only tell you what I hear. I find the triode sound to be the warmest in the tube realm, and the single-ended triode (SET) to be the most seductive and holographic sound, and particularly well suited for classical/vocals/jazz/instrumental music.

With an efficient speaker like the Silverline (or the Coincident, as mentioned by Lissnr), you can easily fill your room with a small wattage SET amp. I run the George Wright 3.5's in the same size room, and I never turn the preamp (also a George Wright) past the 11 o'clock position. I believe these 3.5's peak at 5 watts.

I have two friends whose years of audio experience was passed along to me, and I just lucked out in that I am overjoyed with their recommendations. I've auditioned a lot of equipment, some costing many multiples the price, and have yet to hear any system that I like more.

Remember, your ears are the only ones that count. This is exciting, no?