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Speakers: $3,000-$4,000 on Audiogon

I am moving to a larger listening room (21 x 14) and am looking into new speakers - to pressurize the room, as I tell my wife ;). My current speakers, B&W CDM 9NT, have always sounded to bright in my previous listening room and are currently not at the same level as the rest of my system (click on the system link to see the components and cabling). Cardas cables and a McIntosh have somewhat tamed to extra energy in treble region.
I am looking for a well rounded speaker that excels in all the important areas (dynamics, frequency extension, detail, musicality). If I had a preference, I would lean towards a warmer/less analytical sound but not to the point of sacrificing detail.

Some speakers which I've had my eye on off the top of my head:
Dynaudio Contour S 3.4
Magenpan 3.6
Von Schweikert VR-4jr
Focal JM-Lab 946 Electra

Open to other suggestions,

Thanks in advance
AdamG
adamg
nick778
147 posts
 
The CDM's use B&W's metal tweeter and is their lowest grade tweeter retailing for about $100 each. The next step up is their aluminum tweeter and it sounds much better than the metal one.

Given you McIntosh amp and BAT and if you like the B&W sound but the tweeters are too bright, I would suggest their 803S speakers. With the right speaker cable (i.e. Audioquest CV-8) they will sound great. The CV-8 dbs is slightly on the warm side and will tame the brightness of the B&W's even more without loosing any detail.

Of couse their diamond series tweeters are fantastic, imo, but that is out of your price range (ie 803D).
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
Maybe I have not heard these speakers in too long a time, but I'm suprised to see Thiel and B&W mentioned in this context; fine speakers no doubt, but compared to something like a Harbeth, Spendor, or Proac they don't seem to answer the call for warmth - they both always sounded to portray the "detail" side of the spectrum. I would not call the Merlin VSMs, that I own and recommended, warm either, but they do have a great, smooth highend with that Dynaudio Esotar tweeter.
racamuti's avatar
racamuti
362 posts
 
Personally, I wouldn't Buy a speaker that requires a large amount of watts. Maybe in the SPL= 92db 1watt 1meter range or so being the lowest. That way if you ever want to try different amps you can check out ones that are not so powerful but are very high quality in the sound department.Everybody looks at this hobby from a different point of view, and that is mine. What caused me to have this opinion was a pair of Alon 4's that needed at least 200 watts per channel to sound their best, and great 200 watt amps are expensive! Have since sold those and bought a pair of speakers with a SPL rating of 95db 1watt@1meter and the choice of amps is very many. Just a thought.
wireless200
415 posts
 
Second what Racamuti says. You really start limiting your amp choices with speakers in the 80s spl range. Sure if you've got the wallet for the amp these low efficiency speakers sound great. Not to mention powerful amps are heavy! I still can't believe how much my Mcintosh weighs having just moved it upstairs yesterday.
pehare's avatar
pehare
835 posts
 
3rd what Racamuti & Wireless2 say. it took me a long, expensive, back breaking time to figure that one out. imo the best sounding amps are lower powered anyway
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