speakers speakers speakers............so now what??

reeltrouble1

As much as I enjoy my Amazings I suppose it was inevitable that the itch for something else would start, so since I now have the BAT VK-120 tube amps in the rig the question becomes what next? I do still have the BAT VK-500 power amp as it did not sell in our FM and I just might keep it although the tube amps have plenty of low end slam and are marvelous in the mid range and top end, still having both gives the option of using this massive powerful sand amp if needed.

Going to be hard for me to go back to a box, not really going for Maggie as I recall they are a bit forward for me, the Woodshed is not that large I use a 12' 6" or so wall with 9 ft of usable space to the corner which means about 6ft usable to keep the speaker off the wall, I thought maybe some Sophia or even Watt Puppy or maybe Quad. Also the Focal Utopia line looks interesting but also looks big, others I have looked at are KEF, Vandersteen and Revel. Just researched not heard them.

As some of you know I like all genre's especially blues, rock, folk, pop, but have my all jazz and classical days as well, so tough to find a speaker to do all of that, the Amazing's come close but shine the most with recordings where the instruments have alot of air around them so hard rock is the most difficult for them to produce. I do have to face the fact that this rig now needs quality recordings of whatever genre or else you are going to hear all the nasties that an engineer can muster on some of these discs.

So I am looking for suggestions, speaker must be good looking with solid build standards, provide bass slam but be smooth and balanced overall, imaging and soundstage, well I like both with a nod toward imaging if I must pick, they need to be around 90 db or better efficient and not need a huge room to shine. I am very biased to floorstanders and do not want to add a sub.

RT1

Early B.

Get the Emerald Physics CS-2.

dkg999

Quad's would not be a bad choice, and since you like to change things up every once in a while, it's not like your looking for a speaker to be a life partner. I would take a serious listen to the Maggie 3.6R's before you write them off.

TNRabbit

I've heard & like the Sunfire CRM-3s. Small footprint (wall mountable, actually), great soundstage, ribbon drivers. A bit pricey, though...and they DO require a sub.

Are you selling your Plats?

Ricardo

I would look into Tyler. The Linbrook Signature system is 92 db, and they like tubes; I run mine biamped with a pair of TAD-60's for a while and they shined. They are good with all kinds of music, and can be run with no subs. They also look beautiful.

They are also front ported which is a plus for small rooms.

Edit: this is probably the speaker that I miss the most; in my very short list to own again

VR3

Ive heard mixed reviews on Tylers new stuff --

So, if Tyler is a consideration get em now!

As for Wilson and JM Lab Utopia - you need MASSIVE amounts of room for those speakers...

The Grande Utopia in my Dad's 35'x25'x12' room are still way to big...

They sound like crap in there...

Good luck

Face

I recently heard some of the new KEF's. Since you stated you don't like forward speakers, they may not be for you, but I wouldn't turn down a listen.

lakesailor

Early B. wrote: »

Get the Emerald Physics CS-2.

I have to admit I keep hearing amazing things about those Emerlad CS-2's. Recently chatted with the owner of a hi-end specialty amp. company and he recently heard a pair and said "you know the moment you listen to them you are listening to something special."

This from a guy who listen's to his amps on dozens of different hi-end speakers every year and as an amp manufacturer usually careful to not pick a favorite.

reeltrouble1

well, forward is somewhat subjective, I do not like speakers that reduce the depth of the stage by moving certain instruments so much forward you lose what is behind them, this is an area the Amazings excel in as the they are very holographic in the presentation.

anybody have experience with the JM Labs Profile 928?

RT1

Kex

Lasareath wrote: »

What about a pair of Alexandria's and a Thor's Hammer? ...

Boy, are those things fugly?!

SolidSqual

If you don't have a lot of cash to spend and want to achieve high end sound with the low-end more than intact, then you'd be hard pressed to find something better than the CS2s.

reeltrouble1

cash is not the primary issue, sound quality is. So the big Wilson's are out.

RT1

Face

http://74.59.244.35:9081/gemmeAudio/features/Products.html

I demoed the Tanto v.2's recently and they were a very sweet sounding speaker, my favorite to date actually.

Kex

If this were me, I would love to be trying out the Focals ... The Grande Utopia if there was room, but even the Scala Utopia would do, or the Electra 1037 Be, or Chorus 836V.

george daniel

Ted,, Out of all the suggestions,I can speak to the Tylers,,they do,in fact sound very good with tubes(driving a pair of 7U's with a 40 watt tubed anthem w/pio caps)I think something in the "linbrook" lineup might be perfect for your room.Yours is a enviable situation;),Good luck,,the hunt should be fun.

mhardy6647

Altec A-5 Voice of the Theatre. Not attractive but awfully beguiling.



That's an A-5X on the bottom left (photo from www.lansingheritage.org )

McLoki

The Watt Puppies are the best speakers I have ever heard. I liked them better than the Maxx. (and the sophia)

I also recently heard the Revel ultima salon 2's and thought they just sucked. Sounded very clean but did not enjoy anything I heard through them.....

Enjoy your search....

Michael

LuSh

Hi Reel,

While speakers and transducers are probably the most subjective component of any audio system I thought it would be fun to throw in some names that I've heard the last couple of years that have really turned my head (and ears). These speakers probably won't be mentioned in this thread but deserve a look.

Oskar Kithara's
http://www.uhfmag.com/Issue59/Kithara.html

A Swiss Full range design. You've stated you might not be comfortable with normal box speakers and these will provide you with an open sound you simply can't get from a normal box speaker. At 94db you should have no problems running with tubes. I heard these speakers for a couple of hours with a Benchmark DAC, Copland Pre and Blue Circle Hybrid amplifier. The sound was very deep and airy. The soundstage was incredibly wide but instruments were still imaged vividly in the front. Musical selections ranged from Diana Krall to Pink Floyd's The Wall and each disc was played with superb realism. Distance from the back wall is required, at least 4 feet.

Aliante Zeta Ones
http://www.tnt-audio.com/casse/onezetae.html

I will be honest. These speakers were part of a system I consider to be the best setup I've ever heard in a personal dwelling and has super seeded most dealers acoustically treated show rooms. This Italian stand mount has no real tricks simply a collection of outstanding parts; Scanspeak Tweeter with SEAS woofer and a fairly efficient cross over. The speakers were fed by an Ayon CD-1 disc player (The best redbook player I have ever heard; and I've heard alot) and a BlueNote Demidoff Signature Integrated that is entirely Class A. This combination produced one of the most extended trebles I've heard without being harsh. I've listened to these speakers in a small room with horrible acoustics and a basement with concrete floors fed through Apple TV. Both setups were impressive. These speakers are incredibly quick, throw up the largest soundstage I've heard from a standmount and dig deep. I don't know what the spec's are on the low frequency's but if somebody told me 39Hz I wouldn't be surprised. These speakers are no longer being produced but offer the best of all worlds. I listened to hours of Electronic, Jazz, Rock, Alternative Rock and nothing made these speakers sound dishonest or bad. Every time I listen to this system I go back home, look at my Dynaudio's and Krell combo, and simply shed a single tear.

The owner of this system phoned me last week and suggested he's found another gem which trumps that Aliante's:

BlueNote Ducales
http://vokuz.com/en/high-end-audio-39/bookshelf-monitor-120/ducale-speaker-monitor-1398.html

While I have not had a chance to listen (I will next week) I've been informed that these beat the Aliantes in all aspects. I will have to make my own conclusions as we've disagreed in the past.

Krell Resolution 1 or 2

http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/1104krell/

Not known for their loudspeakers Krell makes some of the best I've heard. Warm, open and incredibly dynamic. These things love high SPL's and can dig deep yet still sound open and transparent. If I had the space I might own a pair of Resolution 3's. The only down fall would be they require SS power as opposed to tubes but the prices have dropped like a rock and these speakers can be picked up for insane prices as Krell has decided to clear the line. The ring radiator tweeter reminds me alot of the Polk LSi series but everything is kicked up a notch or three. A great all round performer.

Lastly....

Reference 3A's Grand Veena's

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/SuperiorAudio/equipment/0108/grand_veena.htm

I will be honest. I have no personal experience with these speakers...YET. I can tell you however that an audiophile friend has suggested they are by far the best speakers he's heard at nearly any price. At 90db they might work well with tubes. I've been told it can work with Class A biased SS or tubes. I should be listening to these extensively in the near future, I will post my impressions if you care to read about them.

Well theres a few suggestions. It might be hard to find dealers for most of these brands but it sounds as if you might tackle this blind to mix it up a little. All the speakers I've mentioned either have or should have reference level sound quality. The Aliantes might have been aided in some very exotic high end up stream components. The Kitharas had my hands twitching, my feet tapping and my mind frantically trying to come up with an excuse as to why I shouldn't completely change my system.

janmike

Ted, have you tried tubes with any of the Proac line?

George Grand

Son, you sell those Amazings, and somewhere down the road, you will rue the day you sold them.

Grand/Nov08

disneyjoe7

Sell the Amazings to me.... I give you visiting rights

Face

reeltrouble1 wrote: »

cash is not the primary issue

http://www.sumikoaudio.net/sonus/prod_elipsa.htm

I plan on getting my ears on these soon.

amulford

Have you thought any about THIEL Audio? I have an older set of these, haven't listened to the newer stuff, but it's basically the same design premise.

tonyb

Sp tech timepiece,that waveguard thing sounds interesting and people can't stop going goo-goo over the sound quality.

TroyD

Quads, man, Quads.

That said, I concur with El Roma.....stick the Amazings in the boxes and hang on to them.


That said, there are some speaks by Sonus Faber I wouldn't mind getting an ear on.

BDT

reeltrouble1

I am sorry, did I say I was selling the Amazings?????? I still have an image of Dipole Dan standing in the street in front of Al's lamenting the recent sale of his.

They may still be number one, but hell, its time to hit something else, no rush, and there are some excellent suggestions that I had not considered.

BDT there are some 989 for sale in Charleston.

RT1---speakers speakers speakers

SolidSqual

I know a guy selling his LS6s for $3K if you are interested.

George Grand

The little Sonus Fabers with the 6" woofer that my neighbor Dean traded in for MMG's gave me a boner.

dkg999

Face wrote: »

http://www.sumikoaudio.net/sonus/prod_elipsa.htm

I plan on getting my ears on these soon.

I've spent some time with the SF Cremona Elipsa's! Absolutely incredible. If I win the lottery or 10 yrs down the road when they are going for cheap on the used market, I will own a pair.

reeltrouble1

Its nearly always better to let Richie Rich take the first hit.

The little Sonus and the top end Legacy have peaked my interest a bit, along with one Lush suggested, there sure are alot of great speakers to pick from so the chase is half the fun. Those Quad 989 in Charleston are available and the guy wrote me this morning with some pics.

If I go Sonus big boys I am going Amanti. I retire in 2+ years so they may be my gift to myself, beats the hell out of some knock off watch.

I think I might move the Amazings into the big room upstairs, put the sand amp back on them and let them really breathe, then put some other speaker in the Shed with the tube gear, although, I did get some major wood last night in the Shed doing it with Ann and Nancy Wilson with the tube gear and their SACD. Damm that Ann has some pipes.

shack

IMO the Thiel CS6 or CS2.4 should be added to the short list to be considered.