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Speakers to beat at the $30K mark in 2012
I am looking for a speaker to be driven by a high power solid state amp in a small to medium, well damped room. Around $30k price range. Preferences in order are:
1. Highly resolving/detailed 2. Accurate/neutral 3. Big, deep, controlled bass 4. Large open 3D soundstage 5. Extended but natural highs Must have: Clean, lively, and exciting; plays well with all genre's (rock/electronica) Which current speaker most closely meets these criteria? I would like to shortlist a few to audition. Some that I am considering: Wilson Sasha $27k (can be found 2ndhand) Rockport Avior $30 (wow!) Focal Scala Utopia $30 (findable 2ndhand) Magico Q3 $34 (looks great) Sonus Faber Futura $36 (more classical/jazz focused?) TAD CR-1 $37 (would need a sub) your recommendations and reasons please! EDIT: Additional recommendations: Dynaudio Confidence C4 Signature $22k Vivid Audio B1 $15k Wisdom Audio L75 SCS Sub ~$30k Sony SS-AR1 $27k Evolution Acoustics MMOne $38k Avalon Acoustics Indra $20k Vienna Acoustics' Music $27k Martin-Logan Summit-XS $14k Franco Serblin Ktema $40k TAD Evolution-1 $30k Magico S5 $29k Marten Django $15k Verity Audio Amadis $30k Audio Physic Avanteras $27k note due to 15 image per post limit some of the last speakers are not pictured here. they are pictured later on in thread Last edited by jdebonth; 01-26-2012 at 11:18 AM. |
#2
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Dynaudio Confidence C4 Signature...way less than $30K at $22K. See Atkinson's comments about them at CES last week; he was impressed. The C4s compete with speakers in the $45-$60K range.
Dynaudio's Confidence C4 Signature | Stereophile.com Uh, BTW, you won't need a sub for TAD CR-1s...
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components. |
#3
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IMO, unless you have a small room, they do need a sub.
They're probably the best sounding in that list too, YMMV.
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2CH: W4S DAC-2, W4S STP-SE, W4S SX-500, Custom ScanSpeak/SEAS Towers, Hot Rodded Rega TT and Jolida JD9 Phono Pre, Asynch PC Transport, WireWorld Gold Eclipse 6 XLR HT: Marantz AV7005, W4S Mini MC-5, Custom Waveguide Towers, SVSPB12-Plus/2 |
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I agree they are probably the best-sounding on that list....they would be my pick of that list.
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components. |
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Yes. Don't get me wrong, they're not bass shy, but they felt as they were missing out on the bottom octave. In a small room this can be a blessing, as they're less likely to load up and sound boomy. But integrate them with a pair of DSP subs and I'm not sure you'll find anything that sounds better, at any price point.
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2CH: W4S DAC-2, W4S STP-SE, W4S SX-500, Custom ScanSpeak/SEAS Towers, Hot Rodded Rega TT and Jolida JD9 Phono Pre, Asynch PC Transport, WireWorld Gold Eclipse 6 XLR HT: Marantz AV7005, W4S Mini MC-5, Custom Waveguide Towers, SVSPB12-Plus/2 |
#6
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#7
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My Dyn Contour floorstanders will actually go flat to 30 Hz in the right room config, but I did find adding a REL sub not only helped the bottom octave but smoothed out modes and nulls up to about 200 Hz. Above that, and the sub doesn't do much. My Contours are suprisingly flat from 800 Hz on out, measured as real-time, in-room response. I agree the TADs are probably the best speaker I've ever heard....that Andrew Jones guy is a fr**kin' genius when it comes to loudspeaker design. Turns out he has a twin brother who is also in audio, but not in loudspeaker design.
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components. Last edited by Puma Cat; 01-25-2012 at 07:30 PM. |
#8
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I agree.
They impressed me in the bass area!
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Stereo: Hegel H590, Grimm Audio MU1, Mola Mola Tambaqui, Burmester 948 - V3 & V6 racks, Vivid Audio G2 Giyas, REL Carbon Special (pair), Silent Angel Bonn N8 Ethernet Switch & Forester F1, Wireworld Platinum Eclipse IC and SE SC, Furutech Digiflux AV: Hegel C-53, Marantz AV8802A, Oppo BDP-203EU, Pioneer Kuro 60", Vivid Audio C1 & V1w's, Wireworld Platinum Eclipse, SE & E Second system (veranda): Halgorythme preamp and monoblocks, Burmester 061, Avalon Avatar, Sharkwire & Wireworld cables |
#9
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#10
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Pick up a pair of Skylan or Sound Anchor stands for a fifth of the price instead.
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2CH: W4S DAC-2, W4S STP-SE, W4S SX-500, Custom ScanSpeak/SEAS Towers, Hot Rodded Rega TT and Jolida JD9 Phono Pre, Asynch PC Transport, WireWorld Gold Eclipse 6 XLR HT: Marantz AV7005, W4S Mini MC-5, Custom Waveguide Towers, SVSPB12-Plus/2 |
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