Speakers to beat at the $30K mark in 2012

[jdebonth]

Updated List:

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)



Forum 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

[jdebonth]

continued...

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
Revel Ultima Salon2 $22k

[Kaliar]

Plenty of very good recommendations so far !
Another worthy candidate to consider would be the Verity Audio Amadis, a loudspeaker that respects all of your stated preferences:

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)

It has been reviewed in Tone Magazine, issue #42 (Variation On a Theme). Here is Jeff Dorgay's conclusion :

A Winner

This is really the point of diminishing returns. Crazy as it may sound, a handful of fantastic speakers in the $25-$40k range, with careful setup and electronics selection, delivers 90 percent of what cost-no-object speakers portray.

And these select few models do so without making the kinds of demands on room setup and amplifier power that are often associated with six-figure loudspeakers.

The Verity Audio Amadis is at the top of a very short list of speakers in its price range for which I would happily write a check, a designation that helps win it our 2011 Product of the Year Award in the speaker category.

Verity Audio Amadis
MSRP: $29,995-$37,995/pair, depending on finish

[Face]

Many of those speakers have different sound signatures, time to start demoing.

[jdebonth]

Originally Posted by Face

Many of those speakers have different sound signatures, time to start demoing.

Yeah so far this has been very divergent... which is good.

I want to shortlist 3 or 4 that provide closest to what I am looking for sonically and then audition these.

So far I think the TAD CR-1 and Rockport Avior's are on that list...

[AudioNut]

Don't hear much about German made - Audio Physic speakers in these pages, but they are a force to be reckoned with.

In the current issue of The Absolute Sound, Jonathan Valin compares a pair of Audio Physic Avanteras (27K) to speakers selling for over twice their price, and finds that they compare very favorably, and even beat them in some areas.

A headline on cover of the February 2012 issue of TAS proclaims: "Giant Killer! . . Audio Physic's Avantera Speaker".

I'd suggest reading the review and adding Audio Physic Avantera speakers to the list. http://www.avguide.com/review/audio-...peaker-tas-220

I'm currently using a pair of Audio Physic Caldera 3 speakers in my main system (discontinued but were 35K in my ebony finish) in preference to a (my) pair of Avalon Eidolons, because (IMHO) they equal the avalons in pure refined sound, transparency, etc, but are more full range, have much better bass and fill the room with sound much better than do the Eidolons. (and the Eidolons ain't no slouches).

My speakers were replaced by the Audio Physic Cardeas speakers, making the Avantera the second down in the line, but, having heard the speakers, I can say that they are serious world class contenders.

[Myles B. Astor]

Originally Posted by howiebrou

Franco Serblin Ktema? You should be able to get them for under 35k a pair and boy are they beautiful both in looks and in sound!

I would second adding the Ktema to the list though they're US list price is $39,995 (told to me by Art Manzano at CES this month).

[trponhunter]

TAD's will need subs. It's not just about bass dynamics and the ability to move air - but if you don't get any below 30hz info then you never good al lof the acoustical signals of space that are on the recording. It's really important to be truly full range to get all the spatial details.

[jdebonth]

Verity Audio Amadis and Audio Physic Avanteras added, great looking speakers.

[MDP]

Amazing that no one has mentioned Revel Salon 2's, Maybe the best value among high end speakers. Absolutely intoxicating sound, especially with Mc amps !!