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Speaker suggestions?
Hi guys I'm looking for some of that good Audio Aficionado advice and input you provide so well. I am beginning to get ready for speaker investments and have incorporated system hardware upgrades and tweaks. Speakers are the final destination before allowing my wallet and budget to cool down a bit since they have both been smoking of late. Man this is one expensive hobby we have here! My system is ARC based with a VS-115 Amp and LS-27 Pre, NAD M5 CD transport, Project 6 PerspeX turntable - Sumiko Blackbird MC, M2Tec Evo DAC, Nordost Power cords and Interconnects, and currently Definitive 400 Towers featuring powered subs (previously of my surround sound for TV). My listening environment is difficult to describe but I will try: it is 13' wide X 17' deep, carpeted and is 15' tall before expanding to a marble floor open foyer that is 20 ' tall and another 18' behind the chairs of my listening spot and I haver not measured the additional width that opens (the back of the listening area opens up to a cavern essentially). Amazingly I get great audio in the listening area without a lot of whump and boom. I know at some point an investment in treatments and sound analysis will pay handsome dividends though.
I like smooth and traditional Jazz, R & B and Olskool Pop (vinyl mostly - but the DAC has opened my eyes to the possibility of digital performance audio.) And now for the worst part. My budget can only stand to spend in the $3,000 to $3,500 range for speakers - I am willing to cut back on a few non essentials like food and auto fuel to reach for the higher end on the speakers but after that doom and gloom ; - 0. I am partial to good clean bass, and midrange but hate hearing hard edges on the high end. The Def Tec's have spoiled me with powered subs, although some days it is difficult to manage the base so the sound is clean, and not forced but throaty. I have auditioned the new Golden Ear Tritons (and really like them) but keep seeing the Martin Logan's and Maggies showing up (I don't think I can reach the Maggies but you might have some suggestions for me). Before plunking down I would really like to check it out thoroughly because my choice is going to have to last a while. I'm copying essentially this same message to the Wilson and B & W crowd too. Can't wait to see what you all have to say. Thanks. Larry |
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Larry, having owned Maggies in the past and Logans presently I love 'em both ! Given your $$ range you could easily get into a used pair of Vantage's possibly Spire's but I doubt it. Your amp can easily drive the hybrid Martin Logan design, might be more of a challenge against the Maggies though.
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Mains -> RSA_HZ-Crown-Jewel -> RSA_Dmitri -> Lessloss_DFPCs -> Olive_04HD+W4S_DAC2 / Oppo93 -> W4S_STP-SE -> Sanders_Magtech_Monos -> ML_CLXArt+Depthi(x2) -> Todd |
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Larry...ARC and Maggies make for a great combo. You can search Agon and other audio forums but that pairing is well known to complement one another (read any of Jonathan Valin's reviews of either ARC or Magnepan gear). In any case, I would recommend the Magnepan 1.7s ($2K retail) with your VS-115s and if you need more bass, you can supplement with a subwoofer.
Outside of Martin Logan and Magnepan speakers, the other well known combination with ARC are Vandersteen speakers. In your budget new, the Vandersteen 3a Signatures should work. You could probably get a used Vandersteen Quatro in your price range as well. Last edited by cmalak; 03-30-2012 at 09:57 PM. |
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Great recommendations! Mike
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Mike |
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The best pair of loudspeakers is the one that you are going to pick according to your listening sessions, in your own room.
Nobody else can pick them for you. |
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Dave, no worries. I have been to break a few myself.
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Maggies take alot of power. Is a VS 115 enough? My experience with older models from both lines- the ML is a hybrid right? and no doubt sounds like one, no matter how much tweaking you do. There is magic in electrostats though that is pretty impossible to duplicate in the midrange. The maggies will come close, and if you feed them properly, can give you a similar level of openness, they may also sound a little more coherent since they are all of a piece (no dynamic woofer with those, right?) Somehow, and this may be my prejudice, but if I were going to be playing loud alot, I'd probably opt for the maggie, and if I wanted more info at low volume, the electostat. Of course, it also depend on your room, and set up, as well as the amp and the rest of the chain upstream.
Do you have a dealer of both products in your 'hood that would let you do a home trial? Obviously ideal. And, the easiest way around the budget issue is to buy used, but preferably from an authorized dealer who can stand behind a limited time warranty. Good luck. When ARC and Magnepan first started, they shared alot of marketing resources, and perhaps more. I remember that dealers of one used to carry both lines and a visit from the Minnesota home office, especially when William Zane Johnson was in his prime, was a thing to be feared! They are all good products. Used Quad might be worth considering too, with the same caveats. |
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I had Magepan MMG's and have just upgraded to Magnepan 1.7's. Before deciding on the 1.7's I went to my dealer and I spent 3 hours deciding what to go with. I have read wonderful things about the Martin Logins so I really wanted to spend time with both. I was not planning on upgrading again for a long time.
I sat with the Martin Logans and the with the Magnepan's, both sources and songs played were identical. I just seem to prefer the overall sound signature of the Magnepan's, especially in the higher frequencies.
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Steve Audio Room:MC1000 Mono-Blocks, C2300 w Gold Lions, Eastern Electric DAC Plus, Magnepan 1.7,SVS SB13Plus sub, Squeezebox Touch,Rega RP1 performance,iPad2, SurgeX XS10 Portable Rig: Audeze LCD2 w custom cable, Cypher Labs Algorhythm Solo, Ray Samuels SR71-B Balanced Amp, ALO Audio cables, 160GB iPod, |
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Quote:
Cheers
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Mains -> RSA_HZ-Crown-Jewel -> RSA_Dmitri -> Lessloss_DFPCs -> Olive_04HD+W4S_DAC2 / Oppo93 -> W4S_STP-SE -> Sanders_Magtech_Monos -> ML_CLXArt+Depthi(x2) -> Todd |
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