New speaker advice

[findog3103]

I would like some speaker buying advice. Here is my criteria if I buy some new speakers in the future:

 

• full range
  
• bookshelf or on the smallish side for floorstanding (I live in a Philly row home)
  
• 4 or 8 ohms
  
• under $5000 new
  

 

I play mostly the rock 'n roll! and jazz, with a little classical. So, everything basically. Thanks in advance.

[pawsman]

I'd take a look at the Selah Audio Tempesta - it's a 3-way stand mount with

state of the art drivers (i.e. Scanspeak illuminator mid/bass, Accuton midrange,

and RAAL ribbon tweeter), and very extended bass response. The Scanspeak mid/bass

and RAAL tweeter are very detailed, dynamic drivers; the Accuton midrange is ceramic,and also very detailed.

Check the Selah Audio website, and click on customer reviews at: Selah Audio

to see some reviews of the Tempesta. I personally have the Selah Verita(a 2-way monitor)

and I'm looking to trade up to the Tempesta-

 

pawsman

[jackfish]

The Totem Forest takes up no more room than bookshelves on stands.

 

Totem Acoustic Forest loudspeaker Erick Lichte, January 2010 | Stereophile.com

[Blake]

I am partial to stand-mount speakers, augmented by a subwoofer.

 

How about the brand new Revel Performa3 M106 combined with the new Revel Performa3 B110 or B112 sub?

 

Other standmounts that are interesting to me: KEF LS50, Sonus Faber Venere 1.5, or one of Totem Acoustic's standmounts: Model 1 Signature, Element Ember (pushing your budget if you go with a sub), etc.

 

I have owned a few Totem models over the years and they are terrific.

 

Question is on a few of the speakers I mentioned- how much of an upgrade would they be as compared to your Dynaudio Excites. I think the Totem models would beat them. Can't say on the others though.

[Blake]

...also interesting (if using a sub, as you said you want full range), the Evolution MMMicroOne, at $2,500. That leaves you with a nice chunk of change to buy a great sub.

[findog3103]

Thanks for the advice and selections. I will check them out. Blake, you are right. The Excites are rather wonderful speakers, quite pleased with them. I am really thinking in the long term as I would like to audition some full range to see the difference I would get.

[firedog]

Try Devore Fidelity Gibbon 88's; I had the earlier model 8 and it was a great little floorstander that took up no more room than monitors on stands, but had floorstander qualities yet worked in a small space

[wisnon]

Shelby+Kroll

Heil AMT Aulos bookshelf

Rowen (any LMT speaker) - must be special ordered from Switzerland. See 6moons Industry news section (6moons industry features: Rowen's LMT) for the blurb on LMT or the rowen http://www.rowen.ch/fr/lmt.php website

 

More here: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=u45q50gkn8rv6p3ift8a9v8kfvpoga90&topic=110578.0

 

Kef LS50

 

For subs, think TBI powered Subs, the Magellans.

[Jsmith]

I had a pair of Harbeth Compact 7-ES monitors that I loved. They were decently full range on their own. They sounded very musical with good imaging. They are bigger for a monitor, and need to be away from the boundary if possible. So they may not be perfect for you.

 

The Monitor 30's are getting rave reviews and smaller than the Compact 7s.

 

Harbeth UK

 

Rega speakers are smaller and meant to be used near a wall. They were designed for a small UK apartment. My only concern is that if your budget allows $5k you will find better speakers as most of the Rega's are $2K ish.

[wisnon]

Geddes speakers too...wave guide tech.

[m&m's]

fwiw,take a look at the reference 3a mm de capo be's they are the newer model with beryllium tweeters

[AudioDoctor]

My Zu Essence may be for sale soon...

[Melvin]

 

Kef LS50

 

+1

 

fwiw' date='take a look at the reference 3a mm de capo be's they are the newer model with beryllium tweeters[/quote']

 

+1

[mayhem13]

Highly subjective question.....BUT.....following your guidelines and what I like from a loudspeaker, this would be as good as it gets for me

 

Argon³ L | Amphion

 

You'll have to take a rad trip to DC to listen to a pair, but IMO, it's worth the trip

 

Washington DC Home Theaters, Tyson's Corner Home Theaters, Vienna Virginia Home Theaters, Home Theater, Home Automation Experts - Evolution AV

[Musicophile]

The best bookshelf speakers I've heard in this price range are the B&W 805D. The Diamond tweeter is just amazing:

 

B&W 805 Diamond Loudspeaker (TAS 210) | The Absolute Sound

[wisnon]

The best bookshelf speakers I've heard in this price range are the B&W 805D. The Diamond tweeter is just amazing:

 

B&W 805 Diamond Loudspeaker (TAS 210) | The Absolute Sound

 

I have listened to this a lot at my Dealer's showroom. Not bad, but not loving it. Much prefered the Aulos bookshelf with the Hiel tweet or the Roksan mini-monitor with the BG Planar tweet, both for less money too.

[DomieMic65]

give an audition harbeth or spendor (classic series)

[Blake]

Usher Be 718, or the larger Mini One Dancer might be interesting (since you seem to be open to smaller floorstanders):

 

Usher Audio Dancer Mini 1 Usher Mini 1 Loudspeakers Pair in Maple Finish | eBay

 

 

a professional review (yeah, I know, all audio journalists are to be distrusted):

 

Usher Audio Dancer Series Mini One Diamond DMD Loudspeakers A loudspeaker sure to turn heads! Review By Anthony Nicosia

 

 

USHER DANCER MINI ONE REVIEW

[guydebord]

The best non-powered small monitors I ever owned/heard were the Canadian made Reference 3A MM de Capo's. I recall their sound as I recall a passionate past love. If you have a tube amp, these monitors with their high sensitivity will make music sound like liquid gold.

 

Another option I was very impressed with: Mark & Daniel Maximus-Monitor II, definitely worth to look at.

[spdif-usb]

If I were you I'd get a pair of Emotiva Pro Stealth 8 powered studio monitors for $1,498 and then pocket the cash.

 

Emotiva Pro — Stealth 8