For integrated, I am considering either Hegel H300 or H360. I going to buy one of these used. |
I own a pair of large bookshelves that were made by Rick Craig of Selah Audio. They use dual Scanspeak 5.5” revelator woofers and Scanspeak aircirc tweeter. I have mated them with a JTR 18” sealed sub. Right now I am using them in a 3.1 HT setup but I am planning to build a dedicated stereo system.
In terms of what I have listened that I really liked, I had auditioned a Dynaudio C1 with a Funk Audio 21.0 sub and that was great.
I created the list above of 7-8 speakers based on a lot of Audiogon threads. |
It feels like used Focal Sopra 3 is a lot better deal but there are a lot of threads about how Sopra 3 requires a large room. So concerned about that.
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Updated list:
1. Dynaudio Contour 60
2. Focal Sopra 2
3. Vandersteen Quattro Wood CT - though their size won’t pass WAF
4. PMC Twenty5.26
5. Wilson Audio Sabrina
6. KEF Reference 5
7. Focal Sopra 3
8. B&W 802D2
So far it feels like top 3 might be Contour, Sopra 3, KEF. |
@soix thanks for those suggestions. I actually did have D9 in my list originally. I am going to add that back. Given I now have 9 on my list and it is going to be challenging to audition all of them (let alone control for source gear), I will have to prune my list.
Another complexity is that in the last 7 years we have moved thrice. So the speakers can’t be fussy in terms of placement.
i might also do Axpona in April. Feels like a good way to listen to these and more. |
@bassdude multiple Sopra 2s have been sold for $9k or so. Sopra 3 range is circa 10k-$13k depending on the age. I think if I am patient enough, I should be able to get one for around $11k-$12k, which while slightly above $10k, is fine. |
So I got to audition 4 of the speakers on my list
1. Dynaudio contour 60
2. KEF reference 5
3. Paradigm 3F
4. PMC Twenty5.26
i tried all of them with same source gear : Rega CD player and two different integrated amps - Mcintosh and Audio Research VSi75
Overall Paradigm and KEF were my least favourite
1. 3F : it did not feel very clean. Plus my hearing is really sensitive to high notes and I feel I can’t tolerate any level of brightness.
2. KEF: there was nothing obvious missing but somehow it didn’t feel like I got the three elements I was looking for: heft in the bass at low volume, clean & sweet mids and airy top notes
Of PMC Twenty5.26 and Contour 60 there wasn’t a clear winner. I preferred bass and high notes of Contour but midrange of PMC.
One speaker that wasn’t on my list but I loved was PMC MB2. Exactly the sound I wanted - punch in low notes at low volume, really clean mid-range and very smooth highs. However it is never going to pass WAF.
I am trying Foca Sopra next. Dealer may even have Wilson Sabrina.
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@ebm thanks a lot for bringing up Magico A3. I read soundstage’s impression of A3 vs Sopra 2 and really intrigued by A3.
Alas there isn’t going to be great used deal for a while :) |
Thank you all. Auditioning Focal Sopra 2 vs 802 D3 vs PMC Twenty5.26 tomorrow. It’s not the same dealer. Will see how it goes.
I really want to like (love) one of these. After these only two I have left on my list are Wilson Sabrina and Magico A3 (unless I compromise on size and start considering Vandersteen or Legacy Aeria).
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So I auditioned B&W 802D and Focal Sopra 2.
The gear: it was different from the gear I auditioned previous 4 speakers (Contour 60, PMC 26, KEF Ref 5 and Paradigm 3f on). Previous gear was Rega CD player and McIntosh and Audio research integrated. Today I tried it with PS Audio Pre and PS Audio Monoblocks.
There were parts I liked about each speaker but didn’t like any in whole
focal: felt tight and precise. However lacked the soundstage of B&W
B&W: awesome wide soundstage. However didn’t quite have the separation of Focal
i also found focal to be a bit boomy, but that could just be the room.
so only thing that’s left now is Magico, Wilson Sabrina and maybe Vandersteen. For those 3 I would have to wait until I get back to NY.
Of the ones I have listened to so far, fav 3 would be
1. PMC for mid
2. Dynaudio for bass
3. Focal for the closest overall package - but still 7/10
I am probably also going to try and listen to Spendor D9 and Proac. |
@shoff thanks for that. I am definitely going to try Rockport Atria.
I really hope beteen Sabrina, Rockport Atria and Magico S3/ A3 I like something.
I have also been looking at Salk song Encore but there is no way to audition them for Axpona in April. |
@toneranger58 I did look at 700i but I didn’t want a separate DAC. So I am planning to either buy Hegel 360 or Hegel 300 and use Chromecast Audio.
What DAC and streamer are you using? |
@pbnaudio thanks for the link. They do look great. Though I haven’t heard of them as much as Many other direct players - Selah, Salk, vapor audio etc. |
Hey guys
sorry for going silent. Between the move to NYC and settling in here, last couple of months have been very hectic. So finally resumed the auditioning and tried Kanta 2 and Sabrina.
To to recap what all I have tried so far
In AU
1. Focal Sopra 2 felt tight and precise. However lacked the soundstage of B&W 802
2. B&W 802 D3: awesome wide soundstage. However didn’t quite have the separation of Focal
I also found focal to be a bit boomy, but that could just be the room.
3. PMC Twenty5.26 - British seems to do Mid really well. My fav mid, but didn’t like the overal package.
4. Dynaudio Controur 60: Great bass. However didn’t feel it had the musical accuracy that I like.
5. Paradigm 3F : it did not feel very clean. Plus my hearing is really sensitive to high notes and I feel I can’t tolerate any level of brightness.
6. KEF Reference 3: there was nothing obvious missing but somehow it didn’t feel like I got the three elements I was looking for: heft in the bass at low volume, clean & sweet mids and airy top notes
7. PMC MB2. Exactly the sound I wanted - punch in low notes at low volume, really clean mid-range and very smooth highs. However it is never going to pass WAF.
Speaker no 1 & 2 were with the same gear and 3-7 were with the same gear.
In NY: given multiple months have passed. Plus electronics have changed. So really hard to make a comparison.
8. Focal Kanta 2: I tried it with Naim Atom and overall was probably the third most satisfying combo I hve tried. I also tried it with Moon 240i but I think I liked Naim pairing better.
9. Wilson Sabrina : tried it with Moon 240i. Great soundstage, much larger than Focal Kanta 2. Overall my second favorite package. Only hesitation I have is whether the combo might be a tad with too forward (recall my hearing is too sensitive and can get irritated even with what others might consider neutral). I switched the Amp to McIntosh MC252 but that took away from the soundstage. So I am keen to see how these sound with Naim.
Magico and Rockport are only two that are left. I might try Devore Super 9 or X as well.
One small complication - not enough space in NYC apartment and 11 month old twins love to chew any cable and kick anything that’s taller than wider :)
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Finally listened to A3 today. Will add my notes shortly.
Happy new year everyone. |
