Speaker Recommendation: 20K range


I’m looking for new speakers in the <20K range. 

I am not looking for used, unless it’s a demo model straight from an AD.

I am hoping to find a line that clearly beats speakers in the ~10K range like Magico A3, Revel 228BE, Legacy Focus SE etc.

I will be pairing the speakers with a Lumin D2 streamer, Mcintosh C2600 pre and MC452 amp. Changing those components is not going to happen anytime soon and so system synergy with those pieces is important. 

I also would like the speakers to be rated at 500W given the amp I will be using and the fact that the listening space is quite large. 

While I mostly listen to jazz, rock, pop, classical and vocals, I am really looking for speakers that sound amazing with any genre. I also need them to sound great at moderate levels of volume. 

I currently have Focal Kanta No 2s, and while they are quite nice, I want something much better in all respects. 

I am not really up to speed on all the audiophile terms that describe the various traits of sound – I just want my jaw to drop when listening to the speakers with any genre at all volume levels, if that’s possible :) 

I am close to NYC and would like to narrow down the list to ~5 candidates before I start auditioning.

Hopefully you guys can help me compile a list!

Thanks in advance for your time and suggestions.

chandybe

Showing 5 responses by mtrot

Well, if you like the Focal sound, there is the Sopra N3.  If you like Legacy Audio, there is the Aeris.  The Revel Ultima II Salon are also about that price new, but a lot of them are showing up around $11k used.  The problem is, there are seemingly hundreds of speakers in that price range--Monitor Audio, B&W, Sonus Faber, Paradigm Persona, Marten, Dynaudio, just to name a few. 
If you have the room, the set of Rockport Aquila on audiomart has to be the deal of the century. 
Well, I will say, that is the size room the Aeris is meant for, i.e., big. Also, with the Aeris’ powered woofer sections, you wouldn’t be needing massive power for the mids/highs either, and your current amp situation should be fine. The Aeris setup at RMAF last weekend sounded fantastic.

That said, the Aeris works best for a two-channel music system, and is not as easily incorporated into a multi-channel setup because of the Wavelet room correction technology. Are you running two-channel, or multi-channel?
@ chandybe
Check with the Legacy people as to how it could be made to work.  Also, I spoke with them in April, and they said they can build a passive version of the Aeris that would be easier to use in a multi-channel system.  With a passive version, you could just hook it up.  I assume it could still have the powered bass section.