$40.000 speaker advise. Check out my list


Hello all,

I'm currently owning a system which consists of Mark Levinson 33H amps, Mark Levinson Nr 32 Pre-amp, a Wadia 860x Cd player and a pair Revel Ultima Studio speakers. Cables are Nordost Valhalla/Valkyrja.

I believe my speakers are the weakest link in my system and am considering upgrading. I listen to all sorts of music, from jazz, classic to pop/dance.

I have a few speakers on my wish list but they are not easy to find to listen to them so I want ask you opinion first before I start searching for a dealer the have one or more of these brands.

Could you please go through the list and rank them from 1 to 6, best to "worse" speaker and explain why you think the list should be in that order.

The speakers I am thinking about are (in random order):

1. Sonus Faber Stradivari
2. Verity Sarastro
3. Lumen White white light
4. Rockport Antares
5. Revel Ultima Salon
6. Avalon Eidolon Diamond

Thanks a lot for your help.

Regards,

Max
maxx1973
Here is a simple rating. These are all excellent speakers - and I have not heard them all. I'd put them in two camps, those with rigid lightweight drivers and those without. Personally I prefer damped cones (paper, woven fabric, polypropylene etc) - I'd rate the damped cones higher than those with aluminium or ceramic (rigid). Call me old fashioned if you will but I tend to find rigid drivers all too often have a fatiguing presentation in the mid-range.
do you like your revel studios? that is a good place to start from if you want suggestions.
I am off topic but I dont think you need to spend that much for great sound, the Vandersteen 5A is an awesome speaker for $20K
Hi Max, some audiophiles say the Apogee Diva (or the original Apogee) is the best speaker ever made regardless of money. You really want to have a dynamic type of transducer? In this case I would choose for the Sonus Faber or Kharma. Maybe you can buy a used pair of Kharma Exquisite 1D.

Chris