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Looking for a Speaker Recommnedation

Looking to upgrade from my current Rogers LS3/5a + AB1 REL 328 setup .  While I love the smooth mids of these speakers (especially on voices/acoustic instruments), I tend to play harder music more frequently (alt/rock/punk/etc) which these do not excel at. I like to play music loud and have a real world living room my system is in (cathedral ceiling, open on one side, many windows. couch between my speakers) so setup is a challenge. I hate harsh sounding speakers.

My current playback system consists of a Oppo-BDP105 (or primarily Roon/JRiver via Ethernet) into a PS Audio DirectStream Jr DAC > Conrad Johnson Premier 14 Tube Pre > Conrad Johnson MF2500a Amp.  All run by a PS Audio P5 with a combination of Nordost/Shunyata cabling.

Looking to spend around $4,000-$7,000 but could be flexible. Used or new is fine.

Currently considering:

PSB Imagine T3
Vandersteen Trio CT
Spendor D7
Mangepan 3.7i (don't think this will work with high SPL)
Endeavor Audio E-3
Revel F208
Golden Ear Triton 1
Dynaudio Excite X44

Any other speakers I should be considering based on my equipment, volume preference and music? Anything I should eliminate?

Looking forward to hearing everyone's opinions & thank you in advance
fdemello
fdemello OP
76 posts
 
I would let you listen to my system if you ever made it to the Seattle area. Did you check out my system page? My 148s are about 12" away from the front wall, wish I could go farther out but it does not work for my room layout.
I did. 148's look nice there. Thanks for the offer on the listen. Most of us have a room trade-off to deal with it seems

PSB, Revel does interest me as well. Hearing the Dynaudio may be a tad bright

Any opinions on the Focal 936/948's?
itzhak1969
369 posts
 
The PSB , Proac and Revel are much better than the Focals I heard them once nice speakers but not enough interesting to listen for long term.
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
2,850 posts
 
fdemello  ...

Another Legacy fan here.  How would you like to keep a ton of cash in your pocket and improve your sound with a speaker that will blow the smaller Vandersteen's down the tubes?  Here's the suggestion:  Find a mint pair of used Legacy Signature III's or a nice used pair of Legacy Focus speakers.   The Signature III's are a bit of a rarity these days on the used market, but the Focus's are more common. Good pair of Signature III's go for around $1500. The Focus's go fro around $2000-$2500.  

Click on my avatar to see the Signature III's.  And yes, I've heard the smaller Vandesteen's and made the comparison. No contest. 

Frank
fdemello OP
76 posts
 
Find a mint pair of used Legacy Signature III's or a nice used pair of
Legacy Focus speakers.
I don't know much about the Legacy's. Will have to do some digging. Checked out your speakers. Nice system.

Thanks for the suggestion
Ag insider logo xs@2x
gdnrbob
2,421 posts
 
There are a pair of Vandy Quatro's on Audioconnection's website preowned for $5K. If I knew, I would have bought them instead of the Treo, oh well.
Where are you located? Johnny Rutan is the best and can give you the best advice on Vandy's. PM him, he is audioconnection on Agon.
I will also reiterate my recommendation for Zu as a low cost alternative.
For a speaker without crossovers, it gives comparable sound to many higher priced speakers. Plus, you can trial them for 30 days and only lose shipping costs.
Bob
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