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Looking for speaker recommendations

I retired a couple of years ago and as a hobby have become a bit of an audiophile.  I need some speaker advice from those of you who know more than I. 

I listen mostly to classical and jazz. System is on most of the day for background music.  I do more critical listen from 8-10 in the evening at low volume (50-60 db.)


Been buying and selling gear and my current system is a Mac computer, Teac UD-301 DAC/preamp, Classe CT-2300 amp, Vandersteen 2CE signature speakers. My listening space is a 20 X 18 foot living room with cathedral ceilings. Due to WAF restrictions, the stereo system is in a corner of the room with the speakers 10 feet apart, directed at my listening chair that is 12 feet away.  


The Vandys sound nice but I suspect they are too directional for my listening space and style.  I am looking for a speaker that has a more fuller sound stage and will fill the room with sound. Speakers will need to have a better WAF than the Vandys. (Wife does not like the black socks on the Vandys.)


I prefer to buy used and am looking in the $2-5K range.


My current short-list for speakers is-

Legacy-Signature SE

DeVore-Gibbon X


Any advice/recommendations would be appreciated.



128x1282tuby
assetmgrsc
13 posts
 
2tuby; I think that you would be well served to spend forty or fifty bucks to acquire back issues of the Absolute Sound and Sterephile, especially their issues with "editors' choices" and "best of"  recommendations.  It will get you some good reading and expose you to both a wide range of speakers and DACs that are in your price range.
I like these forums, most people mean well, but they can get confusing. Reading over back issues of both of these Mags may give you a better idea of what to choose from. 
good luckps chk out the forum on Road trip to demo $10,000 speakers  and you will see what I mean.
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
2,164 posts
 
Low WAF means a ton of $$$$ went into crossovers and drovers, veneer while pretty consumes $$$$
however you cannot pick two more different speakers....
flavor changes are understandable.....
consider a pair of Vandersteen 5 and run them with rear tweeter on when wandering
turn tweeter off during critical listening...
or Obelisk as others have said.....
and your preamp is holding you back....
have fun !!!!!
pkvintage's avatar
pkvintage
57 posts
 
Is there a discernible difference between a $1K DAC/preamp and a $3-4K DAC/preamp?

Yes. 3 to 4k you are in the quality used range. Audionote 3.1 is unbelievable it is a tube dac. It changed my audio direction all together. I went out and purchased a Audionote 3M line preamp (under 3k$) to match. All powered by a Bryston 3Bst.

I changed from a NAD M51 dac with Bryston B1 preamp. I had many quality speakers including a fully active Linn System.

Back to speakers. This AN system has made all my speakers soind good. I conected a set of restored  KLH model 6, a sime late 60's 2 way, I could not beleive how much betwr they sounded. Next were my JBL 100's, all the dreded peakes were gone. It  is adifferent listening experience.

My point is, even the best speakers can only reproduce what you feed them. Start with your dac and pre. I think you may find your solution.

Look into Audionote. Good luck. 
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
3,018 posts
 
I agree regarding DACs and preamps. For a combo Dac/Pre, $3 to $4K moves you into a much higher level of build and sound quality.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
3,018 posts
 
My original advice was to look for an upper level Devore used. But, if you were to purchase a separate preamp such as an Audio Note and use your Teac DAC for now, your opinion of the Vandersteens may change. A very good tube preamp combined with your amp would very likely transform the presentation of your system.

Full disclosure, I'm also an Audio Note owner...Dac 2.1 Signature and M2 Special linestage.


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