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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
ptss
1,649 posts
 
Go an extra 9 grand. JBL DD 6700. You never get your tongue back in your mouth! And you may never leave your listening room! Cheers. 
duckworp's avatar
duckworp
62 posts
 
Last month I wrote a review of 15 different high-end speakers, most in this price bracket. Here's the link (toward the bottom of the comments I state the price of each):

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/a-brief-review-of-15-high-end-speakers-on-home-demo-including...

(my favourite was the Boenicke W13, which is around $20k)
biscorbit
92 posts
 
Harbeth 40.2.  Harbeth sounds great with Mcintosh.  
rlb61
362 posts
 
Recommendations are merely subjective opinions, and likely have no material relevance to your situation. Given your price range and your location, you have the opportunity to audition many speakers and, maybe even get a home trial in your room with your system. Trust your ears. That’s what I think you should do.
mzkmxcv
558 posts
 
First, asking to handle 500W is an almost meaningless request, as a 100dB speaker would need 5W to get as loud as an 80dB speaker with 500W. Most all music is mastered with 3-6dB of headroom above their peaks, meaning their peaks should register somewhere around 99-102dB in your listening position (almost nobody listens even close to this loud normally though); if you sit 4 meters away, an 85dB speaker would need around 155W to reach 102dB peaks.

For all the speakers I’ll list, I’ll also state their max peaks (per speaker, +3dB if the sound is coming from both) if sitting 4 meters away (+3dB to +4dB if sitting 2 meters away).


  • Kef Reference 5 (112.1dB), or save up for the Blade 2 (112.1dB)

  • Salk SoundScape 12 (103.1dB), long wait time but is custom finished in whatever you want); for this price range I bet you’d be willing to take the trip to listen to these. One of the only speakers you’ll see that is close to full range, no subwoofer(s) needed (still would benefit though).

  • Focal Scale V2 Utopia (doesn’t state, it recommends 500W but it likely won’t handle that much, but at 200W it’d be 111dB) 

  • Revel Studio2 (doesn’t state anything in amplification, but at 100W, playing it safe, it’d be 103.7dB). 

  • Sell your pre/amp, get a Dutch & Dutch 8c (99dB if not crossed over), and add dual Rythmik FV18’s and crossover (via the 8c’s settings) at like 40Hz. This speaker is truly a marvel of modern engineering, you’ve probably heard of the Kii Three, well this is even better.

Don’t forget about room treatment, it can add serious improvements.
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