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Where do you go after a Dynaudio C1 ?

I have been scouting for a pair of speakers to replace my Dynaudio C1, which after many years of enjoyment I now find voiced to relaxed for my taste. I am looking for speakers that comes as close as possible to the raw sound and timbre of voices and instruments with minimal house coloration, speakers that energize a room to give an electrifying feel of presence, speakers that convey both refined subtlety and explosive dynamics with effortlessness. This have to be smallish, either a standmount or small footprint floorstander, must work in condo-type living room, and synergize with high power rowland amp I use.

Two speakers I have listened to and consider top candidates are the Magico V2 and Focal Utopia Diablo. These seem to possess the attributes I seek. Given my parameters, what other speakers do you think I should consider? Buying new with budget $15,000 max, less the better. Please note purchase will be in the Philippines, where most small specialty brands are not available.
noelpastor
pani
1,049 posts
 
You are right Noelpastor, I could not even like a Evidence Temptation when I went through the same situation as you.

I could suggest you another approach in the absence of an ATC demo. You can buy a simple SCM11 from the used market for about $1.2k and listen to it. I preferred it to the C1. With ATC the sonic qualities remains the same whether you buy their entry level speaker or their top end speaker, only the scale, depth and bass extension improves. So if you do not like their entry level speakers you will not like even their highest end speaker and on the contrary if you like their high end speakers you will almost equally like their entry level models. Actually with ATC there is no "entry level", they are just meant for different room sizes and purpose (near field, mid field etc). Their drivers are not made to match a price point (unlike most other driver brands), rather they just build a driver for a certain application using all their knowledge. So, if you do not mind doing this simple exercise of getting a SCM11 (preowned) you will know exactly if it matches your taste.
pani
1,049 posts
 
Here is an SCM11 for sale for just $950:
http://app.audiogon.com/listings/atc-scm11-monitor-speakers-cherry-finish
nvp
317 posts
 

I see that so far nobody has mentioned Vivid Audio. Visually they can be a tough pill to swallow (IMO) but apparently they sound very very good. Anybody compared the Vivid Audio V1.5 or B1 with Focal Diablo and/or Raidho C1.1?

Pani, 70 speakers in 3 weeks … I am not sure what was your goal, to listen speakers or to count as many speakers costing between 2k and 8k are sold in your city. You can't expect us to take your assessment seriously. Nonetheless, you must be living in a hi-fi paradise city to have that many choices at hand. Where are you located?
ryder
946 posts
 
The ATC SCM7 is a sealed box design and doesn't go really low in the bass when compared to the Confidence C1 apart from not being able to play as loud. The response of the SCM7 is rather flat too being a studio monitor. Personally I feel the C1s give a more electrifying feel than the SCM7s which sound a bit thin and lean in comparison.

Personally I feel the C1 is quite perfect in reproducing the raw sound and timbre of voices and instruments with its squeaky clean character. Overall a neutral speaker which is a good all-rounder. Other speakers will offer a different but not necessarily better sound.
pani
1,049 posts
 
SCM7 is a very small speaker, costing $1k new. Comparing it to the C1 ($7k) may not be a good idea. Listen to an SCM40 ($4k) and then compare it to a C1 in whatever parameters you would like to.

I suggested the SCM11 approach only to get an idea about what an ATC sounds like.
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