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Help narrow my speaker search. $2500-$3500 used.

I am upgrading my Totem Forests. I love them but I'm looking for the next level of refinement. They are a bit fatiguing as they get a little hot on vocal sibilance. Other than that I would have kept them forever. I am running a Cary 303/200 CDP into a Spectron Musician II. All Cardas Golden Cross cables.

I am relaxing the budget to $2500-$3500 used. Top contenders are so far are PSB Synchony One, Vienna Acoustics Beethoven; Sonus Faber Grand Piano Domus or Dali Helicon 400 Mk 2.

I have demo'd the Sonus and like them except for somewhat boomy bass, and maybe lacking the last degree of resolution. Very easy on the ear though, and gorgeous to boot. I am concerned they might be a bit too relaxed for low level listening.

I don't have a way to hear the Dali's. They are supposed to be highly resolving, so I may be jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire as far as a hot top end. I LOVE the way they look, but that has to be secondary.
I also haven't heard the Viennas or PSB's, but might be able to audition them

FYI - So far my favorite voicing has been the Dynaudio S3.4, but its too tall for my HT room. I want something under 44" tall. So if any of you know that one or more of these contenders has a similar voicing, let me know.

I also auditioned Acoustic Zen Adagio, and they weren't my cup of tea at all. Way, way too relaxed, and the soundstage wasn't nearly what I get out of my Totems.
jswarncke
tvad
9,467 posts
 
IMO, one issue you have is running your Cary CDP directly to the Spectron amp. You may have an impedance mismatch causing bass roll off in your amp, which will have the effect of making your speakers sound bright because of the lack of bass to balance the sound. Also, the Spectron II is not as refined as some other SS amps, including the Spectron III. The Totem speakers are not forgiving as you have heard.

I read post after post where people tried running CD players directly into their amps and discovered better sound by adding a preamp despite the less-is-more theory in the signal chain.

Bottom line, I don't believe your problem necessarily lies with your speakers, but rather with a mismatch caused by the combination of your electronics and speakers.

If you're determined to buy new speakers, then you should try to find speakers you like and match an amp to them, not the other way around...which you will discover results in a fair amount of "tail chasing".
jswarncke OP
66 posts
 
TVAD - thanks, but I am certain that is not the problem. I actually took the CDP and amp to the dealer to audition the Sonus. I also hooked it up to some Ushers. The sibiliance I hear with the Totems was not there. I have also tried a BAT preamp in line without much change in the sound. Not worth spending the money on a preamp.

Bottom line - I am convinced there is absolutely nothing wrong with my electronics. To the contrary, the Sonus dealer told me that it is the best sounding CD direct setup he has heard.

So - back to the original question - I am still looking for new speakers.. . .
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Okey dokey.
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,333 posts
 
The Vienna Acoustics Beethoven should do the trick to get rid of any midrange issue.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
FWIW, Von Schweikert used to demo their speakers
with Spectron Musician II amps.

Von Schweikert VR4 Gen III HSE are an incredible value at current used prices (and in your price range). Some of the best speakers VS ever made. In the black/black color scheme, they really disappear into a room. Even the black/cherry does pretty well in this regard. They are 3" over your height limit.

They are revealing speakers, though. They will not hide bumps and warts.
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