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Please help with speaker choices

Hi all,
Well the room and time has lead me down the road to upgrading speakers. A most exciting time, but alas, filled with choices and no possible auditioning for me.

So I must relie on this communities suggestions and help!!

First the current system:
Nick Doshi Preamp
Nick Doshi modded Lectron JH50
Amazon Referenze TT
Triplanar Tonearm
CDP-Don't have one yet
Focal 1007 Be Monitors-current speakers

Room Size:
21 by 13 with 8ft cellings

Music:
I listen to pretty much everything. Sorry for being so general. In one listening session I may move from Coltrane, to Cannonball Adderly, to Muddy Waters and Johnny Lee Hooker to Lucinda Williams and electric/folk Neil Young. Throw in some Dylan and then move onto the White Stripes, Beck, if I'm real rowdy maybe some Ramones or AC/DC, then come down with some Edith Piaf and a sip of 12 year single malt.

Reason for wantng change:
One is I find this a hobby. For me that means having fun with experimentation. So far I have only owned the Focals.
Two is now that I moved my system against the short wall and facing out to the long part of the room, the monitors seems lacking, like they are too small to fill the space, like it is too much effort. Three is I have nerver had a floorstanding speaker and the prospect excites me. Four is, sitting wise, I can only get about 9 feet near to the Focals. To place them closer puts them right in the middle of the living room. Not really acceptable. At 9 feet, the monitors just not presenting the soundstage I desire. At that distance with monitors, I am just not in the heart of the music.

Also something important to note is I like listening loud, but do not always have that option as my system is in the living room and out of respect for others cannot always listen loud so I must have speakers that offer low volume detail.

My choices so far (more of course welcome)
Sonus Faber Cremona floorstanders
Merlin VSM-Mxe
Verity Fidelio Encore
ATC 20's passive

At the higher end(only consider if HIGHLY recommended)
Verity Parsifal ovation
Sonus Faber Amati Homage

Monitors I might consider
Focal Mini-Utopia Be
Sonus Guarnari Homage

OK, sorry for rambling so much. Obviously I am putting a lot of thought into this. Any input much appreciated!

Peter
mariasplunge
mariasplunge OP
174 posts
 
Mark, thanks for the suggestions. As I listen to bass slam through my current system, a Bose ipod stand, I am reminded of the practical sense in all this. This Bose stand is ridiculously uninvovling. The rest of my system is in process of being built, so I have not even heard it through my current speakers. This, i know, seems ridiculous as well. How could I want to change speakers if I have not even heard my current momnitors on my current soon to be system.
Yet you must understand, change is the only constant, and so I desire more presentation, invovlment, presence. So a floorstander it is.
Therefore, I appreciate all and any considerations and truly enjoy researching them. So thanks.

Right about now, at this hour, the single malt is writing, not I. So excuse spelling, language, or any sense at all.

I am filled with options and must let the dust settle. This community is sooo knowledgable it is almost scary. Audphile, of course i must acknowledge your statements as well. I'll chwck out Dynaudio on your recommendation.

Cheers to all.
mariasplunge OP
174 posts
 
I must say, that I am not looking for a huge speaker here. It must be a medium sized floorstander. I do not want them to overpower my living room which os closed and intimate. Therefore anything too tall or too deep is out, despite the beauty of sound. Aesthestics are important to me as well. I want the speaker to disappear in the general decor. Hopefully that helps folks understand what i look for.
Peter
gregm
3,021 posts
 
Peter, reading your & others' posts and noting yr budget, I don't think you can get what you're looking for, the way you're looking for it:
i.e.,
* one stereo amp, driving more or less full-range speakers (you listen to music that requires mid-bass, voice and hi-freq (cymbals, etc) -- including brass, etc).
* low amplitude reproduction that is acceptable enough to envelop you in the music (or trick you to focus on the music, as it were).
* reasonably sized spkrs, compatible with a family room.

So, I believe you would be well advised to consider somewhat less conventional solutions -- such being, active speakers, for example.
In this respect, many can fit the bill, the most obvious coming to mind being Linkwitz Orions or ATC.

I think $: 7k can buy you a pair of Orions ready made (i.e. you can also purchase a kit) including the amplification required to drive them and the electronic xover.

ASAIK, the Orions' reproduction will outperform the (very good) commercial choices listed at any volume level below 110dB spl; they are not that big; they have reasonable aesthetics (go to linkwitzlab dot com); they are very versatile -- i.e. easily set up in a room.

Many would give (their) right arm (for) a pair of 4345 JBL Monitors.
Maybe; I would agree these are interesting spkrs -- but they are huge and probably aren't practicable.
Cheers
johnnyb53
3,490 posts
 
I also have to second your interest in Sonus Fabers. I think they're fabulous speakers and would do great things with the wide variety of music and volumes you listen to. Their tonal balance is similar to Mirage. You may even want to look into some used Sonus Faber floor-standers. There is a pair of Cremona floorstanders in the classifieds for $6500.

Or, although stand-mounted, you might want to keep an eye out for some Extremas. Those were S'phile Class A when they came out and I'm sure they still kick ass.

One thing cool about the Extremas--they have all the dynamic and frequency range of a large speaker, but they present a small front baffle, which means they'd throw an image like mini-monitors. Best of both.
mariasplunge OP
174 posts
 
gregm, I appreciate the information. The active ATC's are on my short list for sure. I've heard great things. However, the Lectron is my first tube amp and I am sticking to it for now. This is the world i have choosen for the meantime so the active speakers will have to wait for awhile.

Of course, like you voiced, i do have concerns about getting the sound I want out of this amp, but I'll try for now and have fun doing it!! At the very least, i'll achieve some sound and be able to use it as a reference for where I want to go next, if anywhere.

Johnny, thanks for the vote for the Sonus Fabers. have you expereince with the Cremona's. Very good looking. I was wondering about the small front baffle and what that sounded like. Monitor like huh? Good to know. I suppose that puts me in range of the audio physic line, which also has a small front baffel. I've entertained thoughts on the Avanti III's but wonder if they are just too much for my space? Can you give me more feedback on the Cremona sound? Thanks and cheers folks. I'll be away for a couple of days but always appreciate the time and info you guys put into this thread so keep it coming!!
Peter
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