Silverline Sonata II or III owners

Thanks for the responses, guys.

Mike, what would be some of your recommendations for speakers bettering the the Sonata's in that price range? They would be used in a combo 2-channel/HT system, usage about 50/50. Looking for something non-fatiguing yet accurate for classical, jazz, occasional classic rock.

Oz, I don't know what you mean by a "boxy coloration" in the midrange. Could you elaborate on that? Thanks.

Bill

Interesting questions. I'm interested in the recommendations for speakers and description of “boxy coloration" in the midrange also.

Brm1:I have owned both and sold both, their are better speakers for the money.MHO.

Would you be kind enough to summarise your listening experience, ie, which speaker(s) did you find to be better values in this price range?

I don't agree with Oz or Mike. But of course it is all personal. I have the Sonata III's and love them. I have tubes and perhaps Oz & Mike have ss. I am not local to you but I am to Silverline. I met Alan at his shop and had a most pleasurable experience. I brought in the speakers I had at the time and set them up side by side. He had a driver that was in my Meadowlarks and showed me the difference between the Dynaudio he uses and whatever Meadowlark used, can't remember. Big difference, even to an uneducated observer like myself. Good luck.

The sound I am talking about was first heard on jazz guitar, and I am guessing here, around 500-800 Hz. I can tell you the first thing I heard it on was Russell Malone's guitar on a Diana Krall disc. The sound was smeared and had a "cupped hands" tone. To verify what I was hearing I brought my Polk Monitor 7s into the system and the guitar was crystal clear and articluate. I tried moving the speakers all around the room, thinking I was exciting a room mode, but I could never get rid of it. I heard it on some tracks on the Knopfler disc "Sailing to Philadelphia" too. Just a closed in type of sound. Now some recordings sounded pretty damn good, especially large scale stuff. But once I heard this shortcoming, I couldn't get beyond it.

Oz