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Best high-efficiency speaker under 10K

I have never played in the high-eff speaker / low-powered amp space, but I've read so many things that I would like to give it a try. I own an EAR 859 integrated amplifier, De Paravicini's interpretation of SET. It's pretty incredible, especially if you consider its price tag. I am now in the business of choosing the right speaker. I listen to a lot of jazz and vocals and opera. So, I can do without the sub-40HZ frequency range. I would like to stay between $3K to $7K, certainly below $10K. Here are the options i am considering:

1) Zu Audio Essence.
2) Beauhorn Virtuoso (single driver)
3) KCS louspeakers (the model that uses the SEAS exotic driver)
4) Devore Gibbons 8
5) Living voice Avatar

If I had to choose right now, I'd go with the Beauhorn, but I know their limitations.

Any thoughts/personal experiences with the above or any other speakers in this range? Thanks.
ggavetti
4musica44107
520 posts
 
Omega Loudspeakers are another good choice at the lower end of your price range, and they are a great value for the money. I have a pair of the Omega Super 8 Alnico XRS and they are terrific with small ensemble (jazz or classical), solo instrumental, and vocal music.

For a completely different flavor, you might also want to consider the DeVore Fidelity 3XLs - an extremely impressive monitor speaker that uses the same tweeter as is used in John's Reference Silverbacks.

Good Luck!
newbee
4,093 posts
 
Consider Silverline Bolero's. 92db and easy to drive (impedance curve wise). Dynaudio drivers including the Esotar tweeter. Full range and very smooth FR. Polite upper-mid range makes them non-fatiguing but they remain very revealing non-the-less. Excellent imaging and great looking as well. They cost 12K new. There is a pair for sale on A-Gon for 4695, about 50% of their price. I've had mine for 3years and haven't looked back!
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Attend RMAF or CES and listen to your choices. Forget trying to choose speakers by relying solely on comments from others.
ggavetti OP
141 posts
 
Tvad, you put way more weight to half-hour listening sessions in a hotel room than I do. In my experience, listening to a speaker in a hotel room with equipment that is very different from yours is not very informative. The beauty of audiogon fellow travelers is that they have lived with a particular speaker for long, and they know it inside out. Plus, you can get leads like what suggested by newbee on pieces of equipment that you would have not considered. While I knew about silverline, they never came to mind before newbee mentioned them. So, thanks for your comment, but I still think there is a lot to be learned from fellow travelers.
tvad
9,467 posts
 

07-14-10: Ggavetti
Tvad, you put way more weight to half-hour listening sessions in a hotel room than I do.
I give hearing speakers significantly more weight than anyone's written opinion when making a purchase decision, regardless of the potential shortcomings of a hotel room audition.

I also do not recommend making a purchase decision after only a half an hour in a listening room.

07-14-10: Ggavetti
In my experience, listening to a speaker in a hotel room with equipment that is very different from yours is not very informative.
In my experience it far more informative than discussion group comments or reviews.

Having been down the road several times, and having purchased speakers based on hours and hours of reading comments, reviews and taking personal recommendations, I have learned that hearing speakers for myself is worth tenfold of what others say.

In fact, of any element of a stereo system, I believe speakers are the easiest to gauge in a relatively short amount of time in an audio show setting.

Hey, if you choose not to attend a show and hear speakers for yourself, than that's your prerogative.
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