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Need a system for Chamber music--ideas?

My current system does well with larger scale works - orchestral, choral, etc, and also with solo works. Where it struggles is with chamber music. String quartets in partiuclar are a problem. It is essentially impossible to distinguish between the 1st and 2nd violins. Maggies are always going to struggle with this due to the side by side arrangement of the ribbon tweeters with the midrange panels. I could go two ways.
1. A completely distinct system in another room, using monitors. If I go this way, I might like a reccomendation on a tube integrated to pair with the speakers, and the speakers should be able to go close to the wall for flexibility. A concern here would be decent reproduction of piano-- don't want to create a new problem in listening to piano trios etc. I'd probably like to stay under 7K for the amp and speakers new or used.
2. A set of floor standing speakers or monitors to swing into place in my current system for listening to chamber. They should be below 80lbs each to facilitate moving. The maggies are going to stay for large scale works. I'll keep the current system in place, so the floor standers should work well (at least initialy) with high powered SS amps like my Cary 500.1's. Again, 7K-10K, new or used. Accurate timber and coherence, especially with violins, are imperitive. It will not be necessary for them to play above 90dB. Also, the speakers must be able to throw a convincing stage for string quartets. Speaker placement will be along a short wall in a 15.5 x 19 x 8' room. I do like the sound of Sonus Fabers. Might be open to Dali's. Wilsons in this price range are out, and I don't like Dynaudio, Theil, Aerial 7T's. Haven't heard Ref 3A Grand Veenas or Merlins but you hear good things about them. I will not buy speakers unheard, so I'm wanting to generate a list of speakers to audition. When I bought my maggies it was a 2 year process. Your thoughts please?
brownsfan
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
4,382 posts
 
I think Almarg is spot on with his "outside the box" solution.

I hear everything my system puts out and more with just a more than decent set of earbuds and quality portable DAC, with my iPod. Granted, it's not the same listening experience as in room but that 'room' is now removed allowing lots more detail, bass reinforcement, separation and air.

This different perspective may be the solution.

All the best,
Nonoise
brownsfan OP
1,238 posts
 
More good stuff! I have wondered about the Totem Manis. I should put them on my list of speakers to hear. I also like the headphone idea. That might give me a good option for chamber works while allowing me to continue upgrading the Maggie based system. I'm hoping more suggestions continue to come in, but I've gotten a good starting point and some ideas that would not have occured to me.
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
4,494 posts
 
I agree with the headphones. Just be aware that phones can be brutal in exposing bad recordings. The old 'watching sausage being made' thingy comes to mind. Have many times sent me running back to my not so revealing speakers.
Cheers
brownsfan OP
1,238 posts
 
Rok2id, I do have a few that I'm sure won't get much playing time with headphones.

The headphones solves another problem too, which is early morning listening. My wife goes to bed at about 3 AM and I get up at 5. When I retire, the headphones will get me my morning listen. Right now I am thinking the headphones ought to be the first step. Trouble is, a lot of the stuff I had been itching to try was also mentioned above. I've wanted a set of Quads forever, and I am really interested in the Coincident gear. I want a bedroom system, and I thought the monitor/tube integrated could fit the bill there. Darn, just too much neat stuff out there, all with its own unique strenths and weaknesses.

There is a late Haydn quartet (Opus 70-80ish)that has a fugue where the melody rotates through each member of the quartet. I need to listen to that carefully, and see how the first and second violins are presented in space. That should be a pretty good test of what the system is capable of, and may also be a good piece for tweaking the toe in.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
4,163 posts
 
How close are you sitting to the 3.7s?

Just my opinion, but using a front row center seat as a reference is faulty. It's as if you're trying to bring the audiophile experience to the concert hall. Sit further back, even if only a few rows, and get better enveloped in the blend of direct and hall sound.

Unless you can optimize, or at least get real close, you would be better off with two separate systems in different rooms. In a normal sized room with any pretense of domesticity it will be hard to properly place two different sets of speakers. You could always move the speakers in and out of their optimal spots, but I think you'll get tired of that routine fairly quick.
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