low volume, microdynamics,body,presence, 10k used.


Looking for speaker options for a mid sized room, preferred listening levels at 70 to 90db, ss amps only (Ncore or Hegel)

60hz to 15khz is sufficient for me, but the midbass must have proper weight, and the clarity must remain clear with demanding music ie orchestra or big band.(So no 2-way speakers?). Rock solid timing (microdynamics, impulse response, transients, prat),body, presence and inner detail is essential to me.

Equally important is that the bass driver matches the exact speed of the mid driver to get good coherence in timing. No mtm configurations as they don't get the imaging right imo.

I liked the Wilson Sophia for its dynamics & bass but it could be a bit faster, I liked the ATC scm 50 asl for the definition and wide dispersion of the mid, but the bass is a bit thin and the speaker only comes to life at higher levels. Didn't like gallo 3.1 for its tweeter and driver integration, don't like ringradiator tweeters,don't like panels. Didn't like Ceramic driver based speakers - even with tubes (no weight, no inner detail)

So I am looking for a wide dispersion speaker with great midbass and speed that comes to life at low levels and delivers fullness, texture and presence with the limitation of ss amps only. A Wilson Sophia mini would be great. What would you recommend?
128x128zuio
You probably won't believe me, but a pair of Vandersteen 2 or 3's set up properly will easily do what you are asking. The only question is your amps. I've never heard them so I can't comment on them. My comment is based on the sound I get with my Ayre V-5 (s).
I think that getting the body and weight you want with the ncore amps is going to be tricky. Maybe putting a tube preamp in front of it would help. But the ncore in my experience is excellent at detail retrieval and at the frequency extremes, but is lean in the mids. Preferred the Coda amp in the mids when I compared the ncore with a friend's Coda. The lil TBI Millenia amp was recently compared to ncores on Audio Circle, and the comment there was that the TBI seemed better in the mids (IIRC, check out the specifics for yourself).

No speakers come immediately to mind, but I'd think hard about what the ncore gets you relative to the attributes of sound you list below.
zd542 - vandersteen is a rare brand here in europe. i like time and phase coherence but how is off axis listening with these speakers?

Roscoeii - the ncore is meant for very warm speakers that do the body thing well but need more detail. For neutral speakers i would use Hegel amps.

Samhar the room is 15x19

I would add that by body i mean a cohesive quality that horn PA sounds have at higher levels. Maybe the more correct question would be: what is the fastest dynamic 3way speaker that sounds lively at low volumes?
Hi Zuio, Ncore amps appear to have an inherent ability to drive difficult loads with total aplumb... For an upcoming scribbling project, I have just completed breaking-in and analyzing a pair of NC1200 NCore-based amps driving my Vienna Die Muzik speakers with amazing results. Muzik have incredible driver coherence, extension and musicality because of their unique flat coaxial midrange/tweeter driver, and various other design solutions. See my technical discussion on PFO No. 59:

http://positive-feedback.com/Issue59/vienna.htm

If used Muzik exceeded your budget, and you are seeking an immediate solution, I suggest you to look into a used pair of Vienna Mahlers (predecessors of Die Muzik)... I used them for several years with Rowland M312 and other class D amps and they unfailingly deliver phenomenal music. My original review of Vienna Mahler V1.5 was published on The Absolute Sound No. 188, and an online version can be fount at:

http://www.avguide.com/review/tested-vienna-acoustics-mahler-v15-loudspeaker

But if you were willing to wait a few months, Vienna Acoustics has almost completed the Beethoven Imperial Grands, a single box trickle-down version of the DIe Muzik, which is expected to retail for $10K starting this Autumn.

BTW, my music interests are almost exclusively classical.... chamber, large orchestra, vocal.... Dowland to Bartok and beyond. I cannot stand emphasis of leading edges, nor the opposite homogenizing caramelization of music.... I seek transparency and harmonic exposure, authority and micro-detail, revealing the emotion of musical interpretation.

BTW, what Ncore amps are you using or planning to use?

Saluti, Guido