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New Speaker advice

I'm torn on new speakers...thoguht I would canvass this forum, which I have much respect for. I have done extensive auditioning at hi-fi stores, and am still torn! I do however have it narrowed down to the following:

1. Revel f206

2. Revel f36

3. Focal Aria 936

4. MoFi Sourcepoint 10

Initially, I was all in on the Revels because of how well the measure, particularly off axis, since I have an open concept living room kitchen that is wide. So the majority of my in store demos focused on them exclusively. To my surprise, I actually preferred the cheaper f36 models to the f206, perhaps due to the 1.8kHz crossover  between the tweeter and the top woofer, which is quite low...or perhaps it's due to the slightly higher sensitivity...or maybe it was just paired with a better amp. But regardless, to my ears, the f36 was just a more fun and exciting listen than the f206 which felt a bit bland and boxed in by comparison, despite being the better 'measuring' speaker. 

Being confused by the Revels in this way, I started exploring the Focal Aria line, and really enjoyed the Aria 936. Compared to the Revels, it sounded more 'exciting' to my ears...more forward without being fatiguing, big open soundstage and really nice texture. 

Recently, I auditioned the Mofi Sourcepoint 10 because, like many, I wanted to see/hear what all the hype was about. I was suspicious, even with Andrew Jones as the designer, with it being Mofi's first foray into speaker design...but I was honestly kind of blown away by them. 

At the moment, I am tempted by the Sourcepoints, but they are pushing my budget at over 3,500K with stands. To that end, the Aria 936 can be found in great used condition for around $2,500 and the Revel f36 for even less still.

Just curious if anyone has heard all of these speakers and has any feedback / insight? Or recommend anything at a similar price point. Attributes I'm looking for are: Open, airy sound but not too bright, great midrange (priority), and good off axis response (horizontal).

Current set up for context:

Vandersteen 3A, powered by Audio Research D-300, Denon 4700 as preamp, Topping D90 DAC, Sota Comet TT with Rega Exact cart and Parasound JC3 Jr phono pre.

Thanks 

128x128mattsaunders2000

Showing 1 response by oldaudiophile

oldaudiophile
283 posts
 

@mattsaunders2000 the speakers you are referencing are somewhat starkly different from one another.  This indicates, to me, that you were heavily influenced by the artifacts of the different sound rooms you were in, and the different source components used.  As ghdprentice advised at the outset, try listening with your ears; not your eyes (i.e.  speaker specs).  Among all the specs for all the hardware I can think of, speaker specs are the most unreliable and virtually least helpful.  What you power your speakers with matters a great deal more but not as much as your sound room dimensions, its acoustic properties and other source components.  Your lash-up power source (i.e.  amp & pre-amp) is a real wild card here.  I doubt any of the shops you were in were able to replicate this or even come close; not to mention the sound room and other variables.  It would be good if you could audition speakers in your home, with your equipment.

In my last speaker upgrade, I actually purchased a pair of one of the speakers you are presently considering.  This was after a lengthy quest of scheduled, structured critical listening sessions in several high-end audio shops involving A/B shoot-outs of approximately 18 or 19 different brands.  I spent several hours, in fact, with 2 of your contenders.  I was fortunate enough to hear the final 3 contenders on an amplification source identical to mine and with some other source components identical or very similar to mine, as well.  Of course, the sound room was different, mostly in acoustic properties but the dimensions were similar.  I was and am pleasantly surprised that the speakers I came home with actually sound noticeably better in my home than they did at the audio shop, most notably in further reaching or lower bass response.  Telling you which speakers I chose would be pointless.  The important thing is what sounds best to your ears; not mine or anyone else's.  Be that as it may, judging from what information you've provided, you might want to add PSB, GoldenEar, Monitor Audio and Martin Logan to your explorations.

Good Luck!

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