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best speakers for vocals?

Hi, I was wondering what people's thoughts are on speakers that are best for vocal centric music? I am looking for speakers that are best at reproducing vocals, especially female in the most lifelike, 3-dimensional, airy, emotional manner. I am trying to recreate a lifelike, live show, front row sound. To this end, I prefer a speaker that can create a holographic soundstage with a palpable vocal sound with some weight.

I listen mainly to jazz, pop, adult contemporary, down tempo.

My budget is < $15,000.
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Showing 3 responses by jtgofish

jtgofish
490 posts
 
The 300b valve is another important ingredient to consider.These struggle to drive many speakers though-certainly most stats.The alternative is to use a 300b preamp like the Supratek Cabernet.

JT
jtgofish
490 posts
 
Nothing comes close to electrostats in these areas.Once you live with them for a while you come to realise how tonally wrong and box bound dynamic speakers sound.
Other than that the Edgar midrange horns are pretty good and if you really want box speakers the modern day derivatives of the BBC designed monitors [like Harbeth and Spendor] come closest.Also adding ribbon super tweeters to pretty much anything adds "air".
Artists such as Alison Kraus,Eva Cassidy,Mary Black,Frances Black,Mindy Smith,Casey Chambers are good tests for this.Many speakers kill the vibrato in their voices.

JT
jtgofish
490 posts
 
Semi,What you say about dome mids is true tonally.Unfortunately this does not translate to really good imaging though.I have used many domes and none of them have well focussed imaging.Cones and stats are much better in this regard.The Edgar Mid horn uses a Dynaudio D54 and this changes dispersion patterns[not to mention sensitivity],which improves imaging.These have negligable"horn" colourations if the horn is sand damped.

JT
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