Help fine-tune my speaker search

@soix  That's a good idea.  It's been a while since I've listened to Proac's. I used to have Studio 250s back in the day and am not familiar with their line now.  I liked the Studio 250s but didn't love them. I eventually sold them and then got the Boxers.  Any particular Proacs that you recommend now?

Thanks! 

@soix thanks!  I didn’t know that Usher made a bookshelf Dancer. Will look into it,  I met Jeff Joseph about 12 years ago. Nice guy and loved his speakers back then.  I didn’t realize he had something in my price range.

Thanks!  Also heard about some others to consider like Proac SM100, Spendor Classic and PSB Synchrony 600B.

@hilde45  t’ve never heard any of the 3 you mentioned but have read good reviews of Fritz.  What did you like about the Fritz vs the Special 40s?

@bache i was born and raised in Brooklyn so will have to make time to come check out the Metros.

@mattmiller Thanks for the rec on the Totem.  Have always liked the Totem sound when I’ve heard them and can’t believe I didn’t have them on my list.

@sbank definitely open to used but want to get something that’s under 10 years old. Thanks for the recs.  I don’t know Chario but will do some research.

Thanks, everyone!  There are a lot of Fritz fans!  That’s a good sign.  I went in search of speakers on Saturday and spent a couple of hours with Johnny Rutan at Audio Connection.  Great guy, great experience.  It was like hanging out with a good friend talking gear and music. No pressure, no selling, just a good hang. If you're in the NYC area -- it's a must visit showroom. Listened to the Vandersteen VLR CT bookshelf speakers which were very good. They project a layered soundstage and sound much bigger than their size.  Also heard the Vandersteen 2ce Signature 3, which was even better.  I like the floorstander but a little worried about the bass being too much for my basement space (7' ceilings).  He also had a pair of Paradigm Founders 80f that he took in on trade.  They’re on my list so gave them a listen. Very nice small floorstander with good midrange and detail, but not as good as the Vandersteens. It imaged well and could work with my subwoofers but I could also see getting a little fatigued by the detail at the top end.  He also played the Vandersteen Quattros for me and they were wonderful. Musical, lots of detail, big soundstage and effortless — close to feeling like you’re in the room with the artist. You really do get a lot more for another $14K of budget.

For the Fritz fans -- it seems like some of you love the Carbon 7 SE and some the Carrera BE.  What are the different characteristics of the two?

@fritzspeaks Thanks for the offer for listening session in Queens.  Are they at a showroom I can visit?  Or a customer's home?

@vthokie83 Thanks for the Buchardt recommendation. Those look really interesting and the 45 day home trial would give me the opportunity to try them in my home -- the ultimate listening test.  BTW, my son is a 2021 Hokie Corps of Cadets grad.  Love that school! Go Hokies!  

Again, thanks all!

@secretguy I had a chance to listen to the Magnepan .7s (also at Audio Connections) and really like the sound of panels.  I just know they won't work in my current basement setup.  I just can't have them out that far into the room and everything I've read is that they need to be.  Box speakers are just easier for me to move around and live with.  Thanks!

@hilde45  Thanks for sharing your reviews and your comparison of the Carbon 7s and the Carrera Be's.  Really helpful.  Thanks, too, for your thoughts on the Dynaudio Special 40.  What's appealing about that speaker is that there are a few on the used market and can be had for a comfortable $2K.  That said, maybe there are too many on the used market. :-).  The GR Research teardown was interesting but I don't know if I completely trust someone selling a kit to improve another company's $3K speaker.  What else is he going to say?  I watched his teardown of the LS50 and most of it was about his frustration at not being able to build and sell a kit for it -- given it's "don't tamper with me" construction.  

Thanks, all.  My auditioning journey continued today.  I spent some time at HiFi Direct in Hackensack, NJ. It was my first time there and first time meeting Mike.  He  suggested I try Cabasse Murano bookshelf speakers. Wow!  Gorgeous speaker and sounded better than it looks.  Very natural, effortless and musical.  Everything sounded good.  I then listened to Dynaudio Special Forty, which were also very good, but very different.  The SP40s were a little more subdued but still did everything well.  They were a good combo of detail, soundstage and a nice full sound.  Really impressed by the Cabasse, though, because everything just sounded better. With both speakers I was hearing great music, but the Cabasse felt more real. Amp was a Line Magnetic LM-805ia. First time hearing a Line Magnetic and that was also very impressive. 

The best pairing I heard while there, though, was the Dynamikks Athos 10 with an Octave Audio V40SE. $44K of goodness.  If you can spend that kind of money on speakers, you should give them a listen.  I can’t at the moment but maybe someday.

The best thing about this search is going into these stores and meeting great people who know what they’re doing and discovering new gear and new music.

Really appreciate everyone’s feedback.

The speaker journey was derailed a bit by some amps — Belles Aria Monoblocks to be exact.  I listened to the Aria Integrated at Audio Connection and liked the amp’s overall sound with the different speakers I heard it with.  When I found them used, I bought them.  Will have them by the weekend to try with my current speakers.  The speaker journey will resume in a month or two.  To be honest, I’ve liked a lot of the speakers I’ve heard.  Favorites so far… Cabasse Murano, Paradigm Founders 80F, and Vandersteen VLR CT and 2CE Sig3.  

Update on the speaker search…. I bought a very nice pair of used Vandersteen 3A Signatures yesterday.  I’ve always liked a Vandy’s when I’ve heard them so I thought the best thing would be to just try a pair in my room.  Will use them with the Belles Aria monoblocks or McCormack DNA-1.  It’s been a while since I’ve had a floorstander.  Today will be setup and tonight will be listening.  I’m going to keep auditioning speakers though — heading to Capital Audio Fest in a couple of weeks.