Help me emulate the best speakers I've heard


Spent last summer subletted a flat in Berlin all summer, and had the best listening experience of my life. Emailed the guy who owns it and it was:

-James T Lansing energizer (amp) 460 from 1968

-Pair of Shahinian Compass speakers

-Plus a Pro-Ject DAC dock for the iPhone.

My understanding would be that buying a setup like this would be 4-6k, and I haven't been able to find Shahinians for sale at any price, so:

Can anyone recommend something similar for someone who loved this sound? Ideally on the cheaper (2-4k) end.

Most music will be played from iPhone or computer, mostly mp3 and Rdio streaming, plus a decent amount of vinyl. So basically a DAC, Phono Pre-amp, Amp, Speakers.
aaronlammer

Showing 4 responses by mapman

Haven't heard Shahinian but RPlef's account with OHMs surprises me as well.

ITs possible that the amps that sound best with Shahinian will not be the same that sound best with with OHM. OHMs require lots of SS power and current to deliver what they are capable of. SO an a/b comparison of OHM versus Shahinian using the same amplifier might not be a good test of what both are capable of. The designs are radically different, so I would expect different results, though each done right should probably sound superb, yet different.
So that begs the question: Is midrange in real life succulent? I am not so sure. Or is that something that only a good hifi can produce?

Our ears hear midrange best. I'm sure that has something to do with its appeal.
Its hard to compare a walsh driver to a conventional dynamic driver because thd operating principles are completely different.
Rp,

Good point about Carnegie Hall! Succulent is a pretty good adjective for what i have heard there.