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Help with Shortlist of Speakers! (SF vs Devore vs Others?)

Hey everyone,

First time post but long time lurker. I've been aggressively researching and listening to speakers over the past several months and I could use some help with more experienced folks (who are not trying to sell me a product). Here are pictures of my space and dimensions. Essentially 22'X12'x11' but with an open concept into the kitchen and a hallway. A decent size space but the listening distance to speakers is relatively close. Right now I'm using a cambridge audio Azur 651w (amp) and Azur 851N (preamp/dac/streamer). I plan to upgrade the amp in the future so if the sound could be improved but is still enjoyable today I am OK with that.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RL9QojAHog3CjD6HFTToxoat3_i9a4zG/view?usp=sharing, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SO47Y5JEnRY2RGuAlWJsGUI9i8Q42twl/view?usp=sharing, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vNNNCKpn3ywU3ZzE-MxKOT0GjpFu0gF9/view?usp=sharing

So far I know I like a warm speaker with a visceral bass. I like to feel the music and have a very large soundstage. I do not like when the speaker is too bright or thin. The Sonus Faber Olympicas II/III and Devore Fidelity Orangutan 93/96 have caught my attention. A gentleman at the speaker shop recommended the Audio Physic Avanti but I have yet to try them out.

Given my space, what would you all recommend in terms of size? I'm torn between the SF II & III and the O/93 & O/96. I was scared off by a salesman at one of the audio shops here in San Francisco who said the Dynaudio Countour 30i (which I also liked) would be way too big for my space and really drove home the fact a bigger speaker would overpower the room. 

Anyways, would love to hear your thoughts on this and if you have any other speaker recommendations that come to mind for <$15K.

Cheers!


128x128jpearson3131
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,460 posts
 
For what you describe, I would look at:

Vandersteen - Treo, Treo CT, Quatro depending on your budget.  These will deliver the exact sound you are looking for and pair well with mainstream electronics though they do like a little power.  

Spendor D7.2 or D9.2 or the Classic line- also on the warm side.  These are very nice, albeit simple looking speakers.   I was very impressed when I heard the D7.2s.  They deliver a big sound for a relatively little box.  

Harbeth  - not sure on exact models as I am not a dealer.  I just had a pair of 40.2 anniversary editions here and they are exactly what you are describing.  The beauty of Harbeth is brilliant low level performance and they have incredible time alignment.  It sounds almost like a single driver speakers.  

I am a dealer but I don't carry any of these three lines and have no affiliation.  Good luck
mozartfan
2,143 posts
 
Do a  dual Seas Magnesium W22 (not the Graphene, as they are 2X's the price of the EX001) add a 
SEas Cresendo
all Mundorf SESGO caps. 
wayyy less than your 15G cap.
Best bang for your buck
xover is gonna be very close as the Crescendo only goes down to 2khz. W22 to ,,not sure, be right back.............
yep 2k. 
gonna be that critical 2khz, cruch time xrossing
Just got my Crescendo in today, its a 
**beast of a  tweet*** 
https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/approx-8-woofers/seas-excel-w22ex-001-e0022-8-magnesium-cone-w...

aint no speaker gonna touch the things these guys will do. 
soix
8,604 posts
 
Would help to know what speakers you’re using now. I’d probably avoid most tower speakers in your situation as the drivers may not have the time to integrate before the sound reaches your ears. I’d look at a good monitor like the Joseph Audio Pulsar 2 or similar from the likes of ProAc, Sonus Faber, Dynaudio, Usher, Spendor, and Harbeth among others. I wouldn’t recommend Audio Physic as I don’t think they’ll give you any of the warmth you’re looking for IMHO.  Hope this helps, and best of luck in your search. 
jpearson3131's avatar
jpearson3131 OP
10 posts
 
Wow so many great responses here! I'll need to digest them.

@audiokinesis - Yes there is a column that sticks out about 2 inches. I could move the speakers further to the right and avoid it. My current speaker are nice and warm but lack the bass and soundstage. They are Cambridge Audio Aero 2 speakers. I'm currently using a basic Velodyne subwoofer to supplement. The couch is in fact shifted slightly off center with the system due to another similar column on the back wall. The thing you likely see in the center is just a router :)

I think the speakers are a little back in the pictures but I can place any speaker about 24-26 inches from the front baffle to the wall. The larger speaker cabinets will go further back towards the wall but the measurement from the front baffle should not change. Assuming this is what's most important? I could pull the speakers out further during listening if I wanted.

There are lot's of awesome speaker suggestions here. I guess the one thing I'm still unsure about is whether the SF III's or the O/96 will overpower the room? Also, there's a high likely hood we will be moving in the next 1.5 years and so all of this could go out the window. So I suppose flexibility is also part of the criteria. I just love the look of both of these speakers!
ohlala
1,231 posts
 
My opinion is that SS amplification the broadly antithetical to the orangutan line. I heard them with NAIM and it sounded like disappointment. Much prefer SF with your current gear. Looking at pictures and hearing in person are very different things. Good luck. My suggestion would be to listen to Wilson Sabrina if accessible, which is a super pleasant sounding speaker.
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