2. analog
  3. 1186501419

Please help with speaker choices

Hi all,
Well the room and time has lead me down the road to upgrading speakers. A most exciting time, but alas, filled with choices and no possible auditioning for me.

So I must relie on this communities suggestions and help!!

First the current system:
Nick Doshi Preamp
Nick Doshi modded Lectron JH50
Amazon Referenze TT
Triplanar Tonearm
CDP-Don't have one yet
Focal 1007 Be Monitors-current speakers

Room Size:
21 by 13 with 8ft cellings

Music:
I listen to pretty much everything. Sorry for being so general. In one listening session I may move from Coltrane, to Cannonball Adderly, to Muddy Waters and Johnny Lee Hooker to Lucinda Williams and electric/folk Neil Young. Throw in some Dylan and then move onto the White Stripes, Beck, if I'm real rowdy maybe some Ramones or AC/DC, then come down with some Edith Piaf and a sip of 12 year single malt.

Reason for wantng change:
One is I find this a hobby. For me that means having fun with experimentation. So far I have only owned the Focals.
Two is now that I moved my system against the short wall and facing out to the long part of the room, the monitors seems lacking, like they are too small to fill the space, like it is too much effort. Three is I have nerver had a floorstanding speaker and the prospect excites me. Four is, sitting wise, I can only get about 9 feet near to the Focals. To place them closer puts them right in the middle of the living room. Not really acceptable. At 9 feet, the monitors just not presenting the soundstage I desire. At that distance with monitors, I am just not in the heart of the music.

Also something important to note is I like listening loud, but do not always have that option as my system is in the living room and out of respect for others cannot always listen loud so I must have speakers that offer low volume detail.

My choices so far (more of course welcome)
Sonus Faber Cremona floorstanders
Merlin VSM-Mxe
Verity Fidelio Encore
ATC 20's passive

At the higher end(only consider if HIGHLY recommended)
Verity Parsifal ovation
Sonus Faber Amati Homage

Monitors I might consider
Focal Mini-Utopia Be
Sonus Guarnari Homage

OK, sorry for rambling so much. Obviously I am putting a lot of thought into this. Any input much appreciated!

Peter
mariasplunge

Showing 3 responses by jmcgrogan2

jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Hi Peter,

I see you are interested in the Verity Fidelo Encore and the Parsifal Ovation. May I recommend the Verity Parsifal Encore? These are what I use, and I love them. I've owned them for 2 years and have no desire to upgrade.
You have to understand that the Parsifal monitor was introduced in 1995. In 1998, Verity added the bass cabinet and the Parsifal Encore was born. The Ovation came out in 2005. My pair of Parsifal Encore's were made in 2004, and you could get a pair for much less than the cost of a pair of Ovations, figure $6-8K depending on finish, age, etc. I doubt you could get a pair of Ovations for under $10K. I believe the biggest difference is Verity went to a larger woofer for the Ovation (8" vs. 6").

Cheers,
John
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Peter,

If you want to really 'rock the house', no, the Verity's are not for you. They play plenty loud enough for me, in my 24X15X9 room, but they are not rough and edgy. There magic is in the purity of the midrange. I mostly listen to jazz/blues/folk, for which they are fabulous. If you really want room shaking dynamics, I would suggest maybe the Focal's or ATC's from your list. Even better, try a pair of Von Schweikert VR-4SR's or Legacy Focus HD. They will 'rock your foundation'.

Cheers,
John
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
While I agree for the most part with Shardone about aesthetics, all of these speakers are easy on the eye. I do think it's necessary to point out that they do not all sound the same. The Verity, Sonus Faber and Merlin's are all from the same side of the track. The warm, rich, full side of neutral. The Audio Physics speakers are entirely different sound, from my experiences. The AP sound is definitely on the fast, transparent side of neutral. This can make a big difference depending on what you are looking for sonically, and your auxiliary components.

Cheers,
John
More to discover