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Speaker Suggestions/Opinions

I’m in the market for some new speakers. Budget up to about 3k. I prefer to buy used. Currently running some Totem Rainmakers. Have also Run Totem Forest and Arros. I love the Totem sound clearly, but still curious what I’m missing out on.  
Most important to me is a lush midrange, musical, the ability to disappear, and they have to image very well. I run McIntosh for amplification so I’m comfortable with a speaker that may be a touch hot in the tweeter. I’m very drawn to Harbeths based on everything I’ve read but really don’t dig the look of those fat boxes.  And why for the love of god do they have 20 screws visible on the front baffle. It’s almost as if they trademarked the look, but it’s terrible. Proac, Spendor, and Sonus Faber are few others I also find intriguing. Especially Spendor but they don’t seem to have a large market in the US. I also find there line up a bit confusing, lots of options. I really don’t like to purchase anything that doesn’t have good resale value and a fairly high demand on the used market as well. Anyways look forward to all your thoughts. 
brylandgoodman

Showing 4 responses by jjss49

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jjss49
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If I didn't have my Harbeth C7es3’s or wanted a more modern aesthetic those would be at the top of the list. As it’s is, my Harbeths and Croft amp make beautiful music so no desire to change.


good combo indeed -- very very hard to beat for musicality, listenability, beauty of tone
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jjss49
6,605 posts
 
proacs and spendors (d series) would be where i would direct you

lively tweeters but well integrated into the overall highly coherent sound, narrow baffles for great imaging, loves tubes (easy to drive impedances, decent efficiency, hot tweeters benefit from a little ’cooling’ from tubes), modern sleek form factors

i think harbeths driven my mac tubes would be a little too round, too warm, too low impact, esp with you being used to what totems do...
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
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salks and fritz speakers have excellent reputations and loyal followings, am sure they are excellent (in fact frank van alstine runs salks in his main system - if they are good enough for frank to voice his gear, they are no doubt great sounding and also basically pretty neutral)

@hilde45  -- i have been curious about fritz’s speakers, haven't tried em yet  ... how would you describe the sound of the carbon vs carreras? (and iirc you had harbeth c7’s as well, yes?)

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as for the statement about all great high end speakers being 3-ways... well, i’ll be nice... let’s just say it ain’t so...🥱
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
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"you seem to be drawn to the sound provided by a 4 ohm speaker"
i have been at this hobby/pursuit going on 40 years, this is the first i have heard speakers’ sound categorized by their low impedance 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️
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