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25 years with the same speaker? That's remarkable. What are you even doing on a site like this? ;-) "
Good question! Had to laugh because I've had my Mirage M3si speakers for 23 years and I'm in no hurry to upgrade. I also have had my Krell gear (KRC 2, KSA 300S) for the same amount of time. I've been to two audio shows in the last two years (AXPONA, Tampa) and I've been pleasantly surprised that my system compares very well to much of the new gear I heard. Granted, I have upgraded my analogue and digital front ends several times but my core system stands the test of time.
As for the OP, when I bought my speakers I had narrowed it down to 2 models, the Mirages and the Thiel 2 2. IMO the Thiel is perfect for a mid size SF condo and buying a nice pair for $800 is a low risk purchase. They sound beautiful, they aren't too big, they have a nice sculpted appearance, and they are fairly forgiving of placement. If you hate them you can probably resell them for the same price. I agree with the advice to get good quality SS amplification because those speakers are quite inefficient (about the same as my Mirages).
Good question! Had to laugh because I've had my Mirage M3si speakers for 23 years and I'm in no hurry to upgrade. I also have had my Krell gear (KRC 2, KSA 300S) for the same amount of time. I've been to two audio shows in the last two years (AXPONA, Tampa) and I've been pleasantly surprised that my system compares very well to much of the new gear I heard. Granted, I have upgraded my analogue and digital front ends several times but my core system stands the test of time.
As for the OP, when I bought my speakers I had narrowed it down to 2 models, the Mirages and the Thiel 2 2. IMO the Thiel is perfect for a mid size SF condo and buying a nice pair for $800 is a low risk purchase. They sound beautiful, they aren't too big, they have a nice sculpted appearance, and they are fairly forgiving of placement. If you hate them you can probably resell them for the same price. I agree with the advice to get good quality SS amplification because those speakers are quite inefficient (about the same as my Mirages).