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Thinking of upgrading speakers, any suggestions?

What I look for is tonal accuracy, open and clear midrange and dynamics, as I feel these are the most important parameters that can give you impression of live sound, in other words a reproduced sound of live unamplified instrument is as real as possible, in all harmonic richness.
You know, kind of thing you hear from a nearby bar while walking down the street, you do not have to walk in to know there is a live band inside playing with no help of electronics.
Presently I own PMC IB2, and I am wondering if there is anything better in a range of up to 10K used / 15K new, if I can take it up a notch?
So far I have not heard anything better that impressed me to the point where I would be willing to make a purchase.
A few examples of sound I do not like at all, what comes out of any Sonus Faber (too dark and dull), any planar/static speakers (no dynamics), and any B&W (that midrange is giving me headaches, not to mention the rest), so anything that sounds like these is not my thing (and to make it clear, I do not want to get into pissing contest about speakers, I am merely expressing my preferences, so no hard feelings please from those that own speakers I mentioned as not likable).
What came close to but overall not better than what I have now is Avalon (up to and including ISIS), lacked a bit of dynamic freedom.
This is all obviously based on my limited exposure to the sound of speakers mentioned, but they simply failed to capture my attention, did not have that ultimate “live” factor.
Has anyone heard IB2s along with something else that may represent clear performance improvement?
sashav

Showing 2 responses by sashav

sashav OP
72 posts
 
Shadorne,

I would not find more forward sound and leaner bass objectionable.
ATC was on my list at the time I got PMCs, but I never heard them.
From your perspective, how do “hi-fi” manufacturers with some professional monitor pedigree fare in comparison with ATC/PMC, for example Focal and Wilson Audio?
sashav OP
72 posts
 
Here is more info and comments on suggestions I am grateful for.
Room is approximately 19X19 ft, with a single corner, think of a fat raindrop shape, that is how my room looks like.
Room measurement with Tact showed pretty much flat curve from 150Hz and up, with no terrible nastiness below 150Hz, to the point where I see very little benefit from either tube traps or Tact.
The rest of system: Bryston 7B SST amps, BP26 pre-amp, Wadia 581i SE player, all interconnects balanced (VDH), speaker cables AZ Satori, IB2s sit on 20” SoundAnchor stands (including spikes).
I have heard MBL on several occasions, did not move me.
Heard only lower models from Von Schweikert, not impressed, will try to audition bigger ones.
Focal JM is also on auditioning list, as well as Wilson Audio (Sophia is in price range).
In regard to EB1, I do not see these as an improvement, in fact I think it would be a step back, as I prefer by a large margin IB2 with PMC’s dome midrange over IB1 (EB1 is kind of IB1 on steroids, more bass what is not what I am after, I have plenty of LF).
In regard to ISIS, yes, I know, hard to believe, but I should mention they were driven by some large VTL monoblocks and I must say that I was never a big fan of VTL, so take it with reservation. I actually heard my speakers with VTL and did not like it.
As mentioned, my comments are based on limited experience.
With present system I do get occasionally that eerie feeling of liveliness, even with less than stellar recordings as well as signal from cable TV when sometimes I am not sure where/who the voice comes from, as if someone in room is talking.
But I do not get fooled all the time. Am I asking too much?
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