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WAF Speaker suggestions

I am looking to replace my current speakers and need advice.  I currently have a pair of Vandersteen 2ce sig speakers that my wife says look like coffins in the living room. I love my wife more than the Vandys and so am looking for replacement speakers. I need a smaller footprint speaker to make her happy and I would like a speaker that has a sound that is less laid back than the Vandys.
New or used speakers are fine.  My budget is $2000-$2500. Listening room is the living room (15ftX20ft with 15ft cathedral ceiling.) I listen mostly to jazz, classical, and blues.  Equipment is a Classe CP-800 preamp, Classe CT-2300 amp, TEAC CD-P650 used as a transport, and a Macbook for streaming music.
 
My research has lead me to the smaller footprint Dynaudio and Focal speakers but I do not know how well these speakers pair with the Classe amp and preamp.

Any help/suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
128x1282tuby
duckworp's avatar
duckworp
256 posts
 
The European speakers with a very well-regarded sound and the non-disputed king of WAF is the Boenicke. I am not sure whether they appear on the second hand US market but if they did the W5 or W8 model might reach your budget. Don’t be put off by their diminutive size: they have a sound which implies a box twice the size. 

My wife loves ours.
Here’s a picture:
http://www.the-ear.net/review-hardware/boenicke-w8-floorstanding-loudspeaker

kren0006
1,859 posts
 
Rbstehno,
Op never said he was looking for exotic looking speakers, only for good sounding ones that look better than his speakers that wife considers ugly.

Op also said in initial post that Focal or Dynaudio (both fairly normal speaker looking) were two that would meet his criteria, and later suggested in response to me that he liked Spendor on my short list. Again, not exotic looking but for whatever reason apparently must meet OP’s definition of waf acceptable
gsm18439
895 posts
 
2tuby: Some speakers can be ordered in custom finishes - including white. The pair of Zu Druid VI that Sean Casey bring to shows are in a pearl white finish and are drop dead gorgeous:

https://6moons.com/audioreviews2/zu3/4.html
https://6moons.com/audioreviews2/zu3/5.html

This finish can, of course, be ordered for other Zu speakers and, I am sure, from other manufacturers as well.
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
"She seems to like white speakers. Can white speakers sound good???"

They sound just as good as any other color but may limit your choices. How about in/on-wall speakers? There are some real nice sounding models out there....and they are available in white and blend with the walls.
Here's one to give you an idea of the possibilities.

https://totemacoustic.com/en/tribe-iii/specifications
spinaker01
491 posts
 
Kalali, Yes white speakers can sound good. Just ask KEF, Focal or Revel 
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