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Do I have to spend $4000 plus to get a better sounding speaker than GET model 7 ?

I have owned a pair of Golden Ear Technology 7's speaker for almost 3 years. I think they sound very good in my current set-up.  I bought them unheard based on the rave reviews they received at CES 2012. My concern is that if I was to invest in a speaker that is $3500-$4000, it may prove to be only marginally or fairly better. I am not saying that the GET's 7's are the best bargain in audio at $1395.  My experience with them is they are  very accurate with low distortion, but don't throw a particularly wide or deep soundstage. 

I have considered( not necessarily auditioned) Revel F-206;  Focal Aria 936;  Paradign F85;  PSB T-2';  Ryan 630;  B&W CM9S   Dynaudio X-34;  Duevel "Venus"  Audio Physic Sitara 25 and Tempo 25  All of the indicated speakers (except AP and Duevel) fall in the $3000-$4500 retail price range 

ProAc floor standers are off the scope in price, (often, even used)   Anything I buy will be used, because California sales tax is 8.5%,  and I can stretch my dollars buying used. 

Any recommendations are welcomed especially if based on you own experience with a particular speaker or brand.


Thank you, S.J     

sunnyjim
ps
740 posts
 
Mr. Jim,
I guess you’ve given up on Magnepans and the rest of the numerous other speakers you’ve asked about. Apparently you’re a journey rather than a destination kind of guy. Good luck. You’ll need it.
213runnin
914 posts
 
In Sunny's defense, upgrading speakers can be a difficult task.  It looks like he's started several threads on his speaker search in the last few months alone.  I suppose one can be guilty of analysis paralysis, perhaps he'll make up his mind by the end of the year.
sunnyjim OP
927 posts
 

To 213 runnin:  Thank you for the support. However, I may be suffering from "analysis  paralysis"  as you suggested. The issue for me is whether how much more performance is available beyond what I hear from the Golden Ear Technology model 7. There is a lot of speakers out there, and one in particular that has help my interest only in reviews: Revel F206's. I never heard them which (I know) is not the way to buy speakers, However, I bought a pair of Acoustic Zen Adagios which I still might own if I did not downsize the system because of room dimensions  restrictions after moving to L.A.. from Honolulu  and also I did not want to lug around a 80 lbs speaker around the living room.

To PS: I  have reconsidered  the Maggies, but it would have to be the Maggie 1.7i, anything else is too big, not necessarily too expensive. I think there is a 2.7i   Maggies are great but a pain in the ass to set up and their speaker connectors suck. This leads to..... :


 SoundsReal Audio's point of avoiding sales tax. I am as patriotic  as the next guy, but 8.5% sales tax prevails in Los Angeles country with only a slight  deviation.  For example, a new pair of Revel F206 is $3500. With a 10% discount which I could get, the tax on $3250 is $276.25 which brings me back to retail. But the main issue is less about size and price, but much better and more revealing sound because the speaker is superior across the board.. As everyone knows on this site, buying used has its risks and you must know the seller. Also, it is somewhat of an unwritten law that unless you are a victim of a bad seller or defective product, there is no returns.


Thank again to all who responded,  S.J..    

 

       

avanti1960
1,402 posts
 
sunny j-

i have heard most of the GE line including your 7s and 80% of the speakers on your wish list.  
as others have mentioned, the GEs are decent HT speakers but not quite optimized for simulating a live musical sound stage.  they have "synthetic"  sounding bass because of the smaller woofers and passive radiators which are very tough to make sound good.  also your sound stage is narrow because the ribbon tweeters have a very small horizontal dispersion pattern and sweet spot.  shift your head and the sound changes radically.  
you want a mucisal sound skip everything listed and go straight to Harbeth.   The C7ES3  will sound as close to natural live music as you can get within your budget and dealers will usually give a good percentage off from list.  
mofojo
2,167 posts
 
If you buy from people with good feedback you will likely not have a problem. If you get at a good price you can listen for a while and if it doesn't float your boat should be able to recoupe your money and move on to the next. 
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