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Forever speakers around $5000

Hi Audiogon! Your help has been invaluable in the past so I’m back yet again. I think I’m close to purchasing my forever speakers and am looking for recommendations of what to consider. Here are some qualities I’m looking for, in order of importance:

  1. Amazing soundstage. I really enjoy a speaker that can throw a BIG soundstage.
  2. Fun, slightly U-shaped frequency response.
  3. Tight, punchy, musical bass.
  4. Airy and clear high end, think Magnepan.
  5. Good R&D and technology. If I’m paying this much for a speaker, it better not just be a damn box with some bargain paper cone drivers in it.
  6. Nice looking. This is a speaker, first and foremost, but it is also a piece of furniture. It really does have to look nice (I hate to say it, but this probably disqualifies offerings from GoldenEar).
  7. Semi-compact. I like a speaker that has a good physical presence in the room (not too small) but not something massive like a Magnepan (been there already) or Wilson. I like units no more than 45" x 10" x 16" or so. Also cant weight a million pounds as we are still in a rental and will have to move these.

I currently own a pair of LSA 2.1 Signature floorstanders, which have certain qualities I like (soundstage/imaging due to rear firing tweeter, size/weight, U-shaped). But things I feel are missing (bass feels a bit loose, build quality could be better, feels very low tech with paper woofers and unbraced MDF cabinet). I listen to a wide range of music, mostly a lot of intimate jazz combos, some experimental electronic and IDM, funk, some rock, black metal, and a bit of classical.

Here are some speakers I have heard and liked:

  1. Magnepan MMG - amazing detail, imaging, mids and highs
  2. LSA 2.1 - for all their shortcomings, they check a lot of boxes
  3. Dynaudio Focus 20 XD - awesome balance and great bass for a standmount
  4. B&W CM10 - I really like this speaker, though I’ve seen some measurements that have turned me off
Speakers I have heard and were disappointed in:

  1. KEF LS50 - honestly seemed very shrill and shouty to me
  2. Martin Logan ESL - weirdly didnt get a great impression of these
  3. GoldenEar Triton 3 - not only ugly, but I found these a bit boring to listen to
So, any ideas? I'm willing to consider new or used (if it can be found somewhat easily) speakers around $5000. I can give more info if you have questions, thanks!
primarist
richopp
760 posts
 
No speaker is better than Magneplanars IF you have good electronics and source material.  Here is the acid test:

LISTEN to them for as long as you want at any volume or with any genre of music you like.

NO listening fatigue, period.  THAT is one of the important tests for "forever" speakers. 

Try that with ANY OTHER box speaker, electrostatics, etc.  Unfortunately, you will want to stop listening to any other brand eventually.  Never true with Maggies unless your source material is unlistenable.  NO speaker fixes that!

Also, they reproduce what you send them.  If you can live with that, your quest is over.

Cheers!
wassaicwill
62 posts
 
I personally have loved my Rega RS5, which have exactly the qualities you're looking for, but the RS7 would improve the bass. The soundstage is huge, they need no toe in -- I much prefer them straight ahead. 

The mid/highs are nothing short of extraordinary. I've compared them to many speakers in the 3-5K range and am always blown away by the Regas. But the RS5 probably wouldn't have the "forever" bass. 
sc0ttc00ter
21 posts
 
Used GoldenEar Triton Reference, perhaps? A bit larger than your preferred size, but my Triton Twos sound amazing and the Reference add shiny piano black enclosures. 
They may be too big for some rooms.

alextobi7
16 posts
 
Don't overlook a pair of used Dynaudio C1 Sigs or (+$) Platinums. Very nice soundstage and mid and upper detail competes with all.
Agree the Adcom amp has dated limitations. Lots to choose.
helomech
1,491 posts
 
NO listening fatigue, period. THAT is one of the important tests for "forever" speakers.

Try that with ANY OTHER box speaker, electrostatics, etc. Unfortunately, you will want to stop listening to any other brand eventually. Never true with Maggies unless your source material is unlistenable. NO speaker fixes that!

Also, they reproduce what you send them. If you can live with that, your quest is over.

As an owner of Maggies I must say this is a very misleading post.

It’s true that Maggies require good gear to get the best from them but they have their limitations and are far from perfect. Many speakers previously mentioned are more resolving than any of the <$5K Maggies, regardless of sources and amps. A good example is the Spendor A4 and likely even the OP’s LSAs. The Magnepans certainly have their strengths but ultra high levels of detail and pinpoint imaging are a couple areas where they fall short compared to many in the $5K segment.

And of the three Maggie models I’ve experienced (1.7i, 3.7i and .7), for whatever odd reason, only the .7s offer a balanced presentation with real bass slam. The 3.7i do indeed produce fatiguing highs, while the 1.7is must be cranked over 80db to get any real bass dynamics, and lack resolution.

Where all Maggies seem to excel is disappearing as sources of sound and transient speed. For those reasons I love my .7s but like any speaker, they’re not an end-all, be-all. Some of my <$5K box speakers can throw a much larger soundstage and showcase greater detail.

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