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What speaker – under $10k – has the best timbre and tonal qualities?

Several years ago, a prominent reviewer had this to say as he was praising the natural and life-like tonal qualities of a particular speaker:

It’s [speakers] like these that make me question the priorities of audiophiles who relegate accuracy of timbre to secondary status. How are the richness and color of instruments, voices, ensembles, and textures to be reproduced in all their infinite variety and beauty if a loudspeaker has less than accurate reproduction of timbre? What do dynamics, imaging, detail, transparency, and the like matter if voices and instruments don’t sound like themselves?

I’ve come the same realization, late in the game. I recently made a lateral move from one of the most popular of recent speaker models to a different speaker, because it sounded so much more natural and realistic in timbre. I sacrificed a touch of image precision in doing so, but it has been well worth it. The sound is so much more engaging. It’s like going from a high-resolution black and white photograph – which is very detailed and impressive – to a color version of the same photo, but with slightly less resolution. The color version offers so much more in terms of realism.

So I’m now contemplating the purchase of what I hope will be my last speakers, with the objective of realistic, natural, and rich (but not artificially warm) tone being the primary attribute.  

What speakers, under $10k, would you recommend? (I’m driving them with a PrimaLuna Prologue Premium)


wester17
dducat's avatar
dducat
40 posts
 
+1 for GR Research -  the NX-Extremes are excellent on their own, but paired with a set of servo subwoofers (2) I think would be virtually unbeatable at the price (and probably any price).

Danny is a great guy and is very responsive to email, etc.  His YT channel is definitely great if you're interested in the science of it, and he actually takes speakers people send him, measures them, gives feedback on their strengths and weaknesses and then determines if an upgrade path is achievable.  Often times, he redesign the crossover or suggests filtering to reduce baffle reflection, etc.
nordicnorm
313 posts
 
In terms of accuracy of timbre, the speakers under $10K who deliver (that I’ve listened to) are:

- Martin Logan (Spires, Montis)
- Yamaha NS-1000(M)
- Tannoy Westminster

As a musician, that has always been my number one expectation of my audio system.

I used to own Yamaha NS-1000 (a few decades ago). I went through several changes of speakers until I auditioned ML Spires against Tannoy Westminsters. While I really liked the Tannoy’s, they are very different to the MLs. Not better, just different. I ended up with the ML’s as I felt that they more accurately reflected the tonal qualities I was expecting. If the ML’s weren’t in the picture, then I could have happily lived with the Tannoy’s.

YMMV.

camb
164 posts
 
I second ProAc.  Detailed with a very rich tonal palette.  
johnto
972 posts
 
If your can accommodate them Magnepan 3.7i with a few subs or a gently used pair of 20.7. Magnepan is just so life like with a large soundstage it's all you'll ever need.
As always listen before you buy.
steve59's avatar
steve59
1,640 posts
 
Forget about it. If you’re looking for the best of both worlds there’s going to be a compromise. Pick your line and roll with it. You like these new speakers because they’re more natural so enjoy them. I know we’re all addicts here. Do what I do. Have 2 systems, 1 dedicated to rock, preferably active with low distortion and another system for the better recordings where the hyper detail doesn’t suck the life from the music. 
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