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Shopping for new speakers-need ideas... Selling old DQ-10's...

As I get older my Dahlquist DQ-10’s are simply too bright and give me an earache. I’ve tried different amps so that is not the issue. I just bought a Marantz PM-KI Ruby amp to pair with them. They sound great, but after some time the ear issue comes up.  However, I am looking for new speakers to match with my new amp. These are my desires:

-Not as bright as my Dahlquist DQ-10’s, but not as distant sounding as my Aerial 6s. I do like speakers on the warm side nowdays, but not muddy of course

-Great separation of sound so you catch the detail

-Bass not too punchy as I’ve always had ear trouble with this

-I love midrange

-I don’t like too sharp highs anymore unfortunately

-I love an open sound even airy sound.


What I may be describing is something that is between the DQ-10s and the Aerial 6s. Not in my face, but not behind a wall sounding like the Aerials. Something smooth yet with texture and good separation.

I always loved the phased array design of the DQ-10s and my DQ-8s since I have had since 1993. They are open and airy with tons of soundstage potential.

I listen to a variety of music from ‘60’s and 70’s folk to ‘90’s hard rock like Collective Soul. I’m a 70’s guy and love classic rock, but I lean in the Steely Dan direction. I love progressive rock like Rush and Emerson, Lake and Palmer. I’m also fond of Sade and similar artists in that genre. Jazz is an occasional venture to the likes of Joshua Redman and older stuff like Ramsey Lewis.

Now that I have this magnificent Marantz amp I’m ready to pair them with something that is more of a fit with it and my now limited ears. Earaches suck when you are trying to enjoy some music. This is a lot better now with the Marantz amp, but I still feel a slight ache at medium volumes.

I’ve watched a lot of YouTube videos reviews and I’ve started reading some things.

My budget is $3,000 or less. Hopefully less...

Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.
georgethedog
audioguy85's avatar
audioguy85
1,991 posts
 
I’d go with the following...harbeth p3esr, spendor A1, wharfedale dentons on the lower end of scale. The Wharfedale Lintons are nice as well, but may overwhelm with bass. All do detail very well. That’s a nice Marantz integrated. One of the last graced with the deft touch of the master Ken Ishiwata. I own the Marantz pm14s1, he helped design that one too. Marantz has a long history of being paired up with British designed speakers, particularly Wharfedales.
georgethedog OP
9 posts
 
audioguy85, I never really considered bookshelf speakers...  the room is probably 17'x 26' and whatever I buy will second as the right and left channels for my 7.1 theatre setup (Marantz AVR also...). Wow, it would be strange going from these giant 5-way DQ-10s to 2-way bookshelves on stands.  But, when our local hifi shop was open they had some impressive speakers that size so maybe you are right.  I'll have to research this alternative!  As an aside... I had quite a great car audio setup years ago with audiophile quality Canton car speakers (not sure they make them anymore), and I always liked the sound better out of the front 2-way than I did the rear 3-ways.  Maybe there is something to that.  If you get a chance please expound on the virtues of going to a 2-way bookshelf speaker if you would.  I do have a REL T9 subwoofer to control the lows.  Thanks so much!  
soix
8,680 posts
 
I think MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL speakers would be a great option in your price range.  They are dipoles so will give you that open and airy stage you’re used to, and I find their treble to be nicely detailed but never harsh or forward sounding with very clear and present mids.  A potential plus is they’re carried by Best Buy (along with Marantz) so if you have one of those you can give them a good listen.  Best of luck. 
curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
4,147 posts
 
Have you ever thought about replacing the tweeters?  
I had DQ-10’s and the first thing I did was replace the tweeters with Decca ribbon tweeters.  They were the best I found at the time and they made a huge difference!

All the best.

JD
quad78
23 posts
 
I've had my ADS 1230s for over 37 years with nary an ear ache in all that time.  Most of the ADS models employ soft dome tweeters and mid ranges. They're open and airy, with great imaging and resolution. All the ones on the market are used, of course, most of them, even the top L-series, priced way below your budget. 
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