“House” Character of Popular $20-$30k Speakers


I’ll be upgrading my speakers in a bit (after I add a turntable to my system). I’ve always thought that people two often end up attempting to correct or compensate for a quality they don’t like in one of their system components. My thought is that speakers and amps shouldn’t try to “correct” each other, but rather, they should complement each other, while sharing many similar qualities in their sonic signatures.

With that in mind, I’d describe my Gryphon Diablo 300 with the internal DAC (fed by an InnuOS Zenith MK3 streamer) as being rich, lively, engaging, slightly warm but moderately detailed, with dramatic dynamic swings that can often simulate a live sound. Smooth but energetic and engaging at the same time. My speakers I’ll be upgrading from are B&W 803 D2’s. Big full and bold sound but with finesse and moderate quickness too.

What brand of speakers would be along the lines of the sound I describe above? I’d be hoping to follow this sonic signature in my next speaker purchase, but adding some small capabilities with transparency and detail, imaging, and low end presence.

The speaker brands I have in mind to look into are:

-Magico (would check out the A5’s. I hear the A5’s could be too analytical for some, but have an excellent and clean bass presence.  Bust most rave about the A5)

-Sonus Faber (heard these are too relaxed for some?)

-Wilson Audio (if I can get over how they look)

-Monitor Audio

-Dynaudio: Maybe this brand could be a sweet spot?

-B&W: I’ve tested many and find them lacking in bass presence resulting in a mid forward style. That said the 802 D3’s I auditioned matched the sonic character of their upper ranges very well.

Would be interested in how others describe the house sounds if the brands above…

 

 

 

nyev

If you like analytical try the Focals but otherwise you are on the right track with Dynaudio.

ROFL from bache's post. How about a used pair of Wilson Maxx or Alexia, or new Revel Salon 2/Studio 2, Usher BE-10/BE-20/TD-10/TD-20? 

I have the Aidas and love them, nothing "relaxed" transparent yes, but as dynamic as any of most speakers I audition. I have listen other Sonus and I liked most of them.

I understand that is a giant lip on faith for people in the USA, but $20K few speakers sound as good as the AvantGrade UNO XDs, the Fino would be ok for 25x25feet but I would go with the XD for that size.

At $30K gets you in the Duo and they are outstanding.

Close your eyes if you do not like horns, because they sound nothing like more traditional horns like JBL or Klipsch(?)

I have the Duos Primo behind a Onkagu and Trios XD, with just 1 set of subs, 3 was too much, behind a NHB-468,  and will never trade them, until their new gen, but there are other great German "horn" speaker that are at least as good as the AvantGrades.