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Advice on speaker replacement

Greetings all. Audiophile wannabe here. Champaign taste on champale budget.

Seeking advice on a possible speaker purchase. I know some will say I should be on the walmart advice to the love-lorn but I'm hoping some may lend an sympathetic ear and offer some saje advice. I'm a 75yo male with some hearing compromise. Bass and mid are ok but anything over 10khz  is gone. 

Current (modest) system: Yamaha R-N500 receiver, Technics SL-1200 MK2 with Ortofon 2M red, Sony UBP-X800 M2 Blueray/CD player, KEF Q300 speakers with a HSU VTF 1 sub. The sub is wired and good to 25hz+/- 2db.

Living in the St Louis metro, which has become a Audio store desert, I'm really not able to listen to much outside of Best Buy. There is one high end store but their equipment is out of my price bracket.

Based on many hours of online searching and looking at spending in the $1500-2k range I have picked out several candidates. KEF r3 (on sale for $500 off) or possibly LS 50 Meta. KLH 5, Wharfdale Linton or Klipsh RP 600 MII.

My room is 18dx13wx8high. Hardwood floor and sheetrock walls. Area rug and couch with a few wall hangings. Primarily want to listen to Amazon Ultra hd and occasional LP. My other purchase is probably going to be a blusound node 2i for streaming. Right now I'm stuck with Airplay. Thoughts?

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hoosierinohio
145 posts
 

Great that you have components.  This allows for changes/upgrades as you go. So, how does one go from mid-fi, to hi-fi?  Been there and it has been a journey of 42 years.  I am always looking, particularly in the used sector.  I started with speakers I built and a Marantz integrated solid state, that became a Van Alstine amp, with a Bravura preamp.  Don't be happy knowing that what you have can be better.  I did a quick look on craigslist and you will find that some areas are hotter for some brands than others.  Example below, Klipsch is from Arkansas, deep roots. That said, I love the Klipsch speaker sound better with tube than solid state.  The way that I arrived at my "ultimate system", is find something that you absolutely love.  It could be an amp, speakers etc...  From there you have to match reality to sound.  Always trust your ears and screw everyone else.  Lots love Polk speakers and I can't stand them.  Love Klipsch on tubes.  Love a good LS35A with a high current amp.  There is magic to be found but you have to find first the "thing" and build around it.  Welcome to the arena, there will be blood.  Trust your ears, not me or anyone else.  Just know that it can always be better.  

 

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,360 posts
 

Wharfdale Linton

Your system is good enough but your loudspeakers are holding you back. I’m a 68 year old deaf guy. The Lintons are just what you need/want. Stereophile solid class B loudspeaker. Good deals available with stands. Just a slight bass underline but it makes everything sound great. No overhang or bass smearing, just pure joy. It would be perfect for your system.

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deadhead1000's avatar
deadhead1000
705 posts
 

I owned the KEF 300 a while back, great sounding, but they are too small for your room even with a sub. My room is similar  to yours and when I went to a bigger speaker, it was much better. If you like the KEF sound, go with the bigger KEF, you can't go wrong, if you want to try something new, the Lintons/Klipsch are great speakers, but will sound different. Not bad, they are just voiced differently. 

The Bluesound Node will fit your system very well and will open a whole new world of music for you.

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