Fritz carbon 7SE MK 2, Upgrade

Just doing some soul searching tonight. I have to thank everyone, some excellent points, some profound! I have been tempted at times with a tube integrated, but, the tubes just scare me, SS has been good to me. In my main system, my amp which I will never sell is a Pass X-250.8  and it drives a pair of Specialty  Tekton Encores upgraded.  

One post that really intrigues me is the suggestion of ATC 19 or 20scm. I called Sound Approach on SOIX suggestion (coincidentally same place I bought my ATI amp) their 10% savings is almost over, as tariffs will raise it 10% on Monday. Their ATC 20 new would be 5849, regular price and 10% more Monday.  The ATC 19 is something that intrigues me w/o a huge outlay, also maybe finding a used pulsar, non graphene.  All posts have been great, Thank you Audiogon too. 

I may have a take of some interest.  I had a set of ATC SCM20-2a, active stand monitors, very expensive in its day. It had amazing SLAM and dynamics, good width and depth, along with a tweeter that shot an icepick into my brain, to the point of taping multiple layers of toilet paper onto the grill in front of the tweets to tame them. This was BEFORE ATC started making its own in-house tweeter, which is much nicer. (The SCM 9s I heard a few years ago were quite satisfying). Anyway, when my FRITZ REV 7s arrived I set ’em upon the stands and turned them on. The ATC went on sale the next day. 

I love those REV 7s. The best? Surely not, but all-around the best I’ve had.  It just ticks all the right boxes for me. Good luck on your quest and tell us where you land

After espousing on my Current FRITZ Carbons, and reading@ rammerjammers  post: One word comes to mind that YOU ALL HAVE MENTIONED! Directly or in directly!

QUANDARY!

@robshaw 

Rob, we have a nice sized audio group here in Nashville area. As we try and move from one person's home to the next each month, we get to hear a huge variety of gear. Today (Saturday) is another gtg where this owner has an analog setup and B&W floorstanders. Last month it was an all-Audio Note setup.

You are welcome to join in and get on the mailing list.

Interesting thread. I was on a similar path not too long ago. I have had a pair of Merlin TSMs for several years. I started looking around for something better, or maybe just different. I actually quite like the speakers, but got the itch. The vast majority of the comments/suggestions I got on this and another forum was to keep the Merlins and upgrade some other piece of the pie. The only speakers that seemed to get some talk were the Josephs. But, new ones are out of my league and you don't see many used for sale, if at all. So, I consulted with Rich B at Signature Sound. I am presently driving my Merlins with a Billie integrated tube amp (original version). Rich suggested trying an integrated SS amp...the Belles Aria. Waiting for it to arrive.

In any case, good luck and share your experiences if you make changes.