Buchardt E50 vs Fritz


Soon to be retiring, and downsizing my listening space.  Longtime Vandersteen 2C Sig owner.  I was thinking about these two options for stand mounted monitors.  Also open to other options.  Very interested if anyone has compared these!

kb54

kb54,

 

A couple questions come to my mind:

Do you intend to supplememnt your future bookshelf speakers with one or more subwoofers? Have you considered slim(mer) front ported floorstanding speakers instead? What budget are you allowing yourself for this pair of speakers?

@kb54 - I have a pair of Buchardt s400 mkii in my office system. Wonderful speakers. They compete well with some more expensive speakers I own. From experience, I feel they are at their best with more powerful amps. I’m currently running them with a gryphon 120 integrated amp with a Merason Dac 1 mkii. I used to drive with Buchardt’s with a Luxman 590axii but now feel Buchardt speakers - like a lot of Dynaudio speakers - need more watts and current to really sing. 

 

I have read great things about the Fritz speakers. Their owners seem to really enjoy them. 

@mresseguie, Yes, I do think I might want to add a subwoofer if I move to stand mounted monitors.  I think that I would prefer that approach to slimmer towers, but you never know.

kb54,

 

I appreciate your conundrum. I spent a few years with your situation. I was searching for a pair of speakers that <preferably> are front ported; are reasonably efficient >90dB, have soft dome tweeters, and don't irritate my dear wife's esthetics...and that give me pleasure. I discovered that to be a challenging search.

I admit to being a picky listener. I find fault with plenty of speakers. I have yet to hear an aluminum tweeter that I like. Beryllium tweeters irritate my ears - though I loved them when I was in my twenties. I dislike exagerated bass. I love warm-yet-clear midrange. Over a nearly four-year period, I auditioned speakers in N America, Taiwan, Japan, Costa Rica, and even Cambodia. I found a half-dozen(?) speakers that I want to spend the next two decades with, and I was pretty close to settling on a certain pair when a different pair suddenly popped onto my radar. I contacted the seller, and we closed the deal about 10 days later.

My new speakers are similar to my 'old' speakers as they're made by the same guy. My new speakers are Daedalus Audio Muse three-way standmounts (front ported), 95.5dB/8 ohm and play down to 32Hz. My 'old' speakers are Daedalus Audio Apollos - 96.5dB/8 ohm and play down to ~26Hz. My Muse will be shipped to our winter/part-time home in Taiwan while the Apollos will remain in the US. [My wife is from Taiwan.]

Now I'm trying to decide on a 'forever/final' amplifier. I've narrowed my search to ~8 amplifiers. 

If you're anywhere near the Willamette Valley, stop on by this summer/fall for a listen!

 

For other options, agree with at least one sub that fits your space to go with whichever standmounts you choose.  Congratulations on retiring. Enjoy!