Buchardt E50 vs Fritz

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! 

I have the Rev7 SE.  I enjoy them very much.  They are outstanding speakers, at any price point, but particularly for their price point.  They have a sound profile exactly like what you describe you’re after.  You can contact Fritz and set up a home audition, at least I’m pretty certain you can.  I’ve chatted with him a couple of times, he a great guy.  I know nothing about the Buchardt, never listened to them.

I'll probably be in the minority here. But I haven't heard any standmount speakers in this price range that are anywhere near full range. If you already love your Vandersteen's, allow me to recommend: - Vandersteen 1ci - $1000 used - Belles Aria integrated amp - $1700 used - Blue sound node (latest) - $500 used I currently own the 1's and in a small room see very little need for a subwoofer. And while not full range, offer a very full sound, expressive midrange, and pleasant highs and are about the same footprint as a standmounts. I know that Fritz is somewhat of a sacred cow round these parts but I just couldn't get on with them.