$35000 to $40,000. speakers what would you buy and why?
I am contemplating purchasing my End game speakers. The ones that catch my eye are the Magico M3, Magico M project, Stenheim Alumine 5se, Rockport Cygnus and the Songs Faber Amati Homage G5. My system consists of An Aurender N20 feeding a MSB Technology Premier Dac with Premier powerbaye. Preamp duties are handles by An Audio Research Reference Anniversary and amplification is a pair of Lamm M 2.2 mono blocks. I currently have Magnepan 3.7i's. I love their transparency and inner detail but they do not play in the low registers. I do not want separate subs.... My room is mediums sized. I listen to mostly soft pop, classical and some light rock. I am trying to walk the thin line of tranparency vs musicality. I would enjoy some suggestions and some sound reasoning behind members choices in speakers. I do not want this to morph into a bashing thread. Please stay on topic.
Magnepan 3.7s are not in the same class as his electronics? Why would you say that?? As I’m sure the OP can tell you, the 3.7s are excellent speakers, fully up to the Audio Research and Lamm electronics. As the OP said, he’s not getting enough bass, and he doesn’t want subwoofers, so... I might opt for Stenheims. From what I’ve heard, they have very few compromises in their sound. |
@chuck, how close to Montreal are you? These just came available yesterday: https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/650329882-dali-epikore-9-loudspeakers/ Amazingly good price for great speakers, assuming the seller means he bought them new in Jan 2026 (not 2027 as stated). To be fair, I’ve only heard the Epikore 7s, and they are spectacular. The 9s are supposed to do the bass deeper and crisper. Lots of tech from the $150k Kore speakers. Be fun to audition these and the Rockport Avior IIs (Sunny’s has a demo pair on sale for $35k. https://sunnyaudiovideo.com/products/rockport-avior-ll ) I have Epicon 6s and occasionally muse about upgrading to the Epikore line, but my untreated/untreatable room doesn’t really justify it. |
@gbmcleod What I was attempting to articulate was not excoriation of the 3.7s. They are a speaker that excels in midrange timbre, clarity, and staging. What I was attempting to articulate is that it is my opinion that the 3.7 is limiting the potential of Lamm/AR combination, especially in the areas of imaging, secondary harmonic decay, ambient decay, bass & treble extension, and micro/macro dynamics where the dynamic speakers listed by the OP will better realize the potential of the Lamm/AR combination, as well as the OP’s astonishing front end electronics. Please do not be offended. I love the 3.7s. I had Apogees for years. Their strengths and faults similar to the 3.7s. However, when I moved on to modern dynamic speakers. You can look at it another way, even though cost and sound quality are not always directly proportional. If my memory serves me, the Lamm/AR combination is $60k. The 3.7i around $10k. Not following my rule of thumb … approximately 40% speakers, 25% amplification, 25% front end electronics, 10% cables. The speakers the OP is looking at are all over $40k. As I said, SQ not always directly proportional to cost, but + $30k over the 3.7i just buys more performance. |
For under $18,000 I would choose the Gershman Acoustics Avant Garde 30th Edition. They sounded so real & natural...& No matter which track was playing I couldn't stop my body from moving. I enjoyed their Symphoria model more but the price jumps closer to $80,000. But they did not sound $60k better to my ears. I listened to the Symphoria for a very long time at the Tampa show this year. Best speaker at the show in my opinion. I would be completely content with the Avant Gardes though. They checked all the boxes as far as performance & stage perceptions. I really dig the looks as well. I have no affiliation with the brand or anyone who may sell them. |
