Seeking speaker advice

Probably will as I think like Vandersteen and others their sensitivity specs are wishful thinking but 100-200 wpc should be enough unless you just want more refinement.

You could also listen to Martin Logan Electrostatic speakers. Try to listen with tubes somewhere in the signal path (maybe preamp?) to try to emulate the BHK Pre and BHK 250. Legacy Focus SE, although above your price point, might also be worth listening to. Keep checking Used Floorstanding Speakers - Shop Audiophile Speaker Brands for deals on used speakers (their current selection is so so, but just a few days could change that)

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I am curious to know whereabouts you live. I have a pair of speakers I think would amuse you and if you live in Minnesota I’d drop them off.

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A kind offer.

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My brother drives a pair of Magnepan 20.7s with his BHK-250, quite successfully. While that’s way out of the price range you mentioned, you might try their next model down, the 3.7i, which I think is around $6k per pair.

@2muchgear paired my bhk250/BHK pre with focal 1038 in a similar sized room. Sounds killer! Focals on the used market can be had within your budget. 1028 may suit you as well. Good luck

@aangen That’s very nice of you. Unfortunately I am in Northern Virginia.
@dawkinsj I prefer a little warmth over brightness, if there is any coloration at all.

To add some more context, I mostly listen with headphones (mainly Focal Utopia, sometimes Sennheiser HD 800S). The speaker setup I want to upgrade is a pair of Klipsch RP-8000F with a Klipsch R-100SW sub.
I would not be able to fit any speakers much larger than those (such as Wilsons) due to the available space, which limits the options.
Before your suggestions, I was looking at either Focal Aria 936 (or the new K2 936), KEF R11, and Zu Audio Omen Def MkII.
I will check out the Vandersteen, Harbeth, Dynaudio and Ohm Walsh to see if they will be a good fit.
It may just come down to what kind of deal I can get on any of them.

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If you’re talking about the Wilsons, I’ll rent a truck and be there in the morning.

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Thanks for the link. These looked interesting Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Baby Grand SE Speakers; Symphony Edition; Black Pair at under 3K for the pair.

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I might have missed it in the posts, but did you state where the speakers were being positioned?
Along the longer wall or shorter wall?
I’m finding this conversation very informative as I have a 20’ by 12’ room and am currently utilizing stand mounts with a sub along the longer wall. No more than 10 inches from the wall. The apartment layout dictates those requirements, so finding newer speakers is a bit of a challenge.

Yes, the P3ESRs, paired with a very good velodyne DSP sub worked great with jazz, chamber music and female vocals, but had very little slam and felt slow compared to the Linn bookshelf speakers I had at the time. They do not rock. They were blown away by Klipsch Heresys which just managed all types of music well - if not the last word in resolution. In the end I arrived at some vintage Yamaha NS1000Ms driven by Ayre amplification.

At RMAF several years ago I heard the Sophias in a tiny hotel room, driven by the Rega Osiris, and thought here’s a system that does everything really well. A system I could live with for a long time.

BTW, I mentioned the front ported Tannoys since they can go up near a wall.

Here’s a thought - in a small room are we getting into a near-field listening situation? Maybe something designed for monitoring would be better, such as the JBL 4349 or some ATCs? Though as with Harbeth’s, the ATCs are imported UK speakers, so may not be great VFM in the US.

I love them and will definitely be my next speaker. Not sure when though…

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I was actually thinking a speaker with a ribbon midrange and ribbon tweeter would be my next speaker. Do you know of any companies working on such a thing? :wink:

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Piega - the COAX or Master Line source ranges. They’ve been making them for over 30 years.

Thanks @stevensegal, now I want one of the master line source series speakers. There are lottery drawings both tonight and tomorrow night, lol.

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There are innumerable speakers that would work well with that lineup.
Consider this: What kind of sound are you seeking? Have you heard anything that you would like to have in your own space?

I’m not sure if you are interested in open baffle but these are pretty awesome.

You CAN audition at home with return privilege from a handful of retailers and manufacturers. You seem wide open to suggestions and so in this environment I can’t imagine not taking advantage of audition at home. Sure you have have to cover return shipping, but that is infinitely preferable to buying without audition and not liking what you’re stuck with. For example, Tekton Design backs up their really extensive line-up with a 60 day risk free trial. Music Direct backs all the major hardware they offer, including speakers, with a 60 day satisfaction guarantee. The approach I’m suggesting to you is don’t have us attempt to read into your room and music choices what will click for you, speakers are without doubt the most personal category of gear there is, but instead identify choices that are going to give you the opportunity to audition at home backed by a money back guarantee. THEN narrow down on brand and model that might appeal to you. I’m looking at Revel F208 floorstanders at Music Direct now at 5K per pair retail that based on my experience with Revel won’t have any limitations when it comes to Jazz and Classical Rock. Backed by MDs 60 day guarantee if they don’t work for you.

Best recommendation I have since I’ve found I can’t really ever put myself in another audiophile’s shoes when it comes to speakers. But I definitely can recommend a strategy for shopping that does permit audition at home (which, btw, I strongly believe is the only sure way of doing a proper audition that will will lead to satisfaction long term).

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Excellent thinking, a good strategic approach.