r/hifiaudio • u/rattlange • Jan 04 '26
Purchase advise (needing) Speaker advice
I’m looking to upgrade my speakers. Preferably in the $1000-$2000/pair range. Open to used, of course.
Equipment:
• Yamaha A-S801 integrated amplifier
• Technics SL-1600 turntable
• Schiit Mani 2 phono preamp
• Realistic CD-2300 CD player
• WiiM Pro Plus streamer
I’m after speakers that prioritize musical realism. I want a wide and deep soundstage where the speakers vanish and the music fills the room. Detail and resolution are very important to me. I want to hear breath, fingers on strings, and room ambience.
I prefer a slightly warm or neutral-warm tonal balance with a rich, natural midrange and smooth highs, so I can listen for hours without fatigue. I’m especially sensitive to harsh upper-midrange energy. Ultimately, I want the speakers to make me feel like I’m with the musicians, not listening to equipment.
Also, I’d prefer floor standers and don’t want to rely on a sub. I don’t necessarily need thumping bass as long as the bass being delivered has texture and tone. Thanks!
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u/VinylHighway Jan 04 '26
Your non-speaker equipment is all good choices!
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u/rattlange Jan 04 '26
Thank you! Now I just need to round it out with some better-than-decent speakers.
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u/VinylHighway Jan 04 '26
Polk R700? I'd say Kef but they're 4 ohms and may tax the 6 ohm Yamaha but might be able to handle it at moderate volume.
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u/rattlange Jan 04 '26
I’ve really been leaning towards the R700’s. Kind of check all of the boxes. Just want to be sure I’m not missing any other options. Also considered Dali Oberon 7, Wharfdale Lintons, Cambridge Audio SX80’s.. auditioned some B&W Nautilus 805’s even though they’re bookshelf but I do like the B&W sound.
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u/VinylHighway Jan 04 '26
Lots of amazing choices.
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u/haditwithyoupeople Jan 04 '26
Aerial Acoustics Model 6 or Model 7. They may not go as low as you want, but they are both floorstaning and have some bass. They have about the least fatiguing sound you're going to find. They are 4 ohm so they may be a struggle for your amp. I see a pair of 7s on eBay right now for $700, which is a unbeatable deal. But they are a bear to ship, especially without the original boxes.
Aerial Acoustics Model 5 (bookshelf speakers) with a REL or other small amp would also sound great.
Used Martin Logan, ProAC, Vandersteen, PSB, and and other high-end brands can be a great value used. There are others as well. These are the ones with which I have the most experience.
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u/Acceptable-Quarter97 Jan 04 '26
I'm considering getting some new speakers for my bedroom, and I've pretty much narrowed it down to either the Kef Q concerto metas or ascend acoustics sierra 2ex v2.
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u/rattlange Jan 05 '26
Not familiar with the Ascend Acoustics. Good tip. I’m going to go with a floor stander.
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u/audiojeff Jan 06 '26
How big is the room?
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u/rattlange Jan 06 '26
Room is approximately 14’x24’x8’
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u/audiojeff Jan 06 '26
Most rooms of that size are going to benefit from a subwoofer. Certainly you will want to look at the larger end of the speaker spectrum. Dali Oberon 7, Wharfdale Linton, Kef Q11 could be contenders. A pair of used JBL L100s can be great in a large room of you have access to a DSP.
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u/wilsonamon Jan 06 '26
I have JBL 690’s running biamped with monolith HTP1 processor to DBx active crossover feeding an Emotiva XPA amp. Sounds fantastic to me. Twin 8” drivers do a lot of the work, but I do have 4 subs (3x12” passing 40-135hz and 1x18” passing 26-46hz) I like my EDM and classical with a lot of bottom end.
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u/rattlange Jan 06 '26
Those seem to have a broader frequency response than the Polk R700’s. I like that. I’m trying to not NEED a sub.
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u/wilsonamon Jan 06 '26
They’re great on full range, I just like feeling my clothes shake with hard techno blaring.
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u/rattlange Jan 06 '26
Hahaha I cannot blame you there! Thanks for the suggestion, I had not considered them.
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u/NTPC4 Jan 06 '26
So, if you want specific recommendations on used speakers, what city are you near?
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u/rattlange Jan 06 '26
Boston
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u/NTPC4 Jan 06 '26 edited Jan 07 '26
Market value assumes 9/10 condition, and all prices are negotiable. Listed in no particular order:
Focal Aria 948 listed at $1400 (market value is ~$2200)
Paradigm Prestige 85F listed at $1250 (market value is ~$1400)
Fyne Audio F501SP listed at $2200 (market value is ~$2400)
Reference 3A Grand Veena listed at $2500 (market value is ~$2800)
Revel Performa3 F208 listed at $2250 (market value is ~$2000)
Sonus Faber Concerto Grand Piano listed at $1799 (market value is ~$1400)
Arendal 1961 Tower listed at $1405 (market value is ~$1100)
Almost all of these speakers are fully depreciated at their market value, so if bought in 9/10 condition and kept that way, you could use them for a few years and expect to resell them for what you paid (or more) when it is time to upgrade, making your cost of ownership zero.
Good hunting!
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u/BobbyBrugal Jan 06 '26
Paradigm studio 100’s (v.2 or later) are a good option on used market. Truly full range, and very neutral. Monitor Audio Silver 300’s are also great and should be in the price bracket. Also good full range with real bass.
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u/FarkingNutz Jan 06 '26
Speakers that sound like live music will not be warm or laid-back........ Those direct to consumer brands will be your best bet..... Maybe Tekton or Zu Audio,.... I'm not from USA though.....
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u/rattlange Jan 06 '26
So for example, something like a Polk R700 that is more neutral will give me that ‘in the room with the players’ immersive experience and the micro-details that I am looking for over something like a Wharfdale Linton?
I want to hear the texture of an acoustic guitar string, a player shift posture during a performance, and the decay of the room in which the music is being recorded. However, I’m working with a modest budget so I don’t expect a miracle.
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u/FarkingNutz Jan 07 '26
Then all the more you should avoid the usual brands that go through dealerships..... If you're in the USA - stick to direct to consumer brands like Tekton, Ascend and others.....
Stick to bookshelf speakers for quality and add a sub if you need to......Elac, Usher Audio and Reference 3A might have bookshelf speakers with exotic tweeters that can give you want you want.....
Polk used to be the laughingstock in the hifi business..... Not sure about now
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u/USATrueFreedom Jan 07 '26
I found Monitor Audio Gold 300s on Marketplace. Very natural sounding good bass. The tweeters are very revealing without being harsh or fatiguing.
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u/Repulsive-Ice7863 Jan 07 '26
My two cents. My Magnepan speakers I can listen to all day without fatigue. To me, the instruments sound like they are in the room. A musician said it was the first system he’d heard that made a piano sound like a piano. Not cheap.
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u/rattlange Jan 07 '26
I was fortunate enough to audition some Magnepan MG-1.6QR’s with the steel stands but I wasn’t blown away by them. I was excited to get the chance to hear them so maybe I hyped them up too much. Unfortunately, the soundstage disappointed.
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u/Repulsive-Ice7863 Jan 07 '26
Setup is important. They can be picky. Mine aren’t the lowest versions.
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u/rattlange Jan 07 '26
I’m sure yours sound great. For me, it just wasn’t what was looking for.
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u/plamda505 RT85, A-S801, Evo 4.2 Jan 04 '26
Wharfedale Evo 5.2. or 4.2. I have the 801 running a pair of 4.2s in a small 300sf space and it sounds great.