Looking to upgrade my current KEF Q setup to something in the range of $3-5K.
Aesthetics is a huge deal for me to fit in a modern apartment. (Wife Acceptance Factor)
Eg. definitely NO to Klipsch 'cause they are insultingly ugly.
What are your suggestions for something that looks nice and plays well for music/movies?
Again, anything that looks gorgeous would be a bonus. Not a huge budget but try me.
(Was looking at KEF R's, B&W CMs and Monitor Audio).
Looking to upgrade my current KEF Q setup to something in the range of $3-5K.
Aesthetics is a huge deal for me to fit in a modern apartment. (Wife Acceptance Factor)
Eg. definitely NO to Klipsch 'cause they are insultingly ugly.
What are your suggestions for something that looks nice and plays well for music/movies?
Again, anything that looks gorgeous would be a bonus. Not a huge budget but try me.
(Was looking at KEF R's, B&W CMs and Monitor Audio).
If you want something with a small footprint AND has built in subs which saves even more space then look at the Def Tech STS's. My wife has been happy with them in our living room. Wonderful sound with built in sub so effectively full range for most people. Takes up VERY little floor space!
In order for my wife to approve any speaker, it would have to be either inconspicuous (like in-ceiling), camouflaged (fake greenery all over it), or appear to be something other than a speaker, like maybe a subwoofer that doubles as an end table.
check out some speakers made by Audio Physic such as their Scorpio or Tempo. Go over to Audiogon.com and click on full range speakers, and check out some of pics on a great assortment of speakers that are out there. Avalon makes some interesting looking speakers.
There is nothing wrong with a speaker having a nice look while also having great performance. The most recent speaker to catch my eye is the Avantgarde Zero 1. I think that is a beautiful modern design and I would love to hear them. Another speaker design I would like to hear is from Spatial Audio. They look interesting as well. A speaker that I liked from some years ago was the Vienna Acoustic Mahler.
The FIRST Question that should have been asked is - What are you trying to accomplish?
Is this a Stereo system or an Surround Sound system?
Is the budget for JUST the Front speakers or for a whole 5.1 setup?
Next, how big is the listening room? Dimensions?
If you want wife approve speakers, then don't get big black monoliths. Get a fine wood grain that will blend into your room. The very nice B&W CM come in Walnut, and Rosenut -
I've heard a few positive comments from the fairer sex about the looks of the PSB Imagine series due to their slim profile, curved cabinets and real wood veneer.
You should be able to assemble a system comprising Imagine T's, an Imagine C and Imagine B's all in dark cherry for around $4100, or around $4500 in gloss black.
Floor to ceiling line array using Vifa 3.5 inch full range drivers and DSP
Get some Roman columns and hollow them out--place line arrays (about 5" x 5" x 90" dimensions) inside the columns.
Get an acoustic mesh screen in white--then cover it with white acoustic cloth.
Make a curio cabinet for the subwoofers....done. Make sure the subwoofer(s) use two drivers each in a push-pull configuration to eliminate vibration.
If you don't like the Roman columns--then build nice furniture to hold the TV, DVDs, various items etc. and build the line arrays and subwoofers into the cabinet.
If that is too complicated and you want the speakers to vanish--then it gets weird. Buy some inwall speakers and get color matching grills to your walls. That is the best solution to hide them but you are in a "modern apartment". I am assuming you don't own it and cutting holes in the walls might not agree with the owner.
Since the WAF wants a Bose cube or something (as advertised in all the women's magazines) you have that option. The Yamaha sound projectors are also an option that would give you much, much better sound while hanging below the TV screen.
Another option is the Golden Ear sound bar type speaker. It has enough output, clarity and options to gradually add things like subwoofers and surround speakers over time.
The aforementioned Wharefedale Jades are high performers and very nice looking speakers. Dali speakers fit that bill as well. There are some Klipsch speakers that do perform well and have high WAF, look at the Klipsch Palladium p17b speakers. Philharmonic makes nice looking and high performing speakers as well. Some gloss black Ascend Sierra towers should fit in your described decor and will sound very nice. Also look at what Funk Audio has available- very high performance and very beautiful finishes available.
You need the right space for big towers otherwise the smaller the better. I have my rti12 in the main living room but the frame the TV so don't look too out of place.
Plus one on Sonus Faber. We were at Best Buy and she saw the white Venere 1.5 and commented on how nice they looked. Seeing the opportunity I mentioned we should listen to them. Long story short we ended listening to speakers for a solid 45 minutes and she says I can get a pair of the Olympica I after we move this fall.
Show your wife pictures, mine fell in love with the Sonus Faber Olympica Walnut finish and likes how they sound even better! I've had much more success including her in the upgrade process by getting her involved. Heck, she eventually wants to get the Olympica III which is a good down payment on a new car!
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