[Stangs55]

Going to be driven by my Marantz AV8003/MM8003 and complimented with my HSU VTF-2 Mark 3 sub. The surrounds are in-ceiling speakercraft and are "not up for negotiation" according to my wife.

So we'll leave that alone...


Right now, I'm able to get ahold of some Paradigm Signature S6's and C3 center for near that price...but I'm curious if there's anything else I should specifically listen to. I would almost have to be able to hear it before I can buy it...as I felt like a chump after purchasing the Strata Mini's and then finding out their sound wasn't for me.


I plan on taking listen to the Sonus Faber Grand Piano's as well...but what else should I look at? The $5000 ceiling is pretty firm.


I'm coming from some Focal 826v's which I've really really loved. Sadly, Focal has not exactly treated some of my local dealers too well and I'd like to avoid buying from them again based on this alone...sad, because I do love their sound. I'm hoping the the Beryllium tweeter in the Paradigm signature's will give me those same crispy, crunchy highs my focals did.


Thanks in advance.

 

[kwkshift]

You could also check out something like the Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Baby Grands or perhaps some Monitor Audio GS60's. Those are all in that ballpark price range for towers. Or, you could get into some tricked out bookshelves like some SF Cremona Audior M's on their matching stands or some Monitor Audio Platinum 100's, etc.

 

[SUPERMANROB]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Stangs55 /forum/post/15406868


Going to be driven by my Marantz AV8003/MM8003 and complimented with my HSU VTF-2 Mark 3 sub. The surrounds are in-ceiling speakercraft and are "not up for negotiation" according to my wife.

So we'll leave that alone...


Right now, I'm able to get ahold of some Paradigm Signature S6's and C3 center for near that price...but I'm curious if there's anything else I should specifically listen to. I would almost have to be able to hear it before I can buy it...as I felt like a chump after purchasing the Strata Mini's and then finding out their sound wasn't for me.


I plan on taking listen to the Sonus Faber Grand Piano's as well...but what else should I look at? The $5000 ceiling is pretty firm.


I'm coming from some Focal 826v's which I've really really loved. Sadly, Focal has not exactly treated some of my local dealers too well and I'd like to avoid buying from them again based on this alone...sad, because I do love their sound. I'm hoping the the Beryllium tweeter in the Paradigm signature's will give me those same crispy, crunchy highs my focals did.


Thanks in advance.

I had the 826v's on my short list with Monitor Audio RS6's but ended up going with the Monitor Audio RS6's because to us they sounded at-the-very-least as good as the 826v's (to us) and were 3X's less in price. We ended auditioning Monitor Audio's GS10's(night &day) and were sold! They were less than the 826v's too.

In the price range your looking at, you might want to take a listen to the GS20's.

If you really like the Focal's you might want to get ahold of Mr Audioarchitect on this forum,last I heard he is a Focal authorized dealer.

 

[Nuance]

That's a nice chunk of change, so it's definitely smart to listen before you buy.


Paradigms Sig's are a good choice, but have you heard them?


Revel, Kef, B&W, Totem, Monitor Audio Platinum, Salk Sound (find an owner to let you audition), Vandersteen, Aerial Acoustics, etc. Lots of good stuff in that price range IMO.


Happy hunting.

 

[craig john]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Stangs55 /forum/post/15406868


The surrounds are in-ceiling speakercraft and are "not up for negotiation" according to my wife.

So we'll leave that alone...

Can't help myself...
http://www.cepro.com/article/how_to_...peaker_systems

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stangs55 /forum/post/15406868


...as I felt like a chump after purchasing the Strata Mini's and then finding out their sound wasn't for me.

Just curious, what didn't you like about the Mini's?


Craig

 

[ttowntony]



Quote:
Going to be driven by my Marantz AV8003/MM8003

Fantastic choice! I have the Marantz combo running in my personal theater room driving my Triad Gold LCR's. I made the choice to bring a set home after we ran these in the showroom with excellent results.


The Paradigm Sigs are a good choice. Here are two other speaker options we are mating the Marantz combo with that I highly recommend.


PSB Synchrony Two towers

and

Dynaudio Focus 220 towers


Both sound absolutely wonderful.


Keep us up to date on your selection. Enjoy!

 

[thirdeye11]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Stangs55 /forum/post/15406868


Going to be driven by my Marantz AV8003/MM8003 and complimented with my HSU VTF-2 Mark 3 sub. The surrounds are in-ceiling speakercraft and are "not up for negotiation" according to my wife.

So we'll leave that alone...


Right now, I'm able to get ahold of some Paradigm Signature S6's and C3 center for near that price...but I'm curious if there's anything else I should specifically listen to. I would almost have to be able to hear it before I can buy it...as I felt like a chump after purchasing the Strata Mini's and then finding out their sound wasn't for me.


I plan on taking listen to the Sonus Faber Grand Piano's as well...but what else should I look at? The $5000 ceiling is pretty firm.


I'm coming from some Focal 826v's which I've really really loved. Sadly, Focal has not exactly treated some of my local dealers too well and I'd like to avoid buying from them again based on this alone...sad, because I do love their sound. I'm hoping the the Beryllium tweeter in the Paradigm signature's will give me those same crispy, crunchy highs my focals did.


Thanks in advance.

I am in the Dallas, TX area if you ever make it up this way, and have some Salk SongTowers and SongCenter you're welcome to audition. They're beautiful speakers, and for the money perform very very well. The 2 towers and center would be under your budget significantly, and since you'll be using a sub their extension to 38hz should be plenty for you.


They're also nice looking speakers which the wife should like. Jim Salk also will literally do ANY veneer you want on your speakers so your options are literally limitless.


Oh I almost forgot, he just recently added a ribbon tweeter version of the SongTowers at $2500/pair that with the center would still be significantly under your $5000 budget for the front 3.

www.salksound.com


There are of course plenty of other options which have been mentioned already. The Monitor Audio RS6 are quite nice. I would also want to listen before I bought given your existing predicament that didn't work out before with the Strata's.


-Chad

 

[zductive]

I would strongly suggest that you have your listening room acoustically treated and equalized before you even think about moving forward with any speaker purchase. You may find that you like the mini stratas once your have treated your room.


The speakers that you are auditioning will not sound the same once you move them to your listening room.


Disclaimers

I truly enjoy my mini stratas.

My listening room is fully treated.

Bass is provided by dual mfw-15.

Listening to medium jazz with strong stand up bass!

 

[Denophile]

room treatments will help for sure. beyond that I would go with a short list of monitor, sonus (esp if you tend to like more euphonic sound), paradigm, or b&w 7 series. someone also mentioned totem, which I LOVED when i listened to them-great imaging, shiny sparkly sound, just not as much to look at amd not as much low end extension as some of the competitors--each of these has advantages and disadvantages and a distinct sound.


if you like the chorus series i think you may tend toward the monitors or paradigm models. also if you like the choruses i am guessing the viennas (and perhaps less so the sonus--another of my favorites) would be dark in comparison.


if you have not tried magnapan or logans you might want to venture into a dealer and try them out--supposedly the new $2K logans sound fantastic (have not heard this model myself yet but reviews have been rave) and would be in the price range.

 

[DenonLover]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Denophile /forum/post/15409430


.....supposedly the new $2K logans sound fantastic (have not heard this model myself yet but reviews have been rave) and would be in the price range.

What model ML speaker is $2k that is getting these great reviews? I love Logans but I never thought of them for 5.1. Just wondering, thanks.

 

[mayhem13]

Another speaker that's been getting Rave reviews from the RMAF 2008 is the Ginko Audio ClaraVu but finding then for an audition may be kinda hard.


I must agree with Zductive about the auditions though. But when you find a high end dealer, considering the investment i'd ask them to do a demo in your home first. If the speakers are of limited size and transport easily..it shouldn't be a problem. They could loan out the demo set with a hefty deposit until returned unharmed. You also have a very poor economic climate on your side. I went to look at a new car the other day and i thought the salesman was going to shoot me before he'd let me leave! LOL

 

[Denophile]



Quote:
Originally Posted by DenonLover /forum/post/15411101


What model ML speaker is $2k that is getting these great reviews? I love Logans but I never thought of them for 5.1. Just wondering, thanks.

hey fellow denophile!
http://www.avguide.com/review/martin...speaker?page=1


the source reviewed in tas!

 

[SlowcarIX]

how about 3 jtr12lf lcr for 4.5k?

http://www.jtrspeakers.com/triple12lf.html


stunning dynamics, shames commercial hifi speakers in comparison