Speaker Recommendations for 2 channel w/ 8k budget

Take a look at Crutchfield. They carry high-end audio gear and I've always found their tech people to be very knowledgeable.

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KEF or Martin Logan

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Note, I am not a metal tweeter guy. I find them harsh so speake

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Ditto. Silk and textile are not as tinny. I usually listen to music loud enough for people to ask me to turn it down, but metal tweeters hurt my ears

Really like my Definitive Bi polar towers

Have you had the chance to hear them paired with Macs? I've heard they are very picky about what equipment they are paired with. They are on my list. They always seem to be lumped in with Focal and Sonus Faber when I see threads on other boards. The Confidence C2 looks promising. I have Dynaudio speakers in my car btw.

The VSM are intriguing. Have you had a chance to demo them? There isn't a dealer even close to me.

With my McIntosh 501 mono blocs, I have driven, over the last 8 years...


...Focal Electras
...Focal Utopias
...DeVore O93
...Magneplanar 1.7
...Sonus Faber Stratavari
...Zu Audio Omen
...Zu Audi Druids
...Magico S5
...Harbeth 40.1
...Quad 2905
...Wilson Sasha
...Vandersteen Model 5
...and I am forgetting a few others


For some reason, I keep going back to the Focal Utopia as my reference. The Berryllium tweeter is second to none. While the Maggie's have a fantastic mid/high, the low end drops off totally at 45 cycles. I don't use subs in 2 channel--ever. So I use the Maggie's when I am on a jazz/female vocal kick.

The DeVores are another fantastic speaker, but their comfort zone, to me, is mated with a 30-50 watt SET amp.

I gotta say, I hate when people at audio shows jump on the new flavor of the month, but Magico is absolutely the tits in loudspeakers. They are, however, not cheap. The S5 were a tad bit small for me, and was waiting for them to come out with the next model up. Well, they finally did a couple months ago--the S7--and it is astounding--just the size I want--but $60k!! Yikes.

You may try the Magico S3 used for $8k--it is well worth a listen.

You looking for new or used?

You can pick up a pair of Focal Alto Utopias for around 8k now.

And another...Acoustic Zen Adiago--they are a floor standing speaker that always gets great reviews--look for them on AGon used.

Very helpful! I'm actually in the process of selling my two MC352's and moving to MC501'S.