Seeking Speaker Recommendation

[hybridauth_Google_106264072883721932125]

I'm looking for a set of speakers and would appreciate your recommendation. Budget $1500.

Here's my set up:

AMP - Carver M-1.5t

PRE AMP - Carver C-1

Turntable: Project + Ortofon Blue Cartridge

Music - Diverse range of genres with a preference for electronic and reggae. Seeking speaker that can deliver powerful but clean bass. A subwoofer is not an input option on the preamp.

Your input is appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Al ears]

I'm looking for a set of speakers and would appreciate your recommendation. Budget $1500.

Here's my set up:

AMP - Carver M-1.5t

PRE AMP - Carver C-1

Turntable: Project + Ortofon Blue Cartridge

Music - Diverse range of genres with a preference for electronic and reggae. Seeking speaker that can deliver powerful but clean bass. A subwoofer is not an input option on the preamp.

Your input is appreciated. Thank you.

Welcome to the forum Zach.

Can we take it you live in the States? This often helps because WhatHiFi is a British publication and for all we know you could be talking Canadian dollars. If we know roughly where in the world you are then other forum members that live in the same country might be more able to tell you what you can get locally for your budget.

It is no good me quoting some exotic speakers that you have no chance of auditioning where you live. Having said that you will now get a load of posters that will try to do exactly that.

Some more information about the size of your listening room and how far away from the back wall you can comfortably position any speaker might help in the choice of speaker suggested.

 

[rainsoothe]

Martin Logan Motion 35 XT, ATC SCM 11 (if you got enough power), Revel Performa 3 M106 (if you got enough money).

 

[rainsoothe]

Oh, and Sonus Faber Venere 1.5 or 2.0

 

[hybridauth_Google_106264072883721932125]

Thanks Al ears.

I'm from Canada so I'd be looking for a set of speakers at around 800£.

The room is quite large 13 foot ceilings, 20 feet long, 12 feet wide.

I appreciate the input. Regards.

 

[Al ears]

Thanks Al ears.

I'm from Canada so I'd be looking for a set of speakers at around 800£.

The room is quite large 13 foot ceilings, 20 feet long, 12 feet wide.

I appreciate the input. Regards.

No problems.

Apart from those recommended by Rainsooth I would recommend you look at floorstanders for your requirements and room size, plus you save some money by not having to buy stands for standmount speakers.

I know what I would recommend for approximately £800 in the UK but not sure you would find them in Canada. Speakers are a very personal thing and best auditioned prior to parting with cash.

Can you give us an idea of anything you can actually listen to in your part of the world in the way of floorstanders?

You could buy blind over the internet but I have seen this lead to disappointment in the past.

I will however mention a few:-

Dali Zensor 7, Tannoy Precision 6.2

NOTE: The Revel and Sonus Faber suggested are way over your budget if bought new.

 

[plastic penguin]

As the OP is from Canada, I would search out some Totems: Arros or Sttafs. But auditioning will be essential, and they cost a fair bit more than £800 brand new, although ex-dem or s/hand could be within your preferred budget.

 

[Al ears]

As the OP is from Canada, I would search out some Totems: Arros or Sttafs. But auditioning will be essential, and they cost a fair bit more than £800 brand new, although ex-dem or s/hand could be within your preferred budget.

Agree. Well worth seeking out because they are much better than anything I can suggest for his budget if sticking with new.

Believe Paradigm are also manufactured there but know nothing about them. A quick Google shows their Prestige 75F are about $1500 new.

 

[chris_bates1974]

My experience of Totem speakers is that they sound absolutely gorgeous. But have little in the way of bass power!

Don't know if you're able to get hold of KEF speakers where you are (?) but there is certainly no shortgae of bass - well defined bass - in my pair. There are plenty of others to choose from, although you may want to treat the LS50 hype with a little pinch of salt.....

 

[plastic penguin]

As the OP is from Canada, I would search out some Totems: Arros or Sttafs. But auditioning will be essential, and they cost a fair bit more than £800 brand new, although ex-dem or s/hand could be within your preferred budget.

Agree. Well worth seeking out because they are much better than anything I can suggest for his budget if sticking with new.

Believe Paradigm are also manufactured there but know nothing about them. A quick Google shows their Prestige 75F are about $1500 new.

IIRC, another occasional poster from Canada, said that Totems are far cheaper in Canada than over here. But first, I could be mistaken and second I've no idea of the OP's amp, hence why a dem is essential.

 

[hybridauth_Google_106264072883721932125]

Thanks Rainsoothe, I'm going to look into those options. Z

 

[hybridauth_Google_106264072883721932125]

Thank you to everyone who provided recommendations, I've got a bit of work to do. I live in Toronto (big city by Canadian standards) and I'll now look find shops that sell the recommended brands/models mentioned so I can test them out.

PS - I'm happy purchasing used speakers (ex-dem or s-hand), they don't have to be new. I just want to get the best product for my budget, taste and to match my current system.

 

[hybridauth_Google_106264072883721932125]

For your reference, here's the user manual with all the spec details on page 4.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/nsfflnoub7vldi1/Carver%20M-1.5t%20owner%20manual.pdf?dl=0

 

[Al ears]

My experience of Totem speakers is that they sound absolutely gorgeous. But have little in the way of bass power!

Don't know if you're able to get hold of KEF speakers where you are (?) but there is certainly no shortgae of bass - well defined bass - in my pair. There are plenty of others to choose from, although you may want to treat the LS50 hype with a little pinch of salt.....

You've obviously not heard the Mani 2.

 

[chris_bates1974]

My experience of Totem speakers is that they sound absolutely gorgeous. But have little in the way of bass power!

Don't know if you're able to get hold of KEF speakers where you are (?) but there is certainly no shortgae of bass - well defined bass - in my pair. There are plenty of others to choose from, although you may want to treat the LS50 hype with a little pinch of salt.....

You've obviously not heard the Mani 2.

You'd be right! A quick look at the price shows why! A little north of my range...

In fairness, I did really like the two pairs I heard (at their lower end in price terms), I just found them bass-light. But the treble was stunning. If I was only listening to music with very little bass, they'd be up near the top of my list.

 

[plastic penguin]

My experience of Totem speakers is that they sound absolutely gorgeous. But have little in the way of bass power!

Don't know if you're able to get hold of KEF speakers where you are (?) but there is certainly no shortgae of bass - well defined bass - in my pair. There are plenty of others to choose from, although you may want to treat the LS50 hype with a little pinch of salt.....

You've obviously not heard the Mani 2.

You'd be right! A quick look at the price shows why! A little north of my range...

In fairness, I did really like the two pairs I heard (at their lower end in price terms), I just found them bass-light. But the treble was stunning. If I was only listening to music with very little bass, they'd be up near the top of my list.

I've heard the Arros a few times with the Leema and the bass weight matched my old RS6s - better definition to boot. Stunning all-round speakers and they are discreet too.

But put it into perspective, they are never going to have thundering bass levels: The cabinets are dinky.

 

[Compactdisco]

PSB Imagine 2xt floorstanders. Highly recommended.