L/R speakers $500

[Roen]

HTD overall are nice -- however for the nit-picking critical ear, there are some better options in this thread.

Besides the 340 SE, what else are better options?

A super revealing speaker for critical listening can have a secondary impact - I have found a speaker like that to be very unforgiving or unflattering of poor recordings / source material. That's great when you are mixing/mastering, but for normal listening, even critical listening, I found over the years that a nice even handed speaker tends to be easier to listen to.

I'm used to super revealing with my IEMs, so I wanted to extend that mantra to my speakers.

 

[j_garcia]

I still prefer an unforgiving speaker too

 

[zieglj01]

Besides the 340 SE, what else are better options?

The Philharmonic AA -- I know about the work of Dennis.

 

[Roen]

I've decided to go a bit crazy and now are consider speakers at a bit higher level:

Ascend Sierra-2
KEF LS50

My same criteria apply, but I wonder if there are any other speakers I should take a look at?

 

[j_garcia]

Between those, Sierra-2. Next might be the Philharmonitor. The BMR is a bit more expensive than the Sierra-2.

 

[Roen]

Yea I think so too. I demoed a KEF LS50, Monitor Audio Gold bookshelf and a Martin Logan floorstander (Looked like a floorstanding version of the Motion 15). I'd equate the KEF and the Monitor Audio and had overall better sound than the Martin Logan, but the Martin Logan had more detail than the other two.

By proxy, I'm pretty sure an Ascend Sierra-2 is what I'm after. I've heard of the Philharmonitor and BMR, but I don't think the BMR fits well with the intended 2.1 setup as much as a Sierra-2 (not to mention it's also more expensive) and the Philharmonitor runs comparable, but I'm still leaning towards the Sierra-2. Are there any other speakers in this range that I should consider?

 

[rojo]

Yea I think so too. I demoed a KEF LS50, Monitor Audio Gold bookshelf and a Martin Logan floorstander (Looked like a floorstanding version of the Motion 15). I'd equate the KEF and the Monitor Audio and had overall better sound than the Martin Logan, but the Martin Logan had more detail than the other two.

By proxy, I'm pretty sure an Ascend Sierra-2 is what I'm after. I've heard of the Philharmonitor and BMR, but I don't think the BMR fits well with the intended 2.1 setup as much as a Sierra-2 (not to mention it's also more expensive) and the Philharmonitor runs comparable, but I'm still leaning towards the Sierra-2. Are there any other speakers in this range that I should consider?

Salk SongBird or SongSurround II? Or maybe an AIY kit from Selah Audio -- the Anniversario kit with optional pre-cut Parts Express cabinets. Or if you don't mind to cut your own holes, Paul Carmody's Carrera kit with its ScanSpeak Revelator mids and Hiquphon OW tweets ought to be very impressive in these 0.5ft³ Dayton cabinets. (There's only 1/4" difference in width on each side of the tweeter versus Carmody's cabinet design, so I doubt BSC will be noticeably affected by using the prefab cabinets.)

 

[Roen]

Salk SongBird or SongSurround II? Or maybe an AIY kit from Selah Audio -- the Anniversario kit with optional pre-cut Parts Express cabinets. Or if you don't mind to cut your own holes, Paul Carmody's Carrera kit with its ScanSpeak Revelator mids and Hiquphon OW tweets ought to be very impressive in these 0.5ft³ Dayton cabinets. (There's only 1/4" difference in width on each side of the tweeter versus Carmody's cabinet design, so I doubt BSC will be noticeably affected by using the prefab cabinets.)

Interesting, never considered the AIY route, but I think it's outside my comfort zone. Thanks though!