General Speaker Advice and Recommendations

Discussion in 'Speakers' started by shotgunshane, Mar 7, 2017.

  1. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    Is anyone here familiar with the Microphase Audio SAT?

    MAD_SAT.jpg
    I came across this bookshelf in my social media feed and I thought they looked nice with simple plywood. Then I saw they costs $2000/pair and erased it from my memory.

    A bit later I read its history. It was developed in the early 80s and seems unknown in the english speaking world but was popular in France, Belgium, Germany and Scandinavian countries. It was also used as a mini-monitor as there was a powered version and it has a very flat FR. I get the impression it's like the LS3/5 speaker, though I don't know if that justifies the price. The creator eventually moved to Australia and he makes them there now.

    It looks like it pops up on various vintage forums so I might be able to get a good deal on the classic speaker

    https://www.stereonet.com/au/reviews/microphase-audio-design-sat-mk1-loudspeaker-review
     
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2022
  2. pavi

    pavi Almost "Made"

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    seeking advice/recommendations.

    i've thoroughly enjoyed the Salk Song3 BeAT driven by the Pass XA25 or the Enleum AMP-23R. not dissatisfied in any way, but i've very little experience with speakers in general— have been primarily into headphones.

    what comparable/ different/ better speakers could I explore? i listen mostly to jazz, blues, indian classical.

    I'd be grateful for any perspective/counsel.
     
  3. AdvanTech

    AdvanTech Friend

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    Do you have room for speakers with larger footprints? You might enjoy the added dynamics/scale/immediacy of bigger and more efficient floorstanders.
     
  4. pavi

    pavi Almost "Made"

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    yes, i do. what would you recommend?
     
  5. Metro

    Metro Friend

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    If you are truly "not dissatisfied in any way", we need some context about what might make it better for you. What is your headphone system? Is there anything about it that you find missing in your speakers?
     
  6. kirayamato

    kirayamato Friend

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    Hi guys need some help need speakers for a home theatre plus music setup for my lounge that’s also not that huge as I will buy them in the US and take them with me I have a Yggdrasil already and get the ragnarok if needed to go with it
     
  7. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    apologies I don't have anything to add as far as speaker recommendations other than what most around here would consider schilling only what I have experience with, and that's Audio Note UK, for higher efficiency type speakers. but I'd love to hear your impressions of the Eneleum amp!
     
  8. pavi

    pavi Almost "Made"

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    good question, thank you for responding! i was hoping for something along the lines of "if you liked X then you'd probably like Y; and Z might broaden your perspective"
     
  9. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    If you need to travel with the speakers, an active set will probably be easier in the long run. Beyond that though, we don't have nearly enough information. Budget? approx size of room? subwoofer? room treatment? how big/heavy are you willing to go?

    I'll just randomly throw out the recommendation of ATC SCM20-a.
     
  10. pavi

    pavi Almost "Made"

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    no worries!

    the AMP-23R... has pretty much displaced my other amps (Pass XP25, EC Aficionado/300B, Ferrum OOR/HYPSOS) and become my primary/sole preference. It has more than sufficient power at 25W to drive the Susvara beautifully well, as well as the Salk Song3 BeAT (86dB/8Ω). the Susvara (which was the target design, i've heard) does sound like the two were made for each other. the Atrium partners really well with it.

    the sound is powerful, relaxed, well-resolved. the timbre feels accurate — i listen to a lot of acoustic jazz. the highs are a touch sweet, the lows are very well defined, the mid-range is wonderful.

    it gets hot quick. i'm not sold on the vibration-isolation supports, or that aspect of the design, which is otherwise simple and elegant. i like the gain knob — it's not an attenuator.
     
    Last edited: Apr 25, 2022
  11. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    That's from the new/reborn Bakoon company right? I've heard good things.
     
  12. pavi

    pavi Almost "Made"

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    the KEF LS50 would be a good — and relatively transportable — fit with the yggdrasil & ragnarok
     
  13. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    I know the LS50 sometimes gets snubbed around here, but it's not a bad choice all things considered. The LS50 is to bookshelves as the M50 is to headphones. Everyone recommends it, eventually everyone moves to something else, but they are so easy to move on the secondary market that if you bought them used in the first place just look at the shipping cost as a rental fee.
     
  14. foo_me

    foo_me Friend

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    @pavi
    If you're looking for something different, how about OB speakers? Like you, I don't have much experience with speakers versus headphones but I went from a few box speakers to open baffle Spatial Audio X5s. I enjoyed the Harbeth SHl5+. It was great for smaller ensembles, accoustic music but felt limited when playing more complex, orchestral music. I actually first read about them here and there's more info in their dedicated audiocircle forum. The X5s at least do have the ability to disappear from the room and have that you are there feeling, much more than the Harbeths. It's open and airy without being bright and the bass is definitely there with the powered subwoofers. I also wanted flexibility to use low powered amps, especially tubes so the X5s worked great in that regard. There's no guarantee you'd like them but I haven't read anyone who didn't like them.
     
  15. pavi

    pavi Almost "Made"

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    thank you for the recommendation! i was just looking at the x5 earlier this evening… very intrigued.
     
  16. foo_me

    foo_me Friend

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    They also have a 60 day return policy so that definitely helped me since I couldn’t demo them. I’m still within the window but these will obviously not be going anywhere.
     
  17. pavi

    pavi Almost "Made"

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    that's very helpful, thank you!
     
  18. AdvanTech

    AdvanTech Friend

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    I've heard Spatial Audio X3's before and they're definitely among the best speakers I've ever listened to. I'm a fan of this company.
     
  19. pavi

    pavi Almost "Made"

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  20. AdvanTech

    AdvanTech Friend

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    These seem like a lot of money for such smol woofer surface area. You already have this kind of presentation (albeit much less efficient). Don't you want to try something really different like the Spatial Audios? I think you might be pleasantly surprised if your listening room allows for them.

    It looks like the Deville has the exact same 18 Sound midrange woofer that my speakers do (they're the stars of my 3-ways), but I also have 15" woofers filling out what the mids can't.
     
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2022

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