FrankZ
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Best speakers for anthem P2 up to 10000 euro
commsysman
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Since the Anthem P2 is rated at 500 watts per channel into a 4 ohm load, I think you would have a VERY difficult time finding ANY speaker that it won't drive well. I think that is a non-issue.

I have the Vandersteen Treo speakers, and I am satisfied that they are the best speakers I could find for under $10,000. I recommend them highly. (contact----ray@audioconsultants.com----....in the Netherlands; other dealers can be located at the Vandersteen website). Please see John Atkinson's recent review in Stereophile.

The Focal 1038 is also very good.

The KEF Reference 203/2 is another one I would consider.

For the preamp I recommend the Audio research LS27, which runs $7000 in the USA. I know of no better one at ANY price except the Audio Research Reference 5 preamp. ( I use the LS-26, which is the previous model and is essentially the same).

The best CD SACD player made is the OPPO BDP-105, which only costs $1200 (!!!). Some cost 6 times as much and DO NOT sound as good. Its SABRE chips are the state of the art!

I got rid of my $6000 Ayre player because the OPPO sounds better. There are at least 20 CD players that cost 5 to 10 times as much as the OPPO, and I have never heard one that sounds better.

I have the Music Hall MMF-7 turntable, which is quite good and will only cost around $2000 with a very good Benz Micro cartridge. I can recommend it. The Musical Fidelity V-90 Phono preamp is only $250 and is very good.

FrankZ
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Thanks a lot for your info. It was very reasuring that I wont have any issue with P2 (especially since I do not see it a lot when an amplifier is recomended for these speakets) but this is what I already have.

So to make a long story short, I managed to listen to focal 1038 be, to Kef 203/2 and to PL300. Last two in the same room. For the most time Focals were driven by classe CDP 202, CP500 and CA2200 while other two from KRELL S-350A, S-1200U and S-275. I will not enter in details in order not to confuse anybody else with my thoughts since I am not an expert, but to my personal taste I liked best the PL300. I listened most to classic and some ethnick, rock, juzz and pop just to get an overall idea. It took me about 3 hours for each speaker. I know that the 2nd store will remember me for some time since I kept them for an extra 20 min from the closing time just for making my mind... The oppo is one wish I have too. It is the most certain item I buy

. I will consider also LS27 though it might explode my budjet, but will see how it goes with the speakers also. For the time being I want to conclude on speakers and then continue my search. But having the chance and depending on retailers availability I will try the most I can, including the speakers and other equipment you suggested. I didn't come here having made my mind so I will follow all paths shown to me and then buy what I liked best and afforded. Thank you once more for your time.

commsysman
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If the LS27 is a stretch for your budget, consider the LS17.

The connectivity and display are a bit different, but the sound quality comes very close, and it is $4000 rather than $7000.

Check the ARC database....www.arcdb.ws.................... for detailed information.

FrankZ
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Thanks for the info. It really kept me going.

I did lots of searching on the net read a lot of reviews and forums and all come to the conclusion that LS27 is a PIECE of equipment. I most likely try to get this one instead of LS17 if it comes to these two. F the budget if half of what I read is true!

I have to admit that I had not checked for tube or hybrid preamps because whatever will be the system it will run for at least 12 hours per day (except when we leave for vacation). So I will have to renew the tubes annually and I dont know the cost for that. I hope that the 2 tubes used by LS27 are not very expensive because I really liked what I have read so far. but I will check that next time I go to a retailer. I just hope that it will win me when I listen to it.

So far I had in mind electrocompaniet 4.8 which suits my conectivity and cost needs and it is a decent preamp. I havent heard neither of them but I will find a demonstration along with the speakers search I am doing most probably after Xmas or so when I get some time off from work.

Untill then I collect the most info I can and I would appreciate if anyone could share any info or any idea that could help me build my system.

Thanks for sharing!

commsysman
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The LS26, which I have, and the LS27 seem to be identical except for some capacitor changes...as far as I can tell. It is the best-sounding preamp I have ever heard, except maybe the Reference 5.

I also love the fact that all inputs and outputs are balanced and unbalanced, that it has the 3 gain ranges for all channels in addition to 102 steps in the volume control, balance control, mono setting, tube hours readout, 7 brightness settings and OFF for the display....and on and on. In short, it has everything...lol. What flexibility and quality.

The two tubes are the 6H30 dual triodes, which are a super-heavy duty low-noise Russian aerospace tube; good stuff. The Russians stayed with tubes for radiation resistance in their missle guidance systems until the USSR crumbled.

One of the really nice features with these preamps is that pushing a button on the remote displays the hours on the tubes, which you reset with an internal button when you replace them. I find they are good for around 1000 hours before the sound goes flat, which is around a year for me.

The last ones I bought from Audio Research were $45 each. Good thing there only two...lol. I saw some Electro-Harmonix tubes for $30 yesterday. I am not sure that more than one factory makes them...they may all come from the same one in Russia. But Audio Research DOES do their own testing to insure top performance.

FrankZ
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I have been away for some time trying to settle on the speakers but finally I got really confused...

I auditioned some more times the PL300 and luckily the KEF 205/2 which were not available last time I was in the store. There are songs that I liked more the PLs and other I liked more the KEFs. These were driven by KRELL S350A, S1200U and S-275 like last time. Just when I had almost ended up to the PL (mostly because I listen more to classic music and it seems like I prefer the ribbon into that) I found B&W 803D available to listen.

To be true since at most blogs these speakers are put aside for their bigger brothers (802D) or their smaller (804D) I didn't have much expectations when I went at the home of a friends friend. They were connected to two passlabs x600.5 monos, xp-30 and an oppo 105 in order to match my source (Yes I have bought the oppo 105!). Well it was the srongest and more clear sound I heard so far and the bass was always accurate and totaly in control. After that he removed the cables from 803d and placed them back to some really huge magnepans. He put some of his favorite recordings and my brain got damaged. Just excellent and just way out of my reach. The 803d were for watching video on the tv in a normal room but he had put them there just for me to listen.

I suppose passlabs had to do something with that but it got me even more confused. I really like all of them, but I think the 803D were less gentre specific than the other and certainly could play loud. I may have been just thrilled from the power I felt with the 803D. Also that mans room must have the best acoustic treatment from enywhere I have been.

I am happy I met a man with that passion for music.

If that man was a retailer I would have left his store with the 803D since I was with love with them by that time, but just few days later I only became more confused... If only I could listen to all of these speakers on the same system...

Any suggestions?

commsysman
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Vandersteen wins Best of Show repeatedly at all of the audio shows.

I think you could not go wrong with the Vandersteen Treo speakers, which is what I have.

Is there some reason that you are not considering them?

Where are you located?

FrankZ
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Thank you for your reply.

The only reason I did not have them in my list is that I did not see them in any of the stores I went and did not know about them. Actually this is the main reason I signed up to this forum.

My knowledge on equipment is limited and the place I live is not helping.

I live in a village in eastern europe where privacy is a luxury for any man. So please don't mind if I haven't fill in my profile.

I know that giving more details would result to giving more assistance on where to find the equipment and what would be available in my region but I would not risk my privacy considering where I live.

What I can say is that I will try to find and listen to them. It looks a good buy. They have a good price and excellent reviews for what I could find so far.

Thank you for the option you gave me.

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