Need Speaker Recommendations for Rega Brio-r

[aneveu]

This is my first post here, so let me start by saying this is a fantastic forum with incredibly knowledgeable and helpful members. I thank you in advance for your help!

I am looking for speaker recommendations to pair with my new Rega Brio-r, with Rega DAC as source. I currently have a pair of Paradigm Titan v.3 bookshelves with a (single) Paradigm PDR-8 v3 subwoofer.

I have been breaking in the Brio for about 4 weeks now and it just keeps getting better! Now I am quite sure that my entry level Paradigm speakers are holding it back. I like their sound qualities but I can hear them struggling, particularly at mid to upper of listening level. I'm such a geek, I really want to go with a 2.2 system, which to me means a pair of monitors each with its own sub. I know, this is kind of weird but it really fits with the music styles I listen to.

I think what I want to do is focus on the monitors first. My budget will be about $2,000 for a pair. I'm intrigued by Paradigm's Prestige 15B bookshelves but have not auditioned them yet. What other makes with similar models should I be considering to pair with my Brio-r?

The music styles I listen to are jazz, classical, fusion, live concerts, acoustic, and sometimes electronic dance music. I was a musician years ago so I love lots of way out jazz and classical, but my daughter is a dancer and sometimes we want to crank up the EDM and have a dance party too! My preference for sub woofers is basically due to that, but I also really enjoy the way they can make a live acoustic recording feel like the musicians are right there in the room.

I hope I have provided enough details but if not just ask and I will follow up with more. Thanks again for your time!

 

[runnin']

Well, there are certainly a lot of good options at that price level. I had the Titan V2 and still have the Atom V4, those cabinets are very entry level and add a lot of reverberation to what reaches your ears. Many here will have experience with the Brio, I think one popular pairing is the KEF LS50, among others.

I hesitate to offer a suggestion on this one because I have no personal experience with the Brio, but I'm a fan of Internet Direct companies as they offer better bang for buck since there is no middle man.

 

[aneveu]

Thanks @runnin' I forgot to say that my listening room is 13x16 feet with 10 foot ceiling. Hardwood floor with wool rug over half of it. It is an inner room with no windows, three walls of built in bookshelves. Though the room has an illustrious dark look to it that makes you want to sit in a leather chair and listen to music or read, the acoustics of the room are fairly bright, I think due to the hardwood floor and wood bookshelves.

 

[CKDC]

Paging Art K to the courtesy phone...

 

[Art K.]

I would consider the Harbeth P3ESR or Spendor S3/5R2. Both sound excellent on the end of the Brio-R. For electronica, etc, just add sub.

 

[aneveu]

Thanks @Art K. Wow, the Harbeth sound like a real lifetime speaker! I'm only concerned that I might want to fill a larger space than the P3ESR is suited for. If I were to dig deeper into the couch cushions and stretch for the Harbeth Monitor 30.1, do you think they would pair well with my Rega Brio-r? That speaker looks like I could forego subwoofer(s) so I wouldn't mind spending the extra money. Thoughts?

 

[Art K.]

Well, the 30.1 is a great speaker and you could grow in to it with a better amp down the road. The Compact 7 is another to consider. I have them and they are 2k less than the 30.1.

 

[Art K.]

The Compact 7 isn't as good a speaker as the 30.1 but it is still a remarkable speaker. With the Brio-R and a good source you would be amazed at how much better it would sound than what you have now. I have owned many Paradigm speakers so I have experience with the line.

 

[aneveu]

Thanks for this info, I can't wait to go hear some speakers! Here is a little more info that might help with suggestions for me. A few months ago I bought a pair of Sennheiser Momentum 2 phones and paired them with an oppo HA-2, with Tidal lossless as a source. This little portable rig has absolutely spoiled me. I just spent an hour and listened to a few tracks, comparing this rig with my Brio-r and Paradigms. No.. Freaking.. Comparison. With the oppo/Sennheiser rig I can hear every detail of a live concert with 50 musicians and singers on the stage, plus the audience. The same track on the Paradigms sounds compressed and noisy. Oh, I can hear clarity in the Paradigms at low listening levels and during portions of the music that are half full of sound or less. But as soon as the whole band revs up to a solid mezzo forte or louder, the speakers sound noisy and just kind of annoying. My wife said it best - she says it hurts her ears in a way. But then the track breaks it down without the drummer riding the cymbals and the clarity comes back instantly. The whole experience leaves me kind of bored and not liking music so much. But the same track through the oppo/Sennheiser combo melts my heart and brings me to tears of joy. That's what I'm looking for in loudspeakers. Is it unrealistic to ask this much of speakers? I really believe the Rega DAC and Brio-r can do this - I just need the last mile, and it is a serious task to fill a room with that quality of sound, rather than a few cubic inches inside of a headphone! Thanks for listening.

 

[Art K.]

Unfortunately since I hate headphone listening that doesn't help me. For those that love headphone listening very little else compares. The Titan's are clearly the weak link in your hifi at present. That said, you won't get the same (as the headfi) quality of sound from your standard rig without a significant investment. Perhaps DeVore Gibbon 3xl's and a Line Magnetic tube amp.

 

[aneveu]

Well that's kind of my point - I also don't really like sitting there with headphones on in my own little world. I would so much rather hear the room full of sound and enjoy it with other people! Thanks for listening, I really appreciate it. I'll post up what I find when I get to go audition speakers with my Brio-r. My local source has been moving from one location to their own building so out of commission for a month. I see there is a Harbeth dealer about 2 hours from me, so I will definitely hear those soon. Thanks again!