Speaker Upgrade

3 Way Bookshelf Speakers
RAAGA

RAAGA

Active Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2010
Messages
111
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Location
Chennai
Hello Everyone,

I am planning to upgrade my speakers from Montior Audio GS10 for my hifi rig.
Options considered based on suggestions and a lot of hear say ( I know...auditions being planned)
a) PMC 23
b) Blumenhofer Fun 17
c) Blumenhofer Genuin FS 4.2
d) Proac D18
e) KEF R700/ 500
f) Monitor Audio GX200
g) Cabasse Egea 3

I am looking at floor standers only. And speakers that DON'T require very careful partnering(now that's tricky...planning a complete overhaul in due course).

My heart has been following PMC 23 especially after Denom's experience at WHF 2013. But would like to know your take on other options as well.

Waiting to hear from you all.
 
I have heard all the speakers in that list barring the cabasse at different times. I would suggest something not on the list - the Rethm Saadhana. Heard the same a few days ago and I have no hesitation in saying it is the best speaker I have ever heard. I shall try and put up a review of the same in a few days once I manage to get some spare time.

In the correct setup, this speaker can very easily become the final destination - a speaker with which you can live the rest of your life with. I almost got goosebumps when it started playing. The tonality and imaging/sound staging is so good, it almost feels like you are listening to a live performance.
 
reignofchaos said:
I have heard all the speakers in that list barring the cabasse at different times. I would suggest something not on the list - the Rethm Saadhana. Heard the same a few days ago and I have no hesitation in saying it is the best speaker I have ever heard. I shall try and put up a review of the same in a few days once I manage to get some spare time.

In the correct setup, this speaker can very easily become the final destination - a speaker with which you can live the rest of your life with. I almost got goosebumps when it started playing. The tonality and imaging/sound staging is so good, it almost feels like you are listening to a live performance.
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Reignofchaos,

I would really appreciate if you could add a qualitative and quantitative comparison against Blumenhofer sound when you pen down the review for Saadhanas :).

-John.
 
Beyond just how the Rethm Saadhanas make the music sound, they have a way of touching you by bringing out the emotional aspect of music like no other speakers I've listened to can.

I've listened to only the KEF R500s and the MA GX200s from your list. Those speakers can't even come close to the Rethm Saadhana in any aspect. I'd even say that the Rethm Trishnas would be better sounding speakers than these two options.

It's just a short trip to Kochi; You should try and listen to the Rethm Saadhanas yourself. You can also listen to the Rethm Maargas and the Trishnas at the Rethm Studio. You're also welcome to listen to the Trishnas, in a home environment, at my place.
 
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hydra said:
Beyond just how the Rethm Saadhanas make the music sound, they have a way of touching you by bringing out the emotional aspect of music like no other speakers I've listened to can.

I've listened to only the KEF R500s and the MA GX200s from your list. Those speakers can't even come close to the Rethm Saadhana in any aspect. I'd even say that the Rethm Trishnas would be better sounding speakers than these two options.

It's just a short trip to Kochi; You should try and listen to the Rethm Saadhanas yourself. You can also listen to the Rethm Maargas and the Trishnas at the Rethm Studio. You're also welcome to listen to the Trishnas, in a home environment, at my place.
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Hydra,

Just OT, is the Rethm studio fully functional now? Last time I was in Kerala, it was still under construction. I was looking forward for Maarga at that time.

-John.
 
John, yes, the Studio is fully functional and fully setup now. reignofchaos and I had a very enjoyable listening session there this last sunday.

All three speaker lines (Trishna, Maarga & Saadhana) and the Gaanam Valve Amp can be auditioned there.
 
reignofchaos said:
I have heard all the speakers in that list barring the cabasse at different times. I would suggest something not on the list - the Rethm Saadhana. Heard the same a few days ago and I have no hesitation in saying it is the best speaker I have ever heard. I shall try and put up a review of the same in a few days once I manage to get some spare time.

In the correct setup, this speaker can very easily become the final destination - a speaker with which you can live the rest of your life with. I almost got goosebumps when it started playing. The tonality and imaging/sound staging is so good, it almost feels like you are listening to a live performance.
Click to expand...

There is only little information available about specs of the Rethm speakers. But since the these speakers use Lother drivers I guess it's a single driver speaker. Correct me if I'm wrong.
When I was living in Frankfurt/Germany for some time I often visited Auditorium23 and listened to a lot of single driver speakers which they had on demo. Like ROC points out, the soundstage, tonality and naturalness of such speakers is phenomenal. But their presentation is limited to a certain genre of music only because these speakers were all not able to transmit at least 9 octaves. I doubt if the Rethm speaker can do that, provided it is a single driver design. It's just physics.

My suggestion, RAAGA should go and audition as many speakers as possible. Bangalore and Cochin is not too far away from Chennai.
 
Her Master's Voice said:
There is only little information available about specs of the Rethm speakers. But since the these speakers use Lother drivers I guess it's a single driver speaker.
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The current generation Saadhanas use their proprietary driver. The previous generations used Lowthers.

These are not true single driver speakers as they have an active bass unit. Think of it as a single driver speaker paired with a pair of subwoofers that are perfectly integrated (quite a challenge given the speed of single drivers). This takes the normal limitation of single driver speakers and extension at both ends is not an issue with the Rethms.

While not recommended for metal fans, the Rethms handle most genres of music quite well

Well worth a trek to Cochin for a listen
 
Rethm actually can do very accurate bass down to 18hz according to the designer and that is exactly what I heard. Tight, deep, well controlled bass. The speaker has a separate isobaric active bass module. It is completely unlike any other single driver speaker - it is a highly revealing accurate speaker in every sense of the word. Unlike lowthers, there is no hint of grain or hardness either.
 
Honestly I didn't discuss pricing specifics as I am not looking at a speaker upgrade in the immediate future. However the Saadhana is a speaker worth saving for. Right now it is on top of my list when I decide on a speaker upgrade a year or two down the line. Expect significant discounts over international retail for sure.
 
The Rethm Saadhanas are a very special speaker. It is also a speaker that needs to have a lot of commitment from the owner.
It can be a challenge when not properly integrated.

Raaga, what electronics are you going to pair the speakers with? And room conditions? Of all the speakers your list the PMCs are probably the easiest to place in a normal living room. There's a reason why they are one of the hottest speakers in the UK and Singapore. They are very easy to place in a smaller spaces like apartment living rooms or bedrooms.
 
Very true - you need a big room for the saadhana or else you would not be doing justice to it. According to Jacob George, the ideal room would be 16*25 ft or larger. He mentioned it could be placed in smaller spaces but it would not be able to perform to its best potential.
 
In all the pics I've seen of the Rethms (and I have seen only the pics...except 'The Second') the were placed way inside the room...with at least 6-8 feet from the rear wall...is that the minimum requirement for these?
 
hydra said:
You can also listen to the Rethm Maargas and the Trishnas at the Rethm Studio. You're also welcome to listen to the Trishnas, in a home environment, at my place.
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Thank you for the invite, Hydra. I would be delighted !!

Nikhil said:
Raaga, what electronics are you going to pair the speakers with? And room conditions?
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Nikhil, Right now I have a MF A5 power amp and a PM7004 as a pre amp. Looking at bringing in a tube pre amp. But as I said earlier, am looking for something that may not need so much attention on pairing as planning to change the electronics as well.
 
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RAAGA said:
Nikhil, Right now I have a MF A5 power amp and a PM7004 as a pre amp. Looking at bringing in a tube pre amp. But as I said earlier, am looking for something that may not need so much attention on pairing as planning to change the electronics as well.
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Raaga, take your time with this and don't try to do it all in one go. Pairing your speakers with appropriate gear takes a little bit of time. If you know the sound that you are looking for then you are half way there.

From what you have said, I would still recommend the PMCs. They will give you a good starting point that is musically enjoyable with a wide variety of gear. Very easy to integrate into most rooms.

Cons: Price is a bit steep, might sound a bit sweet/musical depending on your taste. Not a neutral sound.
 
Nikhil said:
Raaga, take your time with this and don't try to do it all in one go. Pairing your speakers with appropriate gear takes a little bit of time. If you know the sound that you are looking for then you are half way there.
Click to expand...

Im going to do them. But just planning to do that sometime and is definitely not going to be now.
 
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