Passive Speakers + Amp combo for ~$2000?

[Ziltoe]

Appears to be the RP-8000F by another name. Looking at the current version (8000F II) that's actually on sale:

View attachment 446521

Recessed bass and tilted up treble? Yeah, can't imagine why people around here aren't fans of Klipsch. Sensitivity is wildly overstated as well, it's more like 90dB than the claimed 98dB, particularly in the bass where it matters most. Nothing about them is "extremely dynamic" relative to your average floorstander, as far as I can see.

Exactly, "can't imagine why people around here aren't fans of Klipsch"

Easily compare loudspeakers measurements

www.spinorama.org

 

[SlowJim]

OP, have a look at the elac df63 as well. You would be well under your budget and very happy I think.

 

[Talisman]

Nothing about them is "extremely dynamic"

As I said, not many are Klipsch lovers, I have no problem with that.
However, you can find the dynamics a few graphs below in the same review in the form of instant compression at different volumes, the Klipsch at 102 db still hold a compression still hold very well where other illustrious speakers fall apart. This is dynamics.

For comparison here are some other speakers
Dali rubikore 6

Polk R700

Super linton

Polk R500

Where other more expensive or similarly priced speakers fall apart at high volumes at the frequency extremes, the Klipsch continue to sound composed.

 

[cavedriver]

Doing a 2.0 sound system with a Fluance RT85 and Schiit Mani 2, and looking at options for preferably floorstanding speakers and integrated amp combos. I've mainly looked at the Elac Debut 3.0 DF63 and Wharfedale Evo 4.2 with Yamaha A-S801, and I'm wondering what else is out there.

Looking at Erin's recent review of the Elac DF63's I was really impressed with their measurements. I would put them up against a bunch of other speakers, including the Linton's on stands that I currently have in one of my rooms. For the money the Linton's are some of closest to full range standmount speakers you can get for the money, but a lot of that comes from them have fairly large cabinets- again, more of a "standmount" than a "bookshelf" speaker. I think the DF63's might measure better than the Klipsch and Polks mentioned above. I did try the previous version of the Debut's, the 62's, and the bass on them was just floppy so you may still want to order the speakers from somewhere you can return them if they are flawed. i would reiterate what others have said that 75%+ of the spend, especially at that budget, would be best put into the speakers unless you have a particular attachment to a technology. I have found that for budget purposes buying old Denon receivers from the '00's are around $100 and typically have 110~130 wpc of fairly clean A/B power. I have the Linton's hooked up to one of them right now because it has an integrated 2.1 mode that gives me an out for a sub and a high-pass filter for the mains so the mid bass on the Linton's is cleaner at high volumes. My $600 Hypex amp needs an additional pre-amp with sub output like my MiniDSP to get the same behavior, where that more expensive hardware is better used on other systems. Unfortunately a bunch of speakers I would recommend for towers are just out of your 2k range, such as the KEF R7 Metas or the Philharmonic towers or the Revel F226Be's.

 

[kyuu]

As I said, not many are Klipsch lovers, I have no problem with that.
However, you can find the dynamics a few graphs below in the same review in the form of instant compression at different volumes, the Klipsch at 102 db still hold a compression still hold very well where other illustrious speakers fall apart. This is dynamics.
View attachment 446563

For comparison here are some other speakers
Dali rubikore 6
View attachment 446564
Polk R700
View attachment 446565
Super linton
View attachment 446566
Polk R500
View attachment 446571

Where other more expensive or similarly priced speakers fall apart at high volumes at the frequency extremes, the Klipsch continue to sound composed.

I'll grant that the Klipsch does well on the response linearity metric. However, when the bass is already nearly -5dB relative to the treble at any volume, I'm skeptical that avoiding something like 0.5-1dB of compression/enhancement at 102dB relative to its peers is any great virtue. And really it's pretty comparable to the Polks, if you ignore the poor performance from the silly ring radiator tweeters.

 

[Talisman]

I'll grant that the Klipsch does well on the response linearity metric. However, when the bass is already nearly -5dB relative to the treble at any volume, I'm skeptical that avoiding something like 0.5-1dB of compression/enhancement at 102dB relative to its peers is any great virtue. And really it's pretty comparable to the Polks, if you ignore the poor performance from the silly ring radiator tweeters.

Let's put it differently. They are a few db too many in the mid-high range, they can be equalized since they also have good directionality and at high volume they will continue to sound coherent. They also have a pretty good sensitivity, certainly not the declared 98db but around 90db and they can play very loud with relatively little power.
I'll say it again, at the risk of sounding repetitive, I understand why they are not much appreciated on the site, but they offer many qualities and valid performances for the price at which they are found

 

[IngMishael]

@desti are you in Europe or the Americas?

 

[Shrek6]

I'm in the same spot right now. I was also looking at the CSS speaker flatpack kits, which may be an option for you if you can glue and clamp: https://www.css-audio.com/online-store/CSS-Criton-2TD-X-Tower-Kit-Pair-p388751139

 

[rsc1]

Elac DF63s are a really good option especially if you're not planning to add a sub. They measure very well for the money and have good low-end extension. Leaves you $700 for an amp. I'd recommend a WiiM Amp Pro for the PEQ, but I'm guessing you need a phono stage. Factory refurbished A-S801 is $699 in the US. Not sure how loud you listen, but most likely even an A-S301 would do the job, and then you could throw in a WiiM Ultra while staying within budget.