Everyone has different tastes in which speakers they like. No one can recommend the best speaker for you, just like no one can tell which wine that costs $100 a bottle tastes best to you.
I would spend some time looking around and listenning to as many different speakers as you can. Compare your observations with the reviews. Then find a used pair.
I have tried to sell hi-end speaker, and it was impossible to get more than half the price I paid.
My advice, listen to $6000 speakers, and try to get them form $3000. Great sport!
I would spend some time looking around and listenning to as many different speakers as you can. Compare your observations with the reviews. Then find a used pair.
I have tried to sell hi-end speaker, and it was impossible to get more than half the price I paid.
My advice, listen to $6000 speakers, and try to get them form $3000. Great sport!
how big do you want them to be, is there a SAF involved? If not AR 9Lsi speakers go for big volume. 😀 It also depends on what you driving them with, micro amp, big PP, digital...? music you listen to is also a factor. to be blunt size matters, the amount of volume the drivers are able to push around and how you like your music played, how big is your room, type of music guides you to path of audio nirvana. old AR speakers, except for the AR3 go for a fair price and can be redone/capped for a standard price. I only mention ARs as a friend is trying to sell me his AR9Lsi's...I'm going through WAF now...😱
I would go with older speakers that at one point would have cost over $10k and can be had for a song and w/ minimal $$ reconditioned and sound as good or better than new.
./e
I would go with older speakers that at one point would have cost over $10k and can be had for a song and w/ minimal $$ reconditioned and sound as good or better than new.
./e
What about GoldenEar? or the Klipsch RF-7 II?
In addition to the above.....Selah is a great choice if you can woodwork a bit (look at the price difference between the assembled and kit versions).
Peridot
Daedalus Audio DA_RMa speaker
Daedalus Audio DA-1.1 speaker
Living where you do, you have a big advantage over where I live. There are stores to visit that actually sell high end. The only tool you need is your ears. Just because I might say a Vanderstein can whip most $5000 speakers does not mean you will like it better. Spend your time listening and not trolling for our personal tastes that will be different from yours. I like ML, I like some B&W, the new Totem is getting decent reviews but I was not impressed. I would love to hear the big Snell. All very different. Come on now, get out there and DIY your selection, then tell us what you found.
Yup, for that much money I wouldn't trust anyone's opinions but my own. Unless you just want something fashionable. 🙂
It is possible to build speakers in an apartment. I've done it. It just takes a little planning and effort.
The biggest problem is getting the sheet goods cut down into the various parts. The rest can be done with small power tools. One trick I learned long ago is to use/make a design that uses a uniform width for the cabinet pieces. I designed a quarter-wave transmission-line system in which every cabinet component was exactly 8" wide and none was longer than 41". You can take the subway out to Brooklyn or Queens and get the Home Depot to cut these pieces for you out of MDF on their panel saw and get them back to Manhattan by buying one of the folding dollies for $29. I have one in my Manhattan studio and it's damned useful.
Order some paper-backed veneer and use water-based contact cement and you can even make them look nice.
The biggest issue would be cutting the openings, as the dust can be a problem, but a decent vacuum and some help can overcome this.
It's not terribly easy, but it is doable and you can impress your friends with your accomplishment.
The biggest problem is getting the sheet goods cut down into the various parts. The rest can be done with small power tools. One trick I learned long ago is to use/make a design that uses a uniform width for the cabinet pieces. I designed a quarter-wave transmission-line system in which every cabinet component was exactly 8" wide and none was longer than 41". You can take the subway out to Brooklyn or Queens and get the Home Depot to cut these pieces for you out of MDF on their panel saw and get them back to Manhattan by buying one of the folding dollies for $29. I have one in my Manhattan studio and it's damned useful.
Order some paper-backed veneer and use water-based contact cement and you can even make them look nice.
The biggest issue would be cutting the openings, as the dust can be a problem, but a decent vacuum and some help can overcome this.
It's not terribly easy, but it is doable and you can impress your friends with your accomplishment.
Just get out there and listen. Theil are very good. There are quite a few good speakers.
If you did not catch my hint, go listen to come 2Ce Vandersteins. I am not saying they are great. But they are one of those rare products that do nothing very wrong. They are half your budget. Then go from there. You may find a lot of speakers for twice the price are not as good. You hopefully will find the ones that are.
You did not mention if your apartment can tolerate a full range speaker. Most apartment dwellers really need to roll off at about 60 Hz so as not to cause too many fights with next door.
If you did not catch my hint, go listen to come 2Ce Vandersteins. I am not saying they are great. But they are one of those rare products that do nothing very wrong. They are half your budget. Then go from there. You may find a lot of speakers for twice the price are not as good. You hopefully will find the ones that are.
You did not mention if your apartment can tolerate a full range speaker. Most apartment dwellers really need to roll off at about 60 Hz so as not to cause too many fights with next door.
well, a friend got a nice pair of old Cervin Wega
big 3way with 15" woofer
and with the early US built midrange
quite interesting mid driver
might be difficult to find in good condition
but dont buy the later model, only the first one
its big and ugle, but a real hammer
you may call me crazy when I say this
but I think it will be hard beat with just 3000USD
but then, I have no idea what 3000 will buy you in US
in EU, I guess not much more than a pair of small 2ways
that is if we talk good quality speakers
but you will need big amps to driver them properly
or else they sound like crap, surely
but with good amps, wow
big 3way with 15" woofer
and with the early US built midrange
quite interesting mid driver
might be difficult to find in good condition
but dont buy the later model, only the first one
its big and ugle, but a real hammer
you may call me crazy when I say this
but I think it will be hard beat with just 3000USD
but then, I have no idea what 3000 will buy you in US
in EU, I guess not much more than a pair of small 2ways
that is if we talk good quality speakers
but you will need big amps to driver them properly
or else they sound like crap, surely
but with good amps, wow
Uh come on, Cerwin Vega is pleasant for night clubs not professional music listening. it just shacks the walls and maybe your neighbor's walls next door. he sure has other better-sounding options. for example he can pick up a +2000 near mint legendary Klipschorn which sound much much better than a disco speaker with red-frame woofers 😀. it will also not only shack the walls but to crumble down the house in case of a party by feeding it just a few watts 🙄
do not question my expertice my friend 😀
please note, I clearly stated its one particular 3way model, and only that one
one early model, only that one, and no other
and its a fact my friend, like it or not
did I really hear you say 'not for professional music listening'
well, just forget it
Log off my friend and get out to the stores. Quit reading about antique PA speakers and $3 horns.
"professional music listening? How do I get paid to listen to music? I am missing out on something as I spend several hours a day listening for free!
"professional music listening? How do I get paid to listen to music? I am missing out on something as I spend several hours a day listening for free!
Some already mentioned that everybody have different favorite speaker. But actually it is possible to do some kind of consultancy to get exactly what you want. But it is not a simple one way opinion/suggestion like in forums. There should at least a questionnaire that you have to answer 😀
This questionnaire will question several things like your experience (amps/speakers you have owned/heard and how do you like them), your conditions (room size, amplifier owned, etc), your preference (bass, soundstage, SPL, tube vs solid state, etc).
There are things related to taste and preference, and there are things related to technical things or theory that have to be solved.
Many commercial high end speakers require amps with good drive. At least 6 output transistors per channel.
Room is important especially when you love bass. Some speakers need difficult placement which is not suitable for apartments. Some speakers like electrostats have narrow sweet spot that you may not like, but have unique quality that you may prefer. With small room you may want transmission line, or at least sealed bass enclosure, so placement is not critical.
I think it is better to buy from home industry (professional DIY) with known driver brand than from companies with big marketing overhead.
With $3000 it is not difficult to outperform your B&W 😀 Now how about your amp, is it the same quality as the speaker? Will you change it as well when necessary?
What Jay said. Not get out there and listen for yourself! B&W seems to be the 800Lb gorilla because of marketing and volume. They are probably better value than others, but if they current ones are not to your taste, that value is lost. I listened to their little bookshelf that was about $3K. Surprising amount of low end and nice balance. Their previous generation I thought was too bright. I would like to see what Paradigm Signature can do as they have the volume advantage too. Definitive keeps getting good reviews.
There are kits like the Seas Odin or ScanSpeak Revelator available from Madisound with a cabinet. I would love to hear the Orion, but by the time one builds all the crossovers and buys the 8 or so amps, it is way past 3K even as a DIY.
Like I said, go figure out what is wrong in a 2Ce besides being big and ugly, and go from there. It is best to start grounded. Build a CD with several tracks you know very well of widely different music. My test CD has some Harry James, Dave Grusin, Amanda McBroom, ( All old Sheffield D2D), Julian Bream, Copland, Baez, and Clapton. Each piece has things that are difficult. Classical guitar strings that tend to get metallic, big band horns that can get edgy, tympani that should make you sit up, and details in voices that can sound constrained. The applause on the opening of Clapton Unplugged is horribly distorted, but some speakers ( and even amps) make it sound even worse. NO speaker has ever made me fully happy, but mine are getting better. 😀
There are kits like the Seas Odin or ScanSpeak Revelator available from Madisound with a cabinet. I would love to hear the Orion, but by the time one builds all the crossovers and buys the 8 or so amps, it is way past 3K even as a DIY.
Like I said, go figure out what is wrong in a 2Ce besides being big and ugly, and go from there. It is best to start grounded. Build a CD with several tracks you know very well of widely different music. My test CD has some Harry James, Dave Grusin, Amanda McBroom, ( All old Sheffield D2D), Julian Bream, Copland, Baez, and Clapton. Each piece has things that are difficult. Classical guitar strings that tend to get metallic, big band horns that can get edgy, tympani that should make you sit up, and details in voices that can sound constrained. The applause on the opening of Clapton Unplugged is horribly distorted, but some speakers ( and even amps) make it sound even worse. NO speaker has ever made me fully happy, but mine are getting better. 😀
You don't say what are your system, this help for choice the speakers, but around 3.000$ can be:
The LS3/6:
Stirling Broadcast - LARGEST STOCK OF USED/EX-DEMO/END OF LINE BROADCAST EQUIPMENT IN EUROPE !
Stirling Broadcast LS3/6 Page - LARGEST STOCK OF USED/EX-DEMO/END OF LINE BROADCAST EQUIPMENT IN EUROPE !
The Rega RS7:
Untitled Document
The LS3/6:
Stirling Broadcast - LARGEST STOCK OF USED/EX-DEMO/END OF LINE BROADCAST EQUIPMENT IN EUROPE !
Stirling Broadcast LS3/6 Page - LARGEST STOCK OF USED/EX-DEMO/END OF LINE BROADCAST EQUIPMENT IN EUROPE !
The Rega RS7:
Untitled Document
Of course he should go out, after enough preparation to be able to understand the wild outside world 😀 The OP intention was to limit his survey by first conducting internet based survey. He doesn't want to audition all speakers out there. So no question about going out.
If you go to a show room, at least you know that the sound you will hear is a product of amplifier, player, specially recorded CD, room, even cabling and power conditioner.
i'd go with dynaudio. mainly because they look drop-dead gorgeous and the bass drivers mean business.😀
Problem is with speakers, everyone has at least one opinion. Only his matters. It does no good to read about the best thing in the world if he can't listen to it locally. One could read Stereophile or Absolute Sound and get rave reviews about anything. Problem is, you/he may not agree. I know I never do. A great resource on used equipment in Europe is no help in New York. Reference to 30 year old speakers is no help. Nope, the internet is not the place to look for his answers. Sorry to say, buying speakers is work.
I have a pair of Acoustat Model 3 for sale on Audiogon now - with the $$ left over, pick up a Krell or ARC amp / pre and you are in buisiness.,.
http://app.audiogon.com/listings/acoustat-model-3
OPINION ALERT ON - Once you listen to Electrostatics, very little else matters - OPINION ALERT OFF
http://app.audiogon.com/listings/acoustat-model-3
OPINION ALERT ON - Once you listen to Electrostatics, very little else matters - OPINION ALERT OFF
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