Your wise thoughts would be welcome.
I have not shopped for gear for 15 years. My equipment is a Marantz 8B, McIntosh MC240, Conrad Johnson PV-5 preamp with silver sockets and modifications by Bob Hovland, Creek CD player, Scott tuner, original Snell E speakers.
I've met a gent retired from the hifi industry, and my jazz instructor has a pair of tower speakers he built. They are stunningly good, but then I've not heard anything to compare for a long time, having not shopped really high end speakers since the Stereophile show in LA in about 95.
He proposes to build a pair for me, including a subwoofer in separate cabinet, for $1700. They are using two small woofers in each, with carbon fiber cones, and not of a brand I know, that he has high praise for and credits for the great sound but are only available through him (and this is legit); a silk dome tweeter of which brand I do not know; his own crossover design. Don't know the sub driver either. We are meeting this weekend to get into details. No money has changed hands. The cabinets are shaped 6' tall and thin and deep, somewhat like a bigger Proac tower.
I'm having some mental turbulence over this. The ones I've heard, though unable to do serious listening, are amazing to be sure. But can I do better for less? Some new towers from Proac or some Salk Songtowers go for the same money but without a sub. I've priced subs at high end stores and it seems good ones can absorb the entire $1700.
I'd be more comfortable if I could do extensive comparisons, and thinking about cancelling, but also thinking that might be foolish.
What say you?
Thanks much for your indulgence and helping me think.
Jim
I have not shopped for gear for 15 years. My equipment is a Marantz 8B, McIntosh MC240, Conrad Johnson PV-5 preamp with silver sockets and modifications by Bob Hovland, Creek CD player, Scott tuner, original Snell E speakers.
I've met a gent retired from the hifi industry, and my jazz instructor has a pair of tower speakers he built. They are stunningly good, but then I've not heard anything to compare for a long time, having not shopped really high end speakers since the Stereophile show in LA in about 95.
He proposes to build a pair for me, including a subwoofer in separate cabinet, for $1700. They are using two small woofers in each, with carbon fiber cones, and not of a brand I know, that he has high praise for and credits for the great sound but are only available through him (and this is legit); a silk dome tweeter of which brand I do not know; his own crossover design. Don't know the sub driver either. We are meeting this weekend to get into details. No money has changed hands. The cabinets are shaped 6' tall and thin and deep, somewhat like a bigger Proac tower.
I'm having some mental turbulence over this. The ones I've heard, though unable to do serious listening, are amazing to be sure. But can I do better for less? Some new towers from Proac or some Salk Songtowers go for the same money but without a sub. I've priced subs at high end stores and it seems good ones can absorb the entire $1700.
I'd be more comfortable if I could do extensive comparisons, and thinking about cancelling, but also thinking that might be foolish.
What say you?
Thanks much for your indulgence and helping me think.
Jim
Of course it's cheaper to do it yourself. That gentleman isn't doing it for free is he?
The trick is to know what you're doing. If you don't you can end up spending 2/3 of the money and not be happy with it. The real thing to do is take his system over to your listening environment before you decide these are for you.
The trick is to know what you're doing. If you don't you can end up spending 2/3 of the money and not be happy with it. The real thing to do is take his system over to your listening environment before you decide these are for you.
>>> They are using two small woofers in each, with carbon fiber cones, and not of a brand I know, that he has high praise for and credits for the great sound but are only available through him (and this is legit); a silk dome tweeter of which brand I do not know; his own crossover design. Don't know the sub driver either.
Can you take a photo of the speaker somehow and post it for us to see? Is it an MTM design? There are so many wonderful speakers out there for $1700. Forget about full range drivers for a moment and consider more typical kits using Morel, Scan Speak, Audax, etc... Not that what he would build you is not good value or excellent sounding, i'm just curious what he's using.
This is the most expensive kit at Parts Express:
Dayton Audio UA721CCK Speaker Kit Curved Cherry | Parts-Express.com
These multi-way kits look good from Madisound:
https://www.madisound.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=35_425&products_id=8691
https://www.madisound.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=8671
https://www.madisound.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=407
https://www.madisound.com/store/index.php?cPath=35_40_401_273
There are plenty of kits available from brand name companies that produce hi-end products. Again, not that this guy is not giving you good value but what exactly he is giving you is a mystery.
Zilla
Can you take a photo of the speaker somehow and post it for us to see? Is it an MTM design? There are so many wonderful speakers out there for $1700. Forget about full range drivers for a moment and consider more typical kits using Morel, Scan Speak, Audax, etc... Not that what he would build you is not good value or excellent sounding, i'm just curious what he's using.
This is the most expensive kit at Parts Express:
Dayton Audio UA721CCK Speaker Kit Curved Cherry | Parts-Express.com
These multi-way kits look good from Madisound:
https://www.madisound.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=35_425&products_id=8691
https://www.madisound.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=8671
https://www.madisound.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=407
https://www.madisound.com/store/index.php?cPath=35_40_401_273
There are plenty of kits available from brand name companies that produce hi-end products. Again, not that this guy is not giving you good value but what exactly he is giving you is a mystery.
Zilla
how would we know? you are the one who has heard them! integrating subs is
very difficult, integrating one sub is harder still. the speakers you have are quite
good. if you want better you can buy some actives: dynaudio bm5a
financed by the sale of some of your amps speakers, and have oodles left over for
cognac, cigars,and recording.
very difficult, integrating one sub is harder still. the speakers you have are quite
good. if you want better you can buy some actives: dynaudio bm5a
financed by the sale of some of your amps speakers, and have oodles left over for
cognac, cigars,and recording.
Thanks for your thoughts guys. I have asked my teacher to let me have some time with his speakers, hopefully that will be possible. I will take a pic of them asap and post it. Thank you.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.