New speakers in the $10K-$20K range

mauidan · Dec 11, 2010

Looking for a new set of speakers.

Would appreciate your recommendations/suggestions for a full range or a stand mount/sub combo.

Thanks,

Dan

Listening room is 12' x 18' x 8'

DonH50 · Dec 11, 2010

Stereo or home theater?

There are lots of choices either way... What sort of listening do you enjoy, and what sort of sound are you looking for?

Jeff Fritz · Dec 11, 2010

devert said:
Looking for a new set of speakers.

Would appreciate you recommendations/suggestions for a full range or a stand mount/sub combo.

Thanks,

Dan

Listening room is 12' x 18' x 8'

A pair of Rockport or Vivid two-way monitors plus a pair of JL Audio f110 subwoofers. With a slight discount, both of these should be doable within your price range. Work to make the sub/sat integration as linear as possible, and you'll end up with close to SOTA sound. A less-expensive alternative would be Paradigm S2 monitors and the subs.

flez007 · Dec 11, 2010

I would add to the Vivid recommendation to consider one from the Avalon line or the top of the line WLM w/matching sub.

jazdoc · Dec 11, 2010

Daedalus Ulysses (http://www.daedalusaudio.com/design notes1.html) which are at the lower end of your price range. You can use the rest to buy LPs and CDs

I use them in a similar sized room and they are terrific with great dynamic range and frequency extension. They are also very efficient, giving you a lot of flexibility with amplification. I driven them to reasonable listening levels with a 1W 45 SET amp. The handmade woodworking is beautiful and the proprietor, Lou Hinkley, is a delight to work with.

mauidan · Dec 11, 2010

DonH50 said:
Stereo or home theater?

There are lots of choices either way... What sort of listening do you enjoy, and what sort of sound are you looking for?

Stereo only, I have no interest in home theater.

I listen to Jazz, Classical and Blues.

I'd like to get effortless/dynamic sound.

Don't want:
MDF boxes
Cabinets made in China
Speakers with Iceamps
Drivers with copper phase plugs
Bi/tri wire binding posts

MiTT · Dec 11, 2010

devert said:
Stereo only, I have no interest in home theater.

I listen to Jazz, Classical and Blues.

I'd like to get effortless/dynamic sound.

I recently listened to the Joseph Audio Pulsar's at RMAF with this type of music and left the room slack jawed. Absolutely stunning dynamics and deep bass that kept everyone who heard them looking for the subwoofer in the room (there was none to be found). At $7K they are below the low end of your price range, leaving many sheckels to spend on music and ancillary.

Ron Party · Dec 11, 2010

If you're willing to go active, then Mark Seaton's Catalysts plus a pair of Submersives: http://www.seaton-sound-forum.com/post?id=3364736

mauidan · Dec 11, 2010

Ron Party said:
If you're willing to go active, then Mark Seaton's Catalysts plus a pair of Submersives: http://www.seaton-sound-forum.com/post?id=3364736

I'm already using active speakers.

Ron Party · Dec 11, 2010

Are you looking to move to conventional passive? If not, give Mark a call. You'll find his number at his website. His speakers have dynamics in spades.

audioguy · Dec 11, 2010

Ron Party said:
His speakers have dynamics in spades.

And then some!

mauidan · Dec 11, 2010

Ron Party said:
Are you looking to move to conventional passive? If not, give Mark a call. You'll find his number at his website. His speakers have dynamics in spades.

I'm looking for better SQ.

Thanks for the tip.

I'll bet the Seatons would be great in an HT system, but I'll pass on the MDF boxes, ICEpower based amplifiers, and SMPS power supplies.

naturephoto1 · Dec 11, 2010

You may wish to consider the Nola Viper Reference Series III or the Nola Metro Grand Reference. I have heard the Nola Viper Reference Series III (own the Viper IIA for my surround speakers) and the Nola Baby Grand speakers. The Viper Reference Series III is an improved version of the Series II. The Nola Metro Grand Reference are supposed to sound much like the Nola Baby Grands but are on a smaller scale.

Also, if you are considering horns, you may wish to consider the Oswalds Mill Audio Mini Horns at $12,000 a pair.

Rich

JackD201 · Dec 11, 2010

I think you already know what you want. Just look at your avatar.

mauidan · Dec 11, 2010

JackD201 said:
I think you already know what you want. Just look at your avatar.

Been listening to my Budge Khorus speakers with Focal TC 120 tweeters since 1995, long before Wilson started using them.

The Wilsons Sophia 3s are on my short list, along with the GMA Calypso HDs and Salk Bamboo SoundScape 12s, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask the members of this esteem forum for suggestions.

JackD201 · Dec 12, 2010

I could sense you were leaning towards the Wilsons, given your recent posts but I'm wondering why there aren't any Focal/JMlabs on your shortlist. Then again, the Skala is not within the budget range you prescribed. Their pro monitor lines are also very well received.

I've yet to hear any Green Mountains or Salks but their owners seem a very contented bunch.

KeithR · Dec 12, 2010

Best I've found are Zu Definition 2s in your price range at 10k. And they do not have mdf cabinets, are not made in china, etc. They do have an active bass array though.

I've owned Sophias before fyi. Magico v3 is my next fav speaker---but lists at 27k and a Q3 is probably going to replace it some day.

Cheers,

Keith

Jeff Fritz · Dec 12, 2010

devert said:
Been listening to my Budge Khorus speakers with Focal TC 120 tweeters since

That tweeter has got to be close to two decades old.

Something like the Vivid tweeter is crazy advanced. Amazing that they can get extension to over 40kHz with no break-up using aluminum. The shape is the key.

You can defintely improve SQ big time over what you have.

Gregadd · Dec 12, 2010

http://www.avguide.com/blog/tas-rmaf-chris-martens-loudspeakers-priced-under-20000

Jeff Fritz · Dec 12, 2010

devert said:
Been listening to my Budge Khorus speakers . . .

You really, really need to read this thread, most notably the exchange between John Atkinson and our publisher, Doug Schneider. It will be fascinating for those interested in the back story of this speaker and some of things that went on. And although it won't be comforting to a present owner of the product, you could use it to inform you in the future about how measurements, in particular, should be used by the consumer.

http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/speakers/messages/30/301228.html

New speakers in the $10K-$20K range

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