What is the Best, Most MUSICALLY Transparent Speaker for $5K? Must do Classic Rock!

[caesar]

Who are the contenders for most MUSICALLY Transparent (vs. "Transparency to Source" speakers which highlight sound artifacts instead of music) best speakers for $5K or less?

For a friend trying to get into high end hobby, who listens to a lot of Classic Rock, not only for the audiophile.

Thank You!

 

[bonzo75]

Who are the contenders for most MUSICALLY Transparent (vs. "Transparency to Source" speakers which highlight sound artifacts instead of music) best speakers for $5K or less?

For a friend trying to get into high end hobby, who listens to a lot of Classic Rock, not only for the audiophile.

Thank You!

Martin Logan, any electrostat model, or Quads, depending on budget. Logans will have better bass impacts than Quads. He can also buy Audio Exklusiv, a full range electrostat panel, from German, used around 4k EUR - the late Mr. Acoustat loved this speaker. At this level I don't think cone speakers compete, and you need to go much higher up the budget line to match a stat. He needs to have have room to pull them out 3.5 feet at least from the front wall, minimum 6 feet apart.

 

[caesar]

Martin Logan, any electrostat model, or Quads, depending on budget. Logans will have better bass impacts than Quads. He can also buy Audio Exklusiv, a full range electrostat panel, from German, used around 4k EUR - the late Mr. Acoustat loved this speaker. At this level I don't think cone speakers compete, and you need to go much higher up the budget line to match a stat. He needs to have have room to pull them out 3.5 feet at least from the front wall, minimum 6 feet apart.

Thank you. What do you think is that price equivalency point b/w a stat and a cone speaker?

 

[Robh3606]

Take a look a the Revel Peforma 3 series. I have a pair of F206's integrated with a sub and it is a really nice system.

Rob

 

[KeithR]

tough to beat Zu Druids at that price point for jamming to rock music. absolutely fantastic with guitars. without crossover, very holistic presentation as opposed to identifying a pin drop in the 5th seat in, 3rd row back of the LA Philharmonic. 60-day return policy as well.

 

[JackD201]

Gotta ROCK with Rock right? No wispies or wimpies allowed?

Vortex Acoustics VR-33 $3,750

Emerald Physics CS2P $2,995

 

[Ron Resnick]

Gotta ROCK with Rock right? No wispies or wimpies allowed?

Vortex Acoustics VR-33 $3,750

I was unfamiliar with this speaker so I looked it up. That sure looks like a lot of speaker for the money -- and from a great name!

 

[bonzo75]

Thank you. What do you think is that price equivalency point b/w a stat and a cone speaker?

Tough to say - at the point where a good cone speaker can beat the Martin Logan Summits or the Analysis Audio, you can start affording horns (if you have the space - if you don't have the space, then cones are fine, but I would rather go Vivid Giya or MBL. For me only reason to buy Box cabinets is for small rooms, if they can go close to the wall (Audionote, Tannoys, standamounts). They can fit furniture better. But bigger boxes which you have to pull out anyway to avoid bass boom just don't make sense. If one likes rock, though, makes sense to have small boxes crossed over with DSP to subs - a powerful enough system but not too revealing.

 

[JackD201]

Hi Ron,

Yup a lot of speaker for the money. it is one of three models that are factory direct and US market only. Interestingly there are upgrade options like teflon bypass caps that nudge the price a bit over the OP's ceiling. They saved money by going with the socks instead of expensive veneers or automotive paint.

I think it is a great option for a person just getting into the hobby because aside from price, these are meant to be placed close to the front walls. As in REALLY close. This avoids a significant amount of "significant other" shock. LOL.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Hi Jack,

They seem like a great option for someone who wants good sound and wants to keep it simple.

 

[asiufy]

At this price point, and for rockin' out, would be the Wharfedale Jade 7

http://www.wharfedale.co.uk/product.php?pid=7

It's $5k in Piano Black, $4.2k in wood finishes.

And for those that are into it, Stereophile review with measurements

http://www.stereophile.com/content/wharfedale-jade-7-loudspeaker-measurements

Those are extremely underrated. I'd take these over any speaker (that I've heard) in this thread.

 

[sbo6]

PSB, Usher, Paradigm and Tyler come to mind. All excellent $/sonics ratio.

I'd steer away from planars unless you have significant power and ability to play with low impedances.

 

[DSkip]

Usher Mini Dancer 2 is a great speaker that is transparent but very dynamic. I recently got my first pair of Rosso Fiorentino speakers in, the $4500 Elba, and I've been very impressed. Usher has long been my staple at that price point, but the Rosso's definitely challenge that.

 

[bonzo75]

PSB, Usher, Paradigm and Tyler come to mind. All excellent $/sonics ratio.

I'd steer away from planars unless you have significant power and ability to play with low impedances.

The ESL works beautifully with the cheap Quad amps. Also Krell integrateds are available cheap. For that budget it is easy - many power options

 

[sujay]

Golden Ear Technology, Triton 1....... I've heard them. They rock!! And at that price, they are more than strong contenders......

Cheers

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

The ESL works beautifully with the cheap Quad amps. Also Krell integrateds are available cheap. For that budget it is easy - many power options

I would have preferred to see you use the word "inexpensive".

 

[Hi-FiGuy]

Second the Golden Ear Triton 1, ching well spent.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

A pair of gently used Genesis G7.1f full-range speakers. 70% of my listening is rock, 15% blues, 10% jazz and 5% Classical.

 

[Duke LeJeune]

... at the point where a good cone speaker can beat the Martin Logan Summits or the Analysis Audio, you can start affording horns...

Arguably there are high-resolution modern horn systems within the price range of caesar's friend. Pi Speakers comes to mind (with the optional higher-end drivers), GedLee, Tyler Acoustics, and yours truly dabbles in that area as well. I haven't heard any of Tyler's Pro Dynamics line but imo the configurations are well thought-out. Earl Geddes (of GedLee) was my mentor.

One advantage of going with prosound-type drivers is their superior thermal characteristics. Short-term thermal effects (compression of peaks) sets in well before a driver approaches its rated power handling, and horn systems tend to have very good behavior in this area because they're typically operating at a very small fraction of their rated thermal power handling. Of course the key is making a horn speaker that doesn't sound like a horn, but ime that's no longer the hurdle it once was.

 

[JackD201]

My bias for rock music is big paper drive units. I would love to hear these. They come in under the OP budget, they do look cool and the specs are compelling. Tube friendly! An Orangutan competitor for half the price? Time will tell.

http://www.heco-audio.de/en/loudspeakers/by-series/heco-direkt