$3500 floor standing speakers used. What would be your choice ?
My speakers are 25 years old, working fine for now, but who knows I might have to replace them at some point in the future.
The amp would be VAC Avatar SE 60 watt/ch all tube with onboard phono stage. Nottingham Analogue Spacedeck/Spacearm turntable and couple of tape decks.
End of last year I bought a used pair of Eggleston works Andra speakers. Based on their sound I'm guessing any Eggleston works speakers (for what you're talking about you could go with a smaller speaker from them) would foot your bill.
Definitely not bright and the mids are exquisite. (Bass is equally fantastic but that doesn't seem to be a driving force for you and more to the point I think likely their other speakers if you find something smaller than what I got will sound equally good in the mid\highs region)
On a side note I'd not be afraid of keeping an older speaker if you love the sound you've got. I've got a pair of Wharfedale stand mount speakers I bought new somewhere around 1988 and they still sound great. And without question they've worked hard for many years lol.
A few years ago, based simply on the many glowing reviews, I bought a lightly used, $17K pair of bird's eye maple GamuT L7 speakers for $4K. Powered by a pair of Pass Labs XA-160.5 amps. I'm very happy with my purchase. The tough part is that I've only seen one other pair come up for sale since then. Good luck and happy listening!
That would make things more complicated and probably more expensive. Integrating subwoofers can be a challenge. I like coherence. But theoretically yes, I have enough room for that.
Given the limited amount of power you have on tap, would a good pair of bookshelf speakers paired with powered subwoofers make sense in your environment?
I see. I agree, coherence is very important, single driver speaker without flaws is an almost unachievable goal.
Yes, choosing Tannoy would be a very complicated matter, especially if you can't audition them. I also understand that the better ones will go over $5k used .
Kind of hard to recommend speakers when you don't say what you have now, what you like about what you have, and what they are lacking. Also the room size, placement, listening volume, music type and what you expect out of new speakers.
You only have 60w, that might not work with a lot of speakers if you like high volume. That also gets rid of any electrostatic speaker.
Also, if you are very happy with your current speakers, since they are over 20yo, why not just referb the crossovers? It will be cheap, and they might sound better then new after.
I'm currently considering a pair of ATC SCM40 passive models. I've seen them used for $3500-4500. They seem to be universally acclaimed and reasonable in price. I'll be doing some listening in the next week or two.
I have Tekton Double Impact SE speakers and I think they sound fantastic. Lots of kick. Did not have a problem with Eric and had great customer service. I understand those who don’t like him or his products, although I think many have not heard them. I have had Magnepan, JBL, Boston Acoustics, Monitor Audio, Bose and many, many others. Didn’t know Salk went out of business, sad, great company. I am sure if the OP takes his time and listens to many speakers he will find the right choice.
But no one so far describes the sound of their recommended speakers.
At the end of the day, people choose their favorite speakers because it sounds most like "music" to them. Which means different things to different people.
In the case of Tannoy, it’sa bit complicated becasue the actual sonic balance can vary wildy from model to model - you’ll have some that are dark & thick, others bright, and everywhere in between. At its core, the "dual concerntric" driver is their claim to fame, and for me, IT WORKS. You get a 2-way "point source" driver that is wholly coherent and symmetric in the uber-critical critical midrange. You can cover "full range" sound (or almost, at least) from a single 10", 12" or 15" dual concentric driver alone - and this is a true "point source" approximation. Though, some Tannoy models add a dedicated woofer.
Look, I waded into speakers over from head-fi / headphones as a young man, circa 2000s, and it was hard for me to like most of the multi-driver speakers I was hearing. Compared to the perfect coherence of headphones (which are generally full range single-drivers), many of these speakers sounded a complete mess on complex music (especially loud rock / metal) - with imperfect combination of the drivers in critical midrange, and with completely separate woofer sections you could always pick out (side firing, down firing), etc. Room issues added on the the problems, but here too - Tannoy’s controlled dispersion makes them much more room friendly. The old trope of playing Diana Krall / etc to demo expensive speakers was true - you HAD TO play that kind of material, to hide the mess on anything more busy.
When I first heard a Tannoy DC it was just a compact floorstanding model (Eyris DC3) but it blew me away. It sounded much more real, natural, coherent. And the imaging was wonderful - 3D and holographic (my first taste of what that meant).
With a good Tannoy implementation I get perfect coherence and "musical flow", from bass all the way through treble. Bass in particular, is always perfectly integrated for the single-DC driver models. (like the larger Prestige series). Other high-end speakers have gotten a lot better about presenting a coherent, integrated sound, but Tannoy will always be my love. And sometimes I still hear a discombobulation in other high-end speakers, and cringe (happened to me with Magico A3). I’ve also never liked the super-large Vons or Focal Utopias - I guess that’s just too much space for the drivers to be spread out over, for me (I like some of the smaller models).
Anyways, within Tannoys they have different themes:
Pepperpot / Alnico DC (upper Prestige) drivers have a much more vivid, vibrant sound quality, especially in midrange. Extremely detailed. However, the older versions before GR series struggled a bit in upper treble, hence the supertweeters. GR series went a long way to extending and smoothing the treble. These drivers are MUCH more expensive.
Tulip Waveguide - these drivers are more affordable, and still very good. They’re not as vivid and brilliant and articulate as pepperpots, but their upper treble is typically more smooth and extended.
Big 15" DC gives a LARGE image size and a very impressive, tactile sound
10" DC is a smaller size image but perhaps sharper / tighter, and can be a little lightweight in bass without an extra woofer.
No one has mentioned Revel F228 Be so I will. They list at $10K but have been on factory authorized sale and used….could hit your price point. Very capable, accurate and musical across genres.
They do so many things right if you lean on a kaleidescopic sound stage, quick burst microdynamics and transients along with refinement and clarity. Careful setup required but the user is rewarded.
I agree with this assessment. You said you’re looking for a description of the sound of recommended speakers. If this is the sound you’re looking for then these fit the bill.
I would listen to Vandersteen and Monitor Audio. Different sounding, but both leaders in floor standing speakers that are not stratospherically priced.
@2psyop Salk has been out of business since 9/15/23. Eminent Technology manufactures only 2 loudspeakers LFT-16A and LFT-8B, and both are very inefficient not an ideal match for a 60 watt tube amp. A used JBL 4349 would be a much better speaker over any Tekton model for those about to rock!
The sky is the limit and there are so many used speakers to choose from it would be hard to listen to them all. I like Vandersteen and Ohm. For rock and your tube amp, the Tektons would certainly match well. A used or new Salk would be on my list too. Magnepan may be too hard on your tube amp, I know they were on mine. Perhaps look at Emminent Technology?
Well, indirectly I think I did when you mentioned what you were looking for. But to be more direct, the Tekton line is noted for a very smooth, detailed midrange that draws you into the music. Contrary to one comment, these speakers are not bright. I am intolerant of bright/forward speakers and I can listen all day to my Double Impacts without any fatigue. Bass extension is quite flat to 30 Hz. Powerful, taught, extended. Last, but not least, the imaging is precise with a large, realistic sound stage that exceeds the Magnepans I had prior to the DI's.
As I mentioned, there is no rush at all. In fact, if I could find Michael Green Audio's top Chameleon speakers, that would be great. They are impossible to find.
Besides, I usually start threads not only for myself to get advice and suggestions, I try to initiate interesting and helpful discussion on a variety of audiophile subjects.
But no one so far describes the sound of their recommended speakers.
Ha… I just spent that this week (but CDN not USD) on a used pair of speakers. Probably not your cup of tea though… Coincident Total Victory but I have desired these for a long time, saw an opportunity and decided I should just indulge. Good Luck with your quest…
I had the Bolero's many years ago... good speakers! I also like the Proac and Tannoy suggestions. Just make sure you get speakers efficient enough to pair with 60 WPC tube amp.
The Sonus Faber Sonetto V's are a bit more dynamic on the top end than the older Sonus speakers and could be just what you are looking for. Even better if you could afford Olympicas or Serafinos. You should however hear them first.
Asking for advice on which speakers to buy or listen to is useless. Even good speakers vary a lot in their plusses and minuses. First you need to know yourself, what factors you must have and which make a speaker impossible to live with. Then you have a chance to pick speakers. But you must listen yourself after you analyze yourself. The only thing you can hope from others is not what are great speakers but their analysis of the sound of speakers they like(and you have to hope their analysis is accurate).
The best speaker I know of near your price range would be the used set of Silverline Bolero speakers for sale in CA. They are fantastic sounding speakers that play full range and beautifully check off the sonic boxes important to you. I think the seller is asking $4400, but perhaps you can get closer.
They may not be close to you and perhaps just out of your price range? I do know they are immensely musical with fully fleshed out mids and excellent bass foundation. Easy to drive and very nice looking! Nice big stage with very good imaging and easy to listen to for many hours
I have Maggie 1.7's actively crossed over to subs. HUGE difference getting the lows out of the Maggies. At $3500 you should be able to get the Maggie 3.7's with a full ribbon tweeter and a quality active crossover. After that you can add a pair of subs when funds accumulate. Rolling everything off at 60Hz with the 18db slope is nice however found 60Hz roll off on the low end at 18db/octave then the high end is set at 70Hz and 12db/octave
If we could go into the details, assuming the same Avatar amp, what difference would I hear between same level ProAc, Tannoy, DeVore, Sonus Faber and AudioPhysics ? Going from $3500 to $5000 might be a possibility but I must be sure it is worth it.
Yeah, I remember I didn't like the sound of old Sonus Faber for the reasons that ghdprentice stated. I also thought they were sort of primitive sounding but this might've been because of the electronics they were used with.
Tektons (models with the array) have a unique type of sound, in some ways a hybrid of a horn and concentric driver type of sound perhaps....deserves to be in it’s own pocket like magnepans or electrostats or whatever.
For the guy who clicks with that type of sound, some others speakers may sound kinda lame. Hence, it has a following.
Their customer service as well tends to be better than most.
With hundreds of other loudspeaker choices why would anyone want to deal with Tekton? What are you trying to prove?
They do so many things right if you lean on a kaleidescopic sound stage, quick burst microdynamics and transients along with refinement and clarity. Careful setup required but the user is rewarded.
Used Sonus Faber, Totem or DynAudio (more detailed oriented than the others. The Sonus, best choice given your musical inclination, but not over ten years old. Some of the older ones were too warm and compromised detail.
I have to agree with @grislybutter... if you could stretch to $5K... you could get a higher level speaker and really advance your system. But used Sonus.
2nd the Paradigm Founders. Really great speakers. Play well with tubes or ss. I have the 120h. Currently paired with a pass xa30.5 and tube preamp they are amazing. Also had them with an EL34 integrated and also very very good. You can find the 100f in your range for sure or the 120h for 4kish used if you look around.
@mulveling +1 on the Tannoy suggestion. I don't own any currently. I worked in an audio shop in the 90's and 2000's that was a dealer. I loved the old Mercury's, always a no brainer for customers. The sixes series were great too, but their look was a bit polarizing. Before I went for the Volti's the Cheviot's were my main contender.
I am still searching for a good and fair priced pair of Eaton's or System 12's for the mancave.
Was also going to throw out the Paradigm Founder series to OP.
Everyone will have their favorite speaker brand. Mine is Tannoy. There are frequently lots of tempting (to me) used Tannoys for sale.
I’ve used Tannoys with lots of VAC components for many years now. In the bigger system I have Canterbury GR with VAC Master monos & preamp. In the office I’ve used Glenair 10’s (I swap these in/out with Canterbury SE), with VAC Statement 450S amp. It’s quite a price disparity, but a great match. I got these Glenairs used from TMR several years ago for $2000. For $3500 you’re not quite to Kensington money, but maybe close-ish (SE). Turnberry SE should be in range (current line is GR; prior SE models are very good). Maybe you could swing modern Legacy Cheviots. Avoid the DC10A, which are frequently heavily discounted - great looking model but I don’t know WHAT the engineers did to that poor speaker (crossover)? There are older 90s / 2000s models which are exceptional for the money too - e.g. D700. And of course the many vintage options, which Tannoy is known for!
It’s either your sound, or not. The other speakers I’ve heard and liked (but not enough to change!) are much more expensive than 3500 even used: Magico S1, S5, Acora, Sopra 3, Von Schweikert VR55-Aktive, Audio Physic (forget the model but it was $14K+ and had a cone tweeter). I didn’t like Magico A3. Nor the really expensive Vons or Focals. The Magico S1, ueven Mk 1 used doesn’t quite get to 3500. Maybe some of the Audio Physics would get there.
You must have a verified phone number and physical address in order to post in the Audiogon Forums. Please return to Audiogon.com and complete this step. If you have any questions please contact Support.
