Bang for the buck

In an apartment you'll probably want a speaker that can be backed against the wall.  Typically that would require a speaker that is either in a sealed enclosure or if it has a port the port is on the front of the speaker.      The Wharfedale Linton 85 has two ports on the back of the speaker.   Consider the KLH Model 5 

Check out the video....

https://youtu.be/tLWWliTeOzs

@rlj  great video!

Philharmonic BMR are really high value in my opinion. Hard to find used but come in under budget new so…

I think Ascend Acoustics fits the bill ... a lot of happy fans.

https://ascendacoustics.com/

Harbeth or Falcon BBC mini monitors on stands with subwoofers and digital bass management. 

Vandersteens are second to none as far as not 'wasting' money on fancy veneers etc. All the value goes into the speakers and crossovers and you get socks instead or nice polished wood veneer.

I've owned a set of 4As for over 20 years and still like them so much that they have remained a part of my third system rather than being sold on to another hobbyist.

Hi there,

First of all, please be aware that you will receive as many different responses as there are combinations of gear that work, or not, for each and every member of this group of aficionados! 

The first best advice is to try as much as possible to test whatever equipment you have access to in YOUR setting/room, with YOUR associated gear (electronics, music, etc.).

Of course, that is never easy, especially if you are looking mostly at used gear, to be as cost efficient as possible (as I am, BTW...).

Secondly, to elicit the best possible advice/guidance, please provide as much information as possible for our members to understand your specific circumstances and needs/wants:

1. Current setup: what do you like about it, what you don't like, what you eventually wish to improve, etc. Don't be shy, provide us with a detailed listing of your existing equipment.

2.  Clearly state what you are looking for in your setup: aiming at critical listening at low-medium volume, or a party setup for casual listening and the occasional dance party/rock out session? You might be looking for a combination of both...

3. What type of music do you listen to mostly? at what volume? Do you have a taste for heavy bass, silky mids, sparkling highs, etc?  

The thing about this hobby, like most things in life, is that there are a thousand ways to reach your objectives, and you'll probably end up trying several different setups before settling in with one that constitutes a happy medium for YOU.

I'd start with learning about speakers being available at and around your budget point, which by the way, is  already  quite good.

$2K will give your access to a very large variety of speakers, especially if you are willing to go the used route as well. 

I'm really curious though, to best orient you for now, I'd like to know what electronics you have on hand, your music tastes, and your listening style/habits.

With this basic first information, many of us here will be in a better position to make suggestions, share experiences, providing you with the most useful input possible.

For example, I could talk to you about one of my favorite current setups, which also happens to be one of the most affordable: Magnepan LRS + REL T5/x subs + Rogue Audio Sphinx v3 integrated amp + Anticables. The total cost for that setup was less than $4K and it sounds DIVINE!

Not the loudest, but setup correctly, with appropriate care to room acoustics as well... I really don't NEED to buy anything else!  But I still do... that's a whole other story about this hobby!!  

In any case, I hope the above will be useful to you in your search for good sounds, and look forward to reading more from you as you move forward in your quest. Have a great weekend!

The Teckton Pendragon's  with the 7 tweeter array and 2- 10's for $ 2500 is a freakin'Great sounding speaker...better than KLH model 5 and even my Klipsch Heresy IV's

+1 used Ohm Walsh

+1 used Tekton

Used GoldenEar Tritons

maybe a used KEF R700 or KEF R900. I demoed the R700 vs the KEF LS50 and they sounded the simular except the R700 was fuller in the base. Sounded great.

I agree with @jlr261 about the ranges of responses. Additionally, loads of suggestions that blow past your budget of <$2,000.

As to getting a good bang for your buck, a lot of that is going to be luck. I don't know anything about Salk speakers but I've seen a number of people say they're good but I've also seen a number of used Salk speakers up for resale. That may or may not mean anything. In any situation, it is always best to see if you can hear the speaker first. One thing about the audio community is that we are a lonely bunch (with respect to our hobby) and if someone wants to hear our stuff, we come alive. You probably can find some site with Salk owners and see if someone is near you.

The other thing is that your room is pretty small so some of the suggestions might be big speakers which will absolutely dominate the room especially if they have to be pushed out from the wall to get the best sound. I don't know if you live alone or have someone else who has to ok this but that is a factor. If you are listening in a near field position, that is also a factor because some speakers do better in that situation. 

I would suggest some bookshelf speakers that can be near the wall because you can probably get some very nice speakers with stands and a sub for your $2k. 

I went to an audio show last year and heard the KEF R3s and the Buchardt S400s. Buchardt also has a speaker which is the P300s which Steve Huff liked a lot. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axLxE_ojaTo&amp;t=690s

I also heard the Philharmonic BMR which the crowd voted as the best although I liked the KEF R3 and the Buchardt S400 better. I also liked the Totem Sky speakers which have been replaced I think with the Totem Bison.

Someone else mentioned the KEF LS50 meta and the KC62 as a killer combo and it probably is. You can easily find the LS50 meta used for about $1k or less. The sub is a little bit harder to find for that price since it is a newer product but probably could get it for about the same price. The JBLs I don't know other than seeing it at the show and not being that impressed. 

But that's another key. I listen to music critically and there are speakers that just sound like a party which doesn't really rock my boat but it does for others. An example, IMHO, is the Triangle Bro 3s. But those are inexpensive and can sound fun and you can buy them new from Amazon and return them if you don't like them. 

So the bottom line is to find a type of speaker you like and then either follow that speaker (looking used maybe?) or speakers that are like those speakers. I found my endgame bookshelf speakers in that way, Nola Boxer S3s which I was lucky enough to find almost new on the cheap from the Canuck Audio Mart.  

I am gonna toot my own horn and say Closer Acoustics OGY. The ASR community will vomit in their mouths hearing this because single driver speakers = poop (in their dogma). But hear me out:

- In a flat room configuration and speaker placement is usually compromised. You can't beat the off-axis response of a single driver. 

- You can't beat the midrange clarity and bass speed of single driver speakers with transmission lines. There are so many speakers around 1000€ which measure well, have good reviews but you struggle to hear dialog during movies and everything sounds warm & chesty. I am referring to Dynaudio specifically. 

- Single driver speakers are so easy to drive. Even the worst 10W class D chip amp can drive them.

- Even the $5k MoFi speakers aren't built as well. The cabinet on the OGY is a laser-cut plywood sandwich. You can pay extra for a corian finish. It's way sturdier than veneer. They build kitchen countertops with that stuff. The driver is hand-built in France with a field-coil. So it's ridiculously fast. 

Other speakers I liked:

- KEF LS50 Meta active (I am sure the passive model rocks too). 

- Q Acoustics 3020. Don't let the rock-bottom price fool you! I could happily live with these. The bass is a bit loose. But the midrange clarity can almost compete with my OGY. 

I don't like:

- Dynaudio Xeo 10. Sounds chesty and muffled. But the bass is nice. At a 1000€ you're better off saving money and getting a Denon RCD N11 + Q Acoustics 3020 + speaker stands and have spare change.