Concert Experience for $5k?


I have a budget of $5k for new/used stereo speakers.
I have a VPI turntable, PrimaLuna Dialogue preamp and a Cary Audio V12 tube amp. (yeah, the one with 12 EL34’s sticking out of it) I’ve got quality gear and plenty of horsepower.

I am chasing the rock concert experience. When you’re at a live show drums have a sharp attack and crack. Bass/kick drums have a punch you can feel. ....that’s what I want to feel when I play a live album.

Which speakers - new or used - would you recommend to recreate that rock concert feeling?
t-bon3

Showing 2 responses by williewonka

What speakers do you have now?

what size is your room?

how far are the speakers from the wall (i.e. behind the speakers)

what speaker/interconnect/power cables do you hav
t-bon3, there are some good recommendations above.

Several Klipsch models offer the dynamics you seek.

ProAc are a personal favourite, combining fast dynamics with a full bodied sound

Currently I’m using Gershman Acoustics Sonogram speakers. combined with KLE Innovations gZero6 speaker cables and find they provide lightning fast dynamics with an exceptionally well controlled very deep bass performance and are completely "invisible". But alas, they are rear ported and need at least 20" between the back of the cabinet and the wall behind them to achieve this level of performance.

Knowing a little about your listening environment I’d probably go for the ProAc Response D18, a simple two driver floor standing speaker with a downward facing bass port, which allows for placement closer to a rearwall.

You might also want to take a look at the Kudos range, another very articulate and dynamic range of speakers.

All of the speakers I gravitate too tend to have either Two or three drivers, since I find they have a more precise image. I also like an 8" bass driver for exceptionally well controlled and deeper bass performance.

I have tried speakers with multiple bass drivers, but found they lacked the precision of the simpler designs.

I can highly recommend the gZero6 speaker cables mentioned above - they are the fastest and most detailed cables I’ve found to date, with superb imaging, but they require 300+ hours burn-in.

Also, if the speaker you select are bi-wired, I would recommend contacting KLE Innovations, the will probably be able to make you a suitable jumper for a reasonable price, or maybe incorprorate it into the cable - KL Eichmann is very good.

Hope that helps