I'd love to hear the Ohm Walsh.
Take a listen to the Bryston Model T, they will impress how dynamic and vivid they are.
Take a listen to the Bryston Model T, they will impress how dynamic and vivid they are.
Curious what people think is the best "value" high end speaker (~5K to 15K)
I am on a long search for speakers and just curious what people think is the best value both new or used in speakers ranging from around $5000 to $15000? I have a set of Paradigm S8's (V1) and love them but looking for another set for another set in a different listening area (25 x 20?, maybe larger). I love the full sound of JBL's and looking for something in that range (it also helps that JBL's seem to hold their value better than most, which will be a consideration). The only drawback to JBL is footprint. I prefer a smaller footprint which is why after reading I hope to listen to several B&W 800 series but open to suggestions across the board. used Watt Puppies? Revels? I am curious about peoples experience with McIntosh XR100's.
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So I listened to the Persona 9H and the 3F this weekend and wasn't overly impressed. Plenty of high-end equipment running everything (PS Audio BHK amps and PS Audio DAC). I even brought a few SACD's as a reference for myself . It may have been the listening area but the 9H is supposed to have ARC. They sounded basically the same and very similar to my Signature S8's. Maybe I don't have the discerning ear that I thought I did? The space was large with a very high (30 ft?) ceiling and lots of hard surfaces. (wood floor ect.) They definitely had accurate feel but not enough to justify the upgrade at this point. Switching gears..... are there speakers know to work really well with my McIntosh MC501 amps? I understand that many like the Macs with the Legacy Aeris. Does a pairing really really make that much difference? I definitely want to hear a set of Ohm Walsh and the Vandersteens that everyone here seem to love. Going tomorrow to hear the Tekton DI setup on tube amps. (should be interesting) |
I had Ohm Fs way back in the day. Power hungry, but nice for what they did. However, every Ohm speaker I’ve heard in the last 25 years has been very bland and muddy and plastic sounding. My opinion. OP, since you expressed that you liked the old JBL sound, you could consider the JBL M2 (requires dsp crossover and amplification like Crown Itech), but for a medium to large room, they are a reasonable footprint and dynamically could knock your socks off. Or, you may find that they are ’too much’ of the studio/accuracy "truth". Worth a listen if for no other reason than to narrow and better define what you are looking for. Another contender if you can get past the size and like-it-or-hate-it looks is the Wilson Maxx 2 (used). Other out-of-the-box considerations are something like the PureAudio OB speakers, and the GR Research Serenity 7, which may be available again soon. Finally, I saw pair of Legacy Audio Aeris available for $11K on another site that some would say are good for that price. Fun stuff ! |
Tonian Labs M-1 MKII's are an exceptionally well engineered and built semi open baffle design, featuring 12" PHY KM-30 drivers and air motion ribbon tweeters. They have been described as more of a musical instrument than a speaker because of their sonic characteristics. I concur and they have a relatively small footprint as well. |
Check out the Devore speakers...such as the O/93's ($8500) and the O/96's ($1250.00). Each has that "full tactile" sound, plus they have a small footprint and are very efficient and easy to drive. For something a bit more "linear" sounding, the Devore Super Nines at just a hair under $10k would also be a good option and they have a very small footprint to boot. |
@gene3x, the ET LFT-8b features a pair of push-pull magnetic-planar drivers that operate from 180Hz to 10kHz, with no cross-over! Then a ribbon tweeter for 10k up and an 8" dynamic woofer for 180Hz down, via 1st-order filters. An outrageous bargain at $2499/pr, they need to be a minimum of 3' from the wall behind them, but at least 5' for the best results (true for all dipoles, whether planars or OB's such as the Linkwitz). They sound much different than dynamic speakers, not for everyone. |
Devore looks a little to bulky (footprint issues) , I don't have the "room" for magnetic ribbon drive speakers based on my furniture layout and other logistical issues. Plus I like to sometimes push speakers to their absolute limits which is not something I would do with Maggies or the like. I did hear the Sabrina briefly in a demonstration and plan to go back and listen in comparison with the Van Quattro CT's but would rather not go to $15K unless I just absolutely am in love. I didn't really get a good listen to the Sabrina's but could see myself really liking them. |
I own Maggie’s driven by Mac 501s with a Mac C220 tube pre amp. I went through a ton of equipment before I arrived here and have been content for a long time. Maggies are very sensitive to room treatment and placement, but worth the journey IMHO. I have 3.6s bought new. I also use a sub for recordings like DSOM, etc. But the detail when listening to Takr Five by Brubeck makes you feel like you are in the room. Just one guy’s experience, there are many great choices in this realm. One last thought from my PhD Economist wife, marginal cost versus marginal gain, $$$ do matter at some point in both directions. I found the sweet spot for my situation. |
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I understand the Gold Note XT-7 speakers are supposed to be excellent from the reviews I have read. I have never heard them but I did own a Gold Note phono cartridge and loved the sound. I believe there was an ad for them here by parts xconnection or something like that for 10K off, they retail for 17.5K |
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what i'm noticing about the Salon2's is how neutral they are. I have a pair of VA Beethovens I would consider great bang for the buck, warm side of neutral, but very good sounding. The Revels can change their presentation if I move them 6"! At Axpona few large speakers sounded good in the hotel rooms, the Carver LSA, Maggies, and Raidho's otherwise it was small 2 way's stealing the show. The exhibits on the main floor with wide open spaces sounded exceptional and tho I think Wilson is over rated I gave them best sound at the show, the big VSR even YG sounded pretty common when I was in the rooms |
Stereo5, Yes, I traded in the Bob Carver ALS for the Focal Supra 2’s. There was just something about the Carvers that I just couldn’t live with. Specifically, a upper midrange/ lower treble glare that I just couldn’t adjust out. And surprisingly, the speakers had a very low sensitivity that the Carver specs did not agree. After the new (used) Focal’s sat in the cold for about a week due to trucking screw ups, I finally received them today. The Focal Sopra 2’s speakers at first listen sound really good with surprising good bass. I am also quite surprised at the dynamics and sensitivity of these speakers. I now have the volume on my preamp set at half the amount that the Carvers required for the same sound level. I am still using the Carvers Raven 350 mono block amps. I also purchased the IsoAcoutics GAIA 1 footers/carpet spikes and I will install them in the next few days. ozzy |
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I snapped up a pair of Vienna Acoustics Strauss locally the other day and considering the line came out in2002 I'm pleasantly surprised. I swap out the salon2's and am treated to a warmer less detailed sound, good for rock not something I would have thought a va speaker would be good for previously. I'm considering the kanta 3 as my next, last speaker though my retailer thinks I should give the persona line a shot. Still nothing wrong with the salon2's except they're freaking huge. |
I know eveyone and every room is different, however if you can dedicate a space to the speakers, and provide proper amplification I dont understand how you could go wrong with magnepans. The secret to making maggies work is placing them litterally in the middle of the room with ample distance from the sidewalls. This requires a decent sized room that is dedicated only to the equipment and speakers but you should be rewarded with unboxed amazing imaging and neutral sound. Now obviously you would also want a pretty great muscle amp to drive them at 4ohms. They may not be the best for speed metal and rap but just about everything else is amazing. Maybe make sure you dont have cats either. That could be bad. I think 3.7 maggies backed by like krell fpb amps is just amazing! Even big ice amps like wyred4's are great with Maggie's. Just 2 cents worth of dribble. |
Don't be afraid of the tweeter height on the Salon 2. I just got a pair and I am astounded at the dispersion of this speaker. You can lay on the floor in front of them and the sound barely changes. That could not be said of the JBL 250 they are replacing. The Salon 2 is an exceptional speaker that was designed to - and does - compete with far more costly designs. |
I do not know the seller, but for my taste I have never seen a better sound-for-dollar deal than this: https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis97jgj-analysis-audio-omega-analysis-omega-planars I have mind just to buy them, even though I have new speakers. |
It looks like after an extensive search (although I have several more to audition) that the Paradigm's are leading the pack in terms of value for me at this point. I will say that the Tekton DI's are very (tempting for the price especially) and may end up getting a set just because I can get those (for a different room) and another set for reference and comparison. I would try the Manapan 3.7's but even though it is a decent sized room I cannot have them far enough into the room to make them sound their best. I have an old set of MG1's that I hung on the wall to use as surround speakers in another room. I am curious, has anyone done this? Decent enough sound and super space saving ....lol |
The best value is not spending any less on what you like. That is a personal thing just look around. Anyway I think one of the best values are Thiel’s, any model that look’s good to you. They will be used and for what they do it is hard to beat. But that is just my opinion and should not bear much on yours. |
