Diminishing Returns


I know the point of diminishing returns is different for everyone, probably dependent on their inclme, how much importance they place on the stereo, and to exactly what sound they will be happy with.

In these times (not pandemic but rather trickle down tech) where I feel like you are able to get more for your money, what price point do you feel you need to be at to achieve audio nirvana?

I was researching the absolute least expensive speakers and found that the Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2, the Wharfedale Diamond 225, Triangle Borea BR03 are a few that get excellent reviews and can be had for around $500 or less and it got me thinking...

At $1000 the Whatfedale Evo 4.2 looks very compelling (I loved the Evo 4.4 at RMAF last year)...

At $2000 there seems to be some seriously stiff completion...

Just a fun discussion regarding what you think are outstanding deals sound wise, what the speakers are and how much they cost.  No “well such is $10,000 and it competes with $100,000 speakers”.  I’m talking for the average person who isn’t making $100,000 a year.  I’m talking $5,000 or less, less is better, much better.  I understand that for some, $5,000 speakers are like $500 speakers to others, no need to point out the obvious.

What I do want to know is speakers that you feel punch waaay above their price point and at what price (the lower The better) you feel like diminishing returns comes into play.  Also, lets try not to make this a Tekton DI conversation because it looks like they are the answer to this question at $3500; lets get some others in here that we may not know about.

If this thread sounds dumb to you, sorry, and just move on please!

Another one in question for me would be the SB Acoustics Satori Ara kit...
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Showing 1 response by mijostyn

DIY is the way to go if you want the most for your money. There are a huge number of excellent drivers out there. I would do a 2 way open baffle  (plate) speaker and cross to a sub woofer at 125 hz. Use a 6" mid range woofer and a dome tweeter. Cross at 12 db/oct with 6db down point at around 2500 Hz you can find schematics for cross overs on line or design it yourself. The equations are simple. The trick is finding drivers that will cover those ranges with about the same sensitivity. You will pobably have to pad one of the drivers a little. I would use a potentiometer. adjust it till the response is flat, check the resistance and replace it with a high quality resistor. 
I made such a system for a friend of mine who has muscular dystrophy. He is a music teacher and almost totally paralyzed. He has a van he drives with joy sticks!
I used Corian and MDF for the plates and Focal drivers. They do not sell individual drivers any more. The subs were 12" Dayton Titanic 3's in Corian enclosures. We used a TACT preamp and amp for the plates and a QSC amp on the sub woofers. The Tact provided the cross over. The plates hang from the ceiling with the subs below. I still get compliments on that system.  The goal was to give him the best possible system for as little as possible and we beat the $8000 limit.