Good inexpensive temporary speakers


Until we move out of our condo in about a year, I'm looking for a good temporary (probably monitor) set of speakers. Once we purchase the house we'll be moving to, I'll be able to make a better decision about final speakers.

Since they're temporary (and will be up on audiogon in 12 months) I'm looking for something inexpensive but good enough to listen to for a year. I'm thinking Nola Boxers (never heard), Maggie MMG's (heard and not crazy about but good for the price), or other in the $1500 and under range.

In my new campaign for simplicity the electronics will be the Wadia Intuition 01. It includes preamp, 200 watt (8 ohm) amp and Wadia DAC in once unit. It's a bit on the warm forgiving side but great sounding overall.

My preference is always for highly musical, timbre-ly correct and non-fatiguing. Any ideas?
larrybou

Showing 8 responses by larrybou

Actually I'm using the Wadia DAC 200W Int amp intuition. I'm still thinking Nola Boxter w stands for around $1500 new. Use for a year and sell on Agon for a $300 loss. Basically renting speakers for $25 a month. Since the Wadia is on the warmer side it should be a decent match. Opinions?
I've read some reviews on the studio 1s that the bass could be a bit over-ripe. Of course we all know how much credibility reviews can have. I also know the Proac sound changes over time. I'd be most interested in Proacs from the Dennis Had era.

I was also considering the Joseph Audio but they seem to be a love em or hate em brand which makes it scary to buy without an audition. Tho those that love em seem to be looking for the same kind of sound I do.

Has anyone heard the PSB monitors? I hear they're very non fatiguing and somewhat lush sounding..
The amp I've been using is a Cary 200 watt solid state. I'll be moving to a Wadia integrated plus DAC that also 200 watts into 8 ohms. However since auditioning the MMGs I found that my Purist Audio speaker wire was also fried in my system meltdown. So this completely invalidated my perceptions and time with the Maggie's and the LS-50's.

Actually I was interested in Dennis Hads after Cary brief time at Proac. Do you have pics you could send of the Studio 1's? WAF is also a factor.
I've tried the KEF LS50s and wasn't thrilled with them but then again I found my speaker wires I was using were fried. But overall I'm not really looking for the revealing monitor kind of sound. I'd probably go with the Maggie MMG's if I had to chose between them.

I will be listening to them for a year so I want something I'm reasonably happy with. I'm still thinking Boxers just because they have a reputation for being musical and a bit on the warm side.
I had the impression the MG 12 was basically the MMG plus their bass module. A Mag dealer told me the MG 12 usually still needs a subwoofer, so it's a better deal to get the MMG with a REL sub and have more versatility and bass response. Not true?
First I decide to get Nola Boxers and put an order in. But things were delayed at Nola - and having no speakers in the house at all at the moment, decided to cancel the order and get something immediately.

I ended up purchasing some Tyler Acoustics Linbrook SE's on Agon. For $1000 I'm expecting them to sound pretty decent since my electronics are good. I'm using the all in one DAC/PRE/AMP Wadia Intuition 01. Or I also have a Cary SLP98 preamp and Cary 200watt solid state amp.

I know the Nola Boxers were supposed to be something special, but the Linbrooks should at least get me through the year until we move into the larger home. By the way I actually heard the Linbrooks in the Tyler factory maybe 10 years ago. Ty opened it up just to accommodate me on a Sunday and ended up spending most of the day with me - amazing guy.

Still despite listening to just about everything in the shop, I couldn't bring myself to pull the trigger. But they did a lot of things right - especially in the speed, imaging, detail and non-fatiguing and sparkling upper registers. Mid-range too as I recall. For temps they should do nicely.

Any comments on the Boxers VS Linbrooks? Thanks for all your input!
Anyone hear the Tyler Acoustics Linbrook monitors? Hopefully they scale well with good electronics. I'm using the Wadia Intuition 01 200w integrated wDAC.
I'm impressed so far with the Tyler Linnbrooks. Big and deep for monitors but close your eyes and they sound like floor standers. Rich and deep yet precise and nuanced, timbre is spot on, good dynamics, imaging very good, coherence yes, top end very realistic and totally non fatiguing. Exactly the kind of sound I like. Mate them with good electronics and they don't leave you wanting.

Better than anything I heard when auditioning speakers under $5k. Even though I bought them as temps, I'd probably hold onto them if we were staying in the space were in.