HELP Horns, Stats or Conventional Speakers


OK I am in the market for a new set of speakers and I have narrowed it down the these three types.
Stats, Horns. Conventional and Bose.

Music tastes are very eclectic from The Pistols to Joan Armartrading to Classical to 80s new wave stuff.
I also use my speakers for H/T but this is the least of my concerns.

So with a bank roll of about 5k (Used) do I go for stats horns (I Love the look of the Avantgarde) or Conventional speakers.

To help you make that decision for me I have the following information.
The room is a converted two car garage 17' X 13' X 9" high
I listen to digital > Denon 3910 and vinyl > Romance via a CJ PV15 and Antique Sound Labs Hurricanes Mono
blocks.

I just sold my Ref3s as I found them less than exiting.
I have listened to System Audio SA 1750s and find the small fast drivers to be a better sounding speaker (to me) than speakers with larger drivers.
I like the speed of multiple small drivers as opposed th the 10" woofers. and they are cheap (Less than 2K)

I am at a total loss as the stuff I am looking at will be bought unheard so I need your opinions to try to help me decide.

And that constructive help will be much appreciated.

Thanks
punkuk

Showing 5 responses by punkuk


Thanks yes it does.
I am leaning toward Innersound MKIII.5 Stats I have called China (Hurricanes) and was told the Hurricanes have a zero feedback design the Innersounds will not be a problem.

I have tried out a couple of types the ML stats but they did not move me, a pair of JM Labs Utopias sounded sluggish and a surprising System Audio SA1750 I like these due to there speed they employ multiple smaller drivers as opposed to larger drivers I was also taken with the Piegas although I have only heard there top of the line at 20k.
I like the faster style in sound and the smaller drivers... they just seem to be more alive.
(Always difficult to express a sense of sound)

I am also looking at the Talons I know they are out of business but there speakers get great write ups.

Are Stats a choice for a pair of 200w Hurricanes in a room 17X 12 X 9' My music tasts ae eclectic from Punk to Clasical and rock and 80s and so on and so on guess I am looking for the same as everyone else it is just so overwhelming somtimes.

What do stats bring to the table that the others dont and what is the main drawback beside there difficult loads
Thanks for all the feedback I have been thinking......gonna buy the Stats, not gonna buy the stats, gonna buy the stats, not gonna buy the stats.

Realistically I am the only one who will listen to these so that tiny 18" sweet spot is OK but then if I do go for them I have to find a center for my HT and as I have A'Divas for the surround and Micros for the back it would seem that I have a hodgepodge of different speakers all doing there own thing but the chance of them all coming together in a magical wall of sound is kinda like the USA winning the world cup. NOT BLOODY LIKELY! although 1-1 against Italy with 9 men was a good effort.
Sorry I digress
If I look at this from what I need and not that will work because it is so specialized it must sound good the Stats are history and the horns as Plato said how do I match a center.
I am leaning toward the Talons although they are out of business they have a very positive write up.
I also thought of Piegas 8s the drives are small I have heard the 10s and they had a sound I liked but they are way outta my price range does anyone have any thoughts on the 8s.
Are the Talons fast I know they have bass but are they too much speaker for a 17X13X9' room

Once again my heartfelt thanks for the feedback and advise
I have decided on the Merlin’s VSM MM they have great reviews and seem a good safer bet than the disappointment (which would be boarding on suicide) if were to end up going with a stat or horn only to find the room was wrong.
The Talon Korus was just too much speaker and although it has rave reviews, there seems a consensus in the audio circle that it was overpriced.
The Innersounds were a real consideration but that 9’ ceiling!!! They would have been a real eyesore.

The Horns great for two channel but H/T I would need a center then I have to match it to the Horns, then if the room is too echoy (If that is a word) I would be devastated……….. and the wife “I told you so”, “Why didn’t you just buy the Bose from Circuit City” and “How much”? and “Are you insane” and “They look ridiculous”

Bobby at Merlin is so confident that I will like them he has offered to unload them if I don’t like them. Cant go wrong.

I will post how it all turns out.