Help this old rookie with speakers

I see this is your first post…welcome!

It would be helpful if you would provide a budget and post your system with a photo and size of the room on your profile.  You can click on a members handle to see their profile.  It would also be helpful to know what type of music you like and what you value in the musical presentation..ie lots of this, well defined that.

The Klipsch Heresy?

+1 Vonhelmholtz

The more information you provide, the better the suggestion will be. But keep in mind they are only suggestions. Nothing beats listening to speakers in person. Once you get a long or short list.... take the time and take the trip to listen to speakers you think you may like.

I don't really have a "system" right now, other than some Boston Acoustics Lynfield 975s paired up with an NAD 2400.    

My living room where I am going to put the speakers is... and I'm guessing here because I am traveling.... probably 30' wide and 20' deep.    The speakers would go in the corners of one of the long walls. 

I'm thinking in the $3,000 range for speakers and just saw the discussion on $3,000 price range.   That was helpful

If you're intrigued by the La Scala, then consider the Heresy IV (which Andrew Robinson called "pocket La Scalas") or the Forte IV.   The Forte probably have more "scale" closer to the La Scala, but it's going to depend on your room size.  

I just started a thread on Heresy IV's. You may find it interesting. Funny I replaced Boston Lynfield 950's with them.

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/my-heresy-iv-at-168-hours-w-a-change-of-tubes

Having owned all the Heritage line of speakers, I would suggest a used pair of Forte speakers would fit your budget and room. The Heresys are good speakers, but the Fortes go lower and project better. All my speakers have Crites upgrades of some sort and I have dealt with both Bob and his son on many occasions. Stellar people and good speakers. Definitely a good avenue to investigate if the Klipsch bug doesn't take hold.

Altec 19's or JBL 300's bought on the used market will kill any Klipsch speaker!

A very good friend of mine owns a sweet pair of Altec 19s and a pair of 1985 LaScalas that I sold him 20 years ago. They are still very much alive and in use. Crazy they have not been "killed".

Buy Klipsch or JBL if you can. The resale value is so high. You can buy a used pair of speakers, use them for 10 years and turn a tiny profit by re-selling them. The brand image is insanely high. Can you get better performance for a fraction of the price? 100%. But you'll lose money on the resale. 

Used Forte IIIs or Chorus IIs will give you LaScala sound stage w/out space constraints. Then a small tube amp and you’ll enjoy the music! 

Oh man this is sweet stuff

Do I have it right that you intend to place these speaker 30’ apart in opposite corners?  

Hi, @tbick . Welcome.

As a Boston Acoustics and Klipsch dealer for decades, I am very familiar with both. Your ears (and brain) have become quite at home with the Bostons. Like a pair of old comfortable slippers. I’m a Klipsch fan (currently do performance modifications), but, if possible, I’d suggest you put a pair of your model of choice in your room and spend some quality time with them. They will sound quite different than the Bostons. You may love them from the first note, or it could be a classic example of "mission creep" -- room acoustics -> cabling changes -> upgraded front end, etc to get just the sound you’re looking for. It will all be worth it in the end. Just don’t expect "the perfect sound" when you first power them up. Break in time matters (with new speakers), but you should get a pretty good feel for their personality within a few hours.

Good luck.

Who would buy speakers because the resale value is high?  I would buy what sounds the best to you and keep it.

Everyone has a sound they are looking for based on their goals. From your selections it appears you like the horn sound.  I get it, my dad made his own Klisch horn speakers.  Go listen to them and maybe some other speakers such as B&W or other.

Good luck

I would look at Klipsch line of active speakers and it comes with NEW amps, NEW preamp, NEW DAC, inside the speaker. Just connect your source (s) and you are in business. Check out The Nines:

https://www.popsci.com/gear/klipsch-the-nines-powered-speakers-review/

I have Crites Type B. 4 yrs old.  They are made with quality components.  Set up correctly, they will sound quite good.  I have subs and they sound better.  You can order them with ALK adjustable crossover now.  I have seen veneered versions that are beautiful.  These are the size of Klipsch Cornwall.  Half the price.

@jasonbourne71 

"Altec 19's or JBL 300's bought on the used market will kill any Klipsch speaker!"

So violent... 😎

My first "hi-end" system was horn based, not all that different from the Crites.  What a mistake.  Terrible on voices.  

What's an insane value right now is a pair of SEAS Thor speakers well-built from a Madisound kit that's for sale now on US Audiomart.  The drivers in this kit sell for about $2100 and the seller is asking only $750 for the pair.  He's of an advanced age and is moving to an assisted living facility and needs to unload them.

This design is *very* similar to the Joseph Audio Perspective 2 which retails for about $13,000.  If you're in the Southwest, it would be well worth it for you to make the trip.

 

Jbl 4309's...$2000...  I may be letting a brand new pair go. Walnut With Blue grills...

Listen to other brands like Harbeth, (which do voices as good as Martin Logan’s and other ESL brands as you might be able to find a pair of HL5+ for that price and will hear way more detail then with JBL etc there’s a reason many of the best reviewers use this brand themselves for their systems don’t be stuck with just a few brands branch out listen to some Maggys also or Martin Logan’s (just don’t get old stuff and enjoy the process of exploring new directions. Enjoy 😉 

I don’t know why you think La Scalas would be too big for a 20x30 room? That’s a large room and would accommodate a speaker even bigger than the La Scala.

With $3k I’d consider spending $2k on a pair of Altec Valencia and $1k on a nice set amp with 8-10 watts or so. This is assuming you’ve heard and like horn speakers of course.

Check out the Altec Valencia 846b. There’s almost always a pair or two on my local Craigslist so you’ll probably find the same. Some may need some TLC but they’re worth the investment - a timeless classic.

kokakolia

191 posts

07-18-2023 at 03:23am 

Buy Klipsch or JBL if you can. The resale value is so high. You can buy a used pair of speakers, use them for 10 years and turn a tiny profit by re-selling them. The brand image is insanely high. Can you get better performance for a fraction of the price? 100%. But you'll lose money on the resale. 
 

I paid 4k for a pair of 2019 vintage LaScala IIs. I dare anyone here to find better performance for a fraction of that price.

@ozzy62 Yeah! That’s a sweet deal on the LaScala! Congratulations. I doubt that most people could still buy LaScala for $4k… Yeah I’m stumped. 
 

Buying speakers based on a resale value alone seems like the smartest thing to me. Am I missing something ? At the end of the day you have speakers and you’re breaking even or earning money. If the speakers are valued so highly, they can’t be bad right ? Unless you’re trying to fit a giant box in a tiny room… 

I guess that when you’re older and wealthier the financial side of purchasing matters less. So I’m sort of very wrong? 

I have a set of Tekton Moab's.  I am very pleased but they are large.  Low power works very well for this speaker. AR ref 75 makes them sing

Thanks for the post , unfortunately 22 of the 23 answers don’t address your question. I’ve been curious about the Crites also. I guess I should chime in about the 3 brands I have that aren’t Crites. Oh and I have a standard poodle , does that count ? 😆

I would read the Robert Harley book about high end audio first. Only one person inquired about your intention to put your speakers in corners and 30' apart. That is not a stereo setup. if that is what you have to do then I would just get some powered speakers. I don't thin you can get stereo sound the way you intend.

Thank you all for your thoughts and insights.  

My speakers will end up being about 25 ft apart which makes for great stereo separation.   My Lynnfield's sound pretty good, but I'm going for the "horn" sound right now. 

I don't care about resale because I am an old guy and I intend these to be my children's problem!    

And I think I have found a pretty decent deal on some La Scala speakers that have been rebuilt with new crossovers, etc.    So the next fun venture will be what amp. to drive them with.   I'm going to start with one of my NAD amps and go from there.

Quicksilver has never let me down