How many NICE looking high end floor standing speaker are there at present
Hi, Sometimes when I dream, imagining of replacing my current 1997 Burmester 961 speakers, before maybe COVID19 is sending me to an early grave - I'm practically only stumbling on ugly often even like somehow crippled looking speaker creations. Test will say, sounding fantastically gorgeous and - looking like 💩. This, or par tout looking like some or other children's coffin ⚰. 😥👻
Not for the life of it, can I imagine ever having some such 'creation' invading my daily living space. Ever.
Talking 'bout a BAD WAF situation, I say.
Some makers are trying to improve on this tragic situation with creations looking far too anatomical or something alien👾 fruit thing hanging off a tree... handle an' all.
Is there no hope out there at all...? 🤔
So can one savely move on forgetting about a replacement, still in this here life, and saving the money 💰 ?
Well, the budget <= max 20k $ lets say, so I won't risk starving before the lockdown will end ever. 😱
"The Elac Concentro S 509 significantly enriches the market for extremely high quality loudspeakers. Visually, we rate the new design language from Kiel, which was already started with the Concentro S 507, as extremely successful. Clear, at the same time sweeping lines, a chic base concept and not too wide due to the side bass drivers: This is what modern sound transducers look like. Acoustically, the Kiel construction also pulls out all the stops. The immense lightness towers above everything, this spacious airiness with which the S 509 performs all tasks. It can also push properly in the bass range and always remains very precise, but what is really impressive is the playful, sophisticated reproduction of all the tracks that we played to the speaker from the far north. Accordingly, the Elac Concentro S 509 earned 100 percent our highest test award."
Please check out the GT Audio Works planar speakers which include the open baffle servo subs. The speakers are very unique in that they do not have a crossover on the main 6 foot panel and are the only open dipole speakers that utilize a proprietary membrane which is almost Kevlar like to prevent all distortion and resonance that you typically get with a planar or electrostatic speaker. Stereophile- reviewed them and stated they can go toe to toe with any speaker cost no object. they are available in any color the customer so desires and even in a high gloss veneer.
Also these Karma Elegance (two way speakers) have my vote for a case of: 'what looks good, works well...' The reviews certainly give that idea too. Big time. (Only $1000 odd over $20k...😉)
What you need is a nice 12" woofer mounted on the front of a nice wide baffle, which will improve wave launch and step response, to say nothing of your reservations about bass.
Yahama NS-5000, Spendor Classic 100, Harbeth 40.2, Graham Audio LS 5/5 all fit the bill.
And please exercise more care in referencing people's A'gon handles.
Hi, the issue regarding panels, electrostats, and dipoles was already answered by me in the negative - and this NOT based on their looks dear. Sorry to disappoint you 😢
When the wife and I saw Sonus Faber product in the store she said "I want those", before we had a chance to hear them. Talk about high WAF! I was smitten as well, especially after the audition. I have never seen a more finely crafted piece of furniture in my life. I have probably changed my speakers fifteen times but I highly doubt these will leave my listening room in my lifetime. My wife would not allow it!
@mrdecibel Ah, a consultant in Audio matters, meet Michélle, IT and Productivity Management consultant a.D. (außer Dienst).😉 Now to the question of outside firing side woofers.
Wouldn't I've tried that? Yes, of course and in all the room settings this speaker was used, this far three, all rather different, the result was - unlistenable. Why?
Bass looses focus completely, bearable with, um, two left ears? 🤔 🙈 😉
Seriously, no good. However, there might be room placements / situations that may work, none I'd encountered this far.
But by all means, it IS a fair question to be asked.
Lucky enough, the 961s don't weigh in at 100kg (actually only 36kg) so even a single female (with some gumption 💪) can move them about, just! 😅 How? One hand in front, one inside that handily placed rear bassreflex-port.
Done like a dinner.😋👍
And thanks again dear, for asking a salient question.
Michelle, as a retired audio consultant, I need to always place the sound quality of a speaker ( an entire system, actually ) before aesthetics. I have always maintained a separate, dedicated listening room, and my ex wife knew this of me when we met, and lived together, for 35 years. She knew what she was getting into. However, I do understand the combined audio room / living room situation, and how both the audio reproduction, and the visual aesthetic, need to be shared. This does not need to be compromising, although, as you are quite aware, can be limiting, in your choices. What I have found interesting, reading this thread, is how many posters, made speaker recommendations to you, without looking at your room photo ( panels, JBL 67000, etc. ) which would never work. Michelle, I have known, and helped, only a handful of female audiophiles, in my lifetime. I believe, you know what you like, and will prosper, with your next endeavor. Question for you. Have you ever set up your speakers, with the side woofers facing outward, rather than inward ? ( I understand Burmester recommends them facing inward, but in some rooms / set ups, outward can be better )....Enjoy !, and be well. Always, MrD.
@jnovak I play the violin - studied in conservatory but decided I wanted to make enough money to buy hifi so switched to engineering. 😁 I have to say it’s a hard no on the Lawrence Audio Violins though... :)
I’m not picky when it comes to aesthetics, but there are some speakers that I wouldn’t want (and couldn't afford anyway) due to their appearance. First, I wouldn’t want speakers so large that they dominate a room. And, while I don’t mean to put down anyone’s taste, some of the Wilson brand speakers remind me of evil androids and it would dampen my music enjoyment if I were to look at them. I don’t think sinister is a good look in audio equipment.
But, of course, we each think differently about such things, so get what you like.
My apologies Michelle, I wasn’t trying to slight the side-firing woofer design, because it’s certainly something we could end up doing down the road in future product. Also, I’m not trying to get caught in the weeds of low frequencies being directional and lower frequencies being non directional. Instruments that play low, like a kick drum, if you couldn’t see it, you can still identify where the sound is coming from like with most instruments that can play low. People’s definition of bass is like their definition of chocolate. How chocolatey do you like your chocolate?
This all comes down to the implementation of the design and reinforces the importance of the crossover. But, like with all speakers, driver material doesn’t matter till you mate it to a motor system. The size of the drivers don’t matter if the motor system is inadequate, the drivers don’t matter if you can’t control the uniformity from the crossover, and none of it matters if you put the drivers and crossover in a poor environment (the cabinet). It all has to work together, but at what price point or particular level of performance is the manufacturer trying to achieve? We have to determine target price points/levels and then execute our plan. It’s our vertical integration that gives us a major advantage over many of our competitors.
When we R&D new products, we still implement double blind listening tests and make our evaluations based on comparing our own products as well as against many of our competitors products.
When you can’t see any of the speakers, many Reviewers, Dealers, and so called “experts” have made some very interesting picks when they’ve visited our factory - many picking ours over significantly more expensive brands and models, but they don’t know until the perforated screen rises. The blind listening tests we do are simply the most fun and plays an integral part of our designs before our products come to market.
Depending on where you’re at Michelle, I hope you’re able to get out and experience many of the speakers people have suggested or what you’re most interested in seeing and hearing. If you’re interested in auditioning a pair of Persona’s and find a Dealer you’d like to visit, please let me know and I can help arrange an appointment if desired. Good luck with your search!
@eisen0169, so if you have speakers that look plain and still sound good then you’re good to go 👍. Also, many of us close our eyes while listening to music; another great way to focus in on what you are hearing, not seeing!
interestingly, I was in contact with a man yesterday and today who was going to back out of a speaker purchase and settle for a speaker that he admittedly didn’t think sounded as good because he thought it looked better. When his wife saw him boxing up the better sounding speakers she put a stop to it and said the speakers weren’t going anywhere.
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