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. 😱
😘 M. 🇿🇦
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. 😱
😘 M. 🇿🇦
261 responses Add your response
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis98ica-magico-s1-mk1-full-range#&gid=1&pid=1 ?? Am I getting warmer? |
@b_limo Howdy, I say, you do seem to like things psychedelic then? I presently left that behind with my bell bottoms. Na, I'm not agreeing to call these gaudy veneers beautiful, they ARE of course attention seeking, absofuckinglutely, they do have some glam effect, no doubt. For my living space - too far out. Sorry good man 🙏 😉 ✔️ Now here absolutely one more extra tricky item are those Magister Iluminas. Wow! 🚀 Daring oh YES I say! Would I spend my 💰 on this sort of bleeding edge design?!? I'm afraid I'm getting to far on in life, even if I had the, no doubt exorbitant, small change required. Pitty, no room for experiential endeavours of that sort. 😢😏 But thanks again for bringing it up. If it takes on, when ever, we'll sure hear loads more about it, like e.g. those Manger drivers...?❓😉 Big thanks y'all 🤣 Michélle 🇿🇦 |
These speakers are gorgeous! Have you no taste young lady?? https://forums.audioholics.com/forums/threads/gorgeous-speaker-finishes.111819/#lg=_xfUid-3-15903899... https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=161952.0 https://www.salksound.com/model.php?model=SS%208 You can get them in any color automotive finish, or any type of wood dyed any color you want... What more could you want? They have your ribbon tweeters as well. |
Ok, panels as well as dipoles need more front wall space, I mentioned that already. Never mind what the 'dude' thinks pre 4th double (what ever the heck that may be 🏖 ?) about some - beautiful - wooden frame work. Right. Stand mounts... Hum... Number one: too little volume for bass - and am not really convinced of 6" bass drivers, never mind one only. Now I have heard some great imaging shelf speakers on stand mounts, maybe one option for chamber music and jazz ensembles if it was my main interest, alas, it's not. I like anythink from Mahler, to Mozart, to Men at Work, and even some! Metallica. 😅 The other thing, also due to my set-up limitations, is the need to pass regularly in back of the speakers, stumbling about the cable, and the maid cleaning would be kind of dangerous I'm sure. Unless all be screwed and nailed down to the floor 🤣. At times I did think a out this idea, but it's not workable. Unfortunately, and also because of the bass limitations, as yet again, I also can't really move them closer to the front wall, to get some more bass boost. Looking at my posted system will make that pretty clear. I'm quite taken by all those positive responses to my ponderings. Thanks, and mille grazie! Michélle 🇿🇦 |
I have had my Apogee Duetta signature since 1991 and have been amazing for the audio room I have . I know they may not last much longer and I may to look for a new speakers. Used to like the old Revel Salon then but for my next speaker upgrade I am going for a smaller speaker on a stand and it will be a pair of Magico. You ought to listen to them. |
@lukaske Hm, interesting at least now I have to acknowledge some here creativity, though looking at the image I'm having two comments : If the front looks like the sides and back? Is it the front?! Odd, kind of idea but interesting. Yes! Secondly, that ET 👽 tweeter item on top... kind of delicately beautiful like some kind of Meißen piece porcelain creation. Though if my cleaner here gets even near to it, I'd get MAJOR paranoid, oh for bloody sure I would. As for sound... I imagine it will sound as amazingly beautiful as that designer had in his strive for sound perfection. Looks like they/he/she ticked all the boxes at first glance, yes? 👋 💫 ✨ Kudos for bringing it up, will need to look some more into this one. Any idea of $$$$... 😉 ? 🤔 🤑🤩 Michélle 🇿🇦 |
Nightingale CTR.2 dipole loudspeakers made in Italy.http://nightingale.it/ |
Ok, just to mention, if good speakers 'vanish' once you 'switch them on' - mine certainly do. So they still seem 'good speakers' eh? Even after 25 odd years. Interesting to learn. 😇 As for finishes. The older I get the less I'm into wood finish. I mentioned coffins... ⚰ I care for all suggestions mentioned, and been doing a lot of looking up of images on the web. Numerous mentioned I'm familiar with, of sorts already, like e.g. Monitor Audio and that Ape named item, Orangutan et all. Some could do from a sound point of review, ok, but looks... not really. Then there is JVC with compression horn tweeters - give a girl a break! as for their looks. Darth Vader? SCARY! 🙈 And talking of horns, — OMG! Talk about weird contraptions in your living room. Puleeze! Can put your bicycle next to it, and your Harley Knuckle-Head if you think. Don't forget to take care of any oil leaks though. 🙄😱 One more thing to mention, talking of tweeters! I'm not much of a fan of dome tweeters, neither silk, nor beryllium, or alu, perhaps diamond, yeah and why not. 💍 👍 😃 But ribbon, or a TOTL AMT kind, that will ring a 🛎 with me. 😊 This might now serve the request of narrowing things down a bit, eh? And thanks a stack, yet again! 😘 Michélle 🇿🇦 |
So if you like the Burmesters should I assume you want something more modern and techy? Metal over wood veneer? Narrow it down a bit and we may have some better recommendations. Avantegarde horns perhaps? I do love their industrial design personally. https://www.avantgarde-acoustic.de/en/products/trio-series/trio-classico-xd.html |
How do these strike your fancy? https://photos.google.com/search/_m8_Favorites/photo/AF1QipN6_Z_-Ve5ZGQJvCtRlzI9QQrIxnZOJyeazAuSS |
@mapman Not so sure what you suggest is quite so. I'm here out of competition, but there'll be gaplenty more beautiful, attractive I'd prefer, females to behold than stereo speakers. I beg you! 🙈 😏 In fact I had already a go at this on the web, based on the 'freaking' results, I than actually gave the forum a try. High end is pretty much a male endeavour, and so is the design of practically most of the hardware. It is my learned contention, that with very few exceptions, aesthetic considerations, in particular with speakers, is not a primary consideration in this here hobby. Finely polished wood veneers alone does not make a beautiful design. 0 You welcome to disagree of course. 🙏 I've been at audio shows too, and looking at a lot of the items, they in no way passing in terms of WAF. My take, um. 😏 A lot might qualify as industrial barock when trying to do something more than just boxes, functional boxes yes, some very highly functional, but hardly aesthetically pleasing. Thanks again for sharing your suggestions, I do appreciate the attention to all the detail. Thank you, M. 🇿🇦 |
@arafiq, Hm, yeah this 'value for money' product of the year item. Again as far as I see it, funny bass drivers and strange, odd construction. In any case also much to tall for my use and liking. BTW, it was Avalon speakers that no one had yet mentioned - are they still alive?! They had their factory in Boulder as I'd mentioned. Great construction, aesthetically pleasing to my eyes but always a bit on the stark, bright side of the spectrum, their midsized speakers on review. Most might now say, no wonder, she's too critical by far, can't be pleased. Ta, ta. I was sort of involved in some recreation of Burmester B100, which might have spoiled me too much? Not that I'd even have the space nor the change to even think in this dimension now and then, thought I had that prototype right in my then living room for testing. Huge, eish! Crazy, if I think some 10 odd years back. Maybe that will explain some, maybe. Whatever, not looking to great this enquiry, but good for my cash flow it'll be, hm. 😉 Thank you for caring, again. M. 🇿🇦 |
Funny enough, I'd been playing with the idea of Wilson something or other, Sasha 2. Yet they are a bit to deep to work. Funny also, no one one has mentioned those eh, what's name Maple vernier items build up the road from the Boulder amp factory in Boulder CO. Was sort of impressed when I'd visited their factory, though again they seem on the bright end of things, with all their ceramic drivers, and the small/little one looks cheap somehow. 🙄 M. 🇿🇦 |
@jond, yes, I like the Burmesters look, but 25 years of looking at them, makes me itchy to look for a suitable/possible alternative - this more so at times when I'm all day locked down with them - then that itch gets stronger. Now for heaven sake, please... to suggest these 100 year old looking Tannoys! Puleeez, they look so frumpy, like some Amish horse dawn cart, it's just like naaaa, 😌 I beg you. 😳 Ok, those Vienna acoustics, I'd looked at those, but they remind me a bit of toothpick versions of my current items, a bit to anorexic, I'd say. Reading between the lines of some tests, I find some sort of confirmation, of sorts. Bit too weedy, no good I'd decided. (Like some dude with no brawn on his bones build for speed only, hm.) So yea, I'm now just brutally open sharing my take on those items, and for sure each of them will have their merits, certainly! Alas not any looks in my book, hm. 😘 Though many thanks again for all the suggestions 🙏. M. 🇿🇦 |
There are so many that I don’t even know why this topic is a real thing. #1 is Tannoy Kensington GR, or even Stirling/Turnberry. Anyone seeing these in person will be astounded. They are literally works of art that will leave you speechless. Someone mentioned Scanea and I agree that they’re stunning. Dali Epicon 8 in either of the wood finishes = wow. Paradigm Persona are stunning and elegant. Extremely expensive looking speakers that fit in well with most rooms. There are some very odd custom colors out there, and some awesome ones that are pretty bold, but they’re extremely classy looking speakers. Vienna Acoustic, Bach/Mozart/Beethoven even though the cabinets look the exact same as they did 15 years ago, always lovely. The Liszt not as much. Focal Kanta in any of the wood colors are gorgeous and very forward thinking design. Outstanding looking and outstanding fit and finish. Speaking of Focal, if someone is okay with a futuristic/elegant looking speaker, the Sopra is in my opinion one of the best speaker designs ever. Not sure who in their right mind would prefer something like a B&W 803 over a Sopra. Or Persona for that matter. It’s such an open ended question, as all rooms are different, as are tastes. One things for certain though — your attraction/satisfaction of the visual look of your speakers will effect your perception of the sound far more than any cable will. |
Ehhhh, appart from SF which looks ok, it does, but has multiple front firing small bass drivers and weird slot port along the back. Bass sucks in my place, had one for very short while to test. Plus the other weird ultra wide item, not made any more, and just like one fat panel with fancy woodwork - all other suggestions are un-attractive, not to say more. Some look more homely than what not... so far proving my point it seems. 😒 If your female companions had a relative comparable presentation what'd you say?! 🤔 Wouldn't give that one not another look, right? 🙄😕 Even if she could sing like an 😇 and be very sweet 🥰 otherwise. Humph. 🤯 Honestly, some of them look like polished up homemade coffins, as I said. 😢😓 Michélle 🇿🇦 |
If the S.O. gives the nod to let you put these in the house, you have a keeper https://ucarecdn.audiogon.com/24cd5c3a-681e-42fc-a29c-47d13f96da5a/-/scale_crop/840x630/center/-/quality/lightest/ You don't even need to have the stereo on...just stare at them. |