Analysis Audio Omegas (1 pair) for stereo
& 5 small Theils for surround sound.
All in one room.
(and 1 pair of old JR149s in storage)
& 5 small Theils for surround sound.
All in one room.
(and 1 pair of old JR149s in storage)
How many pair of speakers do you own?
Since I am a self proclaimed speaker nut, I was trying to justify to my wife that having 5 pair of speakers is normal for an audiophilic addict. Curious also about what type, Dynamic, Planar, Single Driver etc; If you are member of this sight, you probably have a mania towards some component or other. Mine is Loudspeakers, which I learned early are 70% of your system. To me they may be >> 80%
Thanks>>>>
Thanks>>>>
125 responses Add your response
Five pairs plus a center channel and sub-woofer. I was running a 7.1 setup configured for music and home theater plus a bedroom system but had to build another pair which offered performance closer to my main system so I would no longer object to the bedroom system and could move those speakers to my workshop. Now the main speakers are in my workshop, the bedroom speakers are in a studio apartment, and the rest is all in storage but I need stereo sub-woofers. |
Six pairs in six systems: 1. Clements 103D at work. w/Technics 25 wpc receiver (early 1980s vintage), Sony CD/SACD 5 CD changer, Mac laptop w/iTunes. Other than a somewhat aggressive treble that can turn digital cymbals a bit spitty, this is a remarkably musical setup. The very forgiving crossover lets these speakers perform much more than adequately with the current limited receiver. 2. Fried Beta IV signatures with new woofers in my daughter's system. w/50 wpc Harmon/Kardon receiver (late 1980s vintage), iPod. Fried speakers have always been remarkable to me. I sold many pairs of them when I sold equipment long ago and these were bought for my wife. The quasi-transmission line loading of the woofer in this design leads to remarkably full and articulate mid- and upper-bass that you almost never hear in small speakers. Vocals are sublime. The system works insanely well for what it is. 3. Vandersteen 1Bs in my son's system. w/35 wpc NAD integrated amp, Philips CD player. I love Vandersteen's for some of the same reasons I love Frieds, although they have their dissimilarities. The Vandersteen's image very well when setup correctly, and have very good timbral accuracy in the midrange. Their woofers are also transmission line loaded. This yields very good bass extension and pitch definition. The system sounds as good with Tool as it does with Telemann. 4. Vandersteen 1Bs in a bedroom HT system. w/AmFi 50wpc HT receiver, Oppo universal player, Polaroid 24" HD LCD TV. Used almost exclusively for DVD playback but very good for music too. Very good vocal intelligibility and great, rich massed string sound that is ubiquitous in the movies my wife enjoys. 5. 1960s era H. H. Scott 3-way "bookshelf" speakers with 12" woofers in the family HT system. w/ Pioneer 100 wpc HT receiver, Oppo universal player, Panasonic HiFi VCR, Teac cassette deck, ancient 27" RCA direct view TV. These speakers are in their perfect element here. Smooth, extended bass response, rich midrange balance that favors all sorts of "big" music and soundtracks, and very clear upper mid, and high frequencies that assist vocal intelligibility. They image only passably but this, somehow seems less important in this application. 6. Wilson WP7s. w/phono and tube-based big rig in dedicated room. This is my portal to musical valhalla, and my drug of choice. |
5 currently in 5 different rooms, soon to add another pair Dynaudio Contour 1.3 Mk 2 - main system in my 12X12' listening room/office with the best interconnects, wiring, etc. Ohm Model L with Ohm SBA enhancement (see ohmacoustics web site) and custom fitted Morel woofers - connected via in-house wiring in the adjacent 30X18' rec room vintage Ohm Walsh 2's from 1982 (still cranking no problem) - connected via in-house wiring in 12X12' sunroom Triangle Titus + M&K sub-woof - separate 2-channel audio/video set-up in 17X17' family room connected to a vintage Tandberg TR2080 receiver (still cranking) Realistic Minimus 7's, wood housing that have withstood the weather on my deck for about 8 years now Soon to add another pair of newly upgraded Ohm "Super" Walsh 2's using the latest Ohm Walsh drivers (I'll be comparing these a/b to my old Walsh 2s to see what the difference is). |
Thanks Garyk! The Mark and Daniels are a cross between a Single Driver and a Electrostatic, they are made in China and cost $1600 which is at the top of my budget. They sound like my Hornshoppe Horns on Steroids. The Horn Shoppe Horns cost $850 for a floorstanding single driver loudspeaker. For their price they are hands down the best value in Loudspeakers at that level and 2 or 3 times the price. I have 4 pair of speakers currently, Mark and Daniel Rubys, Hornshoppe Horns, Usher X719 and Definitive Tech BP6 for home theater. I am most intrigued with the Zu and Gallo and the Kharmas which are completely out of my league. Regards, Bill |
Hi Bbchem, Absolutely love the Tone and I am really enjoy the single driver sound. It took a bit getting used to as the Tone's sound character was a departure from what I'd heard in the past. While they don't have the pin point imaging of, say, my Focus Audio FS-688 monitors, the quick and natural sound is very addictive. They throw quite a large soundstage as well. Definitely a bit on the warm side, although that is not a bad thing given that the room they're in is a bit "live". The Tones are paired with a REL sub in my work office (see systems link) and two are well suited for each other. Single driver speakers seem quite popular over here in Asia and Zu, in particular, has quite a following in HK / Singapore / Japan. If you've not heard them or their big brothers, the Druids or Definition Pros, try to. In my opinion, the Definition Pro at around USD 9K is a superb value. Were the FA-888 not the current king of (my) speaker hill, I would seriously consider picking them up and could indeed live happily ever after. Back to the Tone - my latest purchase of the Kotaro is directly related to my experience with the Tone. While I love my AC V3Ms, With a new office being built in China, this was a good oppurtunity to move them to a bigger space that's better suited to their strengths. Though the Kotaro appears to be two way, it, like the Tone, is a crossoverless wideband single driver with a Murata supertweeter. The Kotaro has no bass below 70 Hz and, for my tastes, really needs a sub. Aside from that, in many ways it shares much of the Zu appeal with the the upper mid range and highs being the Kotaro's strong suit. It is so clear and effortless (but not etched), that it was frankly startling the first few listening sessions. My hunch is that people whom like single drivers are going to hear a lot more about this speaker. Never heard horns yet - that's next on my list. Happy listening. Cheers, Garry |
Update: Added one pair since last post of 2 weeks ago: vintage Bolivar Model 18s - found in the neighbor's "free takeaway" pile. Missing a one woofer and one grill. Weigh a ton - apparently were well respected in their day. These would be great for a DIYer - if anyone is interested in a trade let me know. I have the manual BTW That would 14 pair and counting. |
Bbchem, The forests are a great speaker, they do some things very well, like vocals. A good friend of mind owns the Hawks, however he lives 500 miles from me so we have not been able yet, to get them in the same room. I have heard his in his home a couple of times and I think the hawks have some magic going on that the forests just can't capture, but the forests are more dynamic. He uses Rogue tubes, I use Classe solid state and we both use Joule tube pre's, the tubes may be the magic. I will be taking the forests to his house soon, then we will know how they truly compare. Thanks for asking, Jim |
4 pairs- Dunlavy I, II, IV, V. V are for main soild state system IV are for All tube system II are used (or I should say hooked up- since they are rarely used) for surround channels. I 's are there just in case Another single I is used for center channel. Does Mini Dennon system with bookshelf Mission speakers, Nakamichi micro system, Dennon Garage system and Yamaha with Cerwin Vega AT-15 count? ;-) |
Xiekitchen, I listed my speakers in the order of my preference. I’ve have only been in this hobby for about a year now, and can not give you what I would consider an experienced review. But I really do like the Epicure 3.0's. I was lucky to find these on eBay just a few blocks from my house. When I picked them up I was surprised to see the cabinets in mint shape, and was devastated as I watched the foam surrounds on the 6” drivers deteriorate before my eyes within a half hour. This ended up being my first re-foam project. I have not had them very long, just a few months. But they have quickly moved towards the top of my list. They have a very tight and clear sound, with more than sufficient base. I have so far been very impressed with them. As far as sound goes, I feel they are my best sounding speaker. The only reason I list the Ohm’s higher, is for the presented soundstage. The Ohms just work like magic in my listening environment. They are the only speaker I own that can present a sound stage regardless of my position in the room. The Epicure’s do sound better if I am seated in there sweet spot. |
12 pairs? Joseph RM22si mains Monitor R90 as surrounds (just sold) Dynaudio 52s SnellKIIs in box awaiting new surrounds Polk somethings at work hooked to a T-amp 3 pairs hooked up in the backyard to one receiver! SARAS vintage hooked to Rotel as garage workbench system few other no name/DIY things laying around - think they add up to 10 or 12 pairs. Six full systems in the house - plus work and computer. Everytime you find a new pair gotta find a new receiver at a thrift shop... keep growing those systems... |
My current lineup #1 Ohm Walsh #2 Epicure 3.0 #3 DCM Time Windows #4 Kinetic Audio Efficiency #5 Bose 901 series 2 (Stacked) #6 AR 2s Speakers that I had recently, and did not keep. #1 JBL Northridge E100 #2 Klipsh SF2 Next in lne on my wish list. #1 a set of magnepan's #2 A vintage pair of Allison's #3 Any deal I can find |
One pair. Don't need anything else since I'm happy with what I got. |
Four pairs also for me with only two pairs currently connected to an amplifier partner. B&W N802's and Triad System 3 hooked up and Green Mountain Diamantes and B&W CM1/2 the original matrix speakers sitting on the sidelines. In fact, I have more than one of every component. You always need to have a backup in case something breaks or needs an update. |
Holy Crap ! The cat is out of the bag now, truly. I'm more concerned about the many, many pairs that have passed through here, let alone the 4, no 5 pairs that are currently resident chez moi. Vintage pieces need to be used, don't forget. But more importantly, ADVERTISE HERE WHEN YOU ARE READY TO DOWNSIZE YOUR COLLECTIONS !! |
WOW, I CAN'T BELIEVE THE GREAT RESPONSES AND AMAZING # OF SPEAKERS YOU GUYS HAVE,. . .well the thing that we aren't talking about which makes this even more decadent is that most of these sets of speakers have a full complement of electronics to drive them. Oh, and what about the spares that are in the closet? |
WOW, I CAN'T BELIEVE THE GREAT RESPONSES AND AMAZING # OF SPEAKERS YOU GUYS HAVE, I AM CURRENTLY LOVING SINGLE DRIVER SPEAKERS AND AM IN THE PROCESS OF PURCHASING A FLOOR STANDER. I WENT FROM SOLELY DYNAMICS TO ONLY PLANAR/ELECTROSTATICS BACK TO DYNAMIC AND NOW SINGLE DRIVER CROSSOVERLESS SPEAKERS. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ALL THE SPEAKERS ABOVE, BUT I JUST HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT AUDIO SHOW IN NEW YORK IS BEST FOR ME. I AM LIKE A KID IN A CANDY STORE GOING TO THESE SHOWS. I AM HAPPY THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN MY SPEAKERMANIA>> THANKS TO ALL AGAIN!!!! |
3 pair maggies for surround, big maggies front and rear 2 pair SEAS EXCEL based home brew, 1 extra above for center channel 1 pair Spica 1 pair focal/vifa home brew for the daughter 1 pair garage speakers 3 different under $300 pairs of computer speakers. 2 pair out on loan, JSE and JBL 4 subs, none under 10 cu ft./Home brew over 300#'s each. In walls in the living room. Patio speakers 2 pair As I started going through this it occurs I should possibly be seeing a hear shrinker. Except, I build speakers so having lots of different types around for voicing reference helps. Nah I need to see a shrink and audiogon/e-bay. Lets not even go near amps huh. |
