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Missing the Old Days

I’m new to the higher end audio game. What I don’t know about modern audiophile technology and doctrine could fill a library.

What I do know is how I like to listen to my music, which I’m quite sure would make some crinkle their eyes and squint at me with a look of “my lord son, really?” Kinda look lol.

My first foray into good speakers are my current Goldenear Triton 5’s and my JL D108 Sub. They sound nice....very nice...but they just don’t sound the way I like. So now I’ll soon hook them up to a Parasound Halo A21/P5 which I’m sure will improve the sound.

However, I’m aware that it still may not deliver the goods for me personally. I miss the days of those big, solid, powerful speakers that’d shake the dust off your shelves and make the squirrels living in your my attic fear for their lives. 

I miss my trusty old MTX AAL 2230’s. They weren’t fancy, they certainly weren’t overly detailed, but they kicked ass. They kicked a lot of ass. Where are the speakers that can deliver big sound, driving Bass and clarity without the need to run 1 or 2 Subs? Speakers that are powerhouses without costing 10, 15, 20 thousand or more? There used to be a time when you could go to any number of local Stereo shops and have multiple choices of all ranges of speakers and equipment. I have to drive an hour or more to find any store remotely close to that.

I’ve seen Tyler Acoustics, but I’m Leary. No dealers, only direct sales, very generic specs, and hardly any reviews anywhere. I’d like to hear a few of his models, the cheaper Halo 1’s that closely resemble my beloved MTX’s just look like a white van special Speaker with those shiny black woofers.

Maybe I’m just an old Deadhead stuck in the past, but if there are speakers like this out there that are quality and don’t cost as much as a car, I’d love to hear about them!
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Showing 5 responses by bigjohn9095

bigjohn9095's avatar
bigjohn9095 OP
47 posts
 
Jon_5912, Tutetibiimperes..... crack your foundation, knock your house down.. lol I like those descriptions!

i guess I’d want some refinement for those times when I want to play some good Jazz, Big Band Music, Acoustic etc.. 

grannyring and David_10’s Tekton suggestion looks promising! Add that 7 Tweeter arrangement upgrade and that may be a winner! I’m liking those!
bigjohn9095's avatar
bigjohn9095 OP
47 posts
 
Wow, thank you for all the suggestions, comments and personal experiences.

After looking through most of these possibilities, I’m still drawn to the Tektons. The audiophile sound quality while coupled with the ability to capture that live music feeling and at that price point just keeps tugging at me. 

In reading through some of the posts about them, they seem to do best with Tube Amps. I’ll be using a Halo A21 and am curious to hear them. Hopefully they’ll be at Axpona.

thanks again for helping this newbie out!
bigjohn9095's avatar
bigjohn9095 OP
47 posts
 
Kalali, I’m with ya on that old Pioneer!! The 1280 or that monstrous 1980 would be sweet! I just picked up my A21 and a guy was in there picking up his giant old Sansui from being serviced. It was beautiful!

Dentdog, I would love those PBNs, but they’re way out of my budget. They are nice though!
bigjohn9095's avatar
bigjohn9095 OP
47 posts
 
Really good points being made here!

I certainly am not suggesting Ty and his Speakers are sub par, not on the up and up. What feedback I personally was able to find was very positive. When I saw those new Halo 1's for 2600 a pair, I was super excited, the shiny black woofers just struck a memory in me. 

My first experience buying speakers, way back in the early '90's was not good. I bought a pair of those "White Van" specials we all know of from the Brother of a friend. Needless to say within a couple days, after some pretty heated exchanges, I returned them and got my money back. I then bought the MTX AAL 2230's and never looked back. They still sit connected to that old Kenwood 100 watt receiver at my ex wife's house.

After my experience with these Goldenears, I am on the hunt for that bigger natural sound. I dam near bought a pair of the current Cerwin Vega XLS-215's. But after reading numerous reviews, many people say you still need a Sub for them! All show and No Go is how I'd put it. They're dual 15" speakers, designed with no Balls I guess...At any rate, even though these Triton 5's sound nice, it's just not the same. I'm upgrading the Amp ten fold and adding a second JL D-108 Sub. And that'll be that until I find a new pair of Speakers.

I will say, I listened to a pair of PSB Imagine T3's and was very impressed with their sound overall. But at $7500 a pair, I'm much better off spending 3k to 4k or going all in on the Double Impacts / Se's, or giving a higher end Tyler Acoustic Model a try.

The search continues... I have time...gotta pay off the rest of my Amp first! :-)



 
bigjohn9095's avatar
bigjohn9095 OP
47 posts
 
Chrisoshea, now that’s what I’m talking about! Always love those old WB Green Label pressings!

Since I just bought my Parasound Halo A21/P5 setup and haven’t even taken them out of the box yet, the chances of me turning them over into something different and possibly more expensive won’t happen if I want to live! Lol

When I was at Holm Audio which is a Hi-Fi /HT store about and hour and a half North of me in the Chicago area, I was checking out the Rega Planar 6 & 9 models. I have my eyes on something a bit different for my eventual next TT.. for now my Debut Carbon will do.

I do know what I want for sound and I guess that answer means unless I find something that gives me both the bombastic live rock sound AND that detailed, accuracy, I’ll end up with two systems lmao..

for now I’m gonna focus on new speakers and save the vintage stuff for a separate journey when I finally obtain that mint Pioneer SX-1980 or Marantz 2600!

i was giving Klipsch another look last night, I’ve heard some of their floor speakers before and wasn’t overly thrilled, that’s strange sine I have a Klipsch Soundbar and a pair of ear buds that I both like.

What’s up with those Ref7 III’s and Fortes? Their specs don’t look like they go very low on the Bass.. anyone have or had any of them? 
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