I find it interesting to see everyone's evolution. Go back and reread the posts as they are really interesting. Most of us have gone up and up. Some are happy for the long term and keep their speakers for awhile, while some are always looking for nirvana I guess as they make many moves and some are lateral rather than upwards. Just interesting. |
Funny as I loved reading your speakers owned. Here goes mine:
69- 3 way store made from a high end dealer. Not bad at all
70 something Polk Monitor 10B with matching stands and cables, lol.
92 Proac Super Towers (currently selling if anyone has interest). Still using in main system with Ayre AX7e, Music Hall DAC, CAL Audio LAB Delta transport. Just bought Vandy Treo's, but these are sounding unreal. New drivers are awesome
92 Proac Studio 1's mk 2. Smaller version of the Super Towers and they are newly refurbished professionally done. They match the Super Towers and could be perfect for a home theater set up by adding the new/used Studio center channel
NEW to be delivered Vandersteen Treo's...can't wait. |
Yes, this really is an interesting thread and I would love to see others post on it. |
You probably want a 5 channel amp. For what you have Marantz or Anthem or NAD are all good bets. They give real power. I'd personally go with NAD or Anthem as their amps seem to power all channels and don't get overloaded (from what I hear as I only run two channel). I have an older B&K St140 that would power two of your channel nicely. Actually it's a good amp for the price as it is pretty powerful. Then you can get a nice three channel amp for your fronts and use a pre/processor. If you went that route, you keep your upgrade options open as you can just change to better amps later on or eventually save up for a strong 5 channel amp or even just get a new processor when the latest changes. |
now that's a list of speakers to be proud of, lol. |
fplanner, yes i like your speakers....I do love my analog...for the cost nothing was even remotely close... I heard a ton of stuff and most was 5k plus...the Basis/Benz combo with the Heed Quasar is better than most things I heard and it's not close. John at Audio Connections in Verona, NJ knows what goes together.. He's the best I've dealt with and I've been around high end since 71 or so......I've met most of the major names in the industry (met means spent real time with and not just a hit and run during a show or bumping into someone during their store visit. So many different directions you can go, but John just understands what sounds right and puts systems together....not a commercial, but he just gets it and should get props... |
Remember many of the RS speakers....never understood the hype with many of them, but there was one that I was amazed by for the cost. Cant' remember which one it was, but we put them on over 10k worth of electronics and that was back then. |
compare the Verity's to the Wilsons? I got the impression that they were totally different types of sound. Interesting movement. |
Heard the 33k Wilsons. Sasha I think it is. I was shocked as it's not the Wilson sound I'm used to. It was highly musical and not fatiguing in any way. |
Have spent a fair amount of time lately to the Wilson line from Alexia on down. They are very fast and neutral. They will let you hear the differences in your components. The Sophia 3 maybe more musical than the Sasha. I also liked the Rockports I've heard. I have heard a few of their line, but was impressed with their lowest cost one (forget the name). I like the Legacy Aeris too but it's very big and ugly to me. I like many of the Avalons too, but their ceramic driver speakers aren't my real cup of tea to live with long term.Exciting, but to me, not as musical or real as the Vandersteen line (Treo CT on up to the 7's).
I need a speaker that doesn't smear and is fast. First order xover and time and phase coherent speakers have been one of the only types that I like over the long haul and then they have to be implemented properly and also offer a WAF package to boot. I put my money where my mouth is by switching over the Vandy's and I'm hoping like heck that I will be able to afford an upgrade to the Quatro's a you can put them where you want (close to the wall) and still get a big soundstage, but you can dial in your bass (the dealer sets them up for you) so that they fit most any room, even small ones. They go really low in the bass for organ music lovers, but are naturally extended in the highs, just like real live music is. I needed something that can play great on every type as I listen to virtually everything.
I rarely even think about the components or speakers anymore as I love my music. It's the first time in my life that I've been able to do this.
Most audiophiles I'm friends have switched with me once they gave the upper line Vandy's a try. Again, I could easily live with some other lines of speakers, but I still keep coming back to the Vandy's just like many of you come back to Verity (I've heard only one pair of these and loved them too) or Wilson or Rockports. We all have our biases and hear for different things. Go listen and let us know your thoughts.
I do hope you get some higher end components home to see what your speakers can really do for you. |
We all really hear differently. I have friends who swear by Magico, however I have never 'got' them. I have heard them on so many occasions now, but they aren't doing anything differently than many speakers in their price range. I have found the Vandy line for me to just be musical and now by using the Ayre AX5/20, they are on a different level than I've heard them in the past (Treo's). I do want the Quatro badly though. I have liked some of the upper end Rockports, Tidal (the smaller ones), but then I go back to Vandy 7's as my dream speaker.
What are you driving the Magico's with? |
Tom, congrats on those 7's.....What do you run with them? Which dealer do you use? |
Nice. I"m doing the Treo's for now (working on getting the Quatro) with a Basis TT set up into an Aesthetix Rhea and then a rebuilt Mac Mini server with a special power supply built by Empirical Audio into an Empirical Audio OSDE/SE Overdrive DAC into an Ayre AX5 Twenty all AQ cabling though out.
Very emotional speakers Richard makes. I just got sick of 'Hi fi' and wanted that emotional connection. I just wasn't getting that from any of the other speakers mentioned in this thread. That's just me though and I know I"m in the minority. |
pagawan, I bet if you get to hear the Vandy vs those others you will fall in love. With Theil being owned by a new company, they seem to have changed sound. Personally, I felt Theils have always been a bit hot, but I can see what some folks like aspects of them. The Maggies are also a bit bright for me (my Vandy dealer sells both). I have heard some of the Maggies run with great gear and the sound was pretty good, but personally I've never been able to connect with them. Great big sound though. I just like balanced best I guess, but others hear and want other things. Great luck. |
Waiting on my Vandersteen Quatro's to be built and delivered. Very excited about this upgrade. I never thought I'd be in the position......ever. Cant' wait. Audi Havanna Black paint and not the wood finish too! |
resurrected thread.
Ok, have had the Quatro's hooked up and running for months. What a GRAET speaker. I'm shocked at how good they are for the price. 14k is not that much for higher end speaker and these beat all the 30k plus speakers I've auditioned. They are the sweets spot in Richrd's line. No doubt about that. It's a must audition for anyone in this range or higher. The built in amp frees my amp and it shows in the sound. So easy to set up. Sorry, I'm amazed that I could afford this type of system. I'm really blessed. Fun thread for sure. |
