to perhpas Verity Parsifal Encores |
Wow, takes me back a little.
Combo record player/speaker fold up system thing.
Dad's hand me down Radio Shacks
JC Penny 3 ways
Bose 301 Series II $300 new
Bose 901 Series III $800 new (for years)
Legacy Signature II- used $1200 (2 years)
Legacy Focus B stock (1 small cabinet abberation) $3,500 (6 years and going strong) |
bose 901 $700 1974
AR somethings
B&O S 75
Homemade
Sound Lab A2s
B&W DM 7
Magnepan SMG
QUAD 57
SOTA somethings
Vision Acoustics
Avalon Eclipse
Aerial 10T
Vandersteen 3
NHT 2.9
GOLDMUND DIALOGUES by far the best
Sequence is probably wrong and I'm sure I omitted at least half a dozen "one-nighters". I had IMFs and JBLs and Symdex. It's starting to come back to me. Snell, ADS, Rogers, Proac.......I don't know.......I did a lot of trading.
Remember Audio Mart? |
Replaced my avalons with Maggie 3.6's and so far so good! I really love my inefficient power hungry speakes that's for sure ;) |
A long road, a lotta speakers...
Symphonic record player at age 5 (cost??? it was from Santa)
JBL L88s for 16th birthday ($180?)
KLH 17s in dorm. apt. ($?)
JBL L100s briefly ($220)
AR 2s (Never mind what I traded for them, mated with Phase Linnear)
Maggie 1.2s ($400 used)..replaced by...
Maggie 1.5s for main system ($800 used)
Spica TC60s for den ($450 used)
Alon V MkIIs ($1800 used) |
Magnepan 1.2
Snell Acoustic Type J
Magnepan 1.4
Fried
Magnepan 1.5 QR
Thiel CS 2.3...............(3 yrs now) |
Aiwa -- part of mini rig when I was a kid $200 or less??
JBL -- small monitors to replace the first that I blew $200
Rat Shack -- something or other 3 way floorstanders $300
Phillips -- something or other 3 way floorstanders $750
Klipsch KG5.5 -- $770
Von Schweikert VR1100's -- $600
Von Schweikert VR2100's -- $800
Martin Logan CLSII's -- $1400
SILVERLINE SR15's -- $800 some of the smoothest I've heard
MARTIN LOGAN CLSIIz's -- $4350
Dunlavy SCIV -- $3800
VON SCHWEIKERT VR4.5's -- $1500&$1350 (went through 2 pair)
Mission speakers in current HT rig -- $2550 (top of line)
MEADOWLARK HERON -- $2250
Magnepan MG1.5's -- $1200
Vandersteen 4A -- $1800
Magnepan MG1.6's -- $1000 (no patience for maggies)
CAVER AMAZINGS -- $800 modded to bi-wire
MARTIN LOGAN ODYSSEY -- $6200
I think I only recently figured out that Logans are best for my listening tastes. But, (1) I will never get rid of my Carvers, too much of a bargain (2) There will always be a need for cones around here. |
2 pair stacked large advents $275
ar 3 $200
bose 901 series 2 $250
rectilnear 500 $400
a/d/s L810 $400
magnepan mg2 $275
magnepan tympani 1d $400
magnepan tympani 4a $1600
soundlab a3 $3000
soundlab u2 $5000
IMHO, my list reflects a distinct learning curve, in terms of an ongoing search for greater detail, finesse, and enjoyment. Each new selection has enabled me to listen THROUGH the music better, and to stay involved in it longer and more thoroughly. And this, my friends, is what this whole obsession is all about--even if we don't always hear things in the same way. |
My listening room is really too small for what these speakers need. If you would like to see some pictures, I could email them. Send me your email and you can see how big speakers look in a small room. I can't even use my projector right now because the IRS V blocks about 30% of my screen.
I have the IRS V set up as mains and am using the Gammas as my rears for the moment. I need to pick up a couple more amps and then will move the dual betas into the surround position and the gammas will lay on their sides and become the center channel.
If I decide to matrix a center surround, I will split the gammas and get a pair of modulus for the ceiling effect speakers.
If infinity made an IRS Center and IRS Surround, then I would have had them instead, but unfortunately the didn't, so I guess I am stuck with betas. |
Mrpoindexter: Please don't tell us you're using the two pairs of Betas as surrounds with the IRS as the main front speakers in an HT set-up!!! What's your listening room, Royal Albert Hall?? |
Ok, here is mine:
1. pre 1988: Tower speakers - no idea of brand/price, 15" woofers
2. 1988-1990: Advent bookshelfs - ~$100
3. 1991: Yamaha YST-A10 (I think) bookshelfs - ~$89/each?
4. 1992: Infinity SM115 - $500 for the pair
5. 1992-2002: Infinity Kappa 8 - $700 used (mains, then surrounds)
6. 1993-2002: INFINITY KAPPA 9 - $1280 new
7. 2002-: INFINITY IRS BETA - $4050 plus shipping and refoaming
8. 2002-: Infinity IRS Gamma - $2500 (needs new woofers)
9. 2002-: INFINITY IRS BETA - $3000 (I couldn't pass up another pair)
10. 2002-: INFINITY IRS V - $24000 (gotta hear it for brand loyalty!)
I think I am done "evolving" my speakers, but I need some lower end ones for the rest of the house... |
1988-1993 Boston Acoustic A60 $60 used
1993-2000 Vandersteen 1B $400 used w/ stands
2000-2001 Infinity Entra 1 $300 new (sold vandys when moved)
2001-now B&W CDM 1nt + Velodyne CT100 $1100 + 400 new |
Missing several pairs but here we go..
Kef C-25's $350.00
Kef C-95's $1000.00
KEF 103.2s $1300.00 (these were Nice...)
ADS SAT 6 $1500.00 (should never have sold)
Energy 3.1 (Big mistake)..
Signet SL260 $450.00
Celestion 7 $500.00 (weak moment purchase..)
ADS M-9's $1100.00
JM Lab Cobalt 810's $1500.00
Sonus Faber Concertino Home $1100.00
Tyler Acoustics Taylo Reference Montitors...$1800.00 (I love these speakers)
KiD |
Aiwa mini system (100)
KLH 4132 (160)
JBL ND310 (700)
and soon to be PSB 6T ( 1024) because im getting those to upgrade from the JBL's |
Oops, forgot the CAPS:
Panasonic "Thrusters" $120
JBL L19's $225
JBL 4320 Studio Monitors $425
Klipsch Heresy $600
KEF CORELLI $650
MARTIN LOGAN SEQUELS $2200
B&W 802 III'S $3700 |
Great thread. OK here goes:
Panasonic "Thrusters" $120
JBL L19's $225
JBL 4320 Studio Monitors $425
Klipsch Heresy $600
KEF Corellis $650
Martin Logan Sequels $2200
B&W 802 III's $3700 |
Magnavox (gift from parents)
Rectilinear 3's - $300 used
Large Advents - $300
Definitive Technologies DR7 Bookshelves - $550, surprisingly good speakers.
Paradigm Mini MK3 - $300
LINN TUKANS - $895 - excellent speakers
MEADOWLARK AUDIO HOTROD KESTRALS - $1250(retail $1695, got a really good deal) Currently use these in my home theater.
EPOS ACOUSTICS M12s - $895 retail. These speakers never miss a beat, they are quite fabulous. Currently use in my listening room.
Mirage 190i - $150 used (almost forgot these, use them in my office with NAD reciever, sound pretty good for the $) |
Was Ultralinear the Pacific Stereo house brand? |
A pair or Ultralinears. Anyone remember? I knew they must be good because they were big, three way with 12 inch woofers. |
I bet I can win the prize for the weirdest starting point. At age 12, after reading about the new "acoustic suspension" speakers (yes, your prelate is revealing his age), I got two very heavy wide-mouthed five gallon jugs and two 4" drivers from an old Telefunken short wave receiver. I glued the drivers onto the necks of the jugs (with Duco Cement, anyone remember that evil stuff?), making sure I got a nice, air tight seal.
You can imagine the sound....
Come to think of it, I should have drilled holes in the bottoms of the jugs. Then I could have sued Michael Barnes over at nOrh for theft of intellectual property.
will |
Almost speakers:
Hand-me-down mono hi-fi console by Emerson (from older brother) tube sound, wow! So little volume I would press my ear against the front where the "driver" was (may explain my deafness to some).
Hand-me-down stereo hi-fi console by Clairtone from older sister (in fact I sawed the two ends where the speakers were, to have separate boxes, neatly unfinished on one side; well two if you count the masonite back, but the back looked better than the off-side. Later sold them to a bass playing friend who hooked them up to his stereo and loved their sound. For some reason they played loud. Tube amp also, geez I was blessed.)
Speakers:
Dynaco A-25s
Pioneer HPM 100s
Allison:Ones
Thiel CS 3.5s (which I still have)
Paradigm Studio 100 v2s
A bunch of bookshelf systems for use elsewhere in the house or for ambiance channels, by Infinity, Acoustic Research, Celestion and Mission.
Candidates:
Listened to a number of speakers over the years, often in less than ideal conditions. The ones that still stick to my mind and may find their way into my system, weather and finances permitting: Vandersteen Fives, Dunlavy SC IV-A, Dynaudio Contour 3.3s or Confidence 5s. Speakers that I would like as an alternative to dynamic box speakers but that I still can't see as replacements for the aforesaid boxes: Magneplanar 3.6s. Speakers that I would like to audition: Thiel 7.2s and Verity Fidelios. |
I started in 1987 with a
JVC rack system $900.00
Jamo Concert 11 $3600.00
Revel Ultima Salons $19000.00 |
Acoustic Reseach small bookshelf model - 1971
Micro-Acoustics large bookshelf - 1976
First satellite/subwoofer system (passive sub), can't remember brand - 1980
Boston Acoustics - 1982
Vandersteen 1Bs - 1983
Spica TC50s & Magnepan MG1Bs - 1983
Acoustat 1 + 1s w/ Janis subwoofer - 1985
Unity Audio CLA1s - 1990
Proac Response 2.5s - 1997
Am now thinking about JMlab Micro Utopia and REL or Velodyne sub. I love my Proacs but need more efficiency and an easier load for my Air Tight 300B amp. |
.....then to now.....merlin vsm..~$3k.new.....aliante model one pininfarina..~$5k.new......vonschweikert vr5 hse..~$7k.new....piega p10..~$12.5k.new....i'm staying put for a long time because these are the best speakers i have heard. |
I started in 1986 with NAD separates and Klipsch Heresy II
(The whole system became 'casualty' of divorce #1 in 1989)
1990 broke, living alone. Then on program "6 months same as cash" i purchased Magnepan MG 1.4 with Adcom separates.
1991 i moved to one bedroom studio, and had to give up on MG's. Purchased, from used HIFI store German Quadral medium sized tower.
Things were looking up better in 1992, so i went with Vandersteen 2ci
1995, Vandy's and all CD's, along with Adcom separates went up with my divorce #2. I settled with Denon Receiver and Boston Acoustic VR60
1996, bought all Linn and Linn Tukan
1998 bought Velodyne SUB
2000, Triangle Zephyr, Monitor Audio Gold 3SE and kept ACI Sapphire II/ ACI Titan SUB
2002 built my own Watt/Puppy 'clones'. Seas CB17RCY (same mids as in Wilson CUB) Focal 120TDX, and pair of Peerless woofers.
|
This is fun...let's see...
Infinity somethings
ADS 610
M&K Sat 1B w/ sub
B & W 802
Apogee Duetta Signature
Unity Fountainhead Signature
AR M-1 (still own--at beach house)
Atlantic Technology HT system
Mirage OM-6, R2, C2 (for HT)
Michael Green 6i (for living room--still own)
ProAc 3.5
Genesis V
Talon Khorus (still own) |
Oh, I almost forgot. Avalon Eidolon Diamonds arriving next week, in myrtle burl finish. That'll do it for me. |
Well it started with that Zenith Console my folks bought in the early 60's. That was a great sounding unit until it got done in by a lightning hit. Never could get it right after that. To the best of my recollection here is the list
Lafayette speakers (67-68)
Dynaco A-25 (69-71) 25.00 each, I believe
Bose 501 (71-76) 350.00 pr.
Sansui (76-84) walnut veneered with the diamond patterned wood grille covers.
Fanfare Accoustics Tempo (84-86) 339.00 pair direct
Fanfare Accoustics Prelude (85-present) 2 pair for surround set-up which I don't currently use
Vandersteen 2C (86-97) 1025.00 pair (long term musical satisfaction)
NHT 2.5i (97-2000) 950.00 pair new
Merlin VSM-SE (2000) 2850.00 used
MERLIN VSM-M 2001-Present
I don't expect this list to grow in the forseeable future. |
Starting in 1978 (so this is a long list):
Infinity Quantum 3
Infinity RS 2.5
B&W DM7 Mk II
Thiel CS 3
Thiel CS 3.5
Sota Panorama (later added bass extension modules)
Avalon Eclipse
Sonus Faber Extrema
Acoustic Energy AE2 Signature
Avalon Eidolon |
1977-Infinity Qa (parents using them now, still sound great)
1984-ADS L1290 (destined for the basement system after remodeling)
2001-Soliloquy 6.5
Bought them all new. It took a long time to beat the ADS's but the Soliloquys finally did it. |
Altec-Lansing Model 12?, Legacy 2+, Legacy 1's, Legacy Classics, Vienna Acoustic Beethovens. |
ESS Tempest 8- ~$170
Infinity Qa-~200 (used)
Dahquist DQM-7 monitor ~400
PARADIGM 3 MINI MK II~$250
B&W SM520 (They sucked)~?
Paradigm 7se Mk III~ $500
PARADIGM REFERENCE STUDIO 60 v2-~1300
I didn't realize I've gone through as many speakers as I have. Oh well, what a long strange trip its been. |
Started out with a full on PYE system from Holland,then:
Magneplanar 1 imp
Acoustat 3c's
Hales system 2 sig's (still own) |
Of course I started with Spica TC-50 like any college kids who just got into stereo. Here is the long list of my speaker evolution:
Spica TC-50
KEF Reference 3
Sonus Faber Electa Amator I
Merlin VSM III
Genesis V
Sonus Faber Extrema
Wilson Audio Watt/Puppy 5.1
Dynaudio Confidence 5
Acoustic Energy AE1 Signature
Dynaudio Confidence 5
B&W 802 Nautilus
Sonus Faber Cremona
Dynaudio Confidence 5
The reason there are so many Dynaudio Confidence 5 in the list is I kept going back to them. I wanted to try something different, but I could not find anything better sounding, period! Not the big Revel, ProAc, Martin Logan, Dunlavy, or Aerial. Nothing. Not even the Temptation. C5 has that charming midrange I have not heard on any other speakers on earth. So why did I want to sell them? They are hard to drive and I miss tubes. But if you are a solid state guy, you owe it to yourself for not trying the C5. |
It was all over for me when I was just old enough(1966) to walk and found my older brothers big plastic "Close-and-Play", don't remember the brand, but it had Kate Smith's "God Bless America" in it. You want to talk about leaving a load in your diaper! This huge voice came out of this plastic contraption that made me freeze in my tracks. Bob ended up forking over the "Close-and-Play" to me just to get me out of his room. God knows how many records I ruined on that thing but it was the start of my musical life and my passion for speakers.
As a young boy I made dozens of homemade speakers with any working drivers I could find. All used in cardboard boxes that my father would provide as make-shift enclosures.
-1st actual pair of speakers, my German neighbors pair of large Telefunken's which were warm and pleasant to listen to not to mention they were Free!
1-DCM Timewindows
2-AR? Towers from Sam Goody's, multiway w/dome mids & tweeters and a couple of woofers, one of which was slot loaded at the bottom.
3-Jr. High & Sr. High Woodshop / years worth of homemade stuff.
4-B.I.C. Venturi/ I forget the model but the sounded nice!
5-ADS L series / 3 way with dome mid & high.
6-Snell EII..$1100
7-Snell CV...$2500
8-Polk SDA-SRS..$1/2 price as a salesman / Drunk days when louder souded better?
9-KEF 104.2...$1/2 price as a salesman
10-KEF 105.3..$1/2 price as a salesman
11-Thiel CS3.6 ..$4200 Still have.
12-Wilson Watt/Puppy 3.2 ..$12,000
13-Wilson WITT.....$8888 I must have lost my wits when I bought these.
14-Martin Logan CLS IIZ $1800(used) could not dial them into my room?
15-B&W 801 SeriesII ..$5500
16-Paragon Regents $1300(used) Still have.
17-Ariel 10T .....$4000 Demo
18-JM Labs Electra 920.1 ...$5000 Still have
I've lost my timeline on some early stuff and misssed a few junkers that disgraced my parents home but I attribute this to my dazed and confused teen and 20's years when I played in a band and lived that life. Somewhere between #3 and #11 I found the Big Bambo inside the Cheech & Chong album and don't recall several years! Houston, The eagle has finally landed. |
1966 - AR 4x ($88/pair on sale at Allied)
1971 - QUAD ESL-57 ($520/pair)
1973 - QUAD ESL-57 ($630/pair, QUADs now stacked)
1978 - KEF 105 ($1700/pair)
1999 - Tyler Acoustics Taylo Reference System ($4650/pair with outboard crossovers on an Audiogon auction)
Jan |
Pioneer P.O.S.'s Lasted through College
AR 201's My first job after College
Mirage M3si's My first big speaker Purchase
Aerial 8b's My Midlife crisis
ATC 100's My final nirvana.... |
Klipsch Forte (1986)New $800.00
Acoustat model Spectra 33 which were used with Kinergetics BSC SW200 Subwoofer system(1988)New $2000.00 and $1265.00
Theil 6(1999)New $8000.00 |
Fisher 3 ways You have to start with something.
Dahlquist DQ 10 A great speaker. I bet if they would be competitive today.
Acoustat 4 - A great company that was a victim of HPs apparent displeasure, credit card sound (remember that) and greed. The 2+2s were even better.
Magnepan MG III The MG III much more dependable then then 3.6. I lost one tweeter in 18 years.
Magnepan MG 3.6 I good sounding speaker, but the ribbon tweeters were very delicate. In six months I went through 3 ribbons. I was using the same electronics and room. Very dissatisfied with Magnepan.
Revel Studios For one week. They sounded great. Bought on Audiogon.
I then saw a pair of Salons on Audiogon, and sold the Studios, and bought the Salons. What an awesome speaker! I'm now thinking of adding Revel Performa B15 Subwoofers to round out the bass. |
tweek- I was affraid you were going to show up :) you have gone through your share of changes in the last 6 months alone! will there ever be an end???? lol I sure hope not.
~Tim |
1982 PHILIPS 475 with possibly one of the best tweeters made up to yr?...thing still blows away ALL the B&W tweets. now i'm going to the top..MANGER FULL RANGE |
Old radio with built in record changer that played 78's, age 5-7, in the late 50's. Then a one box record player. Moved up to stereo, with a fold together/fold up to make one box system (moving through 60's & into teens). Late teens,alligator clipped the speaker wires inside that and ran it through a Fender piggyback guitar amp and did Jimi Hendrix. 1975-went to new system after college, and started with Small Advents, and within year, did the trade in special to Large Advents, which lasted until '91 when the foam had gone and I finally finished grad school (2nd try).Dahlquist 901's replaced them with my 1975 HK receiver and Sansui turntable. Uh oh, upgrade bug hits big, - can we say "cd"? Then, Melos pre,Acurus A250, Oh my. 901's lasted several years, until the Paradigm Studio Reference 100's came out, which have remained through the various other upgrades of everything except Melos 111B pre, which for some reason I never get the urge to change. Paradigm Atoms & matching Paradigms for HT, and Atoms for the bedroom (There's that HK receiver). Sold BR Atoms to a friend and just got Sound Dynamics RTS 3's for $139 (new) to replace them.The old radio is still in dad's basement, and my apologies to him for that Fender thing. It was a small house. |
Kef 101 $900 - 1979
Infinite Slope model 1 $920 - 1985
SILVERLINE AUDIO SONATINA (VERSION 1) $3500 - 2000 |
'84 Mission 70 $300? Loved 'em and wish I hadn't sold them
'85 Kef 104.2 $1900 Enjoyed for many years, sold last year
'92 Phase Tech (?) for teaching studio - $150 used
'88 (00)Kef C60, $500, bought for mom, inherited, hooked to computer
'01 Genesis V, $3700 used, bought last year and love them
'01 Genesis 750 $500 used, center channel
'01 Boston Voyager (?) $400 - surround and rear surround, will probably eventually replace with Genesis 750 |
Here you go....
TransAudio Studio Monitors (Pacific Stereo Brand)
Infinity SM-10
Def Tech BP10
System Audio Monitors
Joseph Audio RM-7
Triangle Titus
B&W Nat. 805
ProAc Tab 50 Signatures
Sonus Faber Signums
ProAc 1SC |
Magnepan MG-IIc, Magnepan MG-IIIa, Celestion SL-600, Apogee Duetta Sig., Soundlab A-3, Quad ESL-57, Quad ESL-63, Spendor LS3/5a, Spendor, SP1/2, B&W CDM9NT, Spendor S3/5. As of 4/7/02 the main system has Spendor SP100 and the 2nd system Spendor FL-8.
RR |
I've only had two pairs of commercial speakers:
One was my first pair which was some unknown store brand 3-way system.
The other was a set of Linn Kans.
All my others were my own DIY handbuilts. |
Klipsch Forte
Totem Mani-2
Martin Logan CLS2 with Kinergetics sw800
Sonus Faber Extrema
Martin Logan SL3
Martin Logan CLS
maybe the Merlin VSM next (it's been nearly an year) |
perhaps I can win the award for shortest list.
Vandersteen Model 3's (1992) $2300 still own them
B&W Nautilus 805's (Y2K - $2K) + REL stadium III ($2.25K)
After my next preamp, I will swap out the Vandy's
Have been auditioning for 2 years, will probably wait
another 2 years.
|
1. Heathkit drivers mounted in the lower cabinets of the built in bookshelves in my bedroom as a teenager - driven by solid-state electronics.
2. As a young married man, Polk monitor 10 driven by solid-state electronics. Actually at the time I was looking at Bose 501's, until I stumbled across the Polk's..there but for the grace of God go I!
3. Rogers LS35A - driven by tubes - boy was this ever liquid..no base to speak of however.
4. Pyramid Metronome 3 with single sub - still tubes
5. Bose 501's - Just kidding!!
6. Acoustat 2+2 - still tubes
7. Melos Single Ribbon with dynamic woofer units..not sure of the model - Still tubes
8. Melos Triple Ribbon with larger dynamic woofers..the beginning of Mark Porzilli's speaker design Philosophy that later led to his Pipe Dream designs - These were simply amazing. Still tubes
9. Audax CX-7, vintage 1960's or maybe 50's...aaaaaaaaargh yuck! Eight 3" paper cone drivers arranged in a quasi point smear source dinkleberry alignment. Quite simply nails on chalk board highs, sucked out mids and non-existent base. Its been an ordeal [sob]. By way of explanation, I moved to Texas and could not take Triple Ribbons...too large and heavy. So I used these garage sale relics while auditioning for a new speaker system - still tubes
10. Vienna Acoustics Mahler’s - Just got them...best I have owned to date...easy to set up..great sound in every way. Even my wife likes them..[stunned silence]. These will be a long term relationship. -Still tubes
To my dear wife...thanks for putting up with all my BS.
O well, in debt again. Charitable donations can be sent to the VISA Corporation in care of BIOMAN. |
