JBL 3 way - New 200?/1992
Altec Lansing Tower - New 400/1992
Maggie 2.7QR - New 1800/1994
Martin Logan Aerius - Used 1000/1996
I really enjoyed listening to Thiel 2.2s, 3.6s(which i'm planning to get soon : )) and Mirage M5si. |
Update to above post.
The CDM 1NTs did not work out for me. I have replaced my mixed 6 channel setup of 2 CDM 2SEs and 4 CDM 1NTs with 6 Dynaudio Audience 42s on 6 matching Lovan stands. |
1)Bose "omnivector" ~ $200 new - dad bought them for me when I bought my first "Techics" receiver in high school.
2)Infinity ~ $300 new - I don't remember the model - I took them back to the store the same day I got them - did not sound as good as the Bose.
3)Celestion ~ $500 new - I don't remember the model- I think this was my first purchase from a "High End" store. These speakers lacked bass.
4)Vecteur (Made in France) ~ $700 new- I traded in the Celestions to the same high end dealer within a year, so I only paid $200 out of pocket. These have good bass. My mom still has them (with the system I had at the time that I never took with me when I moved away)
5)CAMBER (Made in Canada) "free" used- I don't remember what model, they used to belong to tok20000, he might remember the model. I love the sound. I loved the sound even after I had to use rubber cement glue to glue the woofer cone to the rubber surround. They are now in my kitchen system.
6)pioneer - cheap at a yard sale - for the basement of the store where I work
7)REGA CAMBER (Made in Canada, I don't know why they are called REGA CAMBER and not CAMBER, but I am sure it is the same company) ~ 80.00 used off of E bay. I love the sound of these speakers, also. The box is bigger than the previously mentioned CAMBER, the woofer is the same size, the tweeter looks like it is a cloth dome, rather than metal dome, for whatever that is worth. The sound of the REGA CAMBER is slightly "smoother", but for the most part, the same as the CAMBER.
8)radio shack "optimus" - cheap at a yard sale - for the basement of the house. |
From earliest to most recent:
Bose - $200 (new)
JBL - $1,500 (new)
Thiel - $800 (used)
Totem Model 1 Signature - $2,100 (new)
Totem Hawk - $2,100 (new)
Rosinante Dulcinea - $3,500 (used)
I've had the Rosinante Dulcinea speakers for 13 months, and I'm very satisfied with their performance. The Dulcinea plays amazingly large, in tandum with the REL Stentor subwoofer, in my rather large room (17 X 30) with a high ceiling. More specifically, the Dulcinea gives you great mids and highs with lots of detail and layering, and the subwoofer is able to integrate seemlessly and provide you quick and dynamic lows. No doubt, the Dulcinea is a very fast speaker, which is something I need to have.
Interestingly, I tried a Verity Parsifal Encore speaker recently. In my opinion, the Verity Parsifal Encore is an excellent speaker, but not ideal in my setting since the room overwhelmed this speaker, neither did it integrate well with my subwoofer. Overall, the Dulcinea was much better in the highs, the Parsifal was slightly rolled at the top.
Using a very good monitor speaker along with a superb subwoofer can give you the benefits of a full range speaker in many instances. Of course, different strokes for different folks! |
Bose 301 new $???
PSB alpha new $200 cdn
B&W CDM7NT new $2750 cdn + B&W ASW3000 sub new $2000 cdn
Gershman Acoustics GAP new $11000 cdn
With the GAPs hooked up to Rega planet 2000, Sonic frontiers line-2 & Power-2 I'm in music heaven. After the 100hr break-in, these sound better than anything out there except for the Gershman's flagship, Opera Sauvage, speakers (retail at $30K cdn). |
UTAH
Large Advent
POLK RTA 12
PSB Stratus GOLDi |
home made 1976, bose 301 1978, m&K sat 1b 1985 and volkswoofer sub, retail was $1800, Zingali .3S 2003, retail 6000 |
Scott s-16 $70/pr
sterling 2-way $80
Rectilinear XI $160
Bose 501 $250
KLH 23 $320
Cerwin-Vega 12 $400
Toby 6 $500
RTR 280DR $600
Magnepan MG-II $625
Hafler DH-355 $500
Electrovoice EVS-16B $320
Mirage SM-1 $400
DBX SF-2500 $600
Magnepan MMG $500*
PSB Alpha subsonic (2) $500*
KLH surrounds $70*
Heybrook HB-3 $800*
* still own these
All these over a period of 34 yrs. It's been fun. |
Energy ESM 4
NHT 1.3
NHT II
NHT 1.3A
NHT 2.5i
SoundLab Reference One (amazing, world class) |
Genesis Model I - 1978
Acoustic Research tower speakers - 1980 (all black cabinet, don't remember model number)
B&W DM-14 - 1983
Hales System 2 - 1995
Osborn Titan Floorstanders - 2003
I have auditioned many speakers in my system over the years but these are the ones that I've actually owned. |
1) Paradigm Titans
2) Paradigm Titans with Paradigm sub.
3) Paradigm Phantoms
4) Paradigm 9 SE MK II
5) Paradigm 20's V-1
6) Paradigm 60's V-1
7) Paradigm 80's V-1
8) Thiel 3.5's :~) |
Gosh Dave that's funny I thought I saw a patern developing, guess that show's you what I know :-p |
Hi Tim!
The shop I bought my first Paradigms from has a 1 year, 100% trade up policy.
I guess I became a victim of being stuck with that brand until I lost track of time.I was going to go all the way to the 100 V-2's but my 1 year came and went while I was dreaming of Thiels! |
In sum:
Marantz somethings - shitty vinyl veneer, box like a hollow drum, .50 cent drivers, Driven by a Sansui receiver and a BSR? turntable, I think -- my first stereo system!!! It rocked!!!
Electrovoice Sentry 100 pro monitor - really good and efficient. Very live sound, maybe a little hard on the ears.
Phase Research Little D's - a forgotten (if it was ever known) gem. Time/phase coherent, ribbon tweeter/mid, transmission line. Unique at the time.
Polk 5's - a step down from the Phase R's, but smaller for my college dorm.
Epos 14's -- wow, this is what music sounds like. I grew up on live blues. The boogie is back.
Epos ES25's -- more bass than above and more transparent. Still love the Epos sound, gets your blood pumping.
Waveform Mach Solos -- Even more transparent and dynamic than above. Built like a tank. Unique, a very talented designers statement on what accurate and real is.
Thought I was going to go to smaller speakers, but broke the bank and this has to be journey's end as kid #1 is on the way and I'm out of $$.
VMPS RM40's -- hope to be blown away when they arrive next month. |
My speaker evolution/de-evolution are as follows:
Micro-acoustics model? (high school)
Bose 301's-they were small and cranked at the boarding school.
Ohm Model H's-nice sound but kept blowing the drivers REPEATEDLY.
B&W DM330 or DM100 (can't remember)College-small monitors for a dorm room. Nice lower end but too congested up top. Highs sounded muffled.
ADSL710-Nice on Jazz and vocals but to jazzy on rock.
Camber LS7-laid back canadian sound on a beer budget.
Paradigm Monitor 3 v2 (new apartment)-good budget speaker before I got a sub
Vandersteen 2ci-great on jazz and vocals as well as acoustic stuff but somehow not good with the Metallica/Creed thing.
Paradigm Studio 80's v2-My new thing that handles most of what I listen to.
I have been all over the place with the speaker set ups. I can only listen to speakers for about 3 years max and then really look forward to moving on to something else. Figure I will hang with the studio's then either make a move to Revel F30's or Odyssey Legato/Lorelei's. But that will be awhile as I just got the 80's |
a pair of small utah's (I still got em!)from Turnstyle Department store and then ANOTHER pair of BIG Utahs from Radical Shack (before I really understood frequency response but sure had fun learning!) then to what I still have from 30 years ago: Stacked EPI 202's. My sales guy Billy Runyun at Stereo Studio in Arlington Heights, Il sold me on the idea that 202's stacked in pairs come reasonably close to sounding like EPI Towers. Well, it's true from the vantage point of these two aging but at one time mercilessly discerning ears of mine. I'll tell you what tho, the 202's are still exellent. My favorite song to put on LOUD is "Natural Thing" from the Doob's "Captain and Me" album. Rock on! |
BIC something-or-other, 1975, new $200/pr.
Genesis 1, 1977, new $300/pr.
DIY, 1978, new drivers, $200/pr.
ESS AMT1B, 1978, new $600/pr.
Magnepan MG1 (2pair), 1979, new $500/pr.
Mariah Acoustics Model 1, 1981, new $1100/pr (son is using)
Magneplaner Tympani IV, 1984, new $4000/pr
Duntech Sovereign, 1989, new, $16,000/pr
Revel Gems+Sub15, 1997, new, $12,000 (still have Gems)
Revel Studio/Voice/Embrace, 1999, new, $16,000/system
Revel F30, 1999, new, $3000/pr (still have)
Revel F50/C50, 2003, used, $7500/system (for new theater) |
I started after my experiment changing components on an only fine box ,named Namco but with tremendous components, with in order:
Canton tree way in small boxes.
Miller & Kreisel satellite + amplified subw.
Magneplanar MMG
Martin Logan Scenario.
Usher 738.
So I checked different solutions to come back to the traditional cone speakers.
ciao |
dates are little fuzzy, it has been a long time
AR LST-2 (1974)
Allison One (1976)
Dayton Wright Electrostatics (1977)
Acoustat X (?)
Rogers LS3/5A (?)
B&W 801FS (1985-1994)
B&W 805 w/ASW800 sub. (1994-1996)
Dunlavy SC-IV (1996-1998)
Dunlavy SC-V (1998-2002)
Revel Salon (2002-
nothing left to buy the Salons are awesome... |
Lets see...
Aiwa Speaks (Stripped off a mini system)
Infinity basic bad speakers, $100pr new
Technics floor speaks, $125pr new
Technics C/Sr/Sl package, $100 New
Pioneer Floor standing speakers 400pr New ***
Cerwin Vega Center channel 150 new
DefTech Prosub 200, $549 New *
Deftech ProCenter C2, $300 New *
DefTech BP6 $600pr new *
Deftech BP2004TL $1600 New *
* = current.
*** = Pioneer Floor standing loudspeakers. I wish i knew the model numbers of these babys, ive never seen anything quite like them, and ive never found them on the internet or anywhere else again. I bought them in japan while i was in the military, there was of course the Tweeter, the Mid range, and two woofers. The woofers (just cone and magnets) were actually NOT TOUCHING ANYTHING. They were SUSPENDED BY MAGNETS in thier enclosure, the only thing touching these speakers was a cord in the back that would prevent them from popping out from cuncussion and getting damaged if they landed on the ground.
I did not know this untill i had PCS'd to a new AFB, when i got my speakers out of packing the woofers had popped out. Kinda looked like somone plucked out thier eyes. I checked through the manuals and found the instructions for re-aligning the speakers, which involved softly playing white noise and placing the speakers back in thier sockets and rotating them slowly untill they "Catched"
For 200 bucks each these speakers were incredible, but as time went on one of the midrange drivers started popping slightly and i decided it was time to upgrade. I gave these to a person who used to be one of my friends. Never seen these things again. |
Bose 901's Dalquist DQ12's Spica's PSB Stratus Silvers PSB Stratus Golds Martin Logan Ascents |
Technics, 1984, ~$100, don't remember the model;
Paradigm Studio 20s, 1997, ~$600, new;
Revel M-20s, 2000, ~$1700, new,
JM REYNAUD TRENTES, 2001, ~$2400, NEW --LOVE THEM!!!!! |
Will never remember prices, but here goes...
KLH
Large Advents
EPI (can't remember model, but they sure looked cool w/blue tweeters)
B&W DM7 Mk II
Quad ESL
Quad ESL stacked
...add Pyramid Metronome tweeters
...add Janis Subs (then sell everything... still have regrets about that!)
B&W 802F
ProAc Response 2.5
next?.... |
kenwood system, new, $400 (my first "system")
Boston Acoustics, used, $200
KEF Q60, new, $750 w/ Paradigm SW100 sub
PARADIGM, 7SE, new, $600 (first floor standers)
PSB STRATUS MINI, new, $1100
PSB STRATUS SILVER I, used, $1200
(all prices CDN $)
looking forward to buying a pair of FOCUS AUDIO FS788
Alex |
Altec Model 5...600 new (sold)
Mcintosh XRT18's...5000 new (sold)...main sys
Magnepan 3.6's....3000 Used (sold)...main sys
Magnepan MG12's...795 used (sold)..bedroom set
Magnepan SMG...295 used (sold)...bedroom set
Magnepan MMG's...550 new (sold)...bedroom set
Klipsch Heresy...600 used (sold)...bedroom set
Klipsch Cornwalls...850 used.....current pair, secondary sys
Klipsch Forte II...450 used....current pair, secondary sys
Mcintosh XRT22's....$4500.00 used...current pair, main system and never going anywhere! |
large advents
some big AR towers with a lot of drivers[cant remember model]
Vandy 2ce's
monster homemade all horn system
various ads models
dcm timewindows
K-horns
Bozak symphonies
a lot of others that I cant recall at the moment
Still like the Bozaks a lot |
Bose 901 series 2...when in South America with Sansui AU-717
Mission 772e...with Adcom gfa-5500
Mission 774 with Musical Design D75's (2) and tubed pre
Pinnacle Classic Gold Aerogel (awesome)
Now shopping for Platinum Audio Duos... |
Radio Shack MC-1000's about $80/pair
B&O S45-II's paid $275 in 1978 (wish I'd never sold them)
Fried Q's $300/pair I think
Mission 717's a gift I think they listed for $600 bought for $400 1983
Mourdant Short Festival's for a second system
Vandersteen 2ci's bought used for $600 in 2002
What I wanted but couldn't afford at the time:
Infinity Qb's 1976
Stacked Advent's 1977
Magnepan's 1978
Fried W's in cherry 1979
Linn Isobarik's 1980
Infinity RS 2.5 1980
Mission 770's 1982
B&W DM7 1982
Vandersteen 2 1983 |
Radio Shack MC-1000's about $80/pair
B&O S45-II's paid $275 in 1978 (wish I'd never sold them)
Fried Q's $300/pair I think
Mission 717's a gift I think they listed for $600 bought for $400 1983
Mourdant Short Festival's for a second system
Vandersteen 2ci's bought used for $600 in 2002
What I wanted but couldn't afford at the time:
Infinity Qb's 1976
Stacked Advent's 1977
Magnepan's 1978
Fried W's in cherry 1979
Linn Isobarik's 1980
Infinity RS 2.5 1980
Mission 770's 1982
B&W DM7 1982
Vandersteen 2 1983
Meridian M2's |
1977: TDC bookshelf speakers, slightly shop damaged. Given to me by a Tech Hifi Bargain Center sales manager who sold me the receiver, and decided he didn't want me to wait for a pair of speakers to go with it. He GAVE these to me. I was elated!
1979: Infinity QA's. Wish I still had them.
1984: JBL 4411's. Wish I still had these, too.
1987: DCM Time Windows. Decent sounding if no finicky for propper placement.
1992: Bose 901 V. I, frankly, thought they were perfect for me at the time, since I also used them for my part time DJ service.
1995: Mangeplanar - don't recall the model number, but designed to be used with a sub for home theater. Not bad for music or HT, but not great for either, either! Also, seem to sound kind of dead in my heavily carpeted, wall-papered living room.
2001: Klipsch RF-3's. Seem to solve some challenges with my living room, while providing a nice, smooth sound for music and movies.
2003: I've really fallen for the Klipsch sound, and an in the market for Heritage series speakers: Cornwall, Forte or Chorus. Also, garbage-picked some KG-4's in need of only a slight repair job. What little gems these speakers are! |
1998, $400-Phillip-Magnavox-all-in-one HT system box. 4 yrs later, the active subwoofer suddenly sounded so muddy as if it had been stuffed with Lego blocks by a 4-yr-old boy and a 1-yr-old daughter. Started to remodel the home. Self installed woodfloor while wife shopped for new furniture. Got plasma TV. Searched for a flat-panel speakers to hanh w/ plasma. Can't afford Martin Logan. Got AR Phantom speakers series 8.3 (6 of them & 1 Phantom 525 Center for future 7.1 HT setup). Bought entry-level Yamaha AVR. Got Polk subwoofer. Got good AR biwire, Tributaries, & IXOS cables. B/c of toddlers, rent movies only as real theater is not an option. Got too loud. Speakers got clipped. Received Denon AVR 2802 as a gift. Found Audiogon. Purchase Carver 705 THX amp. Doing research on pre/processor. Develop an addiction. Need cure quick!!! |
to start. I am 51. I only buy used gear as I cannot afford new. I have never spent more than 600 for a pair of speakers. EVER.
some ge box system.
pair of jbl's don't remember model.
pair of ESS HIEL AIR MOTIONS that was a great speaker.
pair of epi towers.
pair of klipshorns still don't understand why every one loves these, they have more peaks and valleys than the sierra mountains.
MCINTOSH MC2's
DAHLQUIST DQ 10
INFINITY RS 2 B
INFINITY QLS. these were perfection !! absolute perfection.
the quantums were the best I have owned to date. needed a VERY large room though.
Kef 105.2 another great speaker.
Carver amazing's.
totem
mirage
APPOGEE DUETTA. My current speaker. huge stage, very, very dynamic. Looking at possible purchase of maggies. |
1. JBL 19 Book Shelf - My first "last speaker"
2. Polk 10B - excellent for reggae
3. Mission 707
4. Energy 22 - excellent and underated
5. Proac Studio 100
6. Alon Lotus
7. Vandersteen 3A Sig - my last "last speaker" till I buy the 5s. |
1. stuff from a white van when I was in college in early 90's -- :-(
2. PSB Image 2B -- $350new --2000
3. PSB Stratus Mini -- $400used -- 2002
4. Dynaudio Special 25 -- new -- 9/6/2003 (three days ago!) will keep for a while.... |
RCA K Mart Specials
Utah ?
ESS amt ?
Magnapan ?
B&W N802
Wilson W/P 7's |
KLH-22A (1969)
Dynaco A-25 (1971)
Large Advent (1973)
Chartwell LS3/5a (1978)
a/d/s CM7 (1987
Acoustat 1+1 (1990) |
1. Panasonic single-driver units that came with a mini- receiver (1973-1974)
2. BIC Venturi Formula 1 (1974-1976)($70/pr.-line demo)
3. Yamaha NS5 (1976-1978)($170/pr.)
4. A/D/S 200 + M&K passive sub (1978-1980)($200+$200)
5. A/D/S 300 + M&K sub (1980-1982)(satellites $300/pr)
6. VANDERSTEEN 2C (1982-1987)($960/pr)
7. MARTIN LOGAN CLS (1987-1989)($1,800/pr.-line demo)
8. M-L CLSII (1989-1990)($1,000/pr for new boxes and panels!)
9. M-L CLSIIa + AudioPro B2-250 powered subwoofer (1990-1994)(M-L mod $0, sub purchased used for $250)
10. M-L CLSIIa + KINERGETICS SW200 powered subs (1994-2002)(subs purchased used for $700/pr).
11. WILSON WATT/PUPPY 7 (2002-present)($$$$$$)
All of these systems provided pure, unalloyed pleasure. Although, of course some, more than others. |
My parents RCA mono console.IF memory serves in chronological order.
1967...Dynaco A-25[still own]
1969...AR-3a
1972...Quad 57's
1975...Dayton Wright X-10's
1976...Dalquist dq-10's
1978...Acoustat X[servo amps still in use]
1982...Acoustat 2+2[still use with the servo amps]
1985???Proac response 3's
1999...Soundlab A-1's,
2000...Tannoy Westminster.
Throughout my college years, I owned a disc jockey service and used stacked advents, Klipsch Lascallas,Altec A-7 voice of the theater's and JBL 300's.Even tried stacking 2 pair of Dayton Wright X-10 Electrostatics....They were truly astounding in the right hall [read large] with the finest bass I have ever heard to date.Unfortunately... My amps at the time[brystons and phase linear]blew up regularly!
I would love to hear them again today in my studio system with some modern day amplification. |
Hmmmm...
First a pair of 3-way "Magna" speakers - at least I think that was the line - purchased in some store after a flood damage. Circa 1982 or so...
Second was a used pair of Bang&Olufsen 3-ways for around $50, with a replaced tweeter. Guess they were early-mid 70's vintage. I gave them to a relative at next speaker purchase.
Bought a pair of DCM TimeFrame TF2500's or -something or others shortly after college, at JC Penney or GFox or something. Circa 1987. Actually, they were pretty good - at one time I think DCM were considered audiophile material - at least their upper-end Time Frame stuff.
The DCM TFS lasted for many years - paired with the original "Magnas" until I got some Mirage OM-7s about 2 years ago. (DCMs are now relegated to basement duty for work-out music). Was meant to get some Mirage OM-6 Demos when Tweeter were closing them out, but the salesperson sold the pair I had put on layway. Gave me the OM-7s for the same price (about $1400 I think). And yes - I do like the Mirages - even they are positioned less than ideally due to WAF. I guess the bi-polar/omnipolar sound is a very personal preference though. I fell for it when auditioning the OM-6's, and no regrets.
Bought Mirage center to augment the mains about 1 year ago. Sounds good for movies.
Bought some Wharfedale Diamond 8.2 70 Anniversaries a few weeks ago, for under $200. Haven't listened to them for 2-channel (serving as my HT rears, and I've only pulled them out for for movie viewing - again WAF). Still - after listening to the Diamond 8.1s and 8.3s at a friend's house, I think Wharfedale is great value for the moolah. The 8.2 Anniversaries are actually upgrades over the other Diamond 8's, with 40Hz-24Khz range (if I could actually hear all that), with a nice wood veneer finish, kevlar-polypro tweeter, and gold-plated bi-wirable terminals. For under $200, a steal. |
Any speakers are good speakers if you know what your doing, or even if you're just lucky, most lower end brand names can be underrated,and if they are bad enough to have overrated power handling, then you don't have to worry about throwing away good speakers after they blow up.
the system setup I have is pretty messy, with a 4 channel Technics SA-250 running (on the low end and main channel):two 8' surplus 6 ohm sony mystery speakers in a sealed...sideways drawer from a dresser and two old wooden single filing cabinets sporting more surplus speakers, this time of unknown make,10' and 7 ohms impedance.
On the higher frequencies, a set of Candle "concerto" speakers from the late 70's with another set of the 10' mystery speakers and 5' tweeters (peaking in volume at around 1khz*shudder*), these however are balanced out by the mostly Realistic home made 3 way boxes {2'x3' horn tweeters,6' midranges and 10' woofers}, the oddest and most recent addition to the overworked amplifier's payload is a single well sealed home-made box measuring 5' deep and 11'x11' which holds two SURPLUS!..computer subwoofers with two 3/4' AC-Delco tweeters.
it's surprising that the sound only distorts just after ear-splitting and nothing stays on top of the speaker boxes for long at half of that, just goes to prove what $15 here and there can buy! |
spanning the time period from 1973 to present
TDC1 (transducer development corp)
Bose 301
Bose 501
KEF Q15 (I still have and use a s studio monitors)
Paradigm 100
Thiel 7
Dynaudio 3.0
Thiel 6 |
EPI-70(new) $70.00 each (World of Sound of Marin)1977
Bose 901 (new) $800/pr.(mail order, NYC)1983
JBL150A (used) $600/pr (Bay area)1994
Martin Logan Ascent (New) B-day gift(Magnolia HiFi) 2002 |
1984-88 - Spendor LS 3/5
(Rega Planar 3 + British Integrated)
1988-97 - Spendor SP1
(Linn LP12)
1997-02 - PSB Silver-i + PSB Gold-i
(Went to CD and bi-amp)
2002-Present - Tyler Taylo Reference Monitor (modified) + HSU VTF3 Sub
(did away with large full range speakers) |
1) 1975 - Janzen's with electrostatic tweeters (6-month loan from a friend of my parents, no way could I afford something like this, but the bug bit me hard!)
2) 1977 - Pioneer R-700. Big, impressive looking midrange horn and a tweeter that never seemed to produce any output...I swear it was just for looks! These were my "college freshman" speakers....hot stuff for a dorm room in those days, especially driven by a Phase Linear 4000 preamp and a Marantz amp with cool blue meters!
3) 1978 - Phake Linears. Home built knock-off of the original Phase Linear loudspeaker, built by a friend of mine. Very dynamic, and surprisingly good imaging. My sophomore speakers the hit of my fraternity house!
4) 1979- Magnaplaner MG-1. Got these my junior year. Awesome imaging. You never forget your first Maggies!
5) 1980 - Dahlquist DQ-10. My first step into a serious high-end speaker. Did the mirror-image mod, of course. They lasted until 1986, when I bought
6) 1985 - Apogee Calipers. Oh, that ribbon sound! Very transparent and quick, and one heck of a conversation piece for non-audiophiles whod never seen speakers anything like them! Kept the Apogees for the next 12 years.
7) 1997 - Thiel 1.5. When the high-end bug bit again, it was time to downsize a little in preparation for a move to Europe. The 1.5s (I still own them, though they are on loan to a friend) were a perfect fit
.small footprint with an incredibly well focused image and very tight bass.
8) 2001 - Thiel 2.3 When I returned from Europe, it was time to move up a notch to the 2.3s
same characteristic Thiel sound, but with a more solid foundation on the low end.
Its been an interesting trip
and its not over yet! |
Radio Shack radio (mono spkr built in)
upgrade to then 15yr old KLH table radio
Yamaha NS-10s shared with sister
Energy something-or-others for myself
Yamaha something-or-others again
Martin Logan SL3s bought used
Jadis Eurythmie 11s bought used |
Stevecham, you moved from the Thiel 7's to the 6's? That's interesting. |
It's been a year and a half since I've posted my speaker evolution -- what a thread! I've since sold my Thiel CS-6's and traded in my PBN Monatan KAS's for the WAS's. I hope to stay with them for at least for the next 18 months ;-) |
Ozfly: short story...my pair of 7s were among the first ever to be shipped and after several years I began having problems with them; the high end drivers of the coaxial high mid/tweeters burned out twice. I thought it might be the amps (Bryston 7BSTs at the time) but Thiel replaced the drivers each time for free but upon last replacement I decided to switch models as my wife and I were in the market for downsizing our residence. I traded them in for a pair of Dyanaudio Contour 3.0s. After a year of these I traded in for new CS6s because I simply missed the Thiels. Couldn't afford new 7s they go for 14K new. I am very happy with the 6s. I really think they sound better in fact. |
I have owned :radio shack mc 1000's, homemade,AR3a,s,marantz 12"3way's,infinity 12"3way's,kef coda's,spectrum 108a's,spica-tc-50,apogee caliper's(used),vandersteen 2ci's(used),energy c-2's,ar m1's,alon petete,proac 1sc,proac 2.5,alon 2's(used),dq-10's(used),ads10"2way's,vintage electrovoice,jenson,fisher,ar's,allison 2'slarge advent's,nht super zero's,boston acoustics a60's,phase reaserch's.I sold most of them.I still have the spica tc-50's(great for the money).I wanted the challenge of building some, after all of the experience I have now.I modifyed a pair of Design Acoustics ps/6a's(doped the 6.5" cone,shallow horn on.75"soft dome,6/db octive crossover to tweeter,added port,minimal damping material,removed dust cap from woofer. Sounds very fast,and detailed. bought some 12"pa horns,replaced innards with a paper tweeter,and 6/db octave crossover. Another pair of 16"horns w/ 4"paper cone woofer. The horns are mounted next to the monitors,and hooked up to a low cost amp/equalizer. The 1khz, and 2kz tames most of the horn colorations. A slight boost around 10khz adds life. You can laugh if you want,but with most recordings,detail and dynamics,coherency,and rapid transients are more involving than anything i have owned! even with low cost wire. I can turn volume up and down on the horns, to hear the difference. They really do add a stunning liveliness. The only price to pay, is an occasional recording,brings "some" notes "out" a bit much. |
1958 James Lansing speaker with home made enclosure
1970 ESS Tower Speaker
1975 Gale Bookshelf Speakers
1977 Kef speaker kit with transmission line enclosure
1982 Chapman T7 Speakers
1997 Chapman T6 Speakers
2003 Chapman Q6 Speakers (see my review in Audiogon) |
