OK, so here is a thread I haven't ever seen here: What speakers have you owned? starting with the earliest, price paid, new/used, and perhaps the models that really impressed you (for the price) in CAPS.
Rat Shack Something or others, $120, new Fisher Something or others, $280, new ADS L710's, $550, new Snell A2i's, $1100, used BEVERIDGE SYSTEM 3'S, $1000, used Martin Logan CLS, $1400, used MARTIN LOGAN SL3'S, $2300, used
Some Sony 5 speaker system. $250 for all 5 new. Def Tech BP8B, BP2X, CLR2002 $1400 new for the system. Dynaudio Audience 72SE, 122C center, 122 rear.New $3200 for the whole system. Now have 3 Dynaudio Contour S1.4 ($1600 used) and still have the 72SE that I use as rears.
1981 first real speakers were Klipsch Heresey. After leaving navy traveled around the country as a contract technician Hereseys had to go (to big and heavy).
1990 settled in CA. spent the next 15 yrs trying sub/sat systems. Cambridge Soundworks, Def Tech, Boston, Paradigm (really liked the Titans).
2005 finished a new family/HT room. Went back to the Hereseys and added Klipsch center, sub, and surrounds.
2007 Replaced the Hereseys and Klipsch center with AV123 Rocket RS 750's and RCS200 center
2010 Replaced the RS750's and Klipsch sub with AV123 Strata Mini's
1980's I was 10 years old at the start: Bose 201 v2-I liked them.
Altec 887 a capri
Custome built pair with 15" JBL K130's and Altec Horns
Paradigm MK7se towers-
KRK Powered Rokit 8's-Used for recording, but nice also for post production sessions.
B&W 804 Matrix-Very musical, love this speaker, forgiving, crazy soundstage.
PSB Stratus Mini-also very musical, cannot play very loud
Modded Klipshorns-With the right amplification, I have not heard another speaker with as much dynamics. Hard to get right, but great when you do.
Bay Audio Bebop-Very warm, well built
KRK 7000B-Awesome, just awesome...
Vienna Acoustic Bach Grands- Pretty speaker, very detailed, heavy bottom end. Not sure what I think about this speaker yet. Having a hard time getting them dialed in.
Sansui sp-5500's before and now some New and Improved BOSE 901 series 6 mk2's. These 901's have many of the qualities of my friend's Quad ESL-57's BUT the 901's play much louder !
utah 3 ways in college heil emt allison ones magnepans DAHLQUIST 10s stacked advents bose 901a dcm timewindows mission 700 b and w 601 mbquart model 3 MAGNEPAN mmg w/ dual VELODYNE subs i really enjoyed them all except for the 901s. horrible speaker
Ignoring all "boom box" type things, here's my evolution:
PSB Alpha's (the original version from the early-mid 90's purchased in my late-teens) PSB Stratus Bronze Totem Arro Totem Hawk Verity Audio Parsifal Encore
So it's a short list...I tend to get attached to speakers, so don't change them all that often compared to some.
Sony box speakers from the 1980's Cambridge SoundWorks sub sat system from the early 1990's B&W 601 series 2 B&W 602 series 3 Mirage OM6's (kept them for second system) Dynaudio Focus 220's Dynaudio Contour s5.4's Daedalus Ulysses
Cerwin Vega used Design Acoustic PS-10 new $300ish Klipsch Forte new $800 KEF 101's? new $600 w/stands Linn Keilidh used $1100 Martin-Logan Arieus new $2100 Magnepan 1.5 used $800 VANDERSTEEN 2ce Sig new $1500 Vandersteen 3a Sig used $1400 (local no boxes) Gallo Reference 3.1 used Love them!!
-Sanyo ghetto blaster -Kenwood towers -Paradigm 3se (that started it!) -B&W DM220 -Boston A100 -Yamaha NS690 (they're still in the bedroom) -Paradigm Studio 100 v.2 -Active triamped 3 way custom with Eton 11-581 woofers dual Scanspeak 18-8545 mids and Newform research 15" ribbon tweeters.
Radio shack cheapies, late 70's. JBLs in 80's, Infinity's in 80-90s....then started building my own. So far I've built two sets and would never buy from a store again.
Kenwood Godawfuls AR 2-ways (25's?) Boston Acoustics bookshelf Polk Audio 7 Polk Audio 10 VMPS Super Towers Spica TC50 w/Hsu Research subs B&W DM600 w/Hsu subs Apogee Acoustics Duetta Signatures
climbing the stairway to heaven: college, 2 way JBL's...junk for the years I was in training, then Vienna Acoustics Mozarts with a REL StataIII sub. I have been actively auditioning for several years...and am about to purchase Harbeth Compact 7 ES3's for a bedroom(13x13xx8'. My references are rebuilt Quad 57's, Vandy 5's, and for giant scale..Magico Model 6(I call them Stupidos because of the Price, and Revel Salons) I don't have the space or money for giant large scale speakers, nor do I think they are necessary. For value, I have concluded that Harbeth's or similar BBC type speakers or Quad's offer the best sound for the least (relatively speaking) money, especially in the all important midrange. I have been most moved emotionally by the music I love with Quad's and Harbeths with good but not stupid expensive tube gear and passive preamps.
I started in junior high with some Bose bookshelf speakers, KLH with passive sub, first fullrange ($80 still compares with some $1000 fullrange, Klipsch Synergy Klipsch Reference 7's (modified) $1100 new, then to another class of speakers DALI HELICON 800 mk I $2800 used AVALON AVATAR used KRELL RESOLUTION III $1700 used ZU ESSENCE $2500 new EMERALD PHYSICS CS 2.3 $3600 used
Bose AM-5 Series II 1994 to 2001. Walkman/Discman with cheap headphones from 2002-2004, since I moved to the US and started off from zero. Quad 21L 2005 till date.
...first set of "real" stereo speakers for me was Cerwin Vega circa 1984, can't recall model but they were top of the line for them, huge floor monsters. then Bose 901's in 1993, my 3rd set and last purchase Energy RC-10 bookshelf speakers, believe it or not the cheapest by far and best sounding of the 3, not to mention smallest by a mile!
Can't remember 60's, 70's and 80's. So, from the mid 90's forward, B&W 802's with center channel and 4 surrounds. Replaced 802 with 800d's and center and surrounds with the B&W signiture series. Sold all the B&W and went 2 channel with the rockport altair's. Now, altair's gone and the Rockport arrakis in their place. Nowhere left to go! That was exhausting!
JVC boxes?,Paradigm 7se($500.00 new),KEF Cantor 3(?),Magnapan MG 1.4($1400.00 new),B&W DM630i($1200 new),B&W DM1800(store demo?),Paradigm Studio 60V2($500 used)KEF Reference 3($1800 used),Paradigm Studio 100V3($1900 new),PMC TB2+($650 used),Focal JM lab Electra 936($5,000 new), Klipsch RF63($1100.00 new floor model), Energy RC50($600 used), Quad 22l2($1100 new), Currently with Klipsch Cornwall III ($3800.00 new)for 2 channel and Paradigm studio 60V1,20V1 and center V1 for home theater(purchase all used for $700)
Bose 401 floor standing, Yamaha solid state receiver Audio Physic Spark IV, Jolida tube amp, Rel sub
That is it, been into this just about an year, lets see where it goes next, I love the sound so far, bass is still a bit tight, soundstage is amazing, so is the resolution.
1959 Zenith Console - Gift from parents (Had nothing to compare them to, I just remember that they made sounds) 1970 Small Advents - $200 (Love Loved These for years) 1983 Time Windows - $600 (Loved These guys Very Much) 1987 Merlin 2 Way Tower - $1000 (Love/Hate) 1988 Merlin Excaliburs $2500 (No Love Just Hate) 1990 Dahlquist DQ-10 Free (Loved These Guys a Lot) 2000 Merlin TSM $2500 (Very Disliked, Got Rid of within 60 Days) 2000 Revel F30 $1500 (Love Loved These Guys, Killed me to sell)
in 2008 I lost my long time dedicated listening room in exchange for a new wife. Now I'm relegated to listening to a diminished system in one of our bedrooms (it's still wonderful but a mere shadow of my old system).
2008 NHT Classic 3s - $500 (Love Them, Unbelievable sound at this price point)
I'd love to get a pair of Revel F52s and set up another system in the family room but that will have to wait until a death or a divorce occurs (whichever comes first).
I bought the Klipsch KG3.5's back around 01. It was buy a pair for one sale. Think i paid around $500. I sold them once i moved from Tampa in 04 and went without a audio system until last year when i bought a pair of Klipsch F3's used. I also bought a pair of RF82's and traded them for a pair of RF63's . The RF63's are great in my bedroom setup.
An update to my initial post back in '03. Just when I thought I'd never get rid of my Revel Salons (Gen I), I heard the Wilson Audio Watt/Puppy 8s. So in chronological order, here goes:
Okay. Here is a list of the speakers that I have owned starting with the current set:
- Wilson Watt/Puppy 8s - Revel Salons - Legacy Audio Focus - Legacy Audio Studio Monitors - Polk M5's & M3's
Over the last several years my system has completely changed 6 times.
Lastly with the Watt/Puppy 8s:
DCS Delius DA converter DCS Purcell DA converter Audio ReQuest F-Series Media Server CD Player Audio ReQuest IMC Video Synology DS201J Network Storage Device Tweak Richard Gray 1200S Tweak Grand Prix Audio Monaco Modular Rack Stand Grand Prix Audio F1 Carbon Fiber Shelf Tweak Grand Prix Audio Apex Footers Tweak PBN Denali Mono Amps Amplifier
Firstly with the Watt/Puppy 8s:
- Classe Classe SSP-600 Surround Pre - Classe CDP-300 Video - PBN Sierra Denali Monos Amplifier
With the Salons:
- Levinson 390S - Levinson 33H's
With the Legacy Audio Focus:
- Meridian 561 pre/pro - Meridian 596 dvd/cd player
With the Legacy Audio Studio Monitors:
- Meridian 502 - Meridian 506.24
With the Polk Audio Speakers:
- Yahama DSPA-3090 pre/pro & 7 channel amp
And I am still evolving. However, the speakers are forever remaining. I would ultimately like to end up with a dual purpose system where both music and movies are enjoyed. That'd bring me full circle.
Rectilinear X1 traded for a Fender Bassman head/bottom SAE Mark X (traded for a Tandberg 330 Cassette Deck) Dynaco A 25 XL (used as a back channel in a quad configuration - I'm really dating myself here!) Bowers and Wilkins DM2 - 300.00 (new) Home brew IMF Monitor (350.00) Burhoe Acoustics "Blue" - 200.00 Original Advents with fried egg tweeter - 100.00 used Kef 105 Series One - 1000.00 Dahlquist DQ10/mirror imaged with matching subs 1200.00 used Acoustat Model Ones - 1000.00 (part of a package deal including Sonic Fidelity monoblocs and all interconnects and speaker wire) NHT Model 1.3 (300.00) system severely downsized Epos Model 14's including heavy duty stands 800.00 Shahinian Obelisks with updates - 1300.00 I will be sending my Obelisks in for reveneering so who knows what I will use in the meantime - I would like to experiment with B&W DM6's or Ohm "F"'s. (I currently have the room and the power available to drive these properly) Neat thread - it brings back alot of fond memories.
1968- 72: Built-in speakers on a Concord 555, tube-type, reel-reel, stereo tape recorder. Even as I moved on to better speakers, I kept the tape transport, as it sounded petty good for my needs.
72-78: Bose 501: Big bass, with an East Coast mumble.
78-84: Rectilinear (model# ?) 3-way, 8" woofer. All paper drivers, mid-range has a whizzer cone. I think they're still in the attic.
84-2008 Infinity RS 6: 8" poly woofer, 3" polydome mid, EMIT tweeter. Loved the sound, still do, still have them. Snagged another pair off ebay just yesterday.
2008 - present: Klipsch Cornwall III: I love 'em, wife hates 'em mostly because of the size and I play them too loud.
• Kenwood speakers (came with "hifi" system) • Definitive Audio ProMonitors * 4 + center + sub • Monitor Audio Golds (GR20s I think) + center • System Audio SA1520s (I think) • Spendor BC1s (still have these - rebuilt by spendor engineer) • Focal Mini Utopia BEs (still have these) • Currently exploring new speakers
Will my Hi End Audio system set up: 1- Totem's Limited Edition The One speaker, US$3400, New. 2- CD Player: RAYSONIC CD168, US$1578, New. 3- Bada LB-5500 Power Filter Plant,US$115, New. 4- YAQIN MS-12B Tube phono Pre-Amplifier,US$226, New. 5- Cayin A-88T integrated/power vacuum tube amplifier, US$1700, New. 6- Speaker cables, Part Two: Audience-Au 24 2.5 meter, US$800, New. 7-Interconnect Cables: Audience Au-24 interconnects 1meter, US$502, New. 8- Cable Elevators: Dark Field,US$105 for 4 field, New. 9- Power Cable: Anaconda CX Price US$1808 for 3 power cable, New. 10- Speaker Tuning Feet, US$376 for 2 speaker,New.
Celestion Ditton 1 Monitor Audio Studio 2se B&W Nautilus 804 Chario Academy 2 Hyperion HPS 906 JM Lab Mini Utopia Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor Focal Electra 1007 BE Sonus Faber Grand Piano MERIDIAN DSP 3100
Kinda like asking 'what was your first bicycle/car/girlfriend?' As many of you, I started out humbly. My father told me I could have the Magnavox radio if I could fix it. I did, and then started the Journey: ADS 101?,$101; Johnzer, $350; Speakerlab K, about $750; Speakerlab S3,$350; JBL 4343, $3,000; Synthesis $1,000; B.E.S.L. 3.5, $1,800; Decware HDT, $500; Zhorn, $200(one of my favorites). Will stick with single driver type for awhile.
Jensen Sonab OA-12's or 14's I can't remember Sonab OA-116 Dahlquist DQ-10 Maggie 1.6 Vandersteen 3A Sigs & 2Wq subs + Wilson Sophia 1 ( Another Classic !!!!) & quite a jump up from the others + Wilson Watt/Puppy 8. This is an amazing speaker!!!!
Large Advent Castle Severn Maggie 12 Spendor Sp1/2 Hornshoppe Shahinian Obelisk Klipsch Heresy, Forte, Belle Human 81 Sold most, kept some...this is one looney hobby ! If I were on the hunt for new speakers...Devore Fidelity or Daedalus.
I prefer not to say "depreciation". My program just isn't designed to absorb that kind of a loss.
My speaker progress has taken me through many changes, some of which are listed back on page 3 or 4 of this thread. Today I have a pair of mid/high horns mounted on top of an old pair of JBL woofer cabinets. I've had them for about 20 months now and I'm pretty certain the search is over. I don't even imagine that there is something better out there for me. What a great feeling!!
I find it interesting where the original poster advanced from buying new to used. I just bought my first ever pair of brand new ML's, but only because they'd been purchased by the original owner and were never unsealed. Hand me downs is the way to go for anything audio. Can you say depreciation?
Sold the Audio Physic Step SLE. Bought me the normal Steps with the iron black stands ,very musical sepakers! Avalon Opus. Chario Academy Mill. 1. Musical Affairs Sonatine.
Dynaco from the time I was in junior high until I got out of college in 1986
1986 - 2009: Snell E-II
2009 - present:
Soliloquy 6.5 (owned them for a few months) Merlin TSM-SE (owned them for a few weeks) Silverline SR-17.5 (owned them for 7 or 8 months)
Silverline Bolero (just got them and plan to keep them about as long as I did the Snell E-II's! Will rework the crossover with Duelund components at some point though.
I started as a kid with a cheap boom box that actually saw more time with story tapes and AM radio than it did music. From there I upgraded to an Onkyo Shelf system. After that I finally got a pair of real JBL speakers that were a pair of small speakers with a powered subwoofer. I tried to look up the model number, but can't seem to find them. They retailed for $650 to $850 and my dad found them on closeout for $100, he actually still has the 2nd set that he purchased.
After college and a real job I upgraded again.
Infinity IL50 - Retail $1,800 a paid under $450 and recently sold for $500.
A few months ago I heard a pair of Focal 706v speakers in a store and had my interest peaked. After stretching the budget and doing some listening I now have...
I forgot to include my speakers from my "bedroom systems." In high school I had a Sony boombox of some sort. It had a nice tone quality and decent output compared to most. And it was only $80. Later, I put together a bedroom system with Signet SL260s, used, for about $225. For the last several years, a Tivoli Model One has served the purpose. I purchased it new at The Good Guys.
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