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Picking Speakers 20k-30k

Recently built a HiFi System with much help from this site, now I’m looking at upgrades.  Strongly considering an all-Aavik system but looking at speaker options before I pull the trigger on anything, hence the following question: If you were buying new speakers in the 20-30k range (used or new), what’s on your shortlist?  Bonus points if you have suggestions based on synergy with Aaviks electronics.

If it helps the conversation: 21’X 19’ treated listening room with cathedral ceiling. Listen to a wide variety of music.

thanks for your expertise!

brewerslaw

Showing 8 responses by grislybutter

grislybutter
3,627 posts
 

here are a few, I went up to over 40 as you can find it for 30K used:

brand name model price K$ sensitivity imp dim1(mm) dim2 dim3 weight(kg)
Acora Acoustics SRB 48 92 4 360 450 1090 118
Joseph Audio Pearl 20/20 Graph 44 86 8 1090 280 450 70
B&W 801 D4 38 90 8 1221 451 600 100
KEF Blade One Meta 35 88 4 1590 363 540 57
Audio Physic Cardeas 33 89 4 1280 250 430 59
Spendor Classic 200 28.3 89 8 1117 368 513 55
Rockport Atria II 26.5 87 4 1090 330 510 72
Focal SOPRA N°3 26 92 8 1264 402 595 7.1
Reference 3a Sema Zen 25 93 8 1680 340 730 100
Soundkaos Liberation 25 96 6 600 320 1020 40
Børresen 01-sse 25 86 6 368 184 415 11.5
Dali DALI EPICON 8 24 89 5 1225 264 485 47.5
Amphion Krypton3/3 24 89 4 1370 330 480 70
Revel Salon2 24 86 6 1350 360 580 66.3
ProAc K10 23 92 4 1500 300 460 57
Harbeth M40.3 XD 23 86 6 750 432 388 38
Kharma ELEGANCE S7 22 86 8 970 360 550 50
Usher TD-10 22 91 8 370 730 1180 70
Salk BePure 3 20 88 8 280 440 1160 60

 

 

obvious heavyweights are Joseph, Magico, SF, Marten, Wilson, Vandersteen, Devore, it's along list in this price range

grislybutter
3,627 posts
 

@brewerslaw adding a sub to a bookshelf/monitor depends on the space, your bass preferences and budget. I personally wouldn't, didn't - but tried. Some bookshelves have base that's pretty full and heavy and better than messing with a sub.

 

One note to my list, there are at least 20 other brands with speakers in the 20K range, I am still collecting data

grislybutter
3,627 posts
 

@brewerslaw 

I read a lot of reviews and heard a few of them. But overall, I know nothing about 20K+ speakers. I know about 1-4K speakers, and that's what I have a database for. I just collected some info on all audiophile brands.

I am interested in the following speaker brands, maybe Mt. Rushmore level :)

  • Dynaudio
  • Qln
  • Harbeth
  • Revel
  • Acora Acoustics
  • Marten
  • Sonus Faber
  • Totem

but they may not "peak" at 30K, more like 10K.

grislybutter
3,627 posts
 

@gordon I am looking at several pricelist, all for 26 or 28K. But they may be out of date. Just no one cared to remove them. It's hard to impossible to find up to date pricelists from Rockport's distributor list. Zero prices published. 

Are you seeing it online?

grislybutter
3,627 posts
 

@gordon got it, thanks! 

I guess I am not 26K short of buying it then :)

grislybutter
3,627 posts
 

@brewerslaw you seem to care about WAF and looks, this is all about looks:

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/most-beautiful-looking-speakers

grislybutter
3,627 posts
 

@ronboco @gordon 

just curious, did they just "update" the price, or they changed the speakers too?

grislybutter
3,627 posts
 

@firstonetallguy I built a database of the following (mostly to just share with audiophiles and help my understanding)

most (90%) audiophile speaker companies in Europe and North America, with all the company info - about 90 companies

their cheapest and most expensive speakers with all the technical data

their speakers in 2-4K range

overall about 200 models

my plan is for the next step is to add the 6 to 9K models. I think that’s the next best level, where their products "peak". I may add a 20K range (16-20). Over that, I really don’t care/understand the difference.

It’s been a fun project with a lot of little "secrets" exposed.

My last step is to put it up on the web in a few searchable tables

More to discover