Picking speakers 3000-5000 budget

++! More for the Klipsch Cornwall they sound great even if needing to place them in a corner or near wall, (that's why they are named corn walls) I have a set in my living room system about 16' apart and they sound great with many different types of music, and if you want them to play loud, not an issue. The Luxman 507 or 509 series integrated amps would be an excellent option paired with them, and I think this could be done for $10,000 range if you find a pre-owned Luxman. 

Happy Listening! 

Check out Fritz speakers. Very good. I would go for one withe the Scanspeak soft dome tweeter and revelator woofer. Very good tonality, easy to drive and not amp- fussy. Don’t be put off that it’s not a hyped brand. Excellent speakers. Really. 

There is a couple pairs of Volti Razz on US Audiomart at great deals…and the Forte IV can be had really cheap….

There is a couple Volti Razz speakers  for sale on the US AUDIO MART….you need the right amp to make these speakers sound not so bright…like all horn speakers…

OP  The one's that I really like from watching YouTube are Sonus Faber, Wharfedale, Tannoy

Below is Wavetouch Antero speaker.

https://youtu.be/EFO0jm3FXqI?si=FodtkjaPWHiVmc1l&t=142

I recently acquired a set of MoFi Sourcepoint 888’s and am thoroughly amazed by them. Our musical tastes are similar, although I have a particular soft spot for female vocals. Coming from Kef R3 Meta’s and an SVS SB1000 Pro sub, the MoFi’s are even more detailed without the analytical feel of the KEF’s. Imaging and soundstage are remarkable with a very wide sweet spot. The bottom end totally eliminated the need for a sub while making the top to bottom coherence so much better. The speakers do that wonderful disappearing act that I’ve personally only heard with planar and electrostatics.  My average listening level is around 75-80db but they are totally at ease both at 90db+ and background levels as well. While I cannot claim to have compared them directly to many of your current recommendations, but as someone who’s knocked around this hobby since the 70’s, been a high end manufacturer’s rep, a musician and recording engineer, I can’t say I’ve heard many speakers that best them. Really worth an audition. 

JBL 100

Markloft:  I am also a big fan of Eric's stuff. I have a boxed set of Double Impacts, that I can't sell. ( don't want to sell, that good) Just rock and roll music,   Wanted to jump up a level or 2  or 5.  Eric and I discussed an upscale model that he had just started, The Encore model, Special edition, larger Italian woofers and upgraded mid-ranges, serial number 5&6 with Ber-ilium tweeters. Add a nice Pass X-250 amp listening to in class A, Benchmark LA-4 line amp and a Bricasti M1SE DAC with a network card with Qobuz and Audirvana, and a pair of SVS SB 4000 subs. You have just been delivered to  HEAVEN!  Robert TN

knownothing

Thanks for the interest,I will be starting a new  discussion in the amplifier section.

@twangy57 great choice!  I will be interested to hear about your amp selection and journey through set up.  Enjoyable thread.

Thanks everybody,

I have already bought a pair of Dynaudio Focus 360's,and I'am now on my amplifier journey.

@twangy57  Not to add to your list of To Do's but I have found Erins Audio Corner to be a great review resource. I think he's reviewed a few of the speakers mentioned here as well. He's big on subjective first impressions, then measuring with a Klippel scanner and comparing what he heard with the measurements.

As others have said, take the recs here and listen in person if you can. Otherwise, buy from a place that allows returns if not satisfied. 

FWIW, I recently purchased the Wharfedale Super Lintons. About 75hrs in so far and very neutral with plenty of bass for most any type of music you throw at them. Also best near the wall which is great for my space.

Revel 228be

oddiofyl

Thanks ,I will.

kennyc

I bought a pair of Dynaudio Focus 360

thanks

Enjoy.  Dynaudio makes great speakers 

@twangy57 

In YELP: Chicago, Il query "High End audio stores" gives a list of stores to check out locally.  Go to each store's website to see brands carried to match your interest, then go and demo the brand/speakers.  Bring your own music (CDs?) to demo if allowed.

I would like to thank everyone who gave me their suggestion’s on what speaker they thought would be best for my system.

It was my first real thread here,and it was a lot of fun,

I had no idea I would get so many suggestion’s.

I also had no idea there would be this many different opinions.

I started out thinking I would end up with either Klipsch or Sonus Faber.

I still wonder if Sonus Faber might have been the best choice.

Time will tell.

Any way,my final 3 choices were Paradigm 100FS Founder,Elac 249 BE,and the Dynaudio Focus 360.

I ended up with the Dynaudio focus 360.

I just kept going back to it,and comparing it to the others,and liking it more and more.

I also liked the Dynaudio special 40 stand speaker,but by the time I would have added a sub,the cost would be more then the Focus 360’s.

I have started a discussion in amps to figure out which one will power these speakers the best in my budget.

Thanks again.

heard those,only on you tube

any speaker manufacturer would love to hear that :) 

sorry I couldn't resist

tommypenngotti

I have heard those,only on you tube but they sound nice.

I think I'am buying a pair of Dynaudio Focus 360's.

The price is right and I really do like them.

Thanks

I’m partial to Harbeth’s ..crystal clear . I own the 30.1’s (in your range) and the 40.3XD’s .

knownothing

Yes,as far as driving,I try to avoid it.

I bought a old convertible last year and spent a sizable chunk of change fixing it up.

I drove it around a lot the first months or so last summer and haven't even thought about driving yet this year.Maybe when it gets hot out.

All things considered,I have been satisfied with what I have now for 25 years and I’am sure any of the speakers that folks have suggested will be a nice improvement.

Thanks for your insight.

@knownothing I feel like something has to change. You can't buy stuff blindly (deafly). Ordering gear I only read about, sending it back, having 50 pound boxes travel 1000s of miles so that I can figure out if I like it seems inefficient. Showrooms are not just for dealers but also for the audio companies to show off. I know they don't invest in the dealers, other than letting them profit but I also understand how dealers don't want you to test equipment without the intention of buying from them. 

This impedes and hurts everyone's interest. 

@twangy57 you’re welcome if any of that was helpful to you. I totally understand that getting on the road again to Chicago must feel like a full blown busman’s holiday.

I’d also like to acknowledge that it is awkward these days to go to a showroom of increasingly stressed brick and mortar audio stores to take advantage of their time, space and gear with the main intent being to educate your ears on what’s currently available, and then with all likelihood walking out empty handed determined to take what you learned and apply it to an online or private party purchase.  It was a bit awkward 15 years ago, and it is even more awkward with the increasing dominance of online venders.  Visiting an audio expo is an alternative but only available once a year if you’re lucky enough to have one in an area nearby.

From my experience, assessing the sound signature of any piece of gear based on YouTube videos is not that helpful.  I usually laugh at myself when I try to do this knowing that I have now added the deficiency of the microphone and ADC used, Internet signal compression and noise, and the unique sonic characteristics of my system playing in my room on top of the sound signature of the gear on review.  If you have access to a decent headphone set up, you can reduce the number of variables at play, but you will also likely lose some meaningful portrayal of soundstage if that is preserved and important to you since that is not really a headphone thing.  But when shopping for gear in the price range you’re looking at, differences between speakers and amps can be subtle, and I assume the pieces under consideration are more capable than what you’re currently using to play then back with.  Evaluating those subtleties is I think the whole point. My take only here, YMMV.

In light of all this, perhaps it is just best to buy and try in your place, even if speakers and amps are a hassle to ship and shlep in and out of the house.  In all seriousness, I wish you the best of luck in your search and will be curious to continue hearing about your journey and your destination.

kn

PS  +1 for Aerial Acoustics speakers.

gano

have you tried this?

Yes someone sent that to me.

It comes in handy for a cross reference.

Thanks

soix

Thanks,I will take a look at them.

deecee

So let me understand this.

You actually physically modify your room treatments to match the acoustic properties of specific concert venues?

For me to re-create most of the venues I saw my rock concerts at,I would need concrete and steel beams.

You sound like a very dedicated listener.

Respectfully your's.

have you tried this?

I have to mention the Usher Dancer Mini-Two that are beautiful and very high quality, and because they’re one of the few companies that manufacture their own drivers they use the same diamond tweeter as in their $42k flagship and they get down to 28Hz.  This seller offers a return policy and a 10% discount that gets them down to just over $5k, which is a lot of very high-quality speaker for the $$$.  Read the reviews.  Pair them with this incredible McCormack DNA-500 amp and you’d have an absolute killer combo for under $9k without having to drive anywhere. 

https://soundapproach.com/usher-mini-two-2-x-7-2-way-diamond-tower-speakers-pair.html

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650201477-mccormack-dna-500/

@twangy57

No DSP. Venue reproduction is room and material dependent.. I'm currently listening in an unideal environment and they still fool my ears - I'm sure the current versions are even better.

I was pleasantly surprised after a Gregory Porter concert that it came very close in my own room!

Hope this helps!

mbruflodt25

Thanks for the input.

I have switched out the Adcom preamp for a McIntosh mx110 .

It seems to have helped quite a bit.

I also just got a Rega turntable with a new cartridge and I’am in analog bliss.

The human voice never sounded this good through my old Polk monitor 10’s

I’am working on new speakers then we will get to the amplifier.

Is the Cronus dark tubes or SS?

dz13

Thank you for the info.

I will take a look at the Nola speaker.

I have to admit I getting burned out.

I had no idea there were so many speakers,or even so many types.

thanks again. 

unclewilbur

Thanks for the heads up on the Proac speakers.

I forgot about"Quintessence Audio." 

I will see what else they might have.

deecee

I have never heard of Aerial Acoustics.Will add it to my list.

When you see you recreate a specific concert venue,how is that done?

Are you using some kind of digital processor?

Thanks

gano

That's what people are saying.

Thanks

@dz13 

I gladly accept the problems of planar magnetic speakers because the benefits are fabulous. 

Is there a cure for phobia of box speakers? 🤔...haven’t heard it yet!

But I’m definitely open to open baffle speakers. 

I had a Adcom gfa 555-2 and a Adcom gfp 565. I thought I needed new speakers because there was a harshness in the upper midrange. I have Canton ergo 80 speakers. I purchased a Rogue audio cronus dark. When I started using the Cronus dark , my Cantons lost all harshness. I added two svs 2000 pro subwoofers. Now I couldn't be happier with my system. The problem was the Adcom amp and preamp. Thr Cronus dark is vastly superior to the Adcom components. Maybe you don't need new speakers 

You've had some good advice and the good and bad about asking in a forum such as this as you are going to get as many suggestions as you can possibly handle. Another issue is that reviewers, especially YouTube reviewers, mainly review products from usual suspects because those companies can afford to send out review samples and pay for advertising in various rags. 

Your musical taste is pretty diverse and would require a speaker to handle harsh sounding recordings (classic rock) along with complex multitudes of instruments (classical) and then you have jazz and the acoustic music you like. While I am a fan of Magnepans, they aren't that dynamic and they are picky with amplifiers and need a lot of current. There are open baffle speakers like Spatial Audio (you can probably find the X3s for a fantastic deal) and they are large and need to be pushed out into the room. There is also the Pure Audio Project speakers and Steve Guttenberg has raved about these on his Audiophiliac channel. 

I am going to suggest Nola speakers. They might be too expensive new but there is what looks on the surface of a screaming deal here but requires local pickup although it is one state over for you in northern Ohio. The seller would also give you the opportunity to demo the speakers and to use your own gear if you wanted.

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650200805-nola-ko/

Here are some snippets about the speakers:

http://www.nolaspeakers.com/shows/RMAF2015/index.html

http://www.nolaspeakers.com/reviews/HPsoundings/2012-11NolaKO/index.html

Or maybe a Nola Contender or, if you want bookshelf, Boxer.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/nola-contender-loudspeaker

ProAc definitely make some great-sounding speakers, but keep your fingers crossed that nothing ever goes wrong with them.

@gano 

How many speaker recommendations have there been?

...well over 100?

I'm glad that Twangy is getting all these suggestions!!!

I have a few questions of my own that I'd like to have answered!!! 😵‍💫

Anyway this thread has been interesting!

I can’t keep track ot the many speaker suggestions

the tracking algorithm broke :)

I can’t keep track ot the many speaker suggestions and amp suggestions that you’ve received, and your reactions to these suggestions. But I think you mentioned that Proac speakers were interesting to you. And I assume Chicago is your nearest city. Am I correct?

If so, you might want to look at the website for "Quintessence Audio." 

Click on their pre-owned items, and you should see a used pair of "Proac Response 3.8." The speakers were $8800 new, and are selling for $3199. 

They have other  pre-owned items that may interest you.

Quintessence Audio is in Morton Grove, just north of Chicago. 

I assume this is relatively near to you?

I’m surprised that the Aerial Acoustics line of speakers haven’t been mentioned. They are another company that frequently go “under the radar”. Disclaimer: I own a pair that are nearly 30 years old.

Oh sure, I get that audiophile itch but then I play something and that seems to relieve it. Additionally, after listening in concert and coming home and reproducing the venue (as well that can be expected given the room) I’ve been satisfied with the  performance.

No ego involvement here; there are a number systems that should satisfy you and if I were to start again, I may get something different (but the current Aerial Acoustics line would be on the list).

Good luck on your hunt!

again KLH is value on steroids

mbmi

Thanks for the heads up on the new KLH 7,I will be watching out for it.

knownothing

I appreciate your thoughtful and detailed post.

I know it would seem a good idea to go hear some newer speakers in person,but in my experience,for me that doesn’t really insure I will be happy with my purchase.

I have bought and sold quite a few guitars,amps and effect pedals.Many I tried in person and ended up getting rid of not long after.

I guess it just takes me living with and using something for a while to determine if I really like it enough to keep.

I find it just as useful to watch and listen to as many video and audio samples as I can find.

That along with reading a whole lot of reviews usually gets me close.

I retired last year after being on the road driving a semi for the prior 21 years.I just do not care to drive much these days.

That being said,I may go into to Chicago as I need to take care of something else and if I don’t buy something before that I will at least check out 1 or 2 places.

I’am looking at several of the brands you mentioned,but will add spendor and PCM to the list.

Thanks.

KLH Has a new MODEL 7 that is what I believe to be the best sounding 4K speaker in the entire industry. They won't hit the market for another 30- 60 days.It's the Model 5 on steriods. Fantastic Speaker!

You should be able to get some excellent sounding speakers for that budget - especially if you buy used, and you’ve gotten a lot of great advice here so far.  It doesn’t sound like you have been doing a lot of listening to different speakers and systems recently.  I heartily recommend you go to Chicago and listen to as much modern gear in person as possible.  Or take a trip to someplace like The Music Room in Colorado where they have a bunch of high quality used speakers in your price range advertised here on Audiogon.  The investment in time and travel cost will be paid back in spades in raised awareness.

While I agree that it is difficult to guess how a speaker that sounds great in the showroom is going to sound in your room with your gear, there is a lot to be gained listening to different gear combinations to see what they do well and what they lack.  I listened to all kinds of gear at all price levels in showrooms around the country to understand things like amp and speaker matching and came to understand that for me, tone, timbre and dynamics were more important than soundstage and spatial resolution.  That experience ultimately drove my buying decisions because I was able to focus on those characteristics when demoing the amp and speakers that I ultimately bought.  

Different elements of sound reproduction may be important to you, but building your personal listening vocabulary is critical to getting what you like on your budget, and even to more effectively demoing gear in your own space.  Imagine doing research ahead of buying some expensive visual art without ever looking at any pictures or visiting any galleries to see the pieces in person, but just basing your buying decisions on critics reviews and the opinions of other art collectors.  I hope you get my point.

All that said, some of the speaker suggestions already made here seem potentially well suited for your musical tastes and can provide a bit of narrowing for your search.  ProAc, Vandersteen, Dynaudio, Monitor Audio, ATC, Totem and Revel all have potential to reward.  I would add Spendor and PMC to that list.  At $5,000 speaker budget, I might suggest a very nice stand mount in combination with one or two subwoofers.  For a warm and woody sonic hug, check out a pair of Wharfedale Super Lintons and an REL Classic 99 sub.  Or, you can go all in on an active tower like a used pair of ATC - SCM40a Active Floor-Standing Speakers, or something like a Dynaudio Focus active stand-mount plus two REL S/510 subs. With active speakers you can do without a new amp entirely and put your whole $6-10k budget into powered speakers (and subs), and just drive them all with your preamp.

No matter what, I really suggest you get out and listen to some of the newer gear with your own ears.  I think you will be blown away with how good hifi has become in the last 25 years at lower price points - especially with respect to bass reproduction and dynamics.

kn

kennyc

I haven’t seen these two before.

I will take a look for them.

thank you for bringing them to my attention.

UPDATE!

I did some searching on the Fyne speakers.Nice.

Wish this setup was in my budget https://youtu.be/qPhfqe0zPzQ?si=ypVlK8NE_joLLW-x