Speaker recommendation thread (Organised by tiers of price)
Please feel free to include gear that was used to listen to your recommendation and some impressions (although you do not have to).
This list may be useful to new buyers to get a general sense of popular models to help guide what to audition during the purchase process.
[Under $1000]
[$1000-$5000]
[$5001-$10,000]
[$10,001-$20,000]
[$20,001-$30,000]
Pardigm Persona 9H @smodtactical
[$30,001-$50,000]
[$50,001-$70,000]
Magico M2 @smodtactical
[$70,001-$100,000]
[$100,001-$200,000]
[Over $200,000]
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1K-5K, there are a number Emerald Physics options. I have owned a pair of EP KCIIs . Base MSRP $2499, but I had mine built at factory with WireWorld internals and upgraded caps. Slowly since purchase I have upgraded every element in my system from PLC, to cables/wires to the various components. Each time I could hear the change I have owned Genesis Vs, Accoustats 2+2s, Magnepan 3.5Rs, Usher 6371s, and the KCIIs, which gives them all a run for the money, but the 2 upgrades are important. EP is currently offering $8K+ at $4999: run, don't walk |
Hello guys and girls (@keegiam) ;) @sfseay He was the first one to make recommendations so I simply added them to the list... for some reason he deleted them. @mijostyn I am not trying to say 1 speaker is better than another based on price. Simply that these are speakers people enjoy organised by price that way if you say 'Hey I have $2500 to spend... what should I listen to ?' you can consult the list and get a quick list of speakers in that price range that people enjoy. Ok updated list as follows (Thanks for the suggestions! Keep them coming): [Under $1000] Dali Oberon series: @audiotroy Kef Q 550: @audiotroy Kef Q 750: @audiotroy Quad S1: @audiotroy Audioengine 2: @kacomess Buchart S400: @mrdon Tekton Pendragons: @technick Mark Audio Sota CestiB: @dseltz Wharfedale diamond 225: @audioguy85 [$1000-$5000] Quad S4: @audiotroy Quad S5: @audiotroy Quad Z3: @audiotroy Qaud Z4: @audiotroy Kef R 5: @audiotroy Kef R 7: @audiotroy Revel F208: @hemi04 Dynaudio Special 40: @bwaterme, @manorsessions Harbeth C7es3: @biscorbit Magnepan LRS: @kacomess Vandersteen 2C: @kacomess [$5001-$10,000] Golden Ear Tritron 1R: @audiotroy Dali Rubicon 6: @audiotroy Dali Rubicon 8: @audiotroy Legacy Signatures: @audiotroy Paradigm Persona 3F: @audiotroy Kef Ref 1: @audiotroy ATC SCM 19: @audiotroy SCM 40: @audiotroy Dynaudio C1 Confidence Platinum: @manorsessions [$10,001-$20,000] Pardigm Persona 5F: @audiotroy Kef Reference 3: @audiotroy Kef Reference 5: @audiotroy Dali Epicon 8: @audiotroy Wilson Yvette: @audiotroy Rethm Saadhana: @dseltz Dynaudio C4 Confidence Platinum: @manorsessions [$20,001-$30,000] Legacy Aeris: @audiotroy Kef Blades: @audiotroy Sonus Faber Amati: @pfank12 [$30,001-$50,000] Pardigm Persona 9H: @smodtactical, @audiotroy Vimberg (model?): @audiotroy Wilson DAW: @audiotroy Egglestonworks Vigniti: @liamowen [$50,001-$70,000] Magico M2: @smodtactical Dynaudio Evidence Platinum: @manorsessions [$70,001-$100,000] [$100,001-$200,000] Wilson Alexia: @audiotroy [Over $200,000] Kharma (which model?): @audiotroy |
<<thank god this place isn't just guys, there's enough testosterone on these pages to float a boat
>> Over the past 10-20 years I've been noticing the use of "guys" and "you guys" to refer to a mixed gender group. I wasn't raised that way, but it seems to have become the norm, so I've succumbed. None of the females I know have objected. |
You know what I’m going to say (and what herb Reichert says) Under $500 Wharfedale diamond 225’s ($449/on sale now for $349) Believe it or not, the diamond 220's sounded fantastic as well at $349. I sold them to buy the 225's I love them so much I have two pairs. I own other speakers but can’t comment on those, as I have not even removed them from their boxes due the fact I love the above diamonds so much. When I tire of the diamonds then maybe I’ll give the others a go....(harbeth & spendor) bought and own them just because of the legend lol, who knows, maybe they will sound better than the diamonds, and maybe not...price point is meaningless...its all in the design and expertise of the designer. |
$2k Dynaudio Special 40's. I have these at work at they are amazing $6k Dynaudio C1 Confidence Platinum. I have these in my lounge and the are outstanding stand mount speakers. (coupled with a Dynaudio Sub6 subwoofer) $16k Dynaudio C4 Confidence Platinum. These are in my listening room and are just killer. $60k Dynaudio Evidence Platinum. I have listened to these and have chosen not to leave my wife over owning a pair. They are outstanding. They had a Dohmann Helix 2 turn table hooked up thorugh Thrax amps and they were just revelatory in such an effortless way. You get the Dynaudio theme here, coupled electrocompaniet amplification they just sound so clean and detailed. Be warned though Dynaudio's like a lot of juice to really shine. |
I can only comment on speakers I've personally owned and listened to over extended intervals (with the exception of #2 on my list of 3): 1) <$200 = Audioengine 2 which is a really good speaker for background listening and occasionally for more attentive focus, especially when coupled with an Audioquest Dragon Red and an Audioquest Jitterbug. 2) <$1000 = Magnepan LRS which I just recently purchased to replace #3. This speaker has had rave reviews but - as I just got mine a few days ago, a purchase I made based on reports from sophisticated audiophiles - I can't give a listening impression based on personal experience. 3) ~$2000+ range = Vandersteen 2C series which have been favorably commented on favorably by many knowledgeable reviewers. That's my very limited list and it's based on a price ceiling, as you can see, with listening pleasure being the main parameter within those ranges. Keith |
In the $1000 - $5000 range, while that is a wide range in that price band, my personal choice is the Dynaudio Special 40. Especially if looking for standmounts. I auditioned many standmounts in that range, and for my listening preference it was far and away the right choice. Have a pair in two different residences. |
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Guys so apparently I cannot edit the original post... bummer. So I will make this post the full list: [Under $1000] Dali Oberon series @audiotroy Kef Q 550 @audiotroy Kef Q 750 @audiotroy Quad S1 @audiotroy [$1000-$5000] Quad S4 @audiotroy Quad S5 @audiotroy Quad Z3 @audiotroy Qaud Z4 @audiotroy Kef R 5 @audiotroy Kef R 7 @audiotroy [$5001-$10,000] Golden Ear Tritron 1R @audiotroy Dali Rubicon 6 @audiotroy Dali Rubicon 8 @audiotroy Legacy Signatures @audiotroy Paradigm Persona 3F @audiotroy Kef Ref 1 @audiotroy ATC SCM 19 @audiotroy SCM 40 @audiotroy [$10,001-$20,000] Pardigm Persona 5F @audiotroy Kef Reference 3 @audiotroy Kef Reference 5 @audiotroy Dali Epicon 8 @audiotroy Wilson Yvette @audiotroy [$20,001-$30,000] Legacy Aeris @audiotroy Kef Blades @audiotroy [$30,001-$50,000] Pardigm Persona 9H @smodtactical, @audiotroy Vimberg (model?) @audiotroy Wilson DAW @audiotroy [$50,001-$70,000] Magico M2 @smodtactical [$70,001-$100,000] [$100,001-$200,000] Wilson Alexia @audiotroy [Over $200,000] Kharma (which model?) @audiotroy |
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