For years and years, I brought in a multitude of different speakers into my listening room, never really being truly, completely satisfied with any of them. So the speaker merry-go-round went on and on, until I finally found the speakers that put all of that to rest. Not only was I dissatisfied, I was also going broke in the process. All that buying and selling was killing me and stressing me out, as well. It was the Revel Salon 2 speakers that finally got the job done for me. Once I got my hot little hands on the Revel Salon 2 speakers, it was all over. Now, I have absolutely no desire to switch out the Salons for anything else. The Revel Salon 2 speakers covered all the sonic bases for me, truly capturing my imagination, from top to bottom, like none of the others completely did. I get to hears all the new speakers at dealers and at shows, and they all sound just awesome, too. But, still, for my money, the Salons 2s are the ones (they’re just that good). The Revel Salon 2 speakers turned out to be all the speaker I think I’ll ever need, and will be with me for the duration. For which, my ears and my wallet thank me.
Good to see other cyclists here. I ride an `06 Roubaix Expert with the `17 CG-R seatpost/Selle Anatomica X saddle, 28mm Con't. 5000's and a Shockstop stem. Might be my forever comfort road bike. Last week a local Craigslist seller listed a 2022 Roubaix Expert so I test rode it to see what I may be missing out on. My Shockstop stem is just as good as a FutureShock2, my cable pull Ultegra 3x9 driveline is just as precise and effortless as the 2x12 Ultegra Di2, just takes a moment longer to complete a shift and my CG-R Anatomica combination is leagues ahead of the Pave seatpost and stock saddle. That $8k bike even at half price was poor value IMO. Especially being locked into the Pave seatpost due to it's shape. The only improvement I'd really like to have from it is the hydraulic disc brakes but my rim brakes have never made me feel unsafe so I'll keeps peddling my`06 and maybe spend the $4500 on more music.
I tend not to sell gear I have enjoyed (and thus have 3 separate systems made up of previous favourites). My keep forever speakers are Wilson Maxx 2, but one of my systems in another room uses Martin Logan CLS and I'd not give those up either as they offer a transparency and presentation that I have never heard matched in a dynamic driver speaker.
I too think the Legacy Focus may be mine forever. Using a Wavelet's active crossover and by-passing the crossover to direct connect the woofers, driving them with a PowerBloc2 and a KT88 push-pull for the upper's, sounds great!
Maybe I'd switch for a pair of Whispers and two triple stack GR Research H framed subs?
I have to agree with @mikekollar. I have the Legacy Audio Focus SE and see no reason to ever part with them. There are speakers that come to mind that I would like to try such as Von Schweikert and the Vandersteen Quattro CT but I doubt they would ever replace my Legacy’s.
I have the modest Revel F208s. They have been more gratifying than the vast majority of speakers I’ve owned, and that’s a long list. They really do compete with speakers models twice their price, and even above in some cases. With equally competent and synergistic electronics they are hard to fault.
The other speaker that has been with me for the long haul is the Stirling Broadcast SB-88. Its strength is that it has only sins of omission. For many it could qualify as an end-game speaker and doesn’t require expensive front ends to sound great. Another wonderful Derek Hughes design that flies way under the radar.
I owned a pair of teak 15 ohm Rogers LS3/5A's purchased new in 1986. I sold them about a decade later for about what I had paid new ($500US). I wish I had kept them.
I still own a pair of Linn Kan I's , FMI 80's, KEF Reference Series Model 101's, and Qysonic Tad II's. IMHO, they are all keepers.
Steve59. It's true. The Revel Salon 2 speakers are notoriously inefficient and hard to drive to their fullest potential. But, once you hook them up to the right amp, you're in absolute sonic heaven. My Revel Salon 2s are in a not so large room, so my extremely powerful H590 integrated amp (301/590 wpc), with it's extremely high damping factor, works beautifully at putting a vise-grip on the Salons drivers. All that's well and good for my modestly sized room. However, if my room was much larger, I would definitely opt for driving the Salon 2s with something even more powerful then my beloved integrated (mono-blocks at least 400/800 wpc). Perhaps your previous amp, and your friends Mac (although powerful) would not be the best choice to drive the Salon 2s. The key (it's critical) to driving the Salons to their fullest potential (I'm sure you're aware), as well as any large, floor standing, multi driver, inefficient, full range speaker, is not just the amps power rating, but, even more importantly, it's Damping Factor, which gives the amp the ability to actually control the speaker's drivers sufficiently (superbly).
Hopefully my current pair of Focal Maestro EVO’s are it for large floor standing. I have had over 45 pairs of speakers in the past 45 years and wish I would have stopped sooner, but you only live once and I have enjoyed the ride!
I was looking for a floor-stander that didn’t dominate the room with as full range as possible. With those constraints I landed on Joesph Audio Perspectives. I love them. I’ve changed everything else and they just get better and better. I’ve now concluded I can’t afford equipment that out performs the speakers. Real keepers!!!
I only had a 250/425 wpc amp when I had my salon 2's and the guy I sold them to says he uses Mac MC601's on them and the clipping lights flicker when he's cranking them. I owned the Kef R105/3's for 25 years so probably got used to their sound possibly making me a bit jaded because even though the salon 2 had some amazing image specificity the soundstage was mia making for a really strange presentation.
My modified/upgraded Cornwall IV's/single Heresy IV and my 4 working sealed box Bose 901's (two are from 1968 and the other two are Series 2 Continentals).
Edcyn, I’ve owned a bike shop for almost 40 years and still enjoy all aspects of the sport.
Most other shop owners don’t even ride, it’s just a business to them.
I have owned the Joseph Audio Perspective2 since April of 2019 and the original version for years before that. I own other speakers but these are keepers.
@skchunThe wife and I are true racing bike fanatics, but when I reached "that age" (+surviving a serious bicycle accident) I went for a soft-riding laid-back angled Bianchi Infinito to last me through my golden years. I think several pro bicycle racers still use them in the cobbled classics like Paris-Roubaix. Componentry? Campagnolo, of course! We watch practically every pro stage race, as well.
+1 @hilde45That said I realize the Stand Mount Elysian 2's purchased and deployed last year are maybe not th forever's but sure fit my room, sound and visual preferences like they are staying forever.
I've had a pair of AR-LST speakers in continuous use since 1975. During the Covid lock downs, I replaced the grills and had the cabinets refinished - so they look brand-new. They sound better since the rehab, perhaps because of a new set of gaskets. I can't imagine parting with them. Some of our family members are very interested in hauling them off!
@kennymaccCongrats on finding your forever speakers! There is something rather satisfying to enjoy a familiar sound that one is very happy with I think.
@thriftyaudioI too have a pair of Acoustat 1+1s that I purchased new in ‘85. For the money I never found anything that would make me want to switch. I have a single RHLabs sub with a high-pass crossover. Lately I too have been thinking of upgrading the sub. Might look into your solution.
I understand some speaker and gear designs are functionally great, but they are either ugly or boring. I can't look at that every day, no matter how good they perform.
There are no perfect speakers, even for one’s ear. That said, there are many speakers that are great . I can’t stand ugly design in something that I have to look at it all the time so I chose the SF Guarneri Evolution and will stay where they are for long time.
This applies to my number one passion (cycling)
There are many amazing $5000~$10000 bikes and they ride just as well as the $15000~$20000 bikes but if you are looking at the upper range of bikes then you look at the personal touches and especially the aesthetics.
Not exclusively, but greatly with voices, their transparency and tone is beyond compare. It just sounds “right”.
When I found a pair of Electrostatic Solutions rebuilt ones I grabbed them.
It’s been 2 years back to my old love. Can’t imagine any other speaker pleasing me as much. Especially in light of my taste in music.
The Revel Salon 2 speakers turned out to be all the speaker I think I’ll ever need, and will be with me for the duration.
I remember my search for “The One” and completely relate to the anxiety, frustration, and sometimes even pain involved in the process when you’re not finding “it.”. But, the flip side is if/when you’re fortunate enough to find it there’s nothing like it as you well know. So congrats on your special find, and enjoy!
I just purchased a pair of B&W 805 D3’s. I’ve been thinking about purchasing a pair for a long time. I’ve had three other B&W speakers over the years. I recently found a pair of 805’s in mint condition listed for sale and available locally. They were basically brand new/never used. Seemed like the perfect opportunity to pull the trigger for a variety of reasons. I also prefer the D3’s cabinet design vs the new D4 with the aluminum/leather top and aluminum back plate. So far, the 805’s have been a great addition and will be my forever speaker for a very long time.
Well for me maybe “brand” for the long haul. I’m on my third pair of Daedalus Audio loudspeakers going back nearly 20 years. My current Apollo’s (V2) are by far the best of the lot—sonically and visually stunning! The only thing that would tempt me away would be large Sound Lab stats—the only speakers I have heard that reveal what minor limitations the Daedalus possess. But I’ll need a bigger room and more powerful amps to make that leap—hopefully someday soon.
Mine were right under my nose. I've been a Maggie guy for years, but I wanted to change my room around and panels weren't going to work well. So I popped in my HT speaker..and...wow.....I will never doubt the excellence for my Goldenear T1s again.
I still have my main speakers since 1987 when I bought my Polk SDA-1C. Keepers for sure. I also have a set of McIntosh LS340, but want to upgrade to the LS-360. That said, nothing wrong with adding others that will also be keepers, but my limitation is space and proper listening area. I'm currently considering adding a pair of Klipsch Cornwalls, or maybe some Magnepan 20, but fear that my space is the limiting factor. Still waiting to hear speakers that would make me consider selling my Polks!
One question this topic raises for me is: Why have "keepers" at all?
Might one anticipate that one is going to try a different sonic approach just to mix things up? I realize that entails some trouble and expense, but I can easily imagine myself thinking, "Ok, I've had really wonderful speakers of Type X for a long time, but now I'm going to try to find the next keeper."
In other words: Why ONE keeper?
Am I the only one who finds change to another keeper a seductive idea?
Probably never replacing my Ohm Walsh 2000s, purchased new in 2009. Each one has its own dedicated Vandersteen 2Wq sub with M5HP battery biased crossover. I had these before the Ohms, with a pair of Vandersteen 1Cs. The Ohms have responded beautifully to every equipment and cable upgrade I have made over the nearly 14 years I have owned them. They are great on all genres, IMHO. I go to some shows, and am active in my local audio club, so I get to hear a lot of gear and speakers. Nothing near their current price of $3800/pair that I have heard makes me consider replacing them. If I win the lottery, sure there are mega buck speakers I would consider. But the reality is that the Ohms with the Vandersteen subs is probably my forever setup.
My Linn AV 5140s are on their second system (tri-amped now), and I have no intention of changing them. I got them in the late 1990s as replacements for the Realistic Mach Ones I purchased in high school in the late 1970s. They were installed into the new streaming system 2 or 3 years ago, and I could not be happier.
My secondary system (in my woodshop/garage) has Klipsch RP-600M bookshelf speakers, which greatly exceeded my expectations. No change likely there either. My son probably inherits both.
For me it's the Sonus Faber Serafinos with a pair of REL S/812 subs. I have had many speakers through the years. These are far and away the best I've had.
I agree with you Tomstruck. The Vandersteen Quatro CT. I spent years owning and auditioning speakers and always found myself wanting for something different. That all stopped with the Quatros.
I have been a Magnapan speaker user since 1983. I have two systems now - one based on the Maggie 1.7i (driven by a Krell K 300i) with the Maggie DWM Bass Panel (driven by Son of Ampzilla). Once you give them good clean Class A power nothing compares at even 3x or4x the speaker price. My second system is my old Maggie 1.6qr - modified by Peter Gunn (driven by Krell S 550i) with The Swarm (driven by Dayton Audio amp - from Duke). This customized set up is amazing for it’s vocal clarity, imaging and midrange detail. Bass is well integrated and SOLID. I have listened to multiple cone based speakers with amps at 3 to 4X the price and they do not compare.
I have Crystal Cable, Arabesque, Glass Masters. That i got for less than 10% of the retail price. That i have no thoughts of changing. I had to re-build the rest of system after getting them. Plus they are to heavy to box and move again. Lol.
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