I owned a pair of classic Infinity Reference 60's for 18 years and they never skipped a beat. The Ref 60's were the top of the range in the Reference series & used an Emit-r tweeter & IMG dynamic mid and bass drivers. Although these speakers only cost $2kAUD way back when, with Infinity's ongoing development and policy of filtering down technology, the Ref 60's still sounded well balanced, fast and decent bass. And Cary Christie's usually beautiful cabinetry made them nice pieces of furniture. That value equation made them hard to sell. I eventually upgraded to a pair of Renaissance 90's which I owned briefly. I now own a pair of Magico S5's which are the first speaker which brought back the same sense of awe and engagement as the Infinity IRS series. I suspect I may keep them a long while..than is until an M-Project-inspired replacement comes along one day ;) |
Matt thats' one heck of a list. Are you still looking to get into the Focal Utopia Stellas? |
Man, I've been switching out my Thiel CS 3.5's, Totem Hawks, and a pair of Magnepan MG3a that I just picked up for $600. I keep returning to the Thiels because they attack like the Maggies...with more bass. The Maggies...well, they DO need power to show what they have but at those listening levels I can't say I will keep em. Plus they're almost taller than I am. The Thiels also need some juice behind them to strut their stuff, but are better at the levels I listen to most frequently. I have a Pass Labs X150.5 amp so I have the power to drive them both well. The Hawks? Hmmm. Brand new but...compared to the aforementioned VERY colored overall. Not necessarily bad but...different. I have decided to release my DAHLQUIST Dq10's - they're just not in good company here imho. |
I can see where the DQ's aren't making you happy anymore, lol. |
Dynaco A25 good for 100 yrs at least. |
Any Meadowlark ever made. |
Hey all, I recently acquired a pair of Shahanian Arc's! They are missing the passive Radiators and will cost $400 to replace new from manufacturer. I don't know much about them but many people who know about these seem to like them. I know there expensive but do you think they are worth repairing? I'm debating fixing them and keeping them or selling them as is. Any advice would help. Thanks! |
Riz1965,
You would probably get more responses by starting a separate thread. |
Quad 57 ESL
First heard these when I was 17, back in 1971 or so. I've owned a pair built about then since 1986, rebuilt a couple of years ago by Wayne Piquet. Don't go very deep, don't play very loud, but wonderfully transparent and holographic. I will never part with them. |
Vandersteen 2C's (any incarnation).....
I will change my amps, front-end components and cables, before changing these.
I swear on them!!!!
--Charles-- |
Hi O_holter my I was interested in the audiokineses LCS Dreammakers likw what you have I have been listening to a pair of Green Mountain Audio EOS HX bookshelf speakers time aligned and phase coherent. Is room size a big contributing factor for the Dreammakers? My music is a mix of jazz vocals sometimes a little rock but not much.
Any inputs are deeply appreciated.
Pankaj |
M3.7i for me and the CAD 120S MkII with Psvane KT88; 6SN7: TJFM, Sylvania JAN CHS; Vcap CuFT upgrades connected to SLP-98P with 6SN&: TJFM, Sylvania JAN CHS. Best synergy and sound ever compared to the dynamic SF speakers in the 2nd listening room. |
Loved those Artemis Eos with bass mods. Heard them for the first time in a store in Dallas with top of the line AN/Japan components and I was floored. Owned the Proacs. Couldn't fit the Response 3.8's or I would have owned them. Never spent much time with Joseph Audio, but need to find a dealer to listen to them as they get so much great press. Like most of what you have on your list. |
Totem Hawks revised....
Man, these are good speakers with my new set up - I just purchased a pair of Musical Fidelity M1 PWR amps which I'm bi-amping through an Audio Research LS2 pre. The earlier issues I had with the Hawks was their "coloring" compared to the Thiels (which I've donated away) or the Maggies. (Which I'm hanging onto. With each Hawk having its own amp the sound truly filled out, and I'm just about breaking them in. The Hawks are still colored IMHO, but a lot more has come out of them under this setup. The M1 amps put out about 100 watts in Mono into 8 ohms, which the Hawks are. Nice having some additional space back into my living room as well... |
Audiokineses LCS Dreammakers -
They do something special, have never experienced it before. The soundscape becomes much more three dimensional, embodied, fleshed out, poignant; the sound is almost visually present, and this effect covers most of the room. When I walk forward from the listener position it is like moving through the front seats of a concert venue, and then on to the stage itself, the musicians playing around me. Quite amazing. There are SOME things I dont like with reverberant energy, but this execution is mainly for the better. When I turn off the LCS, playing the main speakers (Dream makers) alone, it still sounds fine, but more traditional, flatter, less engaging. |
It's an honor and a pleasant surprise to have speakers that I build become a topic in this thread.
Pankaj wrote: "Hi O_holter my I was interested in the audiokineses LCS Dreammakers likw what you have I have been listening to a pair of Green Mountain Audio EOS HX bookshelf speakers time aligned and phase coherent. Is room size a big contributing factor for the Dreammakers? My music is a mix of jazz vocals sometimes a little rock but not much."
Just to give a little bit of background, O_Holter's system is unique: Bipolar original-format Dream Maker speakers, with a pair of Late Ceiling Splash (LCS) modules, an invention that I use with the permission of James Romeyn.
Room size does play some role of course, and in particular, the original-format bipolar Dream Makers like to have a fair amount of space behind them to allow a fairly long time delay before the reflection off the wall behind them reaches the listener. This is pretty much identical to the situation with Maggies or Quads or Sound Labs or any other planar.
Originally the LCS modules were designed to be part of a newer system called the Dream Maker LCS system, which consists of a pair of monopole main speakers, and then the up-firing LCS modules would supply the additional spectrally-correct reverberant field energy that would get its recommended 10 milliseconds (or more) of arrival-time-delay from taking the long bounce off the ceiling. Obviously this calls for fairly aggressive radiation pattern control in the LCS modules, but fortunately that's something I'm comfortable working with. So conceptually the Dream Maker LCS system is a bipolar like the original Dream Maker, but instead of the rear-firing drivers bouncing their energy off the wall, we use up-firing drivers which bounce their energy off the ceiling. (If your ceiling is absorptive, you can stand the LCS modules on end and aim them at a wall.)
So what O_Holter has is a system that combines both rear-firing and up-firing drivers contributing to the reverberant field, and apparently the net effect is pretty good:
"They do something special, have never experienced it before. The soundscape becomes much more three dimensional, embodied, fleshed out, poignant; the sound is almost visually present, and this effect covers most of the room. When I walk forward from the listener position it is like moving through the front seats of a concert venue, and then on to the stage itself, the musicians playing around me. Quite amazing. There are SOME things I dont like with reverberant energy, but this execution is mainly for the better. When I turn off the LCS, playing the main speakers (Dream makers) alone, it still sounds fine, but more traditional, flatter, less engaging."
We are working on a "universal" LCS module that can be added to most existing systems, as we think that it can benefit a wide range of systems. So theoretically Pankaj could retain everything the Green Mountain Audio speakers are doing right as far as the first arrival sound goes, and add a generous helping of spectrally-correct reverberant energy that will arrive after a decent time delay from taking the long bounce from the floor up to the ceiling.
Duke
dealer/manufacturer |
How did the KEF 107 or 107/2 get left out? |
THE NEW PARADIGM PRESTIGE 75 F
Just broken in, sound fit and finish for the price can not go wrong. Very tough to reach this speakers limitations , The size will fool you , its very dynamic and power full loads of detail, And the Piano Black is beautiful the cherry is not worth the upcharge. Give a listen . |
After 7 different speakers in the last 10 years, and the last 3 months with Triton Ones, I do believe I have found my speakers for life. There is nothing they cannot do. Genre, volume, whatever. If you don't believe me, c'mon over. |
ADS L300c Aluminum minis. They were $300 per pair in 1977 and followed me to school on the East Coast. They now serve duty in the garage wired to a NAD receiver and Squeezebox Duet. They are a joy. |
I'm disappointed there hasn't been more ink spilled over JM Reynauds. I've had a pair of Arpeggiones for nearly 6 years. I go to T.H.E show in Newport Beach each year to listen to some exotic setups and I've never felt the itch to upgrade these speakers which only cost me 700. If anything I'll be trading up the JMR line, but everything that is said about the musicality, warmth, live-ness, and timing of these speakers I feel are true.
By the way, these speakers are paired to an amp that I will keep for life as well, my trust old Audiomat Arpege Reference integrated. 'Til the day I die. |
Scott, I would have to agree with you about the Triton Ones. They really do play any genre with aplomb. Try playing some Opeth off the well recorded Ghost Reveries album on a lot of Audiophile speakers and they will fall on their ass. I don't need to limit my music selection anymore. Don't know if I will keep them for life but for the foreseeable future. They can be delicate or a real visceral experience. |
Living in a New York apartment, the idea of trading into and out of speakers has not appealed to me...too much lifting, too much hassle,not enough time. About 2 1/2 years ago, I started looking for speakers to replace my Sehring S703s through all the dealers I could find in the NY/NJ area. The only speaker I heard that really blew my socks off as a major step up from Sehring was the Kaiser Kawero Classic. However, it is a really big speaker made for really big rooms, so would not work for me.
I ended up finding the distributor for Ascendo and went to hear the C8 Renaissance at Audio 202 in New Jersey. They sounded very good, but I saw in the corner of the showroom a tall, narrow speaker, the Behold Tanara. The dealer set them up for me. They were as good as the Kaisers but smaller and less pricey. They are driven by a Behold G192 integrated amp/DAC. I got a good deal on the speakers and amp, sold all my separates, so that the upgrade only cost about $10K. For the last 18 months, my setup has been awe inspiring to me and anyone who has visited to listen. These are my last speakers. For anyone in the New York who likes Coincident, Acoustic Zen, or some of the other usual candidates, go listen to a Behold system. They are either massively underappreciated, or I have a fetish for German speakers. |
Having lived in Deutschland several decades I can testify than when the Germans get something right ,they get it REALLY right.
And vice-versa. |
In having purchased and gone through more speakers than I can and care to remember, here's a few that captured the heart.
Infintiy: Infinitesimals, Qa, Qe
Dynauido: Where do I start, all that I have an heard.
VMPS: RM40
ADS: 710, 810
Not to say that these are the best or worst, just a few of my favorites.
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COUNTERPOINT CLEARFIELD METROPOLITANS
Just picked up a thoroughly operational, albeit mildly cosmetically challenged pair of these from a fellow A'gon and "other" site member for $1050. Getting them out of his house and into my house was something of an adventure since they weigh 150 pounds apiece. During this transit the base of one speaker popped off without any damage to be concerned about, so I simply elected to remove the other one as well. I measured how high the bases supported the columns and simply replaced them with isolation blocks. "Nuff said...
As reviewed and as discussed on various inter-web sites, these are truly a remarkable pair of loudspeakers. (25hz - 25khz response and 90db efficient.) Currently I am driving them with a pair of Musical Fidelity M1 PWR amps through an Audio Research LS preamp, and I have been impressed every time I listen. (The MF M1 PWRs are 200 into 4 ohms) I also have a Pass Labs X150.5 which I will be swapping in this weekend.
My fave speakers through the years, and still to this day, have been Thiels and Magnepans. Now these. These are similar in many respects to either, but with better resolution at low listening levels. If you come across them anywhere, buy them. |
Agree Jd_df, I sometimes miss the ADS L810s I lived with for 20 years. They were my first and worst trade on the "upgrade path." |
Of course not long after I acquired my Triton 1s and posted here I moved cross country into a condo to be with sweet pea.
Has a big room, but of course neighbors. Ergo...now I'm on the prowl for something smaller. Thinking Dali. Or Dyn. My local audio shop has a used pair of Davone Rays that look amazing. Haven't heard them yet though. |
Wow I can't believe I never saw this thread before! Anyway I picked up my current speakers, the original version of the JMlabs Micro-Utopia back in 2006. We had just bought our condo and it was quite smaller than our previous place so I traded a guy my Alon Lotus's for these monitors. I have to say in my very small space, driven by all tubes these speakers really sing. Good imaging and transparency and just nice musicality with enough bass for my tastes. Considering how much I would have to spend to replace and only possibly improve these, well 9 years and counting and maybe 9 more after this. |
Been LOVING my Vandersteen Treo's for a few months now. The system is finally cooking with the new Ayre AX5 Twenty and Empirical Audio OSDE SE. I hear a huge difference in my high res stuff now. I still want the Vandersteen Quatro's as the bass can be tuned to the room and that will make a huge difference. I'm just sold on this line. Richard Vandersteen just makes music as a fair price in todays market. NO listener fatigue. My wife even mentioned that tonight and she doesn't even understand what she's saying, lol. Just said she can't believe she's been listening with me for hours and no headaches. She rarely listens so this was interesting to hear. I think the former speakers gave her headaches. I know I couldn't listen for more than an hour at a time. |
PMC company for LIFE.
25y in hobby,
Enjoy music! |
I've enjoyed a pair of Totem Element Fire monitors (with a subwoofer) for 4+ years.
I had the hots to see if another speaker would catch my ear, after getting permission from "the boss" to move the audio system down to our family room (now referred to as my "man cave"), able now to accommodate floor standing units, I ordered a pair of Focal Sopra No2's, which should arrive this week! The detail these speakers uncover, especially in the midrange and high frequencies is astounding.
The only caution I have for others is to make sure you are driving Focals with that somewhat "unforgiving" tweeter, is to make sure those electronics have no "shrill" characteristics. They will drive you nuts if they do! |
I am 76 now and can realistically think that I will have my B.M.C. Arcadias for the rest of my life. The thought of a speaker for the rest of my life seemed quite unrealistic until I got old, as I had 28 different speakers over a life with audio since 1961. I've had seven pair of full range dynamic speaker; three pair with special tweeters, five pair of largely full range horn speakers, six pair of largely full range electrostatic speaker and one pair of full range electrostatic. Three sets of single driver full range speakers. One pair if omni-directional full range speakers. Two pair of wall mounted speakers from Duntech. Two pair of powered speakers and two pair of speakers with woofers in a gas bag. Two pair of stand mounted book shelf speakers. And one pair of self-made two way speakers. The lightest speakers were about 20 pounds each and the heaviest were 350 points each. |
Heard a ton of horn stuff in Japan last month. Not impressed. Just not my cup of tea. Just made me want to get back home and listen to my Vandersteen Treo's. I do wish I could move up in the line, but I don't have the money for it right now, but from the 2 on up to the 7's, I just have yet to hear a line that connects like they all do. |
Ctsooner, horns have a speed that is lacking by other speakers, but typically you need to be fifteen or more feet from them.
I like the Vandersteen 7s but think the B.M.C. Aracadias are better but fundamentally different sounding. But I recognize that we all seldom agree. I had Vandersteen 2Cs in the early 70s. |
KEF 107/2 because their high build quality, neutral sound and very high ceiling that every component change can be heard instantly as an improvement or detriment to the music. 20hx bass means no sub needed. |
TBG. I agree. That's why they make so many different speakers. I have really enjoyed many different speakers over the years. For some reason I have fallen in love with the VAndy line but others make great speakers too |
Point 3 satellite/sub. Produced in the mid 1970's by Dan D'Agostino. Had mine since 1978. Listening to them now. I am not educated in all the parameters of sound reproduction characteristics of home audio speakers, but I can say for the era when they were produced they perform quite well.
Thanks a lot Dan for decades of blissful listening. |
@Steve59, that's exactly what I'm aiming for with my next pair of speakers, which are intended to be my long-term references. |
Ranch, I didn't know those were Dan's speakers. It;s nice to hear of someone holding onto speakers for that long, lol. My original system from 1969 is still used daily by my former brother in law (sister divorced him, I didn't, lol). |
I purchased my Apogee Duettas in the mid 80s, powered with a Krell KSA-150 and have a Velodyne 1200 sub. The Krell was returned to the factory lastyear for a refurbish and everything sounds wonderful Big full soundstage and excellent dynamic range. I've had several preamps over the years and currently have a DAC1 HDR. There are many other great systems out there but would never part with this one... |
I purchased my speakers brand new in 1980. They are still functioning at their peak to this very day. It is a very rounded speaker. I guess its most outstanding feature is the fact that it sounds the same regardless of the volume. Clean, noted music, with just a touch of color. Only the deepest bass passes these speakers. I do admit they desire a sub.
Without the sub you will still be rewarded. Of course your equipment makes the speaker sing.
Mine are powered by a Dual MosFet system housed inside my Sherwood S6040 CP Push/Pull DC Power Amp. Old school NAD 114 Pre-Amp. Producing some of the warmest sound for ears. Through the one and only "HPM 100" Loudspeakers by Pioneer. Circa 1980!
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....OH yeah I paired the HPM 100's with a great team. Energy 100's
for today's digital music. And a strong favorite...the Klipsch SW10
Sub Woofer. |
I enjoyed those apogee speakers My friend in Rhode Island used to sell them |
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I formerly had/have Conrad Johnson Synthesis LM-320 speakers, but apparently I do not regard them as "speakers for life'' anymore, although I did some 15 years ago! |
My Dunlavy SC-VI,,,,,I will be buried in them.... |
I have owned my Klipschorns for 17 years and never looked back. I could easily keep them for life. They are an amazing and often overlooked speaker. I'm now forced to downsize and sell my K-horns. I've been diligently seeking a smaller replacement for the past 6 months, and finally settled on the Spatial Audio M3s -- but I have to admit, as good as they are, they still can't do everything the Khorns can do. The Khorns can handle anything, without breaking a sweat, and they just don't have any real weaknesses. I love my M3s, but will always miss my Khorns. |
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wow, blast from the past.....
Funny as I read my last posts and I had just gotten the Treo's....I'm move up to the Quatro CT's in Audi Havana Black. Look as great as they sound. |
