After 9 years with my Proac Response 3s, I recently decided to change speakers. As you can tell, I'm not an upgrade fever patient. I want something I can live with for years & I think the best advice I'm gonna get will be from those who have & are still living with their speakers for an extended period of time. Please tell me why too. Thanks.Bob.
I never intend to get rid of my Legacy Signature III's. I will keep these for life. They can be fine tuned to the room and equipment with switches on the back. Ribbon tweeters front and back. Dome tweeter front also. Two midrange. Woofer front, bottom and rear. And balanced perfectly. The bad part is Legacy chose to stop making them instead of upgrading them like the rest of their line. Once in a blue moon you will see a set on Audiogon. People on hanging on to them. Instead of speakers I now have money to concentrate on other equipment.
For me, it's the Merlin VSM-MX two way floor standing monitors. They meet or exceed all my measures of a great speaker. In my room they totally disappear, leaving only the music. The imaging is first rate. The highs are as smooth as silk, never fatiguing. The bass is very articulate down to the mid 30's. And most of all, the emotion of the music is conveyed. It's easy to sink into the emotion of the music. When you get "goose bumps" listening to female vocals you know something is very right. The Merlins will be with me for a long time.
In August '06 I mentioned the Merlin VSM-MX, well they must be keepers and I replaced them with the VSM-MXe lead free version, which is a signficant improvement. I agree with sburton's comments 100%. If they were twice the size with three times the number of drives even more people would try'em -- they look to simple, to small to be SOTA, well, all I can say is listen to them if you can. Great things come with this "small" package. I'm keeping these things till the break or I do.
Sunlight Engineering SE308 concentrics 18in drivers with 500hz compresion horn in center of woofer 104db 50lbs of alnico mag driver can be rebuilt but as is should last 50 + years.Can be used in extreme nearfield or use in a large hall they can easly produce massive SPL off little power.Smooth detailed sound,massive dynamic range, image is near real, tone to die for, makes you feel the emotion in music disapear when on even in extreme nearfield and they are huge.Wish I could keep for life was going to say from my cold dead hands but as with all things have to sell........Maybe some lucky soul will pick these up and keep for life I have owned built designed,demoed beta tested so many loudspeakers these are truly something special.As I have looked in this post for years now I see many loudspeakers suggested that could never last a life time you would need replacement drivers,rebuild surrounds, electric parts, cabinets are built of MDF which doesnt age well.Will such be availble in the future for these models?Will it even be worthwill to repair said drivers? With the se308 this isnt a problem just replace cone if damaged if cone cracks or gets holed no big deal for owner to repair cabinets so over built should last more than a lifetime finish is french polish which will look better as it ages will the polycoats on all these other sugestions stay the same? or will it yellow checker flake off expoing cheap veneers and MDF.So for a loudspeaker to last a lifetime it needs to be built to and most are only designed for 15 years use.
At the moment a pair of Oris 150's which do everything my ears like. Although I did say that about my Linn Isobariks back in the day (circa 1850)lol. Then Horns cometh, and then Horns stayeth. Hey Johnk- the SE308 look great.
I'm partial to the Fried lineup. I have a pair of Model C satellites mounted on a pair of Model O subwoofers and I also have a pair of Monitor 7s and a pair of Model Qs 9currently not working). From what I've read I wouldn't mind acquiring a pair of C3/Ls but I guess they're as scarce as hens' teeth. Most people admire Fried transmission line speakers (such as my Model Os) because of their superior bass reproduction but even more I appreciate their ability to make a piano recording sound pretty much like a real piano. (They're not quite there.)
After starting out in this great hobby back in the 70's my first system was a Marantz 2275 receiver and the original large Advent with real walnut cabinets. Then went to stacked Advents, then Polks, then large KLH's, then Dalquest DQ10's with Ampzilla and Linn Sondek, then, well you get the idea. Got out of audio entirely in the early 80's (marriage, house, kids etc..) got back in in the mid 90's with the home theater craze and started an audio only system about 8 years ago. I started out with Paradigm and modest amplification (NAD,Rotel) went to Pinnacle, then Definitive then Magnepan then Martin-Logan then Hawthorne Audio (open baffle) then, well you get the idea. I finally gave in to my mid life crisis(?) and decided to go retro with my system so I sold my digital amps (Panny, Trends) and bought a mint Marantz 2275 (here on Agon) and the difference was astonishing (still with the Hawthornes) so then I thought how bout lets find some Advents (thanks EBAY) and for $175 could they still be any good? Is my 51 yr old memory just clouded by nostalga? Well epiphany number two the Advents had tears in my eyes within seconds, I couldn't believe how good they sounded and not just with audiophile stuff (that I never REALLY listen to it's just so well recorded it sounds good on ANY system) these things ROCKED with anything!!! Jimi, Led, Trower and all my other faves from back in the day sounded like they were supposed to not thin and brittle (Maggies and M-L's) but warm and inviting as if to say play ANYTHING on me and just sit back and smile. I can't tell you how good it feels to know that I'm off the merry go round for good. Look I love equipment as much as anyone and I realize the products I've talked about here are by no means "high end" stuff, but having three kids all at or near college age forces some real easy choices when it comes to priorities regarding finances and for the modest investment of about $1200 total for my ENTIRE system these Advents along with the Marantz are the definition of a "final system", for me anyway. The Advents sit on Mapleshade speaker platforms (which ironically cost me more than the speakers) and I also use Mapleshade Golden Helix wires and Signal Cable Analog two interconnects and digital cable. Front end is a Toshiba 3960 DVD player fed into an Ack! battery powered non-oversampling DAC (bought here on Agon for $200) which is also a very "analog" sounding unit. So in closing it all ends where it began, I have a system the can rock with Jimi, do nuance with Steely, and give late nite chills with Barber, Krall and others.
Hey Polarin; I too started w/ advents. In the 80s I started building my own speakers. I can't remember how many ar's and advents I rebuilt. and upgraded. I would drop a nice poly woofer in and either a dynaudio or vifa tweeter. build a nice two way x/over w/poly caps and now you have the old look with cleaner, faster and more detailing sound. I quit building when audio concepts kits blew anything I could build away. Find another set of cabinets and start playing. great hobby at our age. tweeking the x/over can change the sound to what you like.
On Topic. I've had a pair of ACI (audio Concepts Inc)Sapphire II monitors paired w/ a sub for years. I recently expanded to AV and bought their Emeralds for rears. I could hear much more from the Emerald's tweeter than from my 18 yr old Sapphires. I'm 50 now and have some high frequency loss. After reasearch and listening I bought some paradigm S2s off this site. The tweeter is unbelievable in imaging high end. (see reviews) But, I miss the airyness and natural sound of ACI's. I'm looking at the Sapphire IIIs posted right now. (different tweeter) For the money (factory direct), an easy on the ears, natural detailing speaker The ACI's are great. They have their latest edition the XL out now. Great reviews. As soon as I can afford them Im going to make them channel B. and have both pairs set up. I just can't live w/o the ACI's
You don't want to hang on to speakers for life. Life is to short. Technology is changing speaker design, some even for the better, so try some new ones!!!!
Have many because i have many dfferent setups mostly tube. My ADS-910's beat out my others by a narrow margin because they all have their strong points for variable applications. The ADS's though are ery good in almost everything even though the vintage JBL's KEF's Goodmans are worth noting as well That is almost as bad as asking my favorite amplifier ha ha.
OK, I am not well versed in the technical aspects of audiophilia, but I know what I like. I have been trying to replace my B&W 801F's, bought new in 1980, with something more up-to-date, but I can't find it yet to justify the change/price. To solidify my old fashion ways, my 2nd system is original Roger LS 3/5a, 16 ohm; bought in 1976 (now paired with a REL Sub). I didn't start out as as a vintage guy; all my front end has been replaced numerous times but I can't find a good replacement for the old 801's. Going to listen to Usher BE's, Kharma's, Avalons, and ? at Rocky Mountain this year; maybe I'll move into the 21st century, then again?
I have owned a pair A/D/S L710 speakers since 1978. They are just as sweet today as they were then. Today i am using them with a Marantz 2285 receiver from yesteryear (sp?) and baby can these things rock. In fact I am such an ADS fan I recently bought a pristine pair of late '70's L810's which I use with my Naim nac62/nap90, Rotel RCD 1070 setup. Again, pretty sweet. Anybody offer ideas to sway me away from ADS?
I'm a little surprised by the lack of response on these postings for Vandersteen. I have the 5A's and he promises an upgrade path to always keep it on the cutting edge.
Stacked Original Advents. Had 1st set for 31 yrs. Added second set later on. First set is placed upside down on first set and they are wired in series for 16 ohms. Right now I upgrading my system. I won't know if there are any better speakers today until I get my system sounding as good as possible and then compare other speakers. The only speakers I have listened to recently that compare to the Advents are the Wilson Speakers. Most speakers today are garbage, lacking midrange and accurate bass.
I got a pair of Polk SDA SRS 15" DIMENSIONAL ARRAY towers from 1986 They sound great but take a lot of space., I'm pushing them with a mc2002 & C31V What would the best mc amp and preamp would be this days, for this speakers? I undersatnd that I can go 1000w/c nevertheless I live in a condominum...... thank you. rem
I have a pair of Museatex Melior 2 point source planars. I love these speakers which were a pair originally belonging to the designer. According to the most credible sources, this model was a greater success than the larger Melior 1, for a number of reasons relating to design.
Wouldn't you know my wife detests them - I take so much heat re. placement and footprint, I might make a move to something else, but have difficulty imagining giving them up. I mean, I could have a larger house some day, with more rooms right?!?
The Coincident Pure Reference Speakers have just recently been introduced . They are the best speakers I've ever heard . I bought them and urge you to have a listen because they're great .
Still using my Kef 104 large bookshelves (with bass radiator), and they continue to sound neeeearly as good as the best bookshelves out there. But they're relegated to the basement office, because there IS better, for example, the powered Mackie HR 824s, which I've mated with my Sharp 1080p set (also in the basement).
The main speakers for sound are now the Proac Presponse SC 1s. But are they a whole lot better than the above? I'm not sure.
I first read about Spendor speakers in Studio Sound , a British pro audio mag in 1973. I ordered 2 pr of BC 1s and have used either them or the SP 1s ever since, along with other models. I was a dealer for them for several years. They are still my choice, although I also like B&W, Apogee and others. Speakers are a very personal choice and depend on what music we listen to and how we listen to it.
I purchased a set of Magnat Ribbon 5 speakers about 26 years ago and over the years I have performed the following renovations: - in 2000 - Re-foamed the 8" drivers - in 2006 - Re-foamed the 3.5" mid speakers - in 2007 - re-built the crossovers
The latest reno was a complete rebuild using Mundorf Cap's. They are now providing excellent music with much more details in the upper and lower frequencies while maintaining their smooth midrange
I have always liked the very neutral tone of these speakers and have not found a speaker anywhere near the same price range (even allowing for inflation) that could replace them - other than Magnapan, but then I'd need a good subwoofer and a new hi-fi room
Now I'm looking forward to another 25 years of service
I bought my B&W 801 in 1980. Recently bought a MC352 amp but began to realize that the sound was not bad but not as good as could be. Read in another thread about changing the amplifier output from 8 ohms to 4 ohms. Went one better and took it down to 2 ohms. The speakers sound phenomenal: translucent, detailed clear; I could go on. Anyway in the time of unrest, before learning about changing the ohm connection I made an appointment to audition a pair of B&W 802D. I was very disappointed. It was unfair as the dealer is all set up for home theatre not pure two channel stereo. But I felt there wouldn't have been much difference anyway.
Bottom Line I will hang on to my 1980 B&W for rest of my life.
After going through more than a dozen pairs of speakers in my 30+ years of searching...I think I've come across one that will probably fit-the-bill for a long time to come. A speaker that gives full-range response, is accurate and at the same time, very easy to listen too. A speaker that althought quite big, is forgiving of the less-than-ideal postioning. A speaker thats hand-made and finely crafted by a fellow who has to be included in the list of "Audio Good Guys".
I talking about the "Woodmere" made by Tyler Acoustics.... Heres a link... http://www.tyleracoustics.com/woodmere.html
I think you have to tip your hats to the innovative speaker designs that stood the test of time, so far. Like Quad ESL 57, Harbeth Super HL5, Vandersteens, etc. Some of the speakers mentioned in this thread are too dependent on "new" technology of here-and-now, which will be old news all too soon.
I have owned Duntech Sovereigns since 1987 and I intend to be buried in them (the enclosures are certainly big enough). About a year ago I had to replace all four woofers as the surrounds went bad. They now sound better than ever. A great speaker IMHO. By the way, all drivers in the Duntech are Dynaudio and the folks at Dynaudio in Bensenville, Illinois are really first class.
Carl Marchisoto's Alon series of speakers namely the Alon 1's and the Lotus SE loaded with Alnico magnet midrange drivers.
These two speakers just plain make music and disappear into the soundfield leaving no trace of themselves behind providing due attention to room acoustics and supporting components. In fact, I'm on my second set of Alon 1's after selling my original pair to a friend. These baby's have a synergy that is magical when carefully mated with the room and components.
Add a REL ST series subbass system to either of these and jump off the merry-go-round... ;-)
As I've aged, the frequency of loudspeaker changes has dropped linearly. After changing loudspeakers about as often as underwear through my 20s and 30s - a set of ADS towers was in place for 6 years - replaced 10 years back by my Thiel CS 3.6. Make no mistake - despite ANY claims to the contrary these are amplifier EATERS. In my cavernous listening room - anything less than 300 watts per channel is a disappointment. I realize that there are Thiel lovers - and Thiel haters among you. I fall into neither camp. The CS 3.6 plays Norah Jones and symphonic crescendo with equal grace. Piano sounds RIGHT - and that IS rare. They will remain my speakers until the new 3.7 hits the used market at a price I am willing to pay. If you've never listened to Thiels - you should.
After several months with the new Beveridge I understand why so many people have never looked further. I have spoken to many who simply can't change after 25+ years.
I use to be a high end dealer. Sold all the classic speakers. I always went back to Rogers. I just like the sound. There is no best speaker. It may take you a long time but keep the pair you like the best. I found a pair of speakers made by a fellow in California that sound a little better and cover the lower midrange and base better than the LS3/5a. They are also more sturdy. They were called Speaker Art when I became a dealer for them. I like these and have a pair today. They cost about $4,000 a pair but well worth it. He makes a speaker today similar looking that has had some good press. If someone is interested I could do some research and find out current info on the company. I sold a lot of expensive speakers in my day as a dealer but always found the best speaker to be the one you keep coming back too. It may not be what others like and may not be all that expensive but if it sounds good to you, stay with it. Terry
Not the "best" speaker I have heard, but for day after day long term listening my Acoustat 2+2 panels are really easy to enjoy. Alas, my wife and her interior designer have recently banned them from the living room. I still do not understand what is wrong with 8 foot panels in the living room?
Tduffy1.....Terry, I too have a pair of Speaker Art speakers which I enjoy more and more as time goes by. Bob Gross is the gentleman who makes Speaker Art speakers and has been more than helpful with any questions I have had in the past. Excellent speakers that do most things quite well.
There is always some speaker better than other in some certain field. I have listened to the new Monitor Audio Platinum P300 recently and must say that these paint most holographic 3D soundstage that I have ever heard. It would be interesting to hear others experience with the new platinum line.
I have three pairs of speakers, Vero Research Metornome and soliloqy, and the Acoustat 1+1s. I've owned the 1+1s for an amazing 9 years! I actually picked them up for a song and really had no clue how good they would sound. When i got them home and hooked them up, my ears were delighted. Granted, the lows are lacking with this speaker, but the mids and the highs are fantastic. I've tried a few subs with them and have not kept them. I fear that I will have to pay the piper to get a high-end sub to match these. They are in storage now, but when I moved into a condo from a house, I could not part with them even though I auditioned an array of speakers that I was hoping to replace them with. My second longest speaker which much like the 1+1s I obtained by trading a pair of McIntosh speakers for are the Soundwaves. They were a local Rochester, NY company which, like Acoustat, is no longer in business. These speakers really surprised me for all around depth. I use the two speakers in a Wilson style configueration as the metronomes have a slanted front and the Sols are wedge shaped. Everyone who has heard my set-up thinks that I paid over 5 to 7K for these based on the sound, and when I tell them that I traded for them they have to pick their lower jaw off of the ground! I have owned a slew of speakers in my day, from Bose, Klipsch, Thiel, Merlin, Mirage, Dunlavy, just to name a few. I found that a lot of manufacturers have really good hype surrounding their products and little substance. Ok I've rambeled on too much.
As much as I love my Genesis 350's, I doubt if I'll hang onto to them forever. It's tough to find enough room for them. Eventually, I'll have to downsize and downgrade. Hopefully after my hearing is near gone ... and if I continue to play them at 90dB, that won't be long.
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