Speakers to hang on to for LIFE

"Luckily the Frankenstein's have no such house sound,
They are perfectly neutral."
mozartfan,
That's a delusion. All speakers have their own sound, and you should know that.

For 16 years I was perfectly happy with my Shahanian ARC speakers. They presented a nice sound stage, decent bass, and treble that was not brilliant. I could sit for long periods and never be annoyed.
And were unobtrusive in terms taking up space. They fit my room.

EV 15 Magnet 5 lbs NOT 15 lbs. 
Still a  beast and I must have a  pair. 

Maybe the transition from audiophile to music lover involves overcoming the obsession with changing equipment.


~~~~~~~
No in fact I am not a  MerryGo Round with my components. I keep things a  very long time. 
I do spend alot on tweaks, upgrades and such. 
But its all complete now Just waiting on the Vox , and will add a  2nd amp, The cayin A50T. 
basically have 2 systems. 
No, I do not like buying and selling, But if the speakers havea  house sound, they gotta go,. Luckily the Frankenstein's have no such house sound, 
They are  perfectly neutral.

Music starts 2:37
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAmOC9zhS-Y

mitch2,
I agree completely! Every speaker has a sound of its own, and if you are happy with a particular sound, trust your feelings and stick with it!

Well spoken, mitch22.  Amen.

@mozartfan 

Point is,
Why get stuck on a *house sound*

Answered in my post.....
Point is,
if you like something, why switch

Maybe the transition from audiophile to music lover involves overcoming the obsession with changing equipment.

mozartfan,
Ever hear of spellcheck?

them well and sound great. I did take a sideways move in the Aerial line when I purchased a pair of stand mounded LR5s that have a similar house sound but are actually better speakers because of the sealed woofers (traded the "larger and deeper" low bass of the 9s for the accuracy and control of the LR5's bass). At the suggestion of Michael Kelly, I augmented the LR5s with a pair of Aerial SW12 subs (also musical and dynamic) for a sound I cannot imagine ever changing. The only possible speaker change I have thought about would be to add another one or two of the SW12 subs. So, while not exactly a "speaker for life" with the A/D/S to Aerial line, I have found a "house sound" for life to meet my desire for a musical speaker that has no problem rocking out.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I looked over a  topic on audiokharma, 
**List your speakers with  your top fav in 1st  of list***
I was amazed at how mnay of just one lab these audiophiles own. 
Some Audiophiles will sort of COLLECT different modles of 1 single speaker lab. 
Just unreal.

Like here with the Aerials, I have no idea what that speaker is , or sounds.

HOUSE SOUND, 
Yep, Vandy's have their own unique sound, Thiels their tradem mrak, B&W's all pretty much sound the same. 
Point is,
Why get stuck on  a *house sound*, which is nothing more or less than *Coloration* = Distortion..
>??

As implied by @mapman, for long term enjoyment, I believe it is most important to find a speaker, a type of speaker, or a manufacturer's "house" sound that is "musical" to you and with which you are comfortable. 

When I first started down the road of reproduced music, it seemed I easily and decisively determined which gear/speakers I liked the sound of and which I didn't, starting with car systems using Jensen coaxial 6x9 speakers (liked) and Infinity poly cone speakers (didn't like).  It seemed easy to build a good sounding (musical) system on just about any budget and I spent way more time thinking about the music I was listening to than the gear I was listening through.

After building a pair of large and very musical DIY Jenson Triaxial speakers (still have them) that got me through college and beyond, I finally had a few bucks.  After much auditioning I found that I really liked the A/D/S sound of the day (1981), so I ended up with L810s that I owned and enjoyed for over 20 years.  I subsequently purchased A/D/S 300i and later 320i speaker systems for the vehicles I owned and folks would say stuff like, "wow, that sounds like a home system in your car."

At about that time, I had more money and unknowingly morphed into an "audiophile" (i.e., obsessed with changing gear and "upgrading" my system).  It didn't help that I had two friends working at one of the better shops of the day and they would often say, "you gotta hear this!"  One of my earlier (brilliant) moves was selling the L810s I had enjoyed for over two decades for about half what they go for now.  I then moved through several speakers that the magazines said I should really like. The closest I got to a sound I enjoyed was with the old B&W matrix series.  I finally did a little research and realized that Michael Kelly who started Aerial had been involved with A/D/S so I listened to some Aerial speakers and the sound reminded me of the "musicality" I enjoyed with the L810s.  While the metal dome tweeter used by Aerial was/is different from the old fabric dome of the A/D/S speakers, it was relatively sweet sounding without harshness and the Aerial house sound seemed to retain a similar rich tonality and punchy dynamics as my old L810s.

I purchased a pair of Aerial 9s and was finally happy and comfortable with the musicality of my system again.  I have struggled a little with the amplifiers I used to drive my Aerial speakers but have finally found a pair of large Class AB amps that drive them well and sound great.  I did take a sideways move in the Aerial line when I purchased a pair of stand mounded LR5s that have a similar house sound but are actually better speakers because of the sealed woofers (traded the "larger and deeper" low bass of the 9s for the accuracy and control of the LR5's bass).  At the suggestion of Michael Kelly, I augmented the LR5s with a pair of Aerial SW12 subs (also musical and dynamic) for a sound I cannot imagine ever changing.  The only possible speaker change I have thought about would be to add another one or two of the SW12 subs.  So, while not exactly a "speaker for life" with the A/D/S to Aerial line, I have found a "house sound" for life to meet my desire for a musical speaker that has no problem rocking out.

I’ve had various Ohm Walsh speakers for 30 years now.  Still the musical champs. 

The amount of cash donated to the speaker fab industry past 50 years,, 
In the trillions. 
WOW 
Not billions, but  T's. 
Unreal, just unreal. 
Wake up!!!! Stop sleeping!!!!

prof2,781 posts07-06-2019 12:44pmPrediction:
Most of those in this thread who talked about a speaker they would use "for life"...have moved on to other speakers ;-)


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No doubt about it, 
You should see a  topic over on Audiokhrama, 
**List your speakers in order of  favorite, best fav at top of list  please***
Folks over there own more than 2,3,4, up to say, 6,7,8  speakers,,,,UNREAL.

I fiannly dumped my Millennium tweeter acting as 1500hz - its roll off at 12khz.

Just ordered a  -~~My Final pair~~~For life.
Voxativ wide band.
I am glad I bought perhaps one of the best sounding xover types back in 2004, so I felt no need whatsoever to jump on and off  the speaker-merry-go-round. 
I get no pleasure at all  buying a  component and finding its not to my standards.
No not at all. 
Thats why i am getting My Final Pair. 
You too can jump off the speaker merry go round. 
I did. 
Actually I never got on the  ride.

Here's one for the ages


https://www.bowerswilkins.com/home-audio/nautilus

UNREAL,,, lol
What super hype. 

Purchased M&K S- 1A’s and a 60 watt M&K sub in 1982. Using a Primaluna dialogue hp integrated amp. I listen to mostly jazz. Speakers still sound great!

Purchased M&K S- 1A’s and a 60 watt M&K sub in 1982. Using a Primal

Mine'r almost 30 years old.  They've been in my room for a mere nine.

No itch to change out.

Bought my Walsh 4's in 1986 they were a store demo (1984 build).  Sold my Infinity Monitor Jr.'s  which I had purchased in 1977.  Currently scratching my head as to whether I should just re-foam them one more time or trade the cans in for a Walsh 3000 series 'upgrade'.

ANY correctly refurbished Ohm F .... 

Vandersteen Quatro's will most probably be my last set of speakers. I can't afford anything more and the Quatro CT's bass set up is NEEDED in my room as it's difficult.  Best sounding speaker I've had in the house to date.  Wish I could afford the new Kénto's, lol....

MAGICO M6 hang on for NOW.

I've enjoyed my Focal Sopra No2's since they first arrived in the USA and am thinking that they might be my last.

I owned and lived with my Vonschweikert VR-7’s for 19 years..
Then I downsized and gave up my dedicated audio room.. I had to let the VR7’s go ...  They were just too big for my new room..
I went for a mid tower that is efficient so I could play with some low powered amps. I now am using the Daedalus Athena with a First Watt SIT3 amp.  Not missing the BIG VR’s anymore. the Daedalus are much easier to setup and live with.. Not as majestic, but I sure am liking the SET like sound and less complexity and heat of tubes..  Enjoying a more minimalist system.

Of many speakers that I owned (Celestion, Apogee, Vandersteen, Thies, ProAc, B&W), I’ve only ever bought back the same brand speakers again  - Merlin TSMs and Devore Super 8s. I would own a pair of Merlins again, probably not the Super 8s, but I am quite happy these days with the Devore Nines, which are the Goldilocks of that Devore series - just right.

Two weeks after I bought them, the prior owner emailed asking if I would sell them back.

I’ve have a pair of Thiel 02 speakers for 26 years that I don’t intend to let go. I throw them in to my system once in a while and still love the sound.

Acoustat 6’s is the one that will stay with me!!! it is a keeper!!! to have a 8 foot tall speaker sound soooo transparent, I had all the cone speakers- AR-9, Vandee’s, B&W 801’s, Altec 19’s, Maggie’s that would rattle, JBL , but them Acoustats just lets the guitar stand 8 feet tall in my room, yes they can BEAM at times, but to hear Jeff Lorber on these monsters is a BLESSING ,at times I feel like I can walk right into the speaker and be in another dimension, like I opened a door in the twilight zone. free you mind and your body will follow.

B&W 801 Nautilus

I have had my Sonus Faber Electa Amator speakers since the early 90’s. I haven’t been tempted to replace them yet. If I did, it would probably be for a pair of Quads, any of the many iterations.

Infinity Prelude MTS.

those cuts are 8 ohms, mine are earlier 16 ohm versions

Long Lasting Horns: text says: 1" coil epoxy bonded to phenolic impregnated diaphragm, extremely rugged assembly. I'll say!

Great Discussion,

Same Drivers made in 1958 (used by me for 57 years) now in Custom Rosewood Enclosures

seen in background of 'cleaning' photo here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MODERN-JAZZ-QUARTET-The-Sheriff-Vinyl-LP/133650601174

Originally in Fisher President II Console and moved into 3 custom cases over the years.

Originally fixed spacing within Fisher President II, woofer facing down, unit on 8" bronze legs

1st pair of separate enclosures: Light Rift Oak Identical to Fisher box, 8" chrome legs, simply moved the front panel with drivers, new fabric, woofer still facing down

2nd pair of enclosures: English Brown Oak, Taller Case, increase cu ft some, to face the woofer forward. No 8" legs so was around the same height

3rd, current enclosure: Larger yet, 6.3 cu ft, rear port (port blocked in this location)

I'm not living without them. Spare drivers, all 3 types. Just bought another spare re-coned 15W and cone kit for one of mine with dried out cone.
.....................................

All Electro-voice Drivers, 16 ohm, made in 1958 inherited from my Uncle in 1973.

15" Woofer: 15W, (37 lb, monster magnet).

https://products.electrovoice.com/binary/15W,%2015BW,%2015WK,%2015BWK%20EDS.pdf

Mid Horn, Compound Diffraction 847A (ugly, but sounds terrific)

https://products.electrovoice.com/binary/847A%20EDS.pdf

Horn Tweeter T350

https://products.electrovoice.com/binary/T350%20EDS.pdf

For the life of me, I cannot understand how these 4 horns all still sound fabulous at 62 years old. What the heck are they made of?

I've owned Thiel speakers for the past 24 years and will probably carry on for another 10 years as long as parts are still available.

I have an original pair of Apogee Duetta II Signature Series speakers my dad originally bought in the late ‘80. I’m getting them completely rebuilt/upgraded in the next few months and will never replace them. I can’t imagine better speakers.

KLH Nine electrostats. Bought a one-owner pair in 1992 for $500. Still in use today!

How long? 63 years? Only 30 years? 

In 1973 I inherited my uncle's Fisher President II console made in 1956. Awesome Speakers,

I yanked and still have all the components, AM tuner, FM tuner, preamp control panel, with programmable clock, Viking stereo tape deck with a switch for separate 2 track and 4 track heads (tape went stereo in 1956), pair of Mono Block amps, pair of pre-amps added in his home by Fisher techs in 1958 when phono went stereo.

Ditched the Garrard record changer (tall spike, stacked 3 or 4 lps, automatically pushed them off one at a time from the top stack onto the lower stack, I digress)

I burned the huge too tall console in the fireplace. The console was up on 8" bronze legs, and the 15" woofer shot out of the bottom. The speakers were a fixed distance apart, only about 5 feet center to center.

The speaker drivers were/are all Electrovoice: horn tweeter, compound diffraction midrange (2 concentric horns), and 15" woofer, two rear controls: 'brilliance', and 'presence'.

Woofer is 15w, 37 lbs, the brother of the 15B used in the monster corner Klipschhorn.

https://reverb.com/item/2307415-electro-voice-model-15w-alnico-magnet-15-woofer-new-in-original-box-nos

I have gone thru 2 sets of custom enclosures, to put anywhere I wanted, separate from the other components.

The first separate enclosures: modern rift oak, absolutely identical to the chambers in the huge console, up on 8" high chrome frames. Woofer still firing out the bottom. Simply put new fabric on the front panel, left the drivers mounted, Moved both front and rear panels into the new enclosures. Tightened all the drivers, they were a bit loose.

I had the woofers professionally re-coned then, 1976 (no audible or visible problems, but they were 20 years old, and out, transportable).

After a few years, I wanted to face the 15" woofers forward, and, having read too much, I decided I would vent them, to squeak even more bass than anyone ever heard. I had Tom, my Audio Visual consultant who helped me design corporate office boardrooms, training rooms, etc, and, I Joe, Electrovoice service manager, and the whole team of Electrovoice engineers eager to help me. Taller enclosures to face the woofer forward, increased volume to 6 cubic feet, and a rear port that could be open or closed ...... 

Big space, multiband equalizer, pro sound meter, charts, graphs, left the ports open. Never needed, but the itch was scratched.

Moved here, only 13 foot wide room, roll them out of the corners to use, ... after a few years I closed the ports, they remain closed.

I bought a set of spare drivers, both horns and a 15B lurk downstairs, and, I re-coned the woofers a second time, myself this time. Perfect!

Did I mention they are 16 OHM, and need about 1 watt to drive them, incredibly efficient.

I drove them for years with the original Fisher EL37 mono blocks, then Fisher 500c EL34 receiver, now modern tube integrated tube amp K88/6550, Integrated preamp, Cayin A88T, remote volume and inputs.  Replaced the Fisher receiver with a McIntosh Tuner/Preamp mx110z.

Along the way, I used different speakers, JSE Infinite Slope, model 2, driven by McIntosh MC2250 SS. They are awesome speakers, only 30 years old, my son has them now, I went back to horns and tubes.

btw, the horns are only 63 years old, working as well as when new.

Elliott

True.  I still own Vandy's.  Moved up from Treo to Quatro CT's....best move I've made.  If I had owned the Tree CT's, I'd have gotten his new Sub 3's (a pair).  

Prediction:
Most of those in this thread who talked about a speaker they would use "for life"...have moved on to other speakers ;-)

Infinity Kappa 8s.  I have "NOS" polydomes in a box although with the grills not quite original but pretty close.  I have two pairs of Infinity Kappa 7s one bought new one bought used.
The challenge is to drive these low impedance beasts.  Bryston 7BSST2 currently and they can do it!  They can do it.

I bought my Apogee Duetta Sigs new for $4100 in 1991. I don't believe for a minute that i could find any speaker which would produce better sound at that price. 

I'll keep these "boat anchors" and be very happy until either they or I die.

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.  

B&W 800 Matrix. 4 life. 

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.  

My Dunlavy SC-VI,,,,,I will be buried in them....

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 Sonus Faber Cremonas!

I enjoyed those apogee speakers My friend in Rhode Island used to sell them

....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 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!

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...