Hello All: Many of us have limited access/ability to audition multiple speakers brands. That got me to thinking- If one had a budget of $20K max, a solid state amp rated at 125WPC, and listened to all varieties of music (primarily rock, pop, folk), what speaker(s) would you be most willing to recommend to that person and feel confident they would be happy with the purchase?
Hi, the question is way, way too open for you to obtain solid enough advice/recommendations not based on what the various respondents own/like. Ideally, and especially considering the $20k budget you mention, we need more information to be able to formulate as useful replies as possible.
In the end, as several persons have mentioned, nothing will replace you going out to visit stores that have and entertain serious listening rooms, or better yet, visit fellow aficionados' homes to listen to various setups in real situations.
Of course, the best possible option is to work with outfits that offer generous in-home trial possibilities!
Ideally, you want to try as many combinations as possible, in YOUR specific setting, listening to YOUR favorite music, etc.
Having said that, I am fortunate enough to own the very first "prototype" pair of Clayton Shaw's new speaker sensations, the CALADANs! At around $3.3k, these are wonderful open baffle speakers that work with all types of associated gear and music... (no commercial affiliation whatsoever)
https://claytonshawacousticlab.com/
Voilà! My 2 cents... enjoy and do share your adventure, we learn a lot from each other's experiences, trials and at times, tribulations...
Some great products mentioned here, but speakers aren’t magic devices that work the same regardless of setup and room. I’d start with subs. That helps pressurize the room if setup properly. And that setup is very tricky. More elaborate subs may help with software or something. Yet then you can use all manner of products to fill in the rest, probably less money, because you are just trying not to screw up the recorded signal too much. Having been to the shows and spent much time in dealers, I find most setups lackluster. You focus on the unimportant parts, mainly volume. Well tuned setups sound great at 60-70 db peaks. And that keeps you listening longer and happier. It’s not PA at a club that has to compete with chatter.
I Have the Best suggestion IMHO......in 6 weeks is the Florida Hi - Fi Expo in Tampa......14 floors of Audiophile gear....Hi End speakers galore. Go to it. I did last year and heard a speaker that I had to have and ended up buying......The Borresen X-3’s @ 11K.....That’s where you should go..It’s the "largest hi-fi shop " in the country.
There's nothing wrong with Wilson speakers. I've had a pair of Sophias for a long time, 10 years, and am totally happy with them. But that choice was after a long search and lots of listening. I agree with auditioning them yourself. The more the better. Eventually one set will stand out.
As an example, I've played classical guitar for decades. Having done so, I would never buy a guitar that I've not personally had in my hands and played to get the feel and how it responds to my hands and sense of warmth and musicality.
Choosing speakers is like that. It's a personal journey, one that you need to take to be really sure you're making not only the right choice, but the right choice for you.
Wilson Benesch Vector - Ability to play at all volume settings with low distortion, low coloration and transparency. Dynamics, Tonal balance, Large soundstage, Unfussy placement, Overall quality.
Harbeth speakers, the model should be determined by your room size. These speaker’s make everything song amazing. They are universally acknowledged as seductivie, musical, and able to engage beautifully all types of music. The 40.2s I think are around 15 K. Happy hunting!
Late here but agree that Sonus Faber would be hard not to like and they are easy on the eyes.
Focal's are faster and for rock music may be the ticket.
Klipschorns (latest iteration) or Fleetwood Deville's would be the way to go keeping in mind horn sound is different. For that room Klipshorns would move the air.
@wester17 You can go wrong with Wilson's. They've greatly improved from being super detailed and unlistenable to mellower (slightly). I've heard them since their first speaker (5 boxes - incoherent sound) to the prior Sabrina. It turns out their lesser cost speakers sound more musically involving then their hyper detailed pricey speakers. Listening to the Alex and Alexandrias several times had me wanting to vacate the premises after 15 or 20 minutes (very different listening rooms/home setups). Accurate to the recording but just not musically relaxed such as live music, especially acoustic music which I record at major orchestral venues, religious institutions and large homes.
I know some people enjoy their music listening to high feedback solid state amps and electrostat speakers. I just don't share the space with them.
wilsons would be among the last speakers i would consider to be in the category of ’likely to please in most circumstances’ -- they can be truly abrasive and unlistenable despite their owners spending gobs of $$$$
While I like Wilson, Magico, and Revel a little less, based on my experience with friends, others, and at dealers, they would not seem to belong on any "safe" to like list...and it sure seems every $20,000 speaker has now been mentioned...curious what the OP has learned...
Why $20K? Maybe you will find one for less that you can't beat for that number. Are you trying to impress someone saying you spent $20K on speakers? Maybe you'll find $50K used ones for $20K.
You will most likely be happy with many different models and just find a local dealer who will support you and let you try a few pair in your listening room with your equipment. I would think $20K would necessitate a total look at your system to get the maximum improvement possible.
There is no unheard safe choice. There's a thousand great speaker options out there to even mention in that price range, especially when you consider what you can also buy on the used market for that price. You're just going to have to do the leg work and get out there and listen to as many speakers as you possibly can and make a choice. There's no substitute for hearing a speaker in person.
Revel Salon 2 speakers!!! I believe that the Revel Salon 2 speakers, still, after all these years, remain an absolute "End-Game" speaker for all musical genres. It would be very well worth your efforts to up the ante for a more powerful amplifier (starting at approx. 300 WPC into 8 ohms) to drive the the Salon 2s properly. You would be greatly rewarded. In the right room, with the right amplification, I strongly believe that the Revel Salon 2 speakers could very well be your last. Phenomenal speakers!!! Phenomenal value!!!
Start by looking at a used market and see what brand speakers that sell at 20k mrsp are listed. Avoid the ones that are listed too often n frequent. Buy those ones that hardly come up on sale. Such as Wilson SabrinaX, JA Perspective2(less than 20k), Devore 0/96, Spendor classic 100 (less than 20k), YG Acoustics Talus
I would love to answer your question directly, but these are very different speakers. The technology is different especially if you look at the FR 20 Mid range and tweeter, which are likely planers. The two aesthetics are completely different. The Joseph perspective is smaller and lighter, but probably has a higher wife acceptance factor. Look at the specs and photos on the websites.
As far as sound is concerned, I prefer whichever speaker I happen to be listening to..
Spend around $1000 on a pair of VA Beethovens. The ones in the slightly taller box with 2 woofers, 2 mids and a soft dome tweeter. I sold mine in 2016 and went on a journey starting with $10k and after 4-5 different speakers I repurchased the VA's. 20 years old now and still love them in my 2nd system. They have a restricted SPL so wouldn't satisfy for end of the work week hard rock listening, but everything under 95 db these speakers define the line for the law of diminishing returns. I found speakers are much like beautiful women. The better they are the more they cost to make happy.
You might consider YG Acoustics Peaks series: wonderful speakers. I was very close to buying a pair.
I also have a pair of Yamaha NS-5000s driven by Bel Canto Black EX and love them.
Speakers are one part of a system. I usually spend more on electronics and cables than speakers. Until they are in your house and set up properly, with your equipment, you can only predict how they will sound. It is like discussing engines not installed in a car. Only once the engine is in the car will you know how the car performs.
Somewhere around the JBL and Klipsch Heresys honestly. The top end Vandersteen are in the range but for the type of music being played I think a horn loaded box that isn't too demanding on amplification is the way to go.
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