Sorry that I'm stuck in a loop. but the Decware Tube Tot are a different configuration than the 945 and supposedly Decware's new super speaker.
Any chance the 945 could be replaced with them?
Suggest your most desired MSRP $1,500-$3,000 Stand Mount for a Shootout.
We are gathering a list of eight speakers to compare in two live events in
June 2022. Post covid we hope!
Trying to gather models which are not readily available for audition.
Please submit your One suggestion here.
I will begin with my One -KLH Model 5. MRSP $2,000.
Thanks for the help!
130 responses Add your response
Jss- Okay "Shootout" is not really accurate. The purpose is to give the public a chance to hear speakers they might otherwise never hear.
Also read closely and you can see a reply to the question on power.
Now I will restate the request again for those not quite clear: If you have one to suggest great. If not that is fine as well. No obligation. Tell me what you believe to be the best sounding Stand Mount Speaker available under $3,000 MSRP. I am tempted to add a Maggie but many people-myself included- do not have a room suited for speakers placed 4-5 feet off the back wall. Open baffle speakers are in the same boat. Hence bring on the boxes!! I now am arranging for demos so time is growing very short.
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I second Sioux’s suggestion of the LSA-10 Statements. I have found them to sound balanced throughout their range. Also, they do better with lower frequencies than many stand-mount speakers. Lovely cabinet and finish. I haven’t personally heard the lower-priced LSA-10 signature, but the specs are similar and the reviews are solid. I think the main difference is upgraded tweeter and crossover in the Statement. |
AirPulse A300 Pro $2100 shipped with their own amps-active !! http://www.airpulseaudio.com/en/product/a300pro
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I really love the sealed-box speakers from Studio Electric. Their M4s are standmounts in your price range and would be great to include in your comparison. I understand that these are the monitors that Dan Wright of ModWright uses. See http://www.studio-electric.com/M4.html
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Thanks for all the input. To respond to last questions:
Amps: We have access to some decent integrated amps. Pass Labs INT25,Leben 600, ARC I-50, Luxman 509. Dan D'Agostino was generous enough to loan us an Amp last time. Perhaps we can borrow his newer Integrated.I will also ask the makers if they have any preferences. Source: Turntables are available but CD will be safer. We have access to a Hegel Mohican and a dCs transport.
Rooms: 14' x 19' x 10' were used in the 2019 event. Limited glass surfaces with some diffusion. They worked well. Seating for about 25 people who make good absorbers. We have panels to use as needed. Format: Two equal sized listening rooms.Set up 5 speakers per room. Play each speaker for 15 minutes using 3-4 different songs covering jazz, classical, electronic, pop/rock. 70-80 db range. One day event. $10 entry fee to offset space cost. Lot of work and a lot of fun. Hope to be held in June 2022.
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Disc- We used the LSA 10s in our 2019 Speakerfest. They were excellent and the only contender that was sold at the show to a board member who kept them until he bought a pair of Joseph Pulsars. Pretty high praise. But we won't repeat it again for the sake of our members. Good idea though!
We do have the Buchardt and ATC included. ProAcs & Monitors would be nice but we need balance. Our folks know the LS50's very well already. Not including any actives, open baffles or panels this time. They all have limited appeal due to setup requirements. Yes they sound good. Studio Electric sounds pretty tempting. I will contact them. They have one model in one finish that is under $3k MSRP.
We want to attempt a balanced representation in terms of box speaker sound under $3k. All ScanSpeak/Seas/DB is too much of a good thing. Brands with poor warranties, service availability or repair issue histories are also to be avoided. Still Open to Other brands not mentioned under $3k MSRP.
Thank you to everyone for the ideas!! Lets have some fun!!
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Get a pair of the older KLH 5's in good condition. They use a different midrange configuration and despite audiophile angst about cross-firing mids, the image very well and very precisely. Would make an interesting comparison, and with some careful shopping the older version can be had for about $250-350 per pair. Just to drive the point home, my "old" pair have replaced my Thiel 3.5's in my main system, and I don't miss a thing. |
Jist- At $9k in you should have a system which produces pretty darn good sound. If you want better speakers to go with an amp you already own that may up your $ need. So tell us your system, room size, db listen at, music pref. Plenty of well meaning folks here to mislead you! haha
PSSST-Fyne 500 is already on the list. |
just found this thread and don't know if you're still checking out different bookshelf speakers, but if you haven't already, you should check out the Usher BE718. I believe the MSRP was real close to $3000 and I'm not sure they're produced anymore, but I read a ton of reviews before I scored a pair on the used market for my office and I think you would find them t be a standout in the crowd. I researched quite a bit before I scored a pair on the used market and given that I hung out for a minute and waited for something to show up ... I think it only took two months, but including delivery I paid twelve hundred total. Looking at them, you would think (I would think) that they're Italian, because I think they're sexy as hell. But like I said, I read a ton of reviews and learned that they're actually produced in Taiwan. The story is that someone decided they were going to produce a bookshelf speaker that included everything someone would look for in a bookshelf speaker ... or something to that effect. I haven't been in to high end stereo for very long and personally wasn't aware of the Usher brand, but I guess they've made some nice speakers along the way. The thing that every review mentioned is the bass response. The bass is not boomy, it's very solid and the thing that's surprising is just how low it goes. I think we hear this from time to time ... that "you really don't need a subwoofer with these speakers" but with these it's true. They definitely need to be fed some power, as a matter of fact I would call them power hungry, but when you do feed them some good solid power you will be rewarded handsomely. The image and soundstage is exceptional, even in terms of what bookshelf speakers can do. Interestingly, the shape of the cabinet is literally almost identical to the shape of the bass cabinet of my Martin Logan Summits. Like I said I'm kind of newbie so I'm not real sure how that translates into performance in the real world but I'm thinking it's way more than cool looks, and the similarity with my ML's is interesting. The thing that's most special, to me anyway is the beryllium tweeter. I scored these speakers for my office, but I set them up right next to my ML Summits and was kind of blown away that they actually do strings better than my ML's. Along with the way they soundstage and the bass response, esp that it's so low I think they're just a real standout standpoint performer. Oh one more thing I learned about them from reading reviews. Apparently Usher produces their own midrange speakers, and in this particular model they use their top of the line 7", if I'm not mistaken. I'm thinking that's one of the reasons they perform so well though. From a price performance standpoint I bet they'll stack up pretty well. |
Some late additions- Monitor Audio Gold 100s Paradigm KEF R3s Elac Velas to replace Unifis if under $3,000 MSRP. We use a db meter to equalize volume. The reason for the event is to give a chance to as many people who want to come have a listen, We may do an Open Baffle, Electrostat /Planer, actives event at another time. Perhaps your club should do that one? Many people do not have the space dipoles require.
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I’ve owned many stand mount speakers including Harbeth, Spendor, Kef, etc,. This Falcon IMF-100 is my new favorite! https://www.falconacoustics.co.uk/imf-100-completeathome-loudspeaker-system.html
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Just bought the LSA 10 Statements. They have been in my system for a couple of days and can't imagine anyone telling others to avoid these speakers. They sound wonderful so far and they are not even close to being broken in. Much more dynamic than the maggie .7's that I was using prior to these. Bass is incredible. I have 2 rythmik f-12 subs and mostly have them turned off so far, the LSA's do go very low and deep. |
I had them for 2 months, bought them new. I listened to them for weeks, side by side with 3 other speakers, same price category. They lacked the imaging, character, the dullest speakers I ever had. The real bad sign was: I went to 3 dealers to trade them in, no one would bite, they said: "no one knows these, no on wants these" I tried to sell it here and on usaudiomart for HALF of what I paid for it, it took 2 months to get 2 low ball offers. On top of that, they were full of scratches when I received them. I spent $200 with a furniture maker to fix them.
It was an absolutely painful experience, and listening to them was no joy either
And I tried to do my homework: I contacted 3 reviewers to get feedback, None of them responded to me. So those reviews are suspicious to me, especially with what I heard. |
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-We do need a Revel- Good suggestion, thanks.
-Taking the Fyne 500 off the list. Just reviewed in Stereophile and it did not do so well. Comments?
- I like the Falcon Sound too but they refused to supply a sample. Only refusal so far but there are plenty of others available.
-Which makers are using the Purifi drivers? I have heard good things there too and would definitely want one for the event.
-Re the Decware tube tot- Thanks! I am open to improvements!
-The LSA Statement 10 is in!
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actually 4, including my "garage" speakers #1 my 25 year old Celestion 5s #2 my 20 year old Cambridge Soundworks Ensemble III #3 Dynaudio Evoke 10 (new) #4 Totem Sky (new)
these were all somewhat or significantly cheaper than the LSAs and they were all way more musical and forward than the LSA. I couldn't believe how dull they were. |
@chorus , I’d be really curious how the CSS Criton 1TD-X speaker kit would stack up. They’ve been getting a few pretty good reviews. You could do the fully upgraded kit with a baltic birch flat pack for $1400. It looks like a beginner can easily assemble everything in a few hours. |
I'm trying to get a hold of the Reynaud Bliss Jubileé to try (I've contacted Bob Neill), but I am interested in checking out the Fyne 500SP. Anyone here with actual experience with them?
My amplification is the Pathos Classic Remix (70wpc/8 ohms), a tube hybrid. I'll be replacing my Castle Eden speakers (which have a beguiling midrange).
I have been hoping to even find another working pair of the Edens, or find one with perhaps damaged tweeters but the woofers are fine. |
