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Used vs New vs Vintage vs Floorstanding vs Bookshelf vs ..... OMG!

OK. I am new in this (new in HIFI, in Audiogon, in discussion forums). I need to buy a pair of speakers for a newly-to-be-built HIFI system, and I am getting a little overwhelmed about all the options and possibilities (and opinions). By the way, I am NOT rich so that helps me a lot to discard a bunch of options.

I started checking vintage HIFI speakers for around $500, basically old JBLs, Technics, and the like (eBay, Craiglist, Letgo). Of course as soon as I began I started checking newer and pricier loudspeakers... and I am trying not to be a consumerist… Either way first  I decided for a pair of JBLs vintage. Until I watched John Darko's youtube review on the ELAC Navis ARB-51. So I changed my mind, I raised my budget and changed from vintage to new, from big to small.

Then I learned about the huge immense used HIFI market. For the same price of the Navis I could buy speakers from enormous brands like Sonus Faber and Focal and B&W in the used market. There I could find Sonus Faber Veneres for 1500, B&W 802 for 2000, and so on. When I contacted somebody from another webpage (The music room) about which was the best option.... the response was... Vandersteen 2Ce signature, "by far". I looked for opinions about it and all I read about them was "OK but meeh". 

So I was really confused. Until I learnt about the Tekton Double Impact, and now I started to get some dizziness. "The best loudspeakers for that price range", "the best period", etc. I contacted Eric Alexander, who kindly took his time to explain me why paper speakers are still the best, and so on. So they are great, really great, for "just" $3000... and I raised my budget again.

Either way, I have read so much, heard so much, watched so much, and I haven't learned much really. Different experts have different opinions, whether the speakers should be flat or not, colored or true, whether it is a matter of "taste" or "you should listen and like them". Well I am no expert, I am 45 years old and I probably won't listen wavelengths of 50 Htzs or lower.

I just want a pair of good speakers so I can enjoy King Crimson, Ramones or Beethoven.

Can anybody help? PLEASE???....

tykozen

Showing 2 responses by larryi

larryi
3,742 posts
 
As others have emphasized, you need to go out and hear a few candidates to get a better idea of your own preference.  It is also a good idea to hear different fundamental types, such as large planar speakers (e.g. Magnepan), omni-directional speakers (e.g., MBL, German Physics), electrostatic and hybrids (e.g., Martin Logan).  A lot of these might be out of your price range, but, used models might be in the balllpark.

As for any specific recommendations to audition, that is a bit tricky without any context of what you have heard and liked, and what are your plans for electronics.  I do have some general recommendations for models and brands that are sort of universal--they may not be everyone's favorites, but, most people do not find these highly objectionable.  It is like recommending chocolate, almost everyone at least likes chocolate even if it might not be a favorite, vs. recommending cilantro (I like the flavor, but, a lot of people really hate it).  My "chocolate" recommendations are:  1) Tekton Double Impacts (good sound for the money and BIG advantage of being easy to drive which opens up the choice for electronics); 2) Audio Note AN-J, AN-K (warm, rich sound while still being lively; easy to drive); 3) Rethm Bhaava (built in powered woofer and easy to drive; a super bargain); and 4) any ProAc model near your price range).
larryi
3,742 posts
 
Elizabeth has offered good advice about just finding something you like and not worrying about if there is something "better" out there.  There is too vast an array of candidates to hear even a small fraction of what is out there.  Also, in time, your own taste will change. 

As to your question about floorstanders vs. bookshelf speakers, I have heard many small, compact systems that sound very good.  But, none of them sound that good used as "bookshelf" speakers--they all sound better on speaker stands set off some distance from nearby walls.  I've heard very expensive speakers which where put into wall units or mounted in the walls themselves, and only those specifically designed for in-wall location sounded reasonably good.

A compact, stand mounted speaker can compete soundwise with a tall floorstanding model.  For example, ProAc has a floorstander DT8 which is about the same price as their small stand-mounted speaker the D2 (the D2 is a little bit less but requires a good stand so the costs are comparable).  Both sound very good for the money, but, if it were my dollars being spent, I would go with the D2.  The Harbeth line also offers stand-mounted speakers that sound very good.  If your taste runs to warmer sounding speakers, you must make an effort to hear Audio Note compact speakers.  
 
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