Used vs New vs Vintage vs Floorstanding vs Bookshelf vs ..... OMG!
I just want a pair of good speakers so I can enjoy King Crimson, Ramones or Beethoven. Then give these a look ... Zu Audio Dirty Weekend @$1000 https://www.zuaudio.com/loudspeakers/omen-dirty-weekend-2 Have been enjoying this hobby for almost 50 years. Few speakers have ever excited me like these. Rich |
Like you said - everyone has an opinion and not all the same. I think the best thing to do is listen to them before you buy - and if you can listen on the actual components you will be using - all the better. I love my Vandy 2ce Sig II's (bought them new) - I run them on Quicksilver M120 Tube amps and Audioresearch pre amp -- but have heard B&W's on Macintosh 60's that sound amazing. there is alot of great stuff out there. You should listen first |
The advice about not locking yourself into a difficult speaker to drive is really important. Thiels are great if you can get them second hand, but you need a LOT of reserve power to make them sound good. My other advice is to spend time with the speakers you audition. Try to imagine listening to them every night. Many times the sound attributes that catch your attention initially are things that will annoy you in a long evening of listening. A lot of speakers are voiced to stand out in a showroom comparison, which isn't how you'll listen over the long haul. YMMV, but I've gravitated towards Thiel and Harbeth because of their natural, open, non-fatiguing qualities. A lot of people say the same of Vandersteen. |
There are so many good speakers that you can find used that you can lose ones mind. I have a buddy that I all vintage Joe. He goes to estate sales and gets fantastic bargains on so many of the speakers from the 70's on up. For example Kef 104/2s, 105s, B&Ws, Sony, IMF, Dalhquist, AR, ADS, etc. The large IMFs sounded fantastic so did the Kef models especially for the money. They all sounded really good especially since he paid a few hundred or less for the pairs. Some he refinished, some he learned to re-foam, etc. Lots of info on repairs, etc. for all of this for a little research. They all have a very good sound and most have a warmish sound and maybe a little box sound but very musical. There are times that I come home and say sell all my stuff and just get one of them and enjoy the music. They are so cheap that you can buy multiple pairs and try them out for almost nothing. Happy searching. |
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Thank you very much you all for your responses. I really appreciate it. The room is an average Livingroom, around 18 x 8?... Budget: 1500 to 2000. although I already stated that I am interested in the Tektons. I also like Focal a lot, at least on paper, and there are the Arias 926... Active or Passive speakers. I don't have a preference per se. Just heard that these speakers sounded much better than the passive version from the same brand. I understand that one has to like the sound and so on. But there is "the detail" and there is "the big difference", and I understand the likeness is about the detail. First I would like some input from experts or experienced people to discard, or differentiate the Good from the Bad, or the Better from the Not so good. For instance, do you think it is better to invest on an older used and perhaps outdated pair of big floorstanding with 8" woofers, or would you rather go with a new pair of technologically advanced 15 in small speakers with 5" drivers? When I asked between the Vandersteen and a good pair of B&W 802 S3, I was responded that the later were outdated, whatever that means. Thanks again. |
+1 @belvedere2 -- by far the best investment you can make right now is taking the time to go out and listen to as many speakers as you can. You'll eventually start to identify which speaker characteristics (and speakers) sound best to you. Only then will you be in a good position to make the right choice, and none of us can tell you what that is because we all hear differently and value different things. Speakers are funny that way -- once you hear the right ones it tends to hit you pretty hard and you just know. And by all means bring a good selection of your favorite music to each demo. Best of luck. |
Definitely listen to different speakers and see what you like. Once you know what "sound" you like then decide on equipment to run them. Easier as mentioned to find easy to drive speakers. I went the opposite way vintage Infinity and Acoustic Research. Went through a pile of amps that never did them justice. Now I use Threshold amps so that part is done. |
Hi tykozen, Thought I would give you my 2cents. I am 58 and have been loving music since I was 15 with my first Sansui AU717 and Technics SB7000A's monster speakers,(google them). Have been into quite a few systems since Parasound/Vandersteens/Aerial Acoustics etc. In the early 90's I checked out the Vandersteens at a shop in Providence, RI and fell in love with these speakers the 2ce's(not sigs) I went through some tough times and recently unboxed them and picked up a Krell Digital Vanguard Amp, Just wow!! They are not meeh! At least not to me. For the money they sound just amazing and really worth listening to. I was going to buy Elacs or Buchardts small bookshelfs and after hearing my current set-up. I'm keeping the Vandys and upgrading cables and getting myself a new turntable. Don't stress, have fun with this and try to get into some shops to listen or see who might have some cool gear around you. Good Luck |
Hi, What ever you do make sure that the speakers you buy are an easy load for an amp. This makes looking for an amp much easier and you will have more choices. Good Luck, TISHP.S. If you tell us the size of the room that you are going to use, it will make it easier for someone to give a recommendation. |
