What is your speaker ownership history since 1995?
Used audio market is not the same again since on-line marketplace was born in 1995 (Fleabay). What is your speaker *ownership* history since then?
(showroom / friend's house / loaner don't count .. must be owner of them)
Let me start with mine's, from 1998 to current (*):
(oldest to current) Misc Wharfedale (thanks to uBid hype!!!) Newform Research R645 Magneplan MMG Magneplan 3.3R NHT ??? SOTA Panorama with Time Domain bass module Rogers LS3/5A Infinity ??? (first time I realize 'reference' in the model name means absolutely nothing) Klipsch Klipschorn Tyler Acoustics Taylo Reference Monitors Tyler Acoustics Reference 1 Wilson Watt Puppy 5.0 JMLab Chorus 7?? B&W Matrix 805 B&W Matrix 801 Series II Revel M20 Revel F30 Alon I Alon V Tangent R4 Loth X BS1 Odeon Double Six Silverline Sonata I Meridian DSP5000 Paragon Acoustics Regent ??? Some Audio Physics DIY clone Legacy Audio Classic Duntech Princess Sansui SP5000 Altec 604E w/ mastering lab (The Big Red) Tube ? Lab ??? (it is the sorry B&W Nautilus 805 clone) Epicure ??? (its the one with an eyeball kinda tweeter) Celestion SL600si Avalon Symbol Vienna Acoustics Mahler Quest for Sound SQ10 ??? White van speakers, can't remember the name, $80 a pair Talon Audio Peregrine X Fostex backloaded horns (DIY) Counterpoint Clearfield KR Audio (limited production specials, no model name) Avalon Eclipse Classic Apogee Centaur Major Ohm Model I Dynaco A25 Oris Horn 250 Egglestonworks Rosa Legend Audio Reference Monitors (now known as Von Gaylord ROTL Mk II) *Nearfield Acoustics Pipedreams 930 *Wilson Watt Puppy 3/2 *Kharma CRM 3.2 FE
Pretty purpose-less, focus-less timeline, I must confess.
I graduated high school in '95 so this is pretty much everything I've ever had. I still have a lot of these. I'd like to have the Infinity 2.6's back. I can live without the rest of what I got rid of. I've had the Thiel 3.7's for 5 years now and I still have no desire to upgrade. I've had the ATC's for about 3 years. I got them because I have small kids and I wanted something good that they wouldn't damage and these really fit that description.
The standouts on the list are the Acoustic Research 338 because Accessories4less.com blew them out for $100/pair back around 2000. They sound pretty nice and are phenomenal for that price. I gave them to my sister I think. I thought the Infinity Intermezzo 2.6's were really nice too, although not exceptional at the original price they made a lot of them so you could get them new for $999 from Audio Advisor for a while. The Thiel 2 2's are fantastic for the money. Don't do anything wrong and are a real joy to listen to.
I don't have a great frame of reference for the Thiel 3.7's or ATC 110a's. They're in a price range where I haven't heard a ton of the competition. They're both fantastic in my opinion and I got both used and for a very reduced price. The ATC's especially were in bargain of the century range.
JBL HLS610 / HLS810 Acoustic Research 338 Acoustic Research 303 Vienna Acoustics Haydn Infinity Intermezzo 2.6 B&W N804 B&W N802 Magnepan 1.4 Infinity Beta 50 JBL 6208 M-Audio BX8a Vienna Acoustics Bach Grand Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand Vienna Acoustics Waltz Grand Thiel 2 2 Thiel 3.7 Thiel MCS1 ATC 110a
Klipsch Heresy (these got me started.. found in nice shape at a rural landfill!) Mission 737 PSB 600 Celestion 3 (bedroom) NEAR 10m (bedroom) NEAR 50me mk I Von Schweikert VR4 gen 1 NEAR 50me mk II Magnepan MC-1 (w/ B&W PV-1) Audiosmile LBM's (office) NEAR 50me mk I (Current mains, found again as nearly NOS in 2014.. fav all-rounders)
I don't spend a lot. To my ears, after attending LAAS this year (aside from maybe the new ELAC Adante), there are few great sounding new full-range-ish speakers which are actually priced less than a new car. The MBL's were amazing but so is being able to buy a house;)
I wish I was one of those guys with 5 speakers in 30 years, I'm more like 31 flavors........but if your looking at turntables, it's been 5 or 6 in 30 years.
I started out about 25 years ago with Boston Acoustics speakers when I only had a Yamaha receiver and CD player. When I started with high-end equipment about 16 years ago I first went with Paradigm towers. Then I purchased Martin-Logan Aeon which I had for close to 10 years. Next was Magnepan 1.7, followed by Thiel 2.7. I kept the Maggies in storage and put the Thiels in a secondary system when I purchased Quad ESLs (2805). I loved the Quads but they did not appeal to my wife because of the space they took in the family room. Then I discovered YG Acoustics Carmel. I was smitten. I sold the Thiels and the Quads. I put the Carmels in my secondary system. My primary system now has a pair of YG Kipod 2 speakers. I picked up the YG speakers on the used market for about 25% of the cost of a new pair. I do not know where I will go from here and I do not think I will ever part with the Maggies.
WOW! Interesting lineup . . . some very impressive lists. I was trying to see if there were any patterns for consistency . . . a few, but for the most part -- not really. To be honest, if I had had the resources to do so, my list would have been much larger.
Dahlquist DQ10’s with double subwoofers (still have and tweak) Bought second hand back in the mid-80’s.
Paradigm (for surround sound) mid-90’s .. . . also still have.
With a little help and determination . . . the DQ10’s can still do marvelous things -- even impress those whose systems change quite often and are much more costly. And although there are ALWAYS some great technological advancements out there (or myths perpetuated by advertising) and a price to be paid for the competing and the insatiable conquest for THE BEST . .. there is still the reality, and consequently, the necessity for some of us, who just have to work within our limited resources and be CONTENT with what we can afford -- that, and not overtaxing one’s credit. To those whose resources are much less confined (obviously) -- sincerely, more power to you.
It is a fun, encompassing hobby and at times a very enjoyable one -- IF, one can keep the music, at least theoretically, as the priority . . . and not the overwhelming pride of ownership, keeping up with the Jones (becoming KING of the Hill . . . being dethroned and gaining it back again) , and sometimes falling into the trap of advertising hype and often times -- just plain baloney; however, that constant urge to IMPROVE is also part of the CHARM and enjoyment of the always (seemingly) being on an unreachable quest for perfection and wanting to share every little nuance with like enthusiasts, as there will always seem to be that one step never quite achieved in the greed and necessity for profit by the designers and manufacturers, who do seem at times to milk it for all they can. I still have to believe that behind that shallow exterior of the love of money, the obsession of ownership, etc. there are those whose heart still has the purest intent of possessing, if just for a moment, the joy of sharing with pride an experience of OWNING the closest to real music experience that one’s limitation (or not) of money can buy . . . and IF the illusion of live music ever did totally come about, not only would the industry be devastated . . . but most likely the heart of the hobby and love of this never-ending quest for musical as well as technological tinkering would also be gone along with the enthusiasm and fun towards that “just out of reach” unachievable perfection.
I've owned very few pairs, thoroughly enjoying what I have been privileged to own:
Magnepan MG-1 78-84 Apogee Scintillas 84-90 Apogee Divas with active Dax 90-present, refurbished with Graz ribbons, etc in 2015. A Velodyne 15 in subwoofer is rarely used for organ music.
The planar maggies lead my away from dynamic drivers. The Scintillas were an absolute revelation (at 1 ohm, not 4 ohm!) for timber, speed, musicality, air and soundstaging. In choose the Divas to push more volume into a much large space (about 20x27ft, vaulted ceiling). The Divas finally excelled after using the Graz ribbons with new capacitors, wiring and binding posts. Have not heard anything more pleasing under $100k. Great classical, solo, jazz, folk speaker! Owning and playing a Bosendorfer 275 concert grand, and attending first rate orchestral performances (Cleveland, Chicago, NY...) keeps it real for me! What a blessing!
Some of you guys seem indecisive as heck - changing speakers every year or so......
I've used (in my systems with asterisks on speakers I still own and use) :
Spica Angelus Energy Reference Connoisseurs Vandersteen 4A* Martin Logan CLS* Wilson Maxx 2*
I've listened to a ton of speakers but those are the only ones that had the imaging qualities and clarity I was after. I would change speakers only when I heard some that not just equalled but surpassed what I had, without losing anything in the process (e.g. having better imaging but tossing out a bass octave or two didn't qualify them for inclusion in my systems).
I go back further Bose 501 Bose 901 Polk SDA 2.3 Von Schweikert VR4 Sr Von Schweikert VR5 Anniversary Von Schweikert VR 55 Aktive Doubt from now on that I will leave the Von Schweikert family - most wonderful!
1970s - Radio Shack - first system 1980 - Pioneer HPM-40, Yamaha NS590 1986 - Magnepan MGIII main system Bedroom Paradigm Monitor 3 2010 - Magnepan 3.7 main system Bedroom Paradigm In walls 2015 - Magnepan 20.7s main system Bedroom Dynaudio Focus 160 2017 - Magnepan 20.7s main system Bedroom Dynaudio Contour 20
I had to show this thread to my wife so she could see that there are audiophiles who are switching out their systems MUCH more than I have. I have only owned three different speakers since 1979: Dahlquist DQ10 Dynaudio Confidence 5 Wilson Sasha 1 (now) I would love to bring home the new Wilson Alexia's!
Main system.. Acoustat 1100’s w/modified base modules. .. since roughly 1993 As far as this system is concerned I’ve had stuff in house to demo against existing components quite a few times. Pre, amps, tuner and speakers remain the same. CD player (and or transport and d/a) has changed a few times.
Home theater system ..... NHT full video theater surround set with towers, subs, etc. ...... guessing since 1994
2nd home theater ... bose with NHT sub + Infinity sub. since (about) 2002.
I started buying speakers in 2009 . My first were a pair Polk audio LS15 Polk Audio LSI 9 Dali 800 MKII AZ crescendos Harbeth C7es3 System audio Sa2K Nola Boxer Harbeth P3es3 Harbeth M30.1 KEF reference 1 Diapason Micras III--current KEF LS50 Wireless ----current Gamut M7---Current KEF ref 3.-----current Triangle deltas signature ----current. Speakers are the soul of every single system. Happy listening
I am comforted to realise that I'm not as crazy as I (or more accurately, my wife) thought:
Martin Logan CLS I (beautiful to look at and fantastic with valves but temperamental film) Apogee Duetta Signature (excellent all round involving sound but needed more amplification than I could provide at the time) Sonus Faber Extremas (attempt to bring sanity to home space but disappointing sound after panels) Zingali horn floor-standers (trying to get a fuller sound from a more acceptable box) Quad ESL63 (following réalisation that panels offered much more than even beautiful boxes) Apogee Divas (rebuilt as active tri-amped system - stunning sound, far more involving than the Quads but complicated for all female household) Apogee Grands (Going for broke - completely rebuilt - absolutely fantastic, all enveloping, articulate sound - however, too physically dominant and too complicated for some) Back to sanity: An ATC active system for home theatre includes: ATC SMA150 (front); ATC SMA 50 (rears); ATC SMA?? (centre); ATC Sub Apogee Caliper Signature (rebuilt - for serious reflective stereo listening and realisation that after all my nonsense, I'm a panel man)
1977 to 1990 JBL 4343 Studio Monitors 1990 to 1996 Acoustat 2+2's Phil Keck mods. 1996 to 2002 Martin Logan CLS Speakers 2002 to 2006 Martin Logan Request Speakers 2006 to 2014 nothing out of audio.!! 2014 to present Magnaplanar 1.7 Speakers
Von Schweikert VR-4 Von Schweikert VR-4 (above) upgraded to VR-7
I’ve listened to dozens of speakers along the way, some over $20,000/pr. While I really liked many of them,I still have not heard one for which I would trade my modified VR-7s. I think they may be my speakers for life.
KEF 104aB PSB Stratus Golds Klipschorns (including extensive mods) Magnepan 1.6 QR (2 pair at different times) Altec Model 19 (2 pair at different times) Thiel Cs 3.6 B&W Matrix 801 Series II with Sound Anchors and North Creek Crossovers Quad ESL-63 (2 pair at different times, once with Gradient SW-63 subs) PSB Stratus Minis (second system) The last three pair currently in use. In the past, also owned B&O S-60 Bose 901 Klipsch Cornwalls
Gosh, I feel like a slacker! Since I started reading the rags in 1990:
-CJ Synthesis two-way monitors w/ Velodyne 12" sub -D’Appolito Towers commissioned from Van L. Speakerworks, Chicago The crossovers used M.I.T. caps as big as your fist! -Hales Transcendence 2 w/concrete bafflels (I miss ’em) -Audio Artistry Dvorak towers w/two sub cabinets (awesome!) -KEF Reference 3 w/blonde curly maple finish (gorgeous!) -KEF Ref 201 (currently using in an all KEF HT system) -Proac 3.8 (Killer but couldn’t crank ’em in my apartment) -Thiel 1.6 (excellent in the nearfield) w/B&W ASW650 sub -Thiel 2.4SE (to hear is to love) w/sub -Klipsch La Scalla II (current -Great but forget noisy tube amps)
early-1980's AR5? mid-1980's-early 1990's something I can't remember mid-1990-2011 Von Schweikert VR-4 (very original ones low serial number) 2011-present Revel Ultima Salon 2
Still own the VR-4, but had them upgraded thru Von Schweikert for a really modest $ to very nice sounding VR-4SEMKiii equivalent...
I will start with 1990ish time frame as that is when I was in college and first dug into hifi:
- some kind of 3 way plus passive radiator tower, maybe made by Eclipse? - KEF Uni-Q 102 2 - Acoustic Research AR9 - Linn Tukan w/ sound organisation stands (still have) - Tekton 6.5t also on sound organisation stands (still have)
JBL 4312 was replaced by Aerial 10t in 2003 on main system. For a while was running vintage B&W C201 speakers on my secondary all vintage system, but very recently they’ve been replaced by Altec Santana that also became my passion speakers.
Wait a minute WHAT?? It looks like OP had been changing speakers one after another almost every year very close to underware shopping!
Thanks for your comments Roxy. I completely agree that a common mistake for the unwary is that the messenger is often shot when the the carrier is the culprit. You have owned some fine speakers among your list. Ironically the one you disliked the most I currently own and love with a passion. I think it goes back to your words of wisdom to the beginner, the absolute importance of system synergy. Sometimes it ends up being blind luck when things come together in that special magical way as it has for you with your Klipsch/SET combo and me with my current Decapo BE set-up where the sum total far exceeds any of the individual parts. The persistence in getting there paid off this time unlike previous efforts in my case. Rock is as enjoyable/believable and natural as is classical, choral, string and small acoustical ensemble and jazz. Even my wife doesn't now cringe when I play the Stones. The other night she even came into the room and started dancing, enjoy the music!
Allison acoustic 8 Magnepan smgc Magnepan 1.5 Gershman acoustic avant garde rx20 JM Lab Daline 3.1 JM Lab Daline 6.1 B&W 805 matrix Audio Physic spark 3 Back to JM Lab Daline 3.1 for the last 10 years Looking at a pair of sonus Faber 2.5 anyone have these and can comment on them?
Vandy 1B’s ADS L710 Homemade Focal 2 ways with Kevlar woofer and T90K tweeter, custom passive 10 inch sub down below Madisound dual 12 3 way kit in 4.5 cubic ft with Dynaudio D21 tweeter Aperion Sub/Sat with Intimus 4, SW10 sub(still have) Vandy 2Ce Fritz Grove (Still have) KEF LS50 with ADS MS4 sub(current setup now) Gonna take stupid amount of $$ to beat this in our tiny 800 cubic foot room .
inna, You really touched on a good point. As much as I love my current Klipsch Epics, I appreciated them so much more when I discovered 300b SET. I think that the biggest beginner mistake is believing that a great pair of speakers is going to make for a great system. A quality source, and well matched power make a world of difference, and speakers that might have been considered ordinary can become high performers.
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