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.




bsimpson
Well here is my list:
OHM (the small ones / don't remember the number) Early 80's till about 92
EPOS 14's / 92 til 01 (still use them upstairs)
Lowther Fideleo's / 01 to present
Been a heck of a ride :-) 
I do plan to upgrade the speakers within the next five-seven years. What would it be? Don't know.  But I just might ask Michael Green to make me custom or semi-custom speakers. I don't think I would be able to afford, say, even used Lansche or Kharma or something like that. But for now I am alright with what I have.
roxy54,
Looking at it from this angle, you are certainly right. Of all things, even with solid funds, buying speakers would probably be for me the most difficult undertaking. Not only within audio. Well, another thing may be good furniture. I like to keep speakers for a long time. I think, many good speakers are capable of much more than they seem. Just give them the right input. My speakers sound incomparably better than ten and even five years ago because of changes in source, amplification and cabling. Give your speakers a chance.
@bsimpson

Well, before some thankful guy beats me to it, Thank You! to the OP from all of us who may be wanting to upgrade to a new speaker or system and need to get others on-board with the change. I can show this to my wife and she'll think she's got it pretty good.

Since 1970s
Several different MCS speakers (JC Penny) -1970s
KHS? Two-ways. Got two pairs from my Uncle. -  1970s
Bose 601s (bought at very good deal in the military) 1985-1988ish
M&K - Top of the line satellites and sub - 1988-89ish to 2007ish
Martin Logan Vantage (last ten years - really like these)

I've gotten the itch over the past four years or so as I've been to THE Show at Newport all but the first year, the recent Los Angeles Audio Show, and many many get-togethers and have heard some speakers I'm very interested in. Mainly Mbl, then Wilson Audio Sabrina, and more recently Marten Django. I keep coming back to Mbl with their electronics line and I am thinking about going that way.

So, thanks again to the OP. I'm gonna use this thread in my presentation to my wife on why I need a new system!

inna,

I think it's understandable that speakers would be swapped out more often than electronics, because they all sound so different.

@tubegroover   

If we all agreed then life would indeed be very dull. Imagine if all musicians agreed on what to play and what sounded good!!! 


Oops!
Insert Vanderstein 1c after the Magnapan and before the Legacy Classics. 

All the best,
Nonoise
Michael Green Audio Revolution 80i  since 1999. Custom made by someone before that.
Yeah, some people got quite a list. I would understand upgrading or just trying something different when it comes to electronics every couple of years or so but speakers no.
Excellent idea for a thread - bsimpson

1995- Infinity CS 2008
2002- B&W 805
2016- Thiel CS 2.4SE

Happy Listening!
I've always been curious about Zellaton speakers, and their electronics for that matter. I know that they're supposed to be spectacular end of the line pieces.
I haven't made nearly as many changes. Each time I have "upgraded" speakers it seems as if they became the strongest part of my system. I then lived with them for a while and enjoyed them until I felt like there was an opportunity to grow. I feel like I've made good choices given my budgetary constraints over the years and have felt like in order to "upgrade" it would usually take a significant investment to make the change worthwhile. 

Up to 96 Polk Audio sda-1
96-2007 Vandersteen 3a Sig's
2007-2015 Vandersteen Wood Quattro sig 2
2015+ Zellaton Concerts

I honestly can't imagine changing out of these for a long time. To my ears, they are spectacular. If I switched I think I'd build another system around them. 

Hi tubegroover.

Like you, I have always been looking for speakers that presented the music in a way that was truthful to my ears and mind, and my curiosity was about different technologies, and also what strengths in a particular speaker were most important to me.

In the beginning, I bought Klipschorns, and there was something that I absolutely loved about them, even though they had some deficits. Next came the small Celestions, and I was really taken with the imaging, which was new to me. My point is, as I went through the speakers that followed, I realized that as much as I loved aspects of each of these speakers, especially the Spendor SP100s, what was most important to me was realistic dynamics. That is what made reproduced music more authentic for me. 

I think it takes time and experimentation to find your own personal sweet spot, unless of course you have the funds to afford speakers that do it all.


Shadorne while I certainly don’t agree with you on everything with reference to your audio experiences/philosophy, your point about change for audible improvements rather than different SOUNDS is "right on" to my goals as well. This hobby to me is attaining true fidelity to what my understanding/impression of that is, not "different flavors", I want to be engaged in the music and performance/message. I am and have always been completely uninterested in change for change sake. I guess there are many differences in what defines being an "audiophile". My goal is that the music being faithfully reproduced, is the ultimate goal. Flavors? I personally prefer vanilla with chocolate a strong second but it depends on my mood and what my palate wants at a given time. As always, YMMV, enjoy the music!

I am really impressed at the number of speakers some have owned in a given time frame, WOW!

PS to your point about curiosity Roxy, I suppose that point is valid but if you change too often, don't you at times become confused, or is that even revelant? 
Wow, I have to span fifty years and still have a short list. I guess the merry-go-round has been somewhat kind to me.

Sixties - Advent
Seventies - DCM Time Windows
Eighties - SOTA Kontrapunkt
Nineties - Thiel CS 3.6
Now - Horning Hybrid Aristotles Zigma Ultimate

Kenny
I think that most of us changed in the hope of audible improvement, although there's definitely an element of curiosity too.
@dougsat   

Either people don't really know what they are looking for or they are more interested in just having fun by trying out different gear and a multitude of sounds. My approach is quite different but I am of a tiny minority. I am open to change for audible improvements but not for change's sake.
*ADS... CM7’s
*Legacy... Focus
*Merlin... VSM’s
*Talon... Khorus X Series 2
*Joseph Audio... Pulsars
*Sonus Faber... Olympica 3’s


Post removed 
I'm sure that I'm forgetting a couple, but here goes.
Klipschorn
Celestion Sl6s
Celestion Sl700
Celestion Sl6si
TDL Monitors
Dahlquist DQ 20
Spendor SP100
Focus Audio 777
Reference 3a de Capo
Spendor 9/1
Nestorovic 5as
TDL Monitor (again)
Dahlquist Compact Monitor
Klipsch Epic CF 4 (9 years and counting)
Duevel Venus (recent aquisition)

I enjoyed all of them, some more than others (except for the Reference 3a de Capo, which I really disliked), and learned from each one more about what is important to me in a speaker. No regrets. 
Seems I have owned precious few speakers over the past 30+ years 😉

  • 1984-1989: Mission 70 (in UK)
  • 1989-1994: Audiostatic ES-100 (in UK)
  • 1994-1997: Radio Shack Optimus Pro LX5 (at grad school)
  • 1997-2003: Gallo Acoustics Nucleus Solo 
  • 2003-2005: Martin Logan Aeon
  • 2005-2009: Martin Logan Summit
  • 2009-2011: Magico V3
  • 2011-date: Magico Q3
@joey_v ,

Would you mind sharing your reason to switch back from 800D3 to 802D3...


Prof,
Life circumstances made me change some speakers(divorce, moving to a bigger or smaller house, living/family room versus dedicated listening room, and yes sometimes because of the desire to improve on what I had contributed to why I sold some of the speakers I’ve owned. I'm in a happy place right now!
This is quite interesting seeing how various people progressed from one speaker to another.  So many questions arise "why did you ditch that speaker for the next one?"

It also tends to underline the cliche that we audiophiles can never be happy with what we have (for too long).  I will never believe any audiophile who, upon purchasing a new pair of speakers,  says "This is it, I've found THE ONE for me!"    That's what we all tend to think at first, but give it a year, or two, or whatever, and we are getting the itch again.


My dance card is rather small, comparatively.
Magnepan Tympani (forget the model--3 panel design)
Legacy Classic
Hornshoppe Horns
Decware MG 944
Tonian Labs TL-D1
Clearwave Duet 6 monitors

Check with me in another 5 years 😜

All the best,
Nonoise
For me, just Vandies
3a sigs
Treo's- Thanks ctsooner.
And, a pair of 2w subs.

B
Sold my Magnaplanar Tympani 4's I think in 1995, since then

Jensen 24's and Spendor SP-1's

A fascinating hobby with many ways to go about enjoying it.

   LP
AR90 something
M&K S-1B + Sub
Monitor Audio Silver 6
Focal Profile 918’s

Now: Custom with german AMT’s, danish woofers, english caps
Hsu VTF-15H Mk 2, minDSP on the sub.

Center channel is a cheapie DIY, design is here:

https://speakermakersjourney.blogspot.com/2016/03/introducing-lm-1c.html

Mines boring as hell lol

JMLab Tantal 515 (1998)
JMLab Cobalt 810 (1999 - 2000)
ProAc R1.5 (2001 - 2004)
Eminent Technology LFT8b (Current Speaker for 12 years )
Klipsch Heresy
Klipsch La-Scala
Klipschorns
Mirage M1
Artemis EOS (2nd favorite)
Devore Gibbons
Wilson Audio Sophia II
Wilson Audio Sophia III
Wilson Audio Sasha
Revel F52
Revel F208
Aerial 7T
Dynaudio C20 
Monitor Audio PL500 II(my favorite)


Good thread. If anything, just for documentation.

1995 - Packard bell computer speakers.
2000 - Various computer speakers
2004 and onwards

Axiom M22ti bookshelves
Sonus Faber Concertino Bookshelves
Polk LSi7 bookshelves
Polk LSi9 bookshelves
Martin Logan Mosaic
Martin Logan Vantage
Martin Logan Summit

2008

--- hiatus, took a break, sold everything ---

2014

--- came back, stronger than ever ---

BW 802D2
Sonus Faber Stradivari
Rockport Avior
BW 802D3
BW 800D3

.... then back to....

BW 802D3.

Happy.

Non-main rig speakers, in chronological order:
AV123 Strata Mini Speakers
Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor
Sonus Faber Olympica III
BW PM1
BW CM10S2
Started in 1999, just out of highschool and still living at home. Through one apartment and two houses, in various systems:

KEF 103/3
Decware Radial
JM Reynaud Twin Sig
Harbeth SHL5
JM Reynaud Cantabile Sig
JM Reynaud Offrande IV
JM Reynaud Offrande Supreme V2
Trenner & Friedl Ella
Audio Note K
Trenner & Friedl Pharoah
Trenner & Friedl Stone Art
Harbeth 30.1
JM Reynaud Abscisse
Audio Note E/SPe HE
Tocaro 40e
Quad ESL
1st speaker Energy Pro 22 ca. 1983 (still own today)
2nd speaker Bose Acoustimass (for rental condo while overseas as expat)
3rd ATC SCM 20 ca. 1995
4th ATC SCM 100 ca. 2005
5th ATC EL150ASL 2015

Apart from the Bose and my studio gear (Genelec and JBLs) - all the speakers sound identical except for improved bass response in the larger models and better mid range in the three ways.

In essence the speakers have no sound at all. ATC are the most clear, accurate and natural sounding speaker I have been able to find. I would be delighted to find something better and will keep looking and auditioning until I die. Hopefully one day some designer can improve on ATC (which have made incremental improvements but largely remain the same in design and concept for 30+ years.) So far others have only come close - unfortunately always falling short in one or two characteristics in sound quality although often delivering better value (pretty good sound for much less money).

Klipsch La-Scala

Klipsch Cornwall

Audio Physics Virgo III

Von Schwerkert VR4jr (Sucked)

B&W 801 III

Vandersteen 2ce

Magnepan MMg

Magnepan  mgiiia

Magnepan MG3.6 with Mye stands

Revel F52's (Best speaker for the money and then some)

Snell EII

ATC SCM19v2

Quad rebuilt ESL's

Fostex f206 in a BLH cabinet

Mission 770's

ADS L910

Cizak III

Tangent RS2

EV 12b in a Carlson corner Cabinet

Green Mountain Calisto's (great monitor)

Bozak 302's

Spendor sp1/2e

Wilson Watt 8's (Current and favorate)

WOW!!! - I'm really having feelings of inadequacy !

Here's my very meager list - since 1982
- Magnat Ribbon 5's (2 Channel) had them for 33 years - re foamed + rebuilt the crossover and tweaked the bass port 
- B & W - small ones for L/R + Rear + Center Channel (Surround)
- Tannoy Mecury F4, F2 and Center Channel (Surround)
- Gershman Acoustics Sonogram (2 Channel)
 
Never found anything to replace the Magnat's until the Sonograms came along i.e.  that were in my "snack bracket"

And since then - I have only found one pair that impressed me from Avantgarde, but at $35000 - they'll have to wait until I sell the boat

Unfortunately for audio - I have other expensive hobbies - Photography, Boating, Skiing and travel.

So for me - it's all about spreading the wealth :-)
There is no way that I could come up with a list of the speakers I have owned over the past 22 years.  If I could, it would make the OP's list look pretty small  :-)
Wow, bsimpson's list actually makes me feel sane ;-)

My audiophile genes were formed listening to my Dad's Kef 105 speakers with a Carver Sonic Holography amp, in the 80's.

Mine, since mid 90's (and I'm going to include speakers that, even if I didn't end up owning, spent months in my system):

Thiel 02 monitors
Quad ESL 63
Quad ESL 63 w Gradient Subwoofers
Von Schweikert VR 4 Gen 2
Shun Mook Bella Voce
Waveform Mach Solo
Audio Physic Libra
Thiel CS6
Hales Transcendence 5
Meadowlark Blue Heron
Meadowlark Swallow
Hales Transcendence T1 monitors
Audio Physic Scorpio
Waveform Mach MC monitors
MBL radialstrahler 121
Thiel CS 3.7
Harbeth Super HL5 Plus
Thiel 2.7

----------------

Currently own:

Hales Transcendence L/C/R speakers (mostly use them for home theater now).
Waveform Mach MC monitors
Thiel 02 (too wonderful to ever let them go).
MBL radialstrahler 121
Thiel 3.7
Thiel 2.7



WOW!!!! That's quite a list of speakers in a 20 year span. I didn't care to look at any other brand since 2005 :-)

Technics - Don't remember the model (1991-1997)
Dantax STR800 (1997-2005)
B&W 703/704/705/HTM7 (2005-2008)
B&W 803s (2008-2017)
B&W 804s/HTM3s (2008-2015)
B&W SCMS (2011-current)
B&W 800D2/HTM2D2 (2015-current)
B&W HTM4D2 (2015-2017)
B&W 804D2 (2017-current)

A time for reflection.  I have purchased all my speakers new.  I separated from my first wife in 1990, which is where I start the counting of my hard-core membership in Audio HiFi.  For brevity sakes, I will only include 2 of my 3 systems, though the 3rd system usually gets the hand me downs from the other two systems.    

Main System (Living Room)

KEF Q55 (1990 - 1995)
EPOS 11 (1995 - 1998)
Acoustic Research 302 (1999 - 2007)
Opera Platea (2007 - current)

Second Bedroom/ Den System 

Bose 101 (1987 - 1992)
Polk Monitor 4 (1992 - 1996)
Optimus Pro LX5 (1997 - 1999)
EPOS 11 (1999 - 2002)
Omega Loudspeakers Super 3i (2002 -2006)
NHT SB2 (2006 - 2008)
Rega Aras (2008 - 2010)
Spendor SA1 (2010 - 2010)
Totem Mites (2011 - 2011)
Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1 (2012 - 2015)
Omega Loudspeakers Super 7MK2 (2015 - current)


Rich