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.
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.
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
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!!! - 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 :-)
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).
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
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
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.
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!
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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 :-)
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.
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 .
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?
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!
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!
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