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What's your favorite boutique speaker maker

Seeing a few discussions recently about Fritz made me curious about what other artisan speaker shops are out there. 

I'll cast my vote for Louis at Omega Speakers in CT. His high efficiency full range Alnico drivers, impeccable craftsmanship and very reasonable prices make a compelling option. I've had some very nice speakers over the years but these put a smile on my face like no others could. My search is over. 

No affiliation with him, here's a link to the ones he built for me the beginning of this year. 
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7RE-f7JiW6/
treynolds155
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loki1957's avatar
loki1957
122 posts
 
Viking acoustics in Santa Fe
treynolds155 OP
182 posts
 
jayctoy: The 3i HO is the same cabinet as my "Modern Cams". You may want to consider the Alnico driver....just a thought. That RS5 driver is absolutely stunning with excellent source material but I found it could be harsh with lesser recordings. I find the Alnico to be the best of both worlds. 
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,824 posts
 
@jayctoy I had heard good things, agree. I live in Colorado. So, when I got to the point where I thought of the many different ways I could spend my money -- and then thought of not being able to return one pair but being able to try and return Salk, I went with Salk. I realize now that many others speakers would also have let me try and return them. And I did try, in my home, Focal, Martin Logan, Klipsch, Dynaudio -- and none of them quite worked, but all were returned. 
jayctoy's avatar
jayctoy
3,769 posts
 
Hide45 if you buy Omega Speakers 99.9 % you won’t return them. I have the 3i and the super rs8, and thinking to buy the super 3i high output with matching 2 sub  .
treynolds155 OP
182 posts
 
roxy54: Yeah I've actually been to their site looking for dealers, but nobody in the US seems to sell them anymore. Upscale stopped carrying them quite a while ago and the last internet search only brought up like one Canadian shop. Very strange for such a well reviewed product.
treynolds155 OP
182 posts
 
hilde45: Wow I'm really surprised to hear that. I can't say that I blame you at all. I'm local to him and he had a pair of floor standers using his smaller non alnico drivers that he let me play around with. These weren't my cup of tea at all but I ordered the previously linked speakers on faith and after a lot of research.  
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,741 posts
 
Nola didn't vanish. They still have an active website.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,824 posts
 
@treyreynolds155 It sounds like you had a good experience. I was trying to get that assurance from Omega and I was told up front "no returns." If the speaker was defective, I'm sure I'd get good service. But the others on my list say quite explicitly as a matter of policy that you get to see if you like the speakers on a trial basis. Not everyone does this -- and not every customer needs this -- but I did. To each his own. Omega seems to be doing fine with their policy, so let 1000 flowers bloom, I say.
dep14
333 posts
 
Salk
treynolds155 OP
182 posts
 
And how about Nola, I was very interested in their Boxer 3's but they seemed to have vanished. 

treynolds155 OP
182 posts
 
Ha....I was just writing this in your other post:
In all fairness to Omega, I'm pretty sure Louis would take care of you if you weren't happy. Fritz's policy does sound very generous, I'd assume that not too many people have to take him up on the returns. 
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,824 posts
 
I was very interested in those speakers but I wrote asking for home trial and he doesn’t do that. Customer assumes the full risk. So, because home audition is a deal-breaker for me, if I were to go boutique, I’d go Zu, Tekton, Omega, Ascend, Salk, Fritz, at least in lower price ranges. All of them, except Omega, allow home trial. Only Fritz has provision for shipping both ways.
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