What speaker could safely be ordered without hearing it first?
Hi everyone,
I’m in the midst of my speaker search and curious about something.......as noted above. There are some brands I would be interested in based on reputation, reviews, looks etc but may never be able to hear first.
I’m curious what the collective group thinks would be a safe choice having never heard them first. I know there are variables as in size of room, current gear etc. Just want to see what people would suggest. The one I would note based on what I have read is Joseph Audio. I’d also be curious if people would say the same about Borresen.
So it may be a frivolous exercise but I’ll ask the question anyway. Let me know your thoughts.
You don’t give any info on your setup and price limits. there are many speaker brands that will reliably sound good but your room and equipment might not be optimal for them. Well known high end brands such as KEF, Magnepan, Quad, B&W, Focal, etc are very reliable for great sound but each has its flavor of sound and differing room requirements. you won’t go wrong with any of these assuming you can give them the space they need.
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You don’t give any info on your setup and price limits. there are many speaker brands that will reliably sound good but your room and equipment might not be optimal for them. Well known high end brands such as KEF, Magnepan, Quad, B&W, Focal, etc are very reliable for great sound but each has its flavor of sound and differing room requirements. you won’t go wrong with any of these assuming you can give them the space and power they need.
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Magico A1... It's small but boy oh boy that little bookshelf speaker can belt it out. It's spendy though, used around $5K or $6K with stands, new, add about +$3K to that. On a more reasonable level, how about a Bowers & Wilkins 805 D3 or 804 D3 (D4 is the current gen), first or second generation Focal mini Utopia's, and lastly, Raidho - that's another bookshelf that is quite impressive. But, where the rubber meets the road, you gotta go and listen to it. Happy speaker hunting. |
I sold a pair of black MA Silver 8s to a guy in Chicago a few years ago. Maybe he is you?! I went from the MA Silver 8s to Harbeth C7ES3s and then to Spendor SP2/3R2s (now known as the Classic 2/3s). I kept the Spendors up until last year. Occasionally I resent that I sold them. I’ve heard my share of five-figure speakers over the years and have owned many more four-figure speakers since. I’ve yet to encounter a more musically satisfying speaker than the Spendor 2/3, other than maybe other Spendor Classics. For certain, they’re not state-of-the-art performers in any single metric. However, when it comes to outright musical enjoyment, they have yet to be beat in my systems. No one is going to hear the 2/3s powered by a decent amp in a decent room and claim they’re unenjoyable. Only an off kilter person would claim they sound bad in such a scenario. For that reason, similar to a Mac amp or a Rega turntable, I believe Spendor Classics are one of the safest bets in the world of HiFi. They simply draw you into the music and make you forget about everything else, which is sort of the whole point. Disclaimer: your mileage may vary ;-)
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Sure, the listed options are great but it's all so subjective. Can't possibly seriously recommend any particular speaker that's a lock for customer satisfaction having never heard them but,... if there were one,... my money would be on LS3/5A. Have yet to find anyone with a serious rig that doesn't love all they represent and the sonic signature they present. All things considered, room size, gears, budget. I could easily toss the speakers I own into the abyss and live with a set by any of the licenced brands. I did exactly that and played a set of Rogers, 11ohm from the mid 80s exclusively for almost 3yrs. Yep, I liked them that much; enjoyed every second with them. Just my opinion. |
I'd try Zu Audio's Dirty Weekend ... Have never seen a poor review ... around 1600 and returnable ... Gutenberg loves them! https://www.zuaudio.com/loudspeakers/dw6
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I brought my Kharma Ceramique Grand with enigma upgrade over 12 years ago without hearing them and it has been a love affair ever since. It took me 40 years and many speakers/systems before I finally got off of the merry-go-round. They pair up perfectly with my ASR Emitter II Exclusive & Basis Exclusive along with my Brinkman LaGrange/Breuer tonearm/ZYX 4D. |
Maybe and it is very straight forward. Speakers are going to sound good or bad based on the room you are in and the equipment you have paired with it. If you have no equipment and will build the system speakers first, any speaker can be ordered as it will be matched after. if you have existing gear, the answer is a vehement no without knowing what gear you have. Then, maybe but you need to work with someone you know. Joseph audio is neutral. System match can be easy but I can show you horrible gear to match with it. Borreson is relatively bright, especially compared to Raidho. Horrible with certain gear.
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This topic is kinda like target shooting w/a blindfold on. But here goes nothing. I see 2 generic possibilities: 1 - If speakers are to be located near the back wall: go for high quality sealed/acoustic suspension design. Easy pick of those: pretty much any of the ATCs. Even a stand mounted 2-way gives killer sound with great dynamics 2 - If speakers are located anywhere you want in the room, just go for high quality, period. Easy pick there would be a Harbeth 30.2 or 40.2. These need stand mounting but really don’t require subwoofer augmentation unless you want the absolute best deep bass.
(that’s my 2 cents) |
@mtbiker29 This has happened to many of us. When one with no experience admires a high performance something and reads a litany of positive accolades by users, not knowing they too are mostly first time fan boy users with little or no experience, who've found by providing a positive review somehow lessens their poor decision remorse. A product sitting between your speakers is exactly that something. People are taking the time to offer you overwhelming advise that, what your calling a frivolity, should to be avoided. |
Now that you got a ton of different recommendations, I hope this has made your search easier. Here is the best advice, Narrow your search down to a few choice "Efficient" speakers. The key word is efficient because they more likely to reveal all the suttle details and don't require a ton of expensive power. |
@m-db Can’t say I disagree. I am subscribed to my local classfields for vintage audio. It’s always a kick in the teeth when you spend thousands on speakers and you see very intriguing speakers for not much money. How about 90€ for Ruark Swordman II Plus speakers? With much discipline and patience you could build a serious setup under 300€. Granted, you’ll get 0 recognition from the “audiophile” community. It’s all just unwanted UK hear from the 2000s. These days Ruark Audio sells overpriced alarm radio alarm clocks. What a shame! It’s like a philosophy of buying the 12th best option for 1/20th the cost. And everything is pretty darn good. I wish I could rewind that clock a year or two. I would be 4k€ richer. Or have like 15 pairs of speakers and 5 amps. Just see what sticks.
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I am with Verdantaudio. I have my room pretty much set and my gear is fine. Pretty much any speaker I buy, and 90 percent are not listened to first, sound great. I have found that monitors are my choice and have gone through many in the last few years. They are definitely easier to ship, move around and store. I currently have 4 pairs that I swap out to change things up. Synergy is key and finding what you love is part of the audio journey for me. |
PROac Own and still have three point fives ATC don't currently own but they are excellent Kef Reference - have and still own two All above are seamless with all music and good amplification.
All can be bought used well under your budget with room to improve the rest of the chain!
all are like getting Maxxis IKON tires for whatever the mountain throws at you .
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I'd generally agree with those who say - don't buy any speaker without hearing in a demo session. However, you may be unable to do that for various reasons. In my experience with a range of speakers (e.g. Harbeths, Magnestand Maggies, Linkwitz Orion's, Emerald Physics, many others... and now... Legacy Calibre's)... I've found the Legacy Calibre XD (active speakers) to be the one's that I would not hesitate to buy without hearing before I buy them. I did just that this week. I prefer the open, spacious soundstage and imaging of open baffle, dipole speakers... or... "hybrid open baffle, dipole" speakers. Though, I do love the superb sound of the Harbeth 40.2's and 30.1's, which are not open baffle, dipole speakers - but - somehow they have many of the attributes of that type of speaker. But... it seems that most (if not all) open baffle, dipole type of speakers have special requirements to achieve their great sound - whether that's the amplification, or DSP, or placement, or many other requirements. And most are very large and require lots of space. Well... you can forget all of those requirements with the Legacy Audio Calibre XD's (active speakers). They are a hybrid, open baffle design, which has all of the advantages of the spacious soundstage and imaging, with superb sound quality and resolution from top to bottom... and... their "bookshelf" / "stand-mount" design does not require a lot of space to achieve their superb sound. Their sound easily fills most reasonable sized rooms, and they can be set upon an entertainment center, or mounted on stands, yet still achieve their spacious sound. I originally ordered the Legacy Audio Aeris (which is about the best there is)... but... changed my mind... because they were just too big and heavy to manage. I opted for the Calibre XD, because they are much smaller, and manageable, yet have very much the same sound as the Aeris. And... I'm driving them with just a source and preamp, to achieve their incredible sound - saving all of that space. While I love the sound of my other speakers - they are simply not as practical as the Calibre's, and sound no better. So... if you don't want to take the typical risk of not hearing a speaker before you buy it... the Legacy Audio Calibre XD... is about as low risk as you will get! |
The B&W805 D2. Or newer D3. There’s a but.. The Lyngdorf TDI2170 was the only amplifier that could make them sing. Every other analog amplifier around 2500 Euro in store made a dull mess in comparison with the Lyngdorf. I still can’t figure out why that is. The very cheap Adam T5V active little studio monitors. Again there’s a but.. You do need a small subwoofer to help the low end come alive. The even less expensive JBL104 desktop speakers. Also active with a built in amplifier. Very different sound signature than the two above. Only a step down in detail than the T5V but a satisfying low budget sound to me. But needs help in some frequencies especially low-end. But not a big miss if you enjoy up close. Then there’s room. I know everyone B about room until I found out myself.
I like to know what room treatment others have bought and could recommend to buy blindly. And won’t cost hundreds of Euros.
And here’s a small list of speakers which I can safely say to NEVER buy: Audio Engine A2+ (wireless). Looks amazing on your desk. But the sound is one of the worst I ever heard. Even a 25 Euro JBL Go 2 sounds better. KRK Rokit RP-5 G3. As with the AE A2+ there’s no treble in these things. And the Mids and Lows are a big mess (just like the A2+). Just never buy. They also look cuter in pictures and look a a bit bigger in real life.
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First, let me state that listening to speakers has been a hobby of mine for decades. Moreover, once upon a time, I was a part-owner of a speaker company that failed. That said, my criteria for suggesting a speaker manufacturer in my response is that I have heard more than one model (if said company makes multiple models) and every time I have been delighted/amazed by the overall quality of the sound reproduced. So, here goes — in alphabetical order: Clarisys Audio; Dutch & Dutch; and Rockport Technologies. They are all radically different from each other, and none will disappoint. Unfortunately, none are cheap, but ut the price to value ratio of Dutch & Dutch are noteworthy. |
I would recommend Axiom M5HP as an absolutely phenomenal choice of speakers without listening first. I actually ordered them as such and been amazed since. I have expereince with a long list of speakers (make/model/type) and must say Axiom's M5HPs are outstanding. I can share far more but will stop here to not create too much noise. Best greetings to all friends on this fantastic forum ! |
OK well this thread has been very well received, thanks again to everyone for the feedback. Some further comments and answers to questions below: @mbmi Yes, I intend to check out Next Level and the X3 sometime soon! @hysteve I hope you are loving the Magico's.....did really like them this time around and am intrigued. I would very much like to stay with my current integrated, and the word is they are very hungry speakers. @arthur1260 there is an older Kef Reference for me for sale for a fraction of new, very tempting. Also a decent pair of the current version. One of my best ever hifi experiences in college was with a set of Kef's. @audioman58 my system is in my profile, would hope to not have to upgrade my amp in an ideal world. @kymanor1 10-30K high side. I don't have a ton of room which is why while I really enjoyed the Wilson Sasha DAW for example, it's low on the list for size reasons. Assume ML has similar constraints. @moose89 @tjjunk I did just bring home a clean pair of quartets on Friday night to play around with. I'm targeting them upstairs but plan to do a rotation into my main rig to see how they sound. So far the word that comes to mind is "fun". They are a hoot with tubes and classic rock. @sudnh My system is viewable in my profile and budget is 10 to as high as 30k if i'm really compelled by something. @helomech not me, i'm the original owner of my MA's. They are so cheap used I'd likely keep them as spares. My wife not to happy with my speaker collecting of late, LOL. @desktopguy good advice. Take a look at my system but I have roughly 2' to back wall and 2' to side, so reasonable space with a smaller tower. A giant Wilson (for example) would eat up a good bit of that. @jpwarren58 so true on WAF. I do run them all by her, and have been pleasantly surprised on some of them. She's down for most everything reasonable. Loved the KEF I showed her. SF should be the clear winner here! @giantsalami Yeah I'm getting there on the extra speakers (see above). I think you are spot on in that the room is sorted, and as long as I don't make a drastic change I should be fine. Problem is dealer demo rooms are not always sorted, leaving me underwhelmed at times. @firberger KEF coming up again. I really do need to find my way to the local dealer with the Reference models. @bassdude another vote for Legacy. Right after I bought the Klipsch noted above a really interesting pair of bookshelf/monitors from them came online. Tempting still if for no other reason than to try them out. Thanks all, will keep you posted as search progresses. |
We have installed many of the Vandersteen Quatro CTs. These speakers can be installed a foot out from the wall Phase and Time Correct maintain natural spatial information when it's in the recording has a great built-in analog adjustable Sealed No Ports bass section with 11 per speaker in room compensation adjustments for tunable bass to your preference. Made in California and rare to find used Best JohnnyR Vandersteen Dealer NJ |
I upgraded from monitor audio silver RX6 (and RS6 before that) to GoldenEar Triton Twos, then to the Triton Ones that I currently have. Compared to the RX6s, the Twos opened up the soundstage and added space & detail between all the elements in the music. The Triton Ones upped the ante even more: both can be purchased used for maybe 40% of original cost, and are a HUGE upgrade over the Monitor Audios (which are also very good). Used Twos can be had for $1,300 or so, Ones for another thousand. With good cables, they’ll accurately reproduce every detail in your music source, and could be your forever speakers. I know they’re mine. |
@jaymark , Are you still enjoying the Elector? |
Amphion Argon 3S. KEF LS50W2. Good quality monitor speakers placed as standmounts that don’t require fastidious room placement, understanding that a good subwoofer for low frequency support is almost always necessary. I suspect the field would widen even more if DSP and room correction were included in the plan (not everyone’s cup of tea here, I know.) Buying unheard is a risk, but with well-reviewed speakers from reputable makers, that risk can be made acceptable. I would not buy any very expensive speaker without listening in person at least at a shop or a show, and if a passive, hearing it with a variety of amplifiers. Large floorstanders and monumental monobloc amps are not my interest, but with that kind of equipment I can’t imagine buying that unheard. |
@thecarpathian I have pulled the Elector out of my lakehouse system to rotate in a tube preamp. But yes, I still enjoy it. |
I usually will demo a speaker .... at shop or in home preferably. I bought my last 4 pair at dealer after a demo. I recently ordered a pair of Omega Super Alnico Monitor sight unseen. I have a pair of Forte IV in my listening room and the Omega are for a compact bedroom system. I was looking for something way different that any speaker that I have owned in the past. I also have a pair of Sonus Faber Concerto that I will swap out occasionally. Looking forward to hearing a crossover -less speaker in each system actually. Will try them with my 300b, 40w monos , and new solid state integrated. Omega has a 30 home trial..... I should have them in a few weeks |
You can't go wrong with Wharfedale Linton speakers for the money $1499 with stands in which I highly recommend. The bass is good without exaggeration , the mid-range is great and the high end doesn't give me listener fatigue. If you buy them new.....give 'em 200+ hours to break in to get the richest sound. These Lintons are in my second stereo system and I really like 'em ! If skeptical, you can always return them to Crutchfield for a nominal price within their 60 day return period. |
What a great read through all the comments. I downsized this something from Von Schweikert VR 5SEs to Silverline 20s with subs and then upgraded to Wilson Benesch Discovery ii this week. I bought my Von Schwiekerts on reviews and found they were great speakers, but not in my small room. I heard the Silverlines in a small room and was floored at the cost vs sound quality. I then happened upon the WB Discovery ii and heard them in a big room and took the a chance that they would offer enough bass for my room. So far so good, I would suggest WB, possibly Endevours, for a full room such as yours. Happy listening. |
Magico S2 or S3 Mk II or later, S5 if available. |
